Multi-day · 5 days
Imperial Cities in Five Days
Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, Volubilis and Fes — privately chauffeured
Duration
5 days
Group size
2–6 travellers
Difficulty
Easy
Languages
English, French, Arabic
From / person
$1,480
Overview
Five days covering the four Moroccan imperial capitals — Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes and Fes — plus the Roman city of Volubilis, with private historian guides in each city.
Morocco's royal cities form a natural circuit across the northern plains. This five-day private journey threads them together at a civilised pace: a morning with Hassan II's extraordinary mosque on the Atlantic, the Chellah necropolis in Rabat at golden hour, Moulay Ismail's extraordinary stables at Meknes, the Roman city of Volubilis almost to yourself at dusk, and two full days inside the ancient medina of Fes.
You stay in riads inside each medina, move with a dedicated driver for the duration, and meet university-trained historians in Meknes and Fes. Driving legs are short — never more than two hours — leaving proper time in every city.
Trip highlights
- Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca — the world's third-largest
- Chellah Roman-Marinid necropolis, Rabat, at sunset
- Moulay Ismail's royal stables and Bab Mansour gate, Meknes
- Volubilis Roman ruins with a private archaeologist
- Two days in Fes el-Bali with a medieval historian
- Chouara tanneries from a private terrace
Photo gallery
Inside the trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Casablanca → Fes
- 1
Day 1 · Casablanca arrival & Hassan II Mosque
CasablancaAirport pickup and a morning visit to the Hassan II Mosque — the only mosque in Morocco open to non-Muslims — with its 210m minaret cantilevered over the Atlantic. Lunch in the art-deco Maarif quarter, then train to Rabat (1h) and an evening walk inside the Chellah, a walled necropolis blending Roman and Marinid ruins.
Riad in Rabat medina L - 2
Day 2 · Rabat medina & kasbah
RabatMorning with our Rabat guide: the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. Afternoon at leisure in the clean, unhurried medina. Dinner at a neighbourhood restaurant in the old city.
Riad in Rabat medina B · L - 3
Day 3 · Rabat → Meknes → Volubilis → Fes
Imperial heartland · 200kmDrive east to Meknes (1.5h): the monumental Bab Mansour gate, Moulay Ismail's enormous granaries and royal stables. Continue 30 minutes to Volubilis — Morocco's finest Roman site, with intact triumphal arch and mosaic floors — ideally arriving in late afternoon when the light turns amber and the crowds thin. On to Fes for a late dinner (45 minutes).
Riad in Fes el-Bali B · L - 4
Day 4 · Fes el-Bali with the historian
Fes el-Bali medinaA full day on foot with our medieval-history guide. The Bou Inania madrasa, Karaouine mosque-university (founded 859 AD, the world's oldest), the Chouara tanneries from a private leather merchant's terrace, the kissaria textile quarter, and lunch in a Fassi riad kitchen. Evening at leisure.
Riad in Fes B · L - 5
Day 5 · Fes artisans & departure
FesMorning in the artisan quarter: a brass-and-copper workshop, the Andalusian quarter across the river. Transfer to Fes airport (FEZ) for your onward flight, or extend into Chefchaouen — we'll re-quote.
B
Cities & regions on this trip
You'll experience 5 destinations.
Each stop has its own deep-dive guide — geography, history, best season, things to see, and other tours that visit it. Tap any card to open its dedicated page.
Imperial city · Northern Morocco
Fes
The world's largest car-free medieval city, and Morocco's spiritual capital.
Open guide
Atlantic coast · Central Morocco
Casablanca
Morocco's modern economic capital — art deco, the Hassan II Mosque, and the easiest international gateway.
Open guideCapital · Atlantic coast
Rabat
Morocco's calm, green capital — kasbah, royal monuments and an unhurried medina.
Open guideImperial city · Northern Morocco
Meknes
The quiet imperial city of Moulay Ismail — monumental gates, vast granaries and Roman Volubilis next door.
Open guideNorthern Morocco · Meknès-Tafilalet
Volubilis & Moulay Idriss
Volubilis and Moulay Idriss together form the most historically layered day in Morocco — Roman mosaics beneath a hilltop holy town near Meknes.
Open guideThe route
Map of Imperial Cities in Five Days
5 stops across Multi-day. Distances and timings are flexible — every itinerary is reshaped to your pace.
- 1
Casablanca
Start
- 2
Rabat
Nights 1–2
- 3
Meknes
- 4
Volubilis
Roman ruins
- 5
Fes
Nights 3–4
What's included
- Private English-speaking driver-guide for the duration
- Vehicle (sedan, 4x4 or minivan) with fuel, tolls and parking
- All listed accommodation in hand-picked riads, kasbahs or desert camps
- Daily breakfast and meals as noted in the itinerary
- All listed entrance fees and guided activities
- Airport pickup and drop-off with flight tracking
- Bottled water and snacks on board
- 24/7 WhatsApp concierge based in Marrakech
Not included
- International flights to/from Morocco
- Travel insurance (we recommend a provider)
- Alcoholic drinks and personal shopping
- Optional activities marked “add-on” in your quote
- Tips for driver, guides and camp staff
What to bring
Pack light, pack smart.
- Comfortable walking shoes (medina cobblestones)
- Layers — even desert nights can drop to 5°C
- Sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 30+
- Modest cover-up for mosques and conservative areas
- Reusable water bottle (we refill on the road)
- Adaptor for Type C/E plugs (220V)
Frequently asked
Questions about this tour.
Is "Imperial Cities in Five Days" private or a group tour?
100% private. Just you and the people you book with — your own driver, vehicle and pace from start to finish. We never pool travellers.
Can I change the dates or itinerary?
Yes. Every itinerary is a starting point. Add a day, swap a riad, change the start city — we'll re-quote in 24 hours and lock the price in writing before any deposit.
How fit do I need to be?
Moderate. Expect 2–4 hours of light walking per day and one or two longer driving days. We pace days carefully and stop often.
When should I book?
For high season (Oct–Apr) and any trip involving the Sahara or hot-air balloon, book 8–12 weeks ahead. Last-minute (under 14 days) is usually still possible with a phone call.
Can this itinerary start in Marrakech instead of Casablanca?
Easily. We add a high-speed train leg from Marrakech to Casablanca (2.5h in first class) or a private driver transfer, re-quoting accordingly. Many clients fly into Marrakech and out of Fes — this one-way routing works very neatly.
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