North · 8 days
The North & Imperial Circuit
Eight days: Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Meknes, Volubilis and Rabat
Duration
8 days
Group size
2–6 travellers
Difficulty
Easy
Languages
English, French, Spanish
From / person
$2,190
Overview
An eight-day private journey through Morocco's north: Tangier's kasbah, Chefchaouen's blue medina, Roman Volubilis, the imperial cities of Meknes and Fes, and the Atlantic capital Rabat — all in one private vehicle.
Morocco's north is the most underrated part of the country. This eight-day circuit covers ground that most visitors never reach: the sophisticated port city of Tangier with its Beat Generation cafés, the astonishing blue medina of Chefchaouen tucked into the Rif mountains, the Roman ruins of Volubilis glowing amber at dusk, and two full days in Fes el-Bali — the world's oldest living medina — before ending in the clean, walkable streets of Rabat.
The driving legs are short and purposeful: we never push through a city just to arrive somewhere else. Each overnight is inside the medina in a hand-picked riad. The pace is slow enough for real conversation with the private historians we arrange in Fes and Meknes.
Trip highlights
- Tangier kasbah and the Beat Generation cafés with a literary historian
- Two slow days inside Chefchaouen's blue medina
- Volubilis Roman ruins at golden hour — triumphal arch, intact mosaics
- Meknes royal stables and the monumental Bab Mansour gate
- Two full days in Fes el-Bali with a private medieval historian
- Rabat's Kasbah of the Udayas and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
Photo gallery
Inside the trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Tangier → Rabat
- 1
Day 1 · Arrive Tangier
Tangier kasbahArrive at Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport or the Tangier-Ville ferry terminal; private transfer to a riad inside the kasbah. Afternoon walk along the seafront corniche and up through the narrow medina lanes. Sunset aperitif at Café Hafa — the clifftop café above the Strait of Gibraltar, open since 1921.
Riad in Tangier kasbah — - 2
Day 2 · Tangier: kasbah, museum and the literary city
Tangier old cityFull day with a Tangier historian: the American Legation museum (the only US national landmark on foreign soil), the kasbah museum, and the cafés of the Socco Chico frequented by Paul Bowles, William Burroughs and Jack Kerouac. Lunch at Gran Café de Paris. Afternoon at leisure in the Grand Socco.
Riad in Tangier kasbah B · L - 3
Day 3 · Tangier → Chefchaouen
Rif mountains · 120kmTwo-hour drive south into the Rif through cedar and cork-oak forest. Arrive in Chefchaouen by midday — the blue-washed medina is best explored before the afternoon day-trippers depart. Rooftop lunch overlooking Plaza Uta el-Hammam, free afternoon to wander the blue alleys.
Riad in Chefchaouen medina B · L - 4
Day 4 · Chefchaouen: sunrise walk and Spanish mosque hike
Blue medinaSunrise walk through the blue lanes before any other visitor arrives — the most photogenic hour in Morocco. Breakfast back at the riad, then a 45-minute hike up to the Spanish mosque viewpoint above the town for the panoramic view of the medina and the Rif peaks. Afternoon at leisure; evening in the Andalusian quarter.
Riad in Chefchaouen medina B - 5
Day 5 · Chefchaouen → Fes
via Ouazzane · 200kmThree-hour drive south-east through the Rif foothills and olive country to Fes. Arrive by early afternoon with time for a first medina walk and tea on a riad rooftop overlooking the densest urban fabric in the world. Early dinner and rest ahead of the full medina day.
Riad in Fes el-Bali B · D - 6
Day 6 · Fes el-Bali with the medieval historian
Fes medinaFull day on foot with our university-trained medieval historian: the Bou Inania madrasa, the Karaouine mosque-university (founded 859 AD, the world's oldest continuously operating university), the Chouara tanneries from a private leather merchant's terrace, the kissaria textile souk, and a Fassi family lunch. Evening at leisure.
Riad in Fes el-Bali B · L - 7
Day 7 · Fes → Meknes → Volubilis → Rabat
Imperial heartland · 240kmDrive west to Meknes (1.5h): the vast Bab Mansour gate, Moulay Ismail's royal stables (stabling 12,000 horses) and the extraordinary subterranean granaries. Continue 30 minutes to Volubilis — the best-preserved Roman city in North Africa, with a triumphal arch, intact mosaic floors and a sweeping view of olive groves. Arrive late afternoon for the golden-hour light. Drive on to Rabat (1.5h) for dinner.
Riad in Rabat medina B · L - 8
Day 8 · Rabat: kasbah, mausoleum and departure
RabatMorning walk: the Kasbah of the Udayas overlooking the Bou Regreg river estuary, the 12th-century Hassan Tower, and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V — one of the finest examples of modern Moroccan architecture. Transfer to Rabat-Salé Airport, or continue by train to Casablanca airport (1h).
B
Cities & regions on this trip
You'll experience 6 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
Rif mountains · Chefchaouen Province, Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma
Chefchaouen
Morocco's blue pearl — a 15th-century mountain medina painted in cobalt and lime.
Open guideStrait of Gibraltar · Northern Morocco
Tangier
Where Africa meets Europe — kasbah, ferry port and the international city of Bowles and Matisse.
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 The North & Imperial Circuit
6 stops across North. Distances and timings are flexible — every itinerary is reshaped to your pace.
- 1
Tangier
Start · 2 nights
- 2
Chefchaouen
Nights 3–4
- 3
Fes
Nights 5–6
- 4
Meknes
Day 7 stop
- 5
Volubilis
Roman ruins
- 6
Rabat
Night 7 · End
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 "The North & Imperial Circuit" 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 tour start from Casablanca or Marrakech instead of Tangier?
Yes — many clients fly into Casablanca and take the high-speed train north to Tangier (2h 10min) to join the circuit at Day 1. Others reverse the itinerary, starting in Rabat and ending in Tangier for a ferry crossing to Spain. We'll re-route and re-quote in 24 hours.
Is Chefchaouen worth two nights?
Absolutely. The blue medina looks completely different at sunrise, noon, late afternoon and after dark. Two nights lets you see it without the day-trip crowds on the second morning and gives you the Spanish mosque hike, which most day-trippers skip. One night is possible if your schedule is tight — but you will want more time.
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