Before dawn
Bab Guissa
We meet you at your riad or the gate with torches and a warm layer.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Fes el Bali · Photo: William John Gauthier from Sweden, CC BY-SA 2.0
Jbel Zalagh at first light, above Fes
Jbel Zalagh is the 902 m mountain on the northern skyline of Fes, rising just north of the medina walls, about 10 km away by road. We leave Bab Guissa before dawn and drive about 18 minutes up the mountain road. A short walk takes you the last few hundred metres to the top for sunrise, and you are back for breakfast.
- From Bab Guissa: About 10 km
- Drive time: About 18 min
- Summit: 902 m
Before breakfast
The long ridge on the skyline north of Fes el-Bali is Jbel Zalagh. OpenStreetMap gives its summit as 902 m, and the car road climbs to within a few hundred metres of the top.
About 18 min
The mountain road
Up the slopes north of the medina to the end of the road.
Sunrise
The last stretch on foot
A short walk to the summit, then first light over the hills and the city below.
Breakfast time
Back to the riad
Down the same road and back inside the walls as the city opens its shops.
Road distances and times are typical ranges for a private car, without stops.
The road from Fes to Jbel Zalagh, drawn to scale
Out of the medina by Bab Guissa, on the OpenStreetMap car route. Each town sits at its real distance along the road.
10 km
about 18 min at the wheel, without traffic or stops
من فاس، باب عجيسة إلى جبل زلاغ
Road distance and free-flow time from the OSM car router (OSRM), Bab Guissa to Jbel Zalagh. A real day takes longer: traffic leaving Fes, a viewpoint, a slow lorry on the bends. We plan the day around it.
- Fes, Bab Guissaفاس، باب عجيسة0 km
- Jbel Zalaghجبل زلاغ10 km
How we run it
This is a simple, early outing: up in the dark, a short walk on rough ground, and the first light coming over the hills and the city below. It suits photographers, walkers and anyone who wants to see Fes whole before the day starts.
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
- Head torches and a guide who walks the last stretch with you
- Hot tea or coffee in a flask at the top
- A start time set to the sunrise on your date
- A phone or WhatsApp contact throughout
Best season
Year-round, on clear mornings. Autumn and spring give the softest light; winter dawns are cold on the ridge, and summer sunrise means a very early start.
The honest details
Weather decides
If cloud or rain is forecast we tell you the evening before and offer another morning or a different plan.
Rough ground in the dark
The walk is short but uneven, and the first part is before sunrise. Wear proper shoes and tell us about mobility needs.
Questions, answered
What people ask us most before they book this.
How high is Jbel Zalagh?
OpenStreetMap gives the summit as 902 m. The car road ends a few hundred metres from the top, so the final stretch is on foot.
How long does the sunrise trip take?
Usually two to three hours from pickup to drop-off, depending on the time of sunrise and how long you stay at the top.
Can we do it at sunset instead?
Yes. The light at the end of the day is good too; tell us which you prefer when you ask for a quote.
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.