Few circuits tell a country's history as clearly as this one. Fes was founded at the end of the eighth century, Marrakech by the Almoravids in the eleventh, Meknes became the capital of Moulay Ismail in the seventeenth, and Rabat has been the capital since 1912. In a single week, a group crosses twelve centuries, from the Roman ruins of Volubilis to the modern avenues of the capital.
Eight days, from Casablanca to Marrakech
Times shown are for the road only, stops excluded.
- Day 1, Casablanca. Arrival and a first visit, the Hassan II Mosque. What the city offers a group is covered in Casablanca with a group.
- Day 2, Casablanca to Rabat (about 1 h 15). A full day in the capital, described in Rabat with a group.
- Day 3, Rabat to Meknes (about 2 h). Bab Mansour, the most monumental gate in Morocco, El Hedim square, the royal granaries and the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail.
- Day 4, Meknes to Fes via Volubilis (about 2 h in all). The Roman city and its mosaics in the morning, a view over the holy town of Moulay Idriss, then Fes at the end of the day.
- Day 5, Fes. The medina, its madrasas and its craftsmen. How to organise it for a coach group is covered in Fes in one day.
- Day 6, Fes to Marrakech via the Middle Atlas (about 7 to 8 h). Ifrane and its alpine chalets, the cedar forest of Azrou and its Barbary macaques, then the plain.
- Day 7, Marrakech. The Koutoubia, the Bahia palace, the souks and Jemaa el Fna in the evening.
- Day 8, Marrakech. Departure, or a return to Casablanca (about 3 h) for the flight home.
The dunes are not on this route. For a group that wants them too, our article Taking a group into the Sahara covers that stage.
Each of the four cities was once the capital. Seen one after the other, they explain how Morocco was built.
Which leg needs the most care?
Day 6. Between Fes and Marrakech, the road crosses the Middle Atlas and then a long plain: it is the longest day of the circuit. Three adjustments make it easier. Leave early and plan real stops, in Ifrane and in the cedar forest. Split the leg with a night on the way for a group of older travellers. Or reverse the direction and fly into Marrakech, which moves the long leg to the middle of the trip, when the group is rested.
What do five hotels in eight days change?
Mostly the mornings. With a hotel change almost every day, luggage has to be out of the rooms early, loaded in a fixed order and counted at every stop. A clear rooming list sent ahead to each hotel saves a long wait at every arrival. For comfort, the programme alternates short and long days, and keeps two nights in Fes and two in Marrakech. Our transport and hotels and riads pages explain how these stages are organised.
