Early morning
Out by Bab Ftouh
South across the Saiss plain, through Ain Taoujdate to El Hajeb at the foot of the Middle Atlas.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Oum Er-Rbia springs · Photo: RACHID BAYA, CC BY 4.0
Where the Oum Er-Rbia river begins
The Oum Er-Rbia is Morocco's second-largest river, 555 km from the Middle Atlas to the Atlantic, and this long day tour takes you to the springs where it starts. The drive from Fes is about 2 h 50 each way, via El Hajeb and the cedar village of Ain Leuh. You walk among the cascades, eat by the water and drive home.
- Fes to the springs: 153 km by road
- Drive time: About 2 h 50
- Length: Long full day
A long day to the source
The Oum Er-Rbia, the 'mother of spring', is 555 km long and the second-largest river in Morocco after the Sebou. It rises in the Middle Atlas, runs past Khenifra and reaches the Atlantic at Azemmour. So many springs feed its head that the area is called 'the forty springs', a poetic name rather than a count.
Mid-morning
Ain Leuh
Coffee in the village, a look at the souk if it is Wednesday, and the cedar slopes above it.
Midday
The Oum Er-Rbia springs
A walk along the cascades where the river rises, with lunch at a simple place by the water.
Afternoon
Back by the cedars
Return north, with a short detour into the Azrou cedar forest if you still have the energy.
Evening
Fes
Back at your riad in the evening, about 2 h 50 after leaving the springs.
Road distances and times are typical ranges for a private car, without stops.
The road from Fes to the Oum Er-Rbia springs, drawn to scale
Out of the medina by Bab Ftouh, on the OpenStreetMap car route. Each town sits at its real distance along the road.
153 km
about 2 h 50 at the wheel, without traffic or stops
من فاس، باب الفتوح إلى منابع أم الربيع
Road distance and free-flow time from the OSM car router (OSRM), Bab Ftouh to the Oum Er-Rbia springs. A real day takes longer: traffic leaving Fes, a viewpoint, a slow lorry on the bends. We plan the day around it.
- Fes, Bab Ftouhفاس، باب الفتوح0 km
- Ain Chkefعين الشقف20 km
- Ain Taoujdateعين تاوجدات29 km
- El Hajebالحاجب63 km
- Ain Leuhعين اللوح118 km
- The Oum Er-Rbia springsمنابع أم الربيع153 km
How we run it
On the way you pass Ain Leuh, a village in Ifrane province where cedar and other forest cover more than half of the commune's land. It holds a weekly souk on Wednesdays, a national festival of ahidous, a form of Amazigh folk art, every July, and a cherry gathering in June.
Private
Private means your party only: one vehicle, one driver, your start time, your stops. Linger at the macaques, skip the shop, add a viewpoint. It suits families, couples, photographers and anyone with a fixed plan.
Small-group
Small-group means we pair you with other travellers on the same route and date when there is a match, which shares the day with a few like-minded people. Ask for it in your quote request and we will tell you honestly whether a group fits your dates.
What we arrange
- Private vehicle and driver from your Fes riad or hotel and back
- Timing built around your pace, the season and site opening hours
- A licensed local guide where one adds real value (on request)
- Lunch stop chosen for the route, from a roadside grill to a riad table
- Bottled water on board and a phone or WhatsApp contact throughout
- Fuel, tolls and parking folded into one written quote
- A driver who knows the Middle Atlas roads in every season
- An overnight option in Azrou or Ifrane, booked into the quote if you want it
Best season
May to October, when the mountain roads are clear and the springs are pleasant to walk. Winter brings snow and cold to the high plateau; we keep the day flexible.
The honest details
A long day in the car
Nearly six hours of driving in all. If that is too much, we split it into two days with a night in Azrou or Ifrane and add the cedar forest properly.
Wet rocks
The paths along the cascades are uneven and wet in places. Wear shoes with grip.
Questions, answered
What people ask us most before they book this.
How far are the Oum Er-Rbia springs from Fes?
About 153 km by road from Bab Ftouh, roughly 2 h 50 by car without stops, via Ain Taoujdate, El Hajeb and Ain Leuh.
Can we see the Barbary macaques on the same day?
Often, yes. The cedar forest near Azrou is a short detour from the return road; we stop if time and the light allow.
Can this be done in two days?
Yes, and it is more relaxed. Spend the night in Azrou or Ifrane and add the cedars, the lakes or Ifrane itself on the second day.
Is this tour private or small-group?
Both are possible. Private is your party alone. Small-group pairs you with other travellers on the same date when there is a match; tell us your preference when you ask for a quote.
How much does this tour cost?
Every tour is a custom quote for your party, dates, pace and choice of private or small-group. Send the details through the quote form and we reply with a written plan and one figure.
Tell us your dates. We'll plan it with you.
- Tell us what drew you in. Your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see.
- A person reads it. We write a day-by-day plan for your group, private or small-group.
- You change anything. Then we confirm the guides, drivers and riads.