18 trips available

Cultural tours and imperial cities

Fez, Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech: living history in every medina

Ablutions hall of the Hassan II Mosque

18 trips found

Blue door in the Tangier medina
Private toursRecommended
8 days / 7 nightsFrom TangierPrivate

8 days from Tangier: Chefchaouen, Fez, the desert and Marrakech

If you're arriving by ferry from Spain, we pick you up in Tangier and over eight days you travel down through Chefchaouen, Fez, the Merzouga dunes and the southern kasbahs to Marrakech.

Chefchaouen at sunset from the hillside
Imperial citiesRecommended
10 days / 9 nightsFrom CasablancaPrivate

Round Morocco in 10 days from Casablanca

Ten private days from Casablanca: Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fez, Meknes, the Merzouga desert, the kasbahs of the south and Marrakech, with the driving spread out.

Chouara tannery in Fez seen from a terrace, with its coloured vats and the medina behind
Group tours
7 days / 6 nightsFrom FezSmall group

7-Day Group Tour Starting in Fez and Ending in Marrakech

A week in a shared minibus between Fez and Marrakech: a guided tour of Fez, the Merzouga dunes, the road of the kasbahs and a full day in Marrakech. 650 € per person.

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca at sunset, with the sun over the Atlantic Ocean
Group tours
10 days / 9 nightsFrom CasablancaSmall group

Casablanca to Marrakech in 10 Days with a Small Group

You land in Casablanca, see it with a guide and head north via Rabat, Chefchaouen and Volubilis. Then Fez, the Sahara, the kasbah valleys and, to finish, Marrakech from morning to night.

Minaret among palm trees in Tangier
Imperial cities
4 days / 3 nightsFrom TangierPrivate

Northern Morocco in 4 days from Tangier

Four days by private car through the north: Tangier and Cape Spartel, Tetouan, two nights in Chefchaouen and back via Asilah. Pick-up from the ferry from Tarifa or Algeciras.

Tanneries in the Fez medina
Day trips and activities
1 dayFrom FezPrivate

Guided tour of the Fez medina with a Spanish-speaking guide

Fez el-Bali on foot with an official Spanish-speaking guide: Bab Bou Jeloud, the Bou Inania Madrasa, Al Quaraouiyine from outside and the Chouara tannery. Half or full day.

Jemaa el-Fna square from a rooftop terrace
Day trips and activities
1 dayFrom MarrakechPrivate

Guided tour of the Marrakech medina with an official guide

Private walking tour of the Marrakech medina with an official Spanish-speaking guide: Koutoubia, Bahia Palace, mellah, souks and Jemaa el Fna, as a half or full day.

Aït Ben Haddou seen from the river
Day trips and activities
1 dayFrom MarrakechPrivate or shared

Aït Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate day trip from Marrakech

One day to cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n'Tichka, walk through the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou and take a look at Ouarzazate. Expect about 8 hours in the car there and back.

Rocky Atlantic coast under a blue sky
Day trips and activities
1 dayFrom MarrakechPrivate or shared

Essaouira day trip from Marrakech

A day on the Atlantic coast from Marrakech: a walled medina listed as a World Heritage Site, a fishing port, ramparts over the sea and a stop at an argan cooperative.

Bab Bou Jeloud gate, entrance to the Fez medina
Events and festivals
7 days / 6 nightsFrom MarrakechPrivate or shared

Easter in Morocco: 7 Days from Marrakech to Fez

An Easter week crossing Morocco from Marrakech to Fez: the Atlas, the Dades, a night in the Merzouga dunes and the Fez medina, private or in a group.

Cats on a blue staircase in Chefchaouen
Imperial cities
12 days / 11 nightsFrom TangierPrivate

12-day grand tour from Tangier to Essaouira

Twelve private days from Tangier to Marrakech: Tetouan, Chefchaouen, Fez, two nights in Erg Chebbi, the southern kasbahs and a night in Essaouira. Easy if you arrive by ferry.

Caravan silhouettes against a pink sky
Private tours
7 days / 6 nightsFrom CasablancaPrivate

Casablanca, Rabat, Fez and Merzouga: a private week

A private week starting and ending in Casablanca: Rabat, Fez, a night in the Merzouga dunes, the Todra Gorge and Marrakech, with a Spanish-speaking driver.

Blue staircase in the Chefchaouen medina
Imperial cities
8 days / 7 nightsFrom FezPrivate

Chefchaouen, Volubilis and the Sahara: 8 Days from Fez

Eight private days from Fez to Marrakech: a guided medina tour, Chefchaouen, Volubilis and Meknes, a night in Midelt, camp in Merzouga, the Dades and Aït Ben Haddou.

What to see in the imperial cities

Fez

Fes el-Bali is one of the best-preserved medieval medinas in the Arab world, and it's car-free. If you have to cut something, don't cut Fez.

What to see in Fez

Meknes

Quiet, with Bab Mansour and what's left of Moulay Ismail's city. Pairs well with Volubilis.

Rabat

The Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. The one people skip most often.

Cities
Fez, Meknes, Rabat, Marrakech
Duration
7 to 10 days
Guide
Official local guide in the medinas

How to plan the route

7–10 days

Classic circuit

From Casablanca or Marrakech to Fez. The price per person drops as the group grows.

See Fez

Starting from Tangier

If you arrive from the north.

See Tangier

Why go with a local guide

It's easy to get lost in the medinas of Fez and Marrakech, and fake guides come over as soon as they see you hesitate. An official guide keeps you on track and explains what you're looking at, which is why we nearly always include or recommend one. During Ramadan opening times change (customs and etiquette). See also events and festivals and the Morocco travel guide.

When to go

  • March – MayGood timeComfortable for walking the medinas.
  • June – AugustMixedHot at midday; do your sightseeing in the morning and late afternoon.
  • September – NovemberGood timeComfortable for walking the medinas.

Frequently asked questions: Imperial cities

What are the imperial cities of Morocco?

There are four: Fez, Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech. All of them were capitals of the country at different points in its history and have kept medinas, palaces and monuments of great value.

How many days do I need to tour the imperial cities?

With 6 or 7 days you can visit all four cities at a good pace. If you want to add the desert and Chefchaouen, we recommend 9 to 12 days.

Can you visit the mosques?

In general, working mosques are not open to non-Muslims. The big exception is the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, which you can visit with a guide at set times. You can visit madrasas, such as Ben Youssef in Marrakech or Bou Inania in Fez.

Can't find the right trip?

Tell us your dates, how many people are travelling and what you'd like to see. Within 24 hours we'll send you a route and a price.