Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

Fez, Rabat and Marrakech
Imperial Morocco by Train

Fez - Rabat - Marrakech

Starting from between £1,720 to £2,345 per person for 8 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • Travel First Class by train from Fez to Marrakech
  • Explore Fez with a local guide
  • Visit the historic sites of Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes
  • See Rabat with a private guide and driver
  • Visit the Yves Saint-Laurent Museum in Marrakech
There’s no doubt that ‘The Imperial Cities of Morocco’ has a great ring to it, but this name hasn’t simply been cooked up by the tourist office. In fact, Morocco’s long and complex past has given rise to four historic capitals, each one a maze of atmospheric alleyways, military monuments, famous mosques, zawiyas (Islamic religious buildings) and souqs. During this trip, you’ll discover them all. You’ll begin in Fez, a spiritual centre whose architectural and artistic treasures have a distinctly religious energy. As you explore the city with a local guide, you’ll become truly immersed in the traditional atmosphere of the Marinids’ capital city. A little to the southwest in Meknes, you’ll sink further into the splendour of Imperial Morocco. A train will then take you to Rabat, the country’s current capital, which is located beside the Atlantic. Fortified by the Almohad empire, Rabat was also capital in the 18th century, under Alaouite sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah. Your second and final train journey takes you to Marrakech, home of the Djemaa el-Fna Square, El Badi Palace and Saadian tombs. Like the other cities, Marrakech promises stunning architecture, shady medinas and the smell of leather and spices to accompany you as you explore.
Marrakech - Maroc © Britney Gill
Marrakech - Maroc © Britney Gill
Marrakech - Maroc © Britney Gill
Marrakech - Maroc © Britney Gill
Place Jemaa el-Fna - Marrakech - Maroc © Stefan Volk/LAIF-REA
Place Jemaa el-Fna - Marrakech - Maroc © Stefan Volk/LAIF-REA
Medersa Ben Youssef - Marrakech - Maroc © Marion Osmont
Medersa Ben Youssef - Marrakech - Maroc © Marion Osmont
Fès - Maroc © Karawan Riad
Fès - Maroc © Karawan Riad
Fès - Maroc © Karawan Riad
Fès - Maroc © Karawan Riad
Fès - Maroc © Thomas Kierok/LAIF-REA
Fès - Maroc © Thomas Kierok/LAIF-REA
Fès - Maroc © Thomas Kierok/LAIF-REA
Fès - Maroc © Thomas Kierok/LAIF-REA
Marrakech - Maroc © James Rajotte / Gallery Stock
Marrakech - Maroc © James Rajotte / Gallery Stock
Marrakech - Maroc © Samantha Faivre
Marrakech - Maroc © Samantha Faivre
Marrakech - Maroc © Jérôme Galland
Marrakech - Maroc © Jérôme Galland
Marrakech - Maroc © Villa Nomade
Marrakech - Maroc © Villa Nomade
Volubilis - Maroc © Wafa Laksiri
Volubilis - Maroc © Wafa Laksiri
Rabat - Maroc © SmallWorldProduction/Lena Langendoerfer/stock.adobe.com
Rabat - Maroc © SmallWorldProduction/Lena Langendoerfer/stock.adobe.com
Rabat - Maroc © SmallWorldProduction/Lena Langendoerfer/stock.adobe.com
Rabat - Maroc © SmallWorldProduction/Lena Langendoerfer/stock.adobe.com
Marrakech - Maroc © Terence Connors
Marrakech - Maroc © Terence Connors
Marrakech - Maroc © Britney Gill
Marrakech - Maroc © Britney Gill

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Your trip to Morocco begins with a flight to Fez, which takes just over three hours. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport and privately transferred to your home for the next three nights, a refined riad full of elegant artwork. Unwind after your journey with a trip to the hammam, take in the view from the rooftop terrace, or head to the beautiful courtyard for a cup of traditional tea. This evening, enjoy a meal of modern Moroccan cuisine in the dining room.

We’ll arrange for you to see Fez in the company of a local today, who will guide you around the old town’s maze of alleys while letting you in on the secrets of life in the city. As you stroll, let yourself be carried away by the enthusiasm your companion has for their home. Learn about food and culinary traditions at the market and in a café under a mulberry tree; discover architecture and crafts at the 14th-century Bou Inania Madrasa and the trade districts; and visit the Andalusian gardens during a stroll in the Jnan Sbil garden, established in the 18th century. This is your chance to get to the heart of what this city is all about, and to pick up some tips and advice for the rest of your trip.

Because of their proximity to each other, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes can all be visited in one go. You’ll explore them today with a private guide. First is the Berber-Roman city of Volubilis, capital of olive oil in ancient Mauretania. This vast site evokes a real sense of what the prosperous cities of North Africa were once like, and the many mosaics testify to the value of art in the Roman world. Meknes has a long history. Founded in the 11th century, it acted as the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismaïl from 1672 to 1727. Many of the great monuments that have earned Meknes a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list date from this era. 18 miles north of Meknes you’ll find Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, which houses the late eighth-century tomb of Idriss I, the first major Islamic ruler of Morocco and the founder of Fez, who died in Volubilis.

Today you’ll travel to Morocco’s capital by train, which takes three hours. When you arrive, you’ll head straight to your intimate riad in the medina, where you’ll spend two nights. This afternoon, spend some time on the shady patio surrounded by flowers, or take a dip in the pool before a spa treatment. A delicious Moroccan meal is yours to tuck into tonight at the restaurant.

With a private guide and a driver at your disposal, you’ll visit the great monuments of Morocco’s modern capital. You’ll begin with the Kasbah of the Udayas, a striking citadel built in the 12th century by the Almohads. Also built by the Almohads, The Hassan Tower is a real emblem of Rabat, an impressive minaret of an incomplete mosque. In Chellah, you’ll find traces of a Roman city and those that came after it. It eventually became a burial site for the Marinid dynasty, and this fortified necropolis is both peaceful and opulent. Finally, the Dar al-Makhzen (Royal Palace of Rabat) is a beautiful classical-style structure built in the 19th century. Along the way, you’ll stop for coffee or tea to keep you fuelled up as you explore.

This morning you’ll take a three-and-a-half-hour train to Marrakech, where you’ll spend your last two nights in Morocco. You’ll find your accommodation in the medina behind a solid studded door that allows you to shut away the hustle and bustle of the souq, so all that’s left to listen to is the murmur of a fountain. Whether you’re in the large shaded patio or the excellent restaurant, every part of this riad celebrates the Moroccan way of life. Once you’ve settled in, head out into the city to bag some bargains in the souk, enjoy a plateful of traditional tagine, or sip a sunset drink on a rooftop.

We’ll get you tickets for the Jardin Majorelle, the Berber Museum and the Yves Saint-Laurent Museum today. The garden, created in the 1930s by French painter Jacques Majorelle, is a mesmerising mix of luscious plants, trickling water and colourful architecture. This is also where you’ll find the Berber Museum, a collection of 600 pieces of art and ethnographic artefacts collected by Pierre Bergé and installed on the ground floor of the famous blue villa. This museum documents the story of a civilisation that’s both ancient and contemporary. The Yves Saint-Laurent Museum, meanwhile, invites you to be enchanted by this couturier's work through clothes, accessories, photographs and drawings. Designed by Studio KO, the building that houses the museum is something in itself. You’ll have the whole day to visit these three fascinating places at your leisure.

Today your holiday sadly comes to an end, so we will privately transfer you to the airport where you’ll board your three-hour flight back to the UK.

Suggestions

Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included

FEZ WITH FRÉDÉRIC CALMÈS



Researcher, storyteller, player of guembri and member of the Sufi Hamadcha Brotherhood, Frédéric Calmès can offer you a global understanding of Fez. During this tour with him, you’ll discuss the historical, anthropological, architectural, artistic and spiritual aspects of the city. You’ll have the opportunity to visit key cultural spots – some of which aren’t usually accessible to tourists ¬– and meet musicians, Sufis and craftsmen who are waiting to share their skills and knowledge. As you visit workshops, souks, mausoleums, mosques and more, you’ll learn about what links them all, the element to which Fez owes its prosperity: water. This meeting offers a rare and detailed insight into what makes Fez the city it is.

Why visit Morocco with Original Travel

Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.

ENQUIRE NOW

A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Morocco

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

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A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £1,720 to £2,345 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £2,000 per person.

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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday

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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities

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All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges