Eight days between Chefchaouen, Fes and Marrakech: blue lanes in the Rif, a medieval medina built for getting lost in, and the busiest square in the south. Mostly walking, with two longer drives mid-week.
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Route
- Chefchaouen → Marrakech
- Pace
- Two long drives mid-week, walking otherwise
Overview
Three cities and a lot of walking: blue lanes in the Rif, a medieval medina built for getting lost in, and the busiest square in the south — with two longer drives mid-week.
Photos
Route
- 1Chefchaouen
- 2Fes
- 3Marrakech
Highlights
- Chefchaouen's blue lanes, walked slowly
- Fes: tanneries, madrasas and the largest car-free medina
- Mostly on foot — the longer drives come mid-week
- Finishes on Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech
Day by day
A representative plan. Every trip is adjusted to your dates, your pace and what you want to see.
1
Day 1
Arrive in Chefchaouen
You reach Chefchaouen today. Most flights land at Tangier, then it is about two hours north into the Rif. Nothing else is planned for the day.
The town is built on a steep hillside, so the first walk goes slowly. Down at Ras El Maa the fountain runs through the lower medina, and that is a good place to start.
2
Day 2
A day walking Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen is walked, not driven. The medina is a tight knot of lanes where the walls, steps and doorways are painted blue, and the climbs are steep enough to take your time over.
The Spanish Mosque on the ridge looks back over the whole town and is best in the last hour before sunset. Below it, the kasbah square has a small garden and a couple of quiet courtyards.
3
Day 3
Chefchaouen to Fes
About four hours south, out of the Rif and down onto the plain around Fes. The road twists at first and straightens once you are below the mountains.
You arrive in the late afternoon. The medina closes to cars, so the driver stops at the edge and you walk in the rest of the way.
4
Day 4
The Fes medina on foot
A full day in Fes el-Bali. Bou Inania madrasa sits above the river, the Chouara tanneries work in open vats, and the lanes between them hold workshops that have not moved in a long time.
Take a guide for the first hours so you can find your way back alone later. Mind the donkeys coming through the narrow parts.
5
Day 5
Fes, with Volubilis optional
A second day in Fes, or a half-hour drive out to Volubilis, the Roman ruins below the Middle Atlas. Meknes sits next door, so the two fit into one outing.
Either way you are back in Fes for the evening. The medina after dark is busy and lit, and worth a slow walk before you turn in.
6
Day 6
Fes to Marrakech
The long day of the week, about six hours, mostly motorway and open country. You cross from north to south in one go, which is what putting both cities in the same week costs.
There is a lunch stop and a couple of stretches on the way. The Koutoubia minaret comes up over the rooftops near the end of it, and then you are in Marrakech.
7
Day 7
Marrakech
Jemaa el-Fna fills through the afternoon and is fullest after dark, with food stalls in the open square. The Koutoubia stands at its edge and is visible from most of the city.
Behind the square the souks run in covered lanes, one section to a trade. Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs are the two history stops to give time to.
8
Day 8
Departure
A free morning. Some people take a last walk through the souks, others stay close to where they are staying. The airport sits near the city, so the transfer is short.
Your driver collects you when the flight is due.
Good to know
Best season
Spring and autumn are easiest. Chefchaouen and Fes stay comfortable in summer if you start early, and Marrakech is hot from June to August, which pushes the walking into the mornings.
Pace and driving
Two drives carry the week, about four hours down to Fes and about six across to Marrakech. The other days are on foot, and there is no desert on this route.
Who it suits
Cities and streets rather than sand. Choose it if you like walking several hours a day and want three very different medinas without a heavy road schedule.
What's included
- Private vehicle and driver for the whole itinerary
- Accommodation each night, with breakfast
- Airport transfers at the start and end
- A local guide in the medinas where a guide adds most
- A named contact in Marrakech throughout your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches, dinners and drinks unless listed
- Entrance fees to monuments and sites
- Tips for your driver and guides
- Travel insurance
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