Morning
Out by Bab Mahrouk
Pickup at your riad or the nearest gate, then north-west out of Fes on the hill road.
Fes, Morocco· Concierge · Mon–Sat · 09:00–18:00 GMT+1
Moulay Yacoub · Photo: أنس, CC BY-SA 4.0
Moulay Yacoub: a 54 °C spring in the hills
Moulay Yacoub is a small spa town 22 km by road north-west of Fes, about 27 minutes by car from Bab Mahrouk. Its baths are fed by water pumped from 1,500 m below ground that comes up at 54 °C. We drive you out through the hills, you soak at your own pace, and we have you back in the medina for lunch or a late afternoon.
- From Fes: 22 km by road
- Drive time: About 27 min
- Length: Half day
A half day in the hills
Fes has two spa towns on its doorstep, and Moulay Yacoub is the one in the hills. It is a small place, home to about 4,500 people at the 2024 census and the seat of its own province, built up a slope around the springs that gave it its name.
About 27 min
Moulay Yacoub
The white town on its hillside, and the baths fed by the hot spring.
One to two hours
The soak
You choose how long. Your driver waits and keeps your bags while you bathe.
Late morning
Tea, then back to Fes
A glass of mint tea in town, and back to the medina in under half an hour.
Road distances and times are typical ranges for a private car, without stops.
The road from Fes to Moulay Yacoub, drawn to scale
Out of the medina by Bab Mahrouk, on the OpenStreetMap car route. Each town sits at its real distance along the road.
22 km
about 27 min at the wheel, without traffic or stops
من فاس، باب المحروق إلى مولاي يعقوب
Road distance and free-flow time from the OSM car router (OSRM), Bab Mahrouk to Moulay Yacoub. A real day takes longer: traffic leaving Fes, a viewpoint, a slow lorry on the bends. We plan the day around it.
- Fes, Bab Mahroukفاس، باب المحروق0 km
- Moulay Yacoubمولاي يعقوب22 km
How we run it
The water is the reason to come. It is pumped from 1,500 m underground and reaches the baths at around 54 °C. The town takes its name from the saint the springs are tied to, and local tradition also credits the Almohad caliph Yaqub al-Mansur with building baths here; we tell it as tradition, because that is what it is.
The drive is short and green for much of the year: out of the medina by Bab Mahrouk, across the edge of the plain and up through rolling green hills.
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)
- Bottled water on board and a phone or WhatsApp contact throughout
- Fuel, tolls and parking folded into one written quote
- Help choosing the bath that suits you, and what to bring
Best season
Year-round. The hot water is most welcome from November to March, when Fes mornings are cold; in summer we go early, before the heat.
The honest details
Hot water is not for everyone
Water this hot is not advised for everyone, for example in pregnancy or with heart or blood-pressure conditions. Ask your doctor if you are unsure; the drive and the town are worth it even if you only dip your hands.
Bring your own kit
Pack a swimsuit, a towel and flip-flops. We confirm the bathing arrangements and opening hours for your day when we send the plan.
Questions, answered
What people ask us most before they book this.
How far is Moulay Yacoub from Fes?
About 22 km by road from Bab Mahrouk, the western gate of Fes el-Bali, which is roughly 27 minutes by car without traffic.
How hot is the water at Moulay Yacoub?
The water is pumped from about 1,500 m below ground and reaches the baths at around 54 °C.
Can we combine Moulay Yacoub with Sidi Harazem?
Yes. Sidi Harazem is the other spa town near Fes, on the opposite side of the city to the east. Both fit in one day with lunch in the medina between them.
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.