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Fes el Bali packed across the valley, the green-tiled roofs of the Qarawiyyin and Moulay Idriss shrine among the minarets

Morocco tours that start in Fes

Starting in Fes, most travellers choose one of three shapes: the imperial cities of Meknes, Volubilis and Rabat; the desert crossing to Marrakech via Merzouga and the gorges; or the north, with Chefchaouen and the Rif. Five to ten days covers any of them. Every trip is private or small-group and custom-quoted.

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Start in the oldest medina and let the rest of Morocco follow.Plan this with us

  • Typical length: 5 to 10 days
  • Fes to Marrakech direct: 530 km, 5.5–6.5 hours
  • Fes to Merzouga: 470 km, 7–8 hours
  • Fes to Tangier: 300 km, 3.5–4.5 hours
Fes el Bali

Fes is the right place to begin

Fes is the oldest of the imperial cities, and its medina is the deepest. Start here, rested, and the rest of the country makes sense: the Roman ruins, the desert, the kasbahs, the red city at the end.

We plan the route around your dates and how you like to travel, then send a written itinerary and a quote. No fixed packages and no shared coach.

ShapeDaysEnds inHighlights
Desert crossing3 to 4MarrakechMerzouga dunes, gorges, Ait Ben Haddou
Sahara return2 to 3FesDune nights, cedar road
Imperial cities3 to 5Rabat or CasablancaMeknes, Volubilis, Rabat
The north2 to 5Fes or TangierChefchaouen, Akchour, the Rif
Grand loop7 to 10MarrakechAll of the above, slower
The earthen ksar of Ait Benhaddou climbing its hill above the dry riverbed, a rider in the foreground

Typical length: 5 to 10 days.

Ait Benhaddou

Multi-day trips from Fes

Shadows of a camel caravan and its riders thrown across a dune slope in Erg Chebbi3 days, one wayFes to Marrakech via the SaharaMerzouga dunes, the Todra and Dadès gorges, then Marrakech.See the tripRooftops and towers of Ait Benhaddou above the green Ounila valley4 days, one wayFes to Marrakech in 4 daysThe same crossing, slower: two desert nights or a gorge night.See the tripA sharp dune ridge snaking across the Erg Chebbi sand sea under a blue sky3 days, 2 nights3-day Sahara tour from FesTwo desert nights and the return to Fes.See the tripFootprints leading toward a tall dune, with a small palm grove at its foot, Erg Chebbi2 days, 1 nightFes to Merzouga in 2 daysOne night in a dune camp, back in Fes the next evening.See the tripBab Mansour, the great tiled gate of Meknes, glowing in low evening sun3 daysImperial cities: Fes, Meknes and RabatThree royal capitals over three days.See the tripAzrou spread across its valley below wooded Middle Atlas slopes2 days, one wayFes to Marrakech via the Middle AtlasCedar forests and Berber heartland, no desert.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 tripDense Atlas cedar trunks and dappled shade in Ifrane National Park2 daysMiddle Atlas two-day loopLakes, cedars and a mountain night, back to Fes.See the tripColumns and walls of the Roman basilica at Volubilis, a stork nest on top of a column3 daysFes-Meknes region three-day loopVolubilis, Meknes and the Zerhoun without rushing.See the trip

How planning works

Step 1

Tell us your dates

How many days, who is travelling and what you want to see.

Step 2

We draft a route

Day by day, with drive times, nights and alternatives.

Step 3

Written quote

Confirmed by email; adjust anything you like.

Step 4

Travel

Your driver meets you in Fes and stays with you to the last day.

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 trip
  • Accommodation matched to your style, from riads to palace hotels
  • Local guides in the medinas and sites where they add something
  • A written day-by-day itinerary before you pay anything

Tell us what matters

  • 5, 7 or 10 days
  • End in Marrakech, Tangier or Casablanca
  • Riads, boutique or palace hotels
  • Add a cooking class or hammam

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.

How many days do you need in Morocco starting from Fes?
Seven days is the sweet spot for a first trip: two in Fes, a desert crossing to Marrakech and two days there. Five days covers Fes plus either the imperial cities or the desert. With ten days you can add the north and Chefchaouen, or slow every stop down.
Is it better to start a Morocco trip in Fes or Marrakech?
Either works, but starting in Fes and ending in Marrakech suits most people. You see the oldest medina while you are fresh, cross the Sahara in the middle, and finish somewhere with more flights home. The reverse route is just as good if your flights land in Marrakech.
Can the tour end somewhere other than where it starts?
Yes. One-way tours are normal: Fes to Marrakech via the desert, Fes to Tangier for the ferry, Fes to Casablanca or Rabat for a flight. Your driver stays with you from the first morning to the last drop-off, and we plan the final day around your departure time.
Do you run group tours with fixed departures?
We run private and small-group trips only. Private means just your party with your own car and driver. Small-group means sharing with a few other travellers on agreed dates. Both are planned to a written itinerary and a custom quote; there are no big coaches and no fixed packages.

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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