Day Trips and Tours from Fes: Chefchaouen, Volubilis and the Sahara
From Fes we run three private day tours and four Sahara trips. The day tours are a guided walk through the Fes medina (about 5 hours, from $45), Volubilis and Meknes (a full day, from $80) and Chefchaouen, the blue town in the Rif (3.5 to 4 hours each way, from $95). For the desert, Merzouga is one long day away: 2 or 3 days there and back, or 3 to 4 days on to Marrakech. Prices are per person for two travellers sharing, with pickup at your riad or hotel.
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Day trips and tours from Fes compared
Three day tours close to Fes and four desert trips to the Erg Chebbi dunes, two of them ending in Marrakech.
Drive times are for one way. Every tour is private: your own vehicle and driver, and a licensed guide where the tour has one.
| Tour | Drive | Length | Best for | From, per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
200 km, 3.5–4 h | Full day | The blue medina and the Spanish Mosque viewpoint | $95 | |
85 km, 1.5 h to Volubilis | Full day | Roman mosaics and an imperial city | $80 | |
Short drives, then on foot | About 5 h | Fes el-Bali with a licensed guide | $45 | |
459 km, 7.5 h | 2 days | The quickest night in the dunes | $280 | |
459 km, 7.5 h | 3 days | A full day around Erg Chebbi | $370 | |
About 1,040 km in all | 3 days | The desert on the way to Marrakech | $430 | |
About 1,040 km in all | 4 days | Two nights by the dunes, then Marrakech | $540 |
Fes to Chefchaouen day trip
A long but popular day: about 200 km and 3.5 to 4 hours each way through the Rif Mountains, with around 5 hours in Chefchaouen.
Your driver picks you up at about 07:30 to make the most of the day. In Chefchaouen you walk the blue lanes of the medina, see Plaza Uta el-Hammam and the Kasbah, and climb to the Spanish Mosque for the view over the town. With 7 to 8 hours on the road in total, the Chefchaouen day trip suits travellers based in Fes who cannot spend a night there. If you can, stay a night: Chefchaouen is on our tours from Tangier and Casablanca.
Volubilis and Meknes day trip from Fes
Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the holy town between them, about 185 km in a day.
Volubilis comes first, about 85 km and 1.5 hours from Fes, while the morning is cool: the site is open ground with little shade, and its Roman mosaics are still in place. You stop at the viewpoint over Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, then spend the afternoon in Meknes, the imperial city of Sultan Moulay Ismail, before driving about an hour back to Fes. Pickup for the Volubilis and Meknes day trip is at about 08:30, earlier in summer.
Fes medina tour with a licensed guide
About 5 hours: a car to the Royal Palace gates, the Mellah and the Merenid Tombs viewpoint, then on foot through Fes el-Bali.
Fes el-Bali is one of the largest car-free urban areas in the world, and easy to get lost in. The Fes city tour walks from Bab Bou Jeloud past the Bou Inania and Al Attarine madrasas and the Al Qarawiyyin mosque to the Chouara tannery, with a guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. It usually starts at about 09:00 from your riad or hotel. More about the city is in our Fes travel guide.
Desert tours from Fes
Merzouga is about 459 km and 7.5 hours from Fes, so two days is the shortest Sahara trip and three days gives a full day in the dunes.
The road crosses the Middle Atlas at Ifrane and the cedar forest, then follows the Ziz Valley south to Erg Chebbi. The 2-day desert tour from Fes rides out to the camp for sunset and drives back the next day; the 3-day round trip spends the middle day around the dunes by 4x4 and on a camel.
If you are going on to Marrakech, there is no need to drive back north. The Fes to Marrakech desert tour takes 3 days through the Todra and Dades gorges and Aït Benhaddou; the 4-day version adds a full day in the desert. All our Sahara routes are compared on Morocco desert tours.
How much does a tour from Fes cost?
From $45 for the medina tour and $80 for Volubilis and Meknes, to $540 for 4 days to Marrakech via the Sahara, per person for two travellers sharing.
Day tours include the private vehicle with fuel, the driver and the licensed guide where the tour has one; desert tours add the hotel and camp with dinner and breakfast and the camel ride. Lunch, drinks, entrance fees and tips are extra. The price per person falls for groups of 3 or more; each tour page has its own table, and Morocco tour prices compares every route.
Tours from Fes: Your Questions
Yes, if you cannot stay a night. It is about 200 km and 3.5 to 4 hours each way, which leaves around 5 hours in the blue town. Our Chefchaouen day trip costs from $95 per person for two.
About 85 km, 1.5 hours by road. Our Volubilis and Meknes day trip combines it with Moulay Idriss and Meknes in one day.
Yes. Merzouga is about 459 km and 7.5 hours from Fes, so the shortest trip is 2 days with a night at a desert camp. Three days gives you a full day in the dunes.
Yes, in 3 or 4 days. The Fes to Marrakech desert tour spends a night at the camp and a night in the Dades Valley; the 4-day version adds a full day around the dunes.
It helps. Fes el-Bali has thousands of lanes and few signs, and a guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism takes you to the main sights without the shop detours of unofficial guides. Our Fes city tour takes about 5 hours.
Why Travel with Us?
Explore the Sahara Desert, High Atlas Mountains, and Imperial Cities with our expert guides. Whether you need a luxury camp in Merzouga or a cultural deep-dive in Fes, we craft the itinerary around you.
Getting lost in the medina is part of the magic, but only when you know you have a local friend to guide you out. We don't just drive you; we introduce you to the real Morocco.
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We don't have offices in London or New York. We are based right here in Marrakech. We drive these roads every week to ensure the quality of every camp and riad.
“The 3-day Erg Chebbi desert tour was the highlight of our year. Lahcen's team didn't just drive us; they shared their home. Sleeping under the stars in Merzouga is a memory I will cherish forever. Professional, safe, and deeply authentic.”
“We wanted a mix of luxury and culture for our honeymoon. MoroccoMagics crafted the perfect itinerary. From the bustling souks of Fes to the romantic Riad in Marrakech, every detail was handled. Having a private driver made all the difference.”
“Traveling with three kids in Morocco seemed daunting, but Samira's logistics were flawless. The pace was perfect, the guides were patient with the children, and we felt safe every step of the way. Truly a 5-star experience.”
