The Best 2026 Escapes (All Private, All Worth It)
Fes is magical, but one or two day trips will give you the full spectrum of northern Morocco: blue mountains, Roman ruins, cedar forests, and holy hill towns.
Here are the six best day trips you can actually do comfortably from Fes in 2026 – no 4 a.m. wake-ups, no 16-hour marathons.
1. Chefchaouen – The Blue Pearl (The Classic & Still #1)
Travel time: 3h15–3h30 each way (newly paved road 2025)
Total day: 10–11 hours door-to-door
- 07:30 Departure from your riad
- Scenic drive through the Rif mountains
- 11:00 Arrive Chefchaouen – 4.5 hours free time
→ Wander the blue medina, hike to the Spanish Mosque for panoramic view, shop wool blankets & goat cheese, lunch on the plaza - Optional 45-min hike to Ras el-Maa waterfall
- 16:00 Depart → back in Fes 19:30–20:00
Price 2026: $85–120 pp (private car + driver, minimum 2 people)
Pro tip: Go Monday–Thursday for half the crowds.
2. Volubilis + Meknes + Moulay Idriss (The Roman & Imperial Day)
The perfect history-lover escape
Travel time: 45 min to Volubilis, then 30 min loops
Total day: 9 hours
- 08:00 Depart Fes
- Volubilis Roman ruins at opening (best light, zero crowds) – stunning mosaics & triumphal arch
- Moulay Idriss Zerhoun – white holy town tumbling down the hill (quick panoramic stop + coffee)
- Meknes: Bab Mansour gate, imperial granaries, Moulay Ismail mausoleum
- Lunch in Meknes medina (best pastilla in Morocco)
- Back in Fes by 17:00
Price: $75–110 pp
3. Chefchaouen + Akchour Waterfalls (Nature & Blue City Combo)
For active travelers who want both
Total day: 11–12 hours
- Early 06:45 departure
- 2-hour moderate hike to “God’s Bridge” natural arch & turquoise pools (easy trail, swimming possible May–Oct)
- Picnic lunch by the river
- 3 hours in Chefchaouen (blue streets + sunset from Spanish Mosque)
- Back in Fes 20:30
Price: $110–145 pp (includes guide for the hike)
4. Middle Atlas: Ifrane, Cedar Forest & Barbary Monkeys
Cool mountains & zero tourists
Total day: 8–9 hours
- Ifrane (“Moroccan Switzerland”) – alpine architecture & stone lions
- Azrou cedar forest – feed wild Barbary apes (they’ll jump on your car)
- Optional lake picnic or short forest walk
- Back in Fes by 16:30–17:00
Perfect for summer when Fes is 38 °C and Ifrane is 22 °C
5. Sefrou & Bhalil Village (The Hidden Jewels 30 Min Away)
The anti-Chefchaouen: authentic, almost zero tourists
Total day: 7 hours
- Sefrou old medina & waterfall
- Bhalil troglodyte painted caves (families still live inside rainbow-colored cave houses)
- Lunch in a local home (incredible home-cooked food)
- Back in Fes by 15:30
Price: $65–95 pp
6. Overnight Chefchaouen Add-On (The Smart Way)
Because one day is never enough
Day 1: Morning departure → full afternoon + sunset + dinner + night in a blue riad
Day 2: Sunrise hike to Spanish Mosque → breakfast → explore upper kasbah → return to Fes by lunch
The difference between “saw it” and “fell in love with it”.
2026 Practical Info
- All trips are private 4×4 or comfortable sedan (never shared minibus)
- English-speaking driver (or licensed guide if you prefer)
- Free cancellation up to 48h
- Child seats available
- We can combine any two half-day trips into one full day if you want maximum variety
Ready for Your Perfect Fes Day Trip?
Just tell us:
- Your date(s) in Fes
- How many people
- Your vibe (blue city / history / nature / food / chill)
We’ll send you exact timing, real photos from last week, and instant quote within an hour.
Phone & Whatsapp: +212 667 698 802
Gmail: toursmoroccotoursofficial@gmail.com
Fes is the heart, but northern Morocco is the soul.
Come see both. 🇲🇦💙
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