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The Roman Arch of Caracalla at Volubilis, the green plain beyond

Day trips from Fes

The best day trips from Fes are Volubilis and Meknes, 1h 15–1h 30 away; Chefchaouen, 3.5–4 hours each way; the Ifrane cedar forest, 1h–1h 15 south; and Sefrou, only 30 km out. Each one is private or small-group, with riad pickup and a custom quote.

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Every road out of Fes, planned around the kind of day you want.Plan this with us

  • Volubilis: 75 km, 1h 15–1h 30
  • Meknes: 65 km, 45 minutes–1 hour
  • Chefchaouen: 200 km, 3.5–4 hours
  • Ifrane: 65 km, 1h–1h 15
Volubilis

Ruins, mountains or the blue city

Fes sits at a crossroads. North are the Rif mountains and Chefchaouen. West are the Roman streets of Volubilis and the gates of Meknes. South the Middle Atlas climbs into cedar forest and lakes, and east lies the old walled town of Taza.

Tell us what kind of day you want: history, a walk, cool mountain air or photographs. We plan the timing so you are back in the medina for dinner.

Day tripDrive from FesBest for
Volubilis and Meknes1h 15–1h 30Roman ruins and an imperial city
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun1h 15–1h 30The holy town and Volubilis below
Chefchaouen3.5–4 hoursThe blue medina and the Rif
Ifrane and Azrou1h–1h 15Cedar forest and macaques
Immouzer Kandar35–45 minutesSprings and Middle Atlas lakes
Sefrou and Bhalil30–45 minutesA short, quiet day
Taza and Tazekka1h 15–1h 45Forest, caves and a walled town
Columns and walls of the Roman basilica at Volubilis, a stork nest on top of a column

Volubilis: 75 km, 1h 15–1h 30.

Volubilis

Day trips from Fes

The Arch of Caracalla and Volubilis ruins glowing at sunset, the Zerhoun hills behindFull dayVolubilis and Meknes day tripRoman Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and imperial Meknes.See the tripBougainvillea over a blue lane in Chefchaouen, a man in a djellaba walking awayFull dayChefchaouen day trip3.5–4 hours each way through the Rif.See the tripSaddled horses and visitors among the tall trunks of the Azrou cedar forestFull dayIfrane and the Azrou cedar forestCedar forest, Barbary macaques and the Swiss-style town.See the tripA pale blue studded door with potted plants along the step, ChefchaouenHalf or full daySefrou and Bhalil day tripThe closest day out: Sefrou is 30 km from Fes.See the tripA donkey with a bright bridle against a green wall in Moulay IdrissFull dayMoulay Idriss Zerhoun and VolubilisThe holy town on its two hills, then the Roman city below.See the tripA pure Atlas cedar forest around a green clearing in Ifrane National ParkFull dayImmouzer Kandar and the Middle Atlas lakesSprings, lakes and cool air on the first Atlas slopes.See the tripThe Jbel Ayachi range rising above the farmland near Midelt under grey skyFull dayTazekka National Park and TazaForest, caves and the old walled town of Taza.See the tripA loaded donkey threading through a souk lane of djellaba shops in the Fes medinaHalf or full dayA family day in the Fes medinaPaced for children: the bread oven, donkeys and a tile workshop.See the tripThe Akchour waterfall dropping into a turquoise pool, a swimmer at its edge (wide crop)2 days, 1 nightChefchaouen and Akchour in 2 daysEvening in the blue city, the Akchour falls at dawn.See the trip

How a day out of Fes usually runs

08:30

Pickup at your riad gate

Your driver meets you at the medina gate nearest your riad.

Morning

The main visit

The site or town while the light is soft and the crowds are thin.

13:00

Lunch where locals eat

A family restaurant or a terrace, chosen for the place you are in.

Afternoon

A second stop or free time

A viewpoint, a village or simply time to wander.

18:00

Back in Fes

Dropped at the same gate, in time for dinner.

Road distances and times are typical ranges for a private car, without stops.

Who's with you

A driver-guide from Fes who knows this road, in English, French or Spanish, with Arabic and Berber on the way. We name your driver and any local guides in the written proposal, so you know who is meeting you before you travel.

What we arrange

  • Private car and driver for the whole day, riad gate to riad gate
  • A plan timed around light, crowds and your pace
  • Local guides at the sites where they add something, on request

Tell us what matters

  • Half day or full day
  • Add a site guide at Volubilis
  • Combine two places
  • Stay overnight instead

How we work

  • Private or small-group
  • Operated by Serenity Morocco Tours
  • Riad pickup in Fes
  • Written itinerary and custom quote

Before you ask us

The questions people ask us most before they plan a trip.

What is the best day trip from Fes?
For most first-time visitors it is Volubilis with Moulay Idriss and Meknes: Roman mosaics, Morocco's holiest town and an imperial capital in one day, with Volubilis 1h 15–1h 30 from Fes. Chefchaouen is the most photogenic but means a long drive. Families and walkers often prefer Ifrane's cedar forest.
Is Chefchaouen too far for a day trip from Fes?
It is a long day but it works. Chefchaouen is 200 km away, 3.5–4 hours each way via Ouezzane, which leaves four or five hours in the blue city. If you want sunset on the ramparts and quiet morning lanes, the two-day trip with a night there is the better choice.
Can we do Volubilis and Meknes in one day?
Yes, that is the classic pairing. Meknes is 45 minutes–1 hour from Fes and Volubilis sits just beyond, so the day covers the Roman city in the morning, lunch in Moulay Idriss or Meknes, and Bab Mansour and the royal granaries in the afternoon. A local site guide at Volubilis is worth adding.
Do day trips include pickup from our riad?
Yes. Cars cannot enter most of the Fes medina, so your driver meets you at the gate nearest your riad, and your riad can send someone to walk you there. Tell us the riad name when you ask for a quote and we confirm the exact meeting point in writing.
Is the tour private or shared?
You choose. Private means only your group, your own car and driver, and a timetable you set. Small-group means sharing the car and camp with a few other travellers on fixed dates. Either way we send a written itinerary and a custom quote; nothing is charged until you approve it.

Keep planning

Photo credits (Wikimedia Commons)

Tell us your dates. We'll plan it with you.

  1. Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
  2. A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
  3. You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.
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