11 The Imperial Cities

Suggested Itinerary Number : 11

The Imperial Cities

Explore the northern cities of Fez, Meknes and Rabat, full of historical and cultural interest, in the surrounds of the fertile plains and foothills of the Middle Atlas mountains.  

Overview: 7-14 nights, all year round, flights into Casablanca or Fez, preferable as flights into Marrakech reduces exploring time:

• 3 - 5 nights Fez
• 2 - 4 nights Meknes, Volubilis and surrounds
• 2 - 3 nights Rabat

Transport options: First class train between Fez, Meknes and Rabat recommended; taxi or car (self-drive or with driver).

Extension options: South to the Sahara desert and Marrakech; North to Chefchaouen, Tangier and Asilah.

Activity options: Cookery, guided tour of Fez, trekking from Fez, visits to Middle Atlas Mountains, Roman ruins of Volubilis and the spa and natural springs of Moulay Yacoub.

Fez

Fez is the "city of 10,000 alleys" and the religious capital of Morocco, set between the Rif (to the north) and Middle Atlas (to the south) Mountains.  This World Heritage Site with its fabulous architecture and its maze of souks, medersas, fondouks, palaces, residences, mosques and fountains is a wonderful place to explore and absorb the culture.  We recommend the expertise of a guide for at least part of your time, as there is a huge number of important buildings.

Fez is not only a wonderful city but also a good base to explore the landscapes and villages of the Middle Atlas. Options include the spar village of Moulay Yaacoub, Moulay Idriss, a local vineyard, the un-spoilt Berber town of Sefrou, the incongruous Alpine-style resort of Ifrane, the cave dwellers of Bahlil and the splendid cedar forests and lakes of the Azrou region. All of lie within 1.5 hours' drive south or east of Fez, and each provides a contrasting insight into the country, for instance meeting and taking tea with an 85 year lady who has spent her entire life living in a cave, without modern facilities, is an experience never to be forgotten.

Meknes

Welcoming inhabitants, the fascinating granaries, mausoleum and stables of the 300 year-old Imperial city, the many gardens, the superb walls, a central square overlooked by the famous decorative gate, Bab Mansour, and an unspoilt medina combine to make this former capital of Morocco a fascinating World Heritage City to visit.  Just an hour west of Fez and 3 hours east of Rabat, it is much smaller, quieter and easier to navigate than Fez.

Volubilis

These superb Roman ruins, deservedly a World Heritage Site, boast a wonderful setting of the foothills of the Rif mountains. Just 30 minutes north of Meknes and 1 hour from Fez, a visit to Volubilis may be combined with a trip to the nearby holy town of Moulay Idriss, spectacularly located on a small hillock. Idriss founded Fez as well as this town which takes his name (Moulay means Saint); the shrine and his tomb are visited by many Muslim pilgrims. Non-Muslim visitors are now welcomed but cannot enter the shrine.

Rabat

Four hours by train west of Fez is the current administrative capital of Morocco, Rabat. Well known for its pretty Kasbah des Oudayas overlooking the sea and estuary, ruins of the Chellah inhabited by storks, the incomplete Tour Hassan and the ornate mausoleum of Mohammed V, it is an interesting place to explore and has good beaches to relax to the south.

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