Day Trip from Fes to Chefchaouen, the Blue City
Chefchaouen, the town painted every shade of blue, sits in a fold of the Rif mountains about three and a half hours north of Fes. This private day trip gives you the drive in comfort, a local guide for the medina if you want one, and the freedom to wander its stairways, sip tea on Outa el-Hammam square and watch the sunset over the rooftops before returning to Fes.
- Duration: about 12 hours
- Starts and ends: your riad or hotel in Fes
- Distance: about 200 km each way (3 hours 30 minutes)
- Walking: moderate, many steps in the medina
- Price: on request, depends on group size
Highlights
- The blue-washed lanes and stairways of the old medina
- Outa el-Hammam square and the red-walled kasbah
- The Ras el-Ma spring where locals still wash wool
- Sunset view from the Spanish Mosque on the hill
- Olive groves and Rif mountain scenery on the road
- Optional local guide for the medina
Day by Day
Day 1: Fes → Chefchaouen → Fes
Departure from Fes around 8:00, driving north through Ouezzane and the olive-covered hills of the Rif. Arrive in Chefchaouen late morning for a guided walk through the blue quarters, the kasbah gardens and the weaving workshops. Lunch on a terrace, free time to explore and shop for wool blankets and goat cheese, then a short hike to the Spanish Mosque for the view. Return to Fes in the evening.
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver
- Fuel, tolls and bottled water
Not included: local guide (optional), lunch, kasbah entrance, tips.
Good to Know
- Long day: if you can, stay the night instead; see the 5 day Tangier to Casablanca tour or ask for a one-way transfer with an overnight stop.
- Photos: mornings are quieter in the most famous lanes.
- Respect: some residents dislike being photographed; always ask first.