Northern Morocco Holiday: Fes, Chefchaouen & Tangier

Starting from between £1,670 to £2,665 per person for 8 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

In northern Morocco, combine cultural richness with the beauty of the Rif and coastal landscapes

Charming riads in the heart of UNESCO-listed medinas, a hidden guesthouse in Tangier: your refined accommodation

Fez as you please with an enthusiastic guide, Chefchaouen's medina in private: already included

Local Concierge, car on hand, all our usual additional services

Seeking out central and northern Morocco: that's the aim of this triptych trip starting from Fez, the country's historical and cultural capital. The alleyways of the UNESCO-listed medina, Andalusian gardens, myriad palaces and minarets, mosques and caravanserais make for one of the most evocative of all destinations. This introduction is also an opportunity to learn more about Islam and Sufism during a musical encounter with a storyteller. After wallowing in culture, now it's time to experience Morocco's other great strength - landscapes and nature. You'll drive your car along the road that runs towards the northern peninsula, under the Rif's peaks, towards Chefchaouen. Blending Moroccan and Andalusian traditions, its old medina is also listed with UNESCO and therefore merits a tour with a guide - already included in your itinerary. Within the walls, the ethnographic museum's collections trace the region's craftsmanship, beliefs and culture. The third and final chapter of this journey takes place on the outskirts of the Strait of Gibraltar, the meeting point between two continents. Tangier, one of the oldest cities in North Africa, has long atracted artists, fascinated by its light. Some legendary places, such as the Hafa cafe overlooking the bay or the Librairie des Colonnes, have helped to write the history of this cosmopolitan city by the sea. Its pleasant climate and the lack of bad weather in this area mean this trip is possible at almost any time of year - it's a nice break for a couple or with friends.

YOUR ACCOMMODATION

This trip not only explores northern Morocco in depth, but is also noted for its charming accommodation along the route. Your first property is in the heart of the medina in Fez - the largest surviving medieval cityscape in the world. The ten-year renovation has resulted in a rare balance of Ottoman elegance and modernity within the property. The place oozes charm: cedar wood, wrought iron, black marble, zellige tiles and shabby-chic pieces. In Chefchaouen afterwards, you arrive in a haven of tranquillity in the midst of the medina's bustling alleyways. The rooms overlook the Rif mountains, while the traditional baths and hammams promise pleasant relaxation. Finally, in Tangier, a guesthouse awaits. Set around the patio and its swimming pool, its bedrooms have a cosy atmosphere. From the roof terrace, the city is lively at all hours of the day and night, while in the distance, the sea completes this colourful scene.

Tangier - Morocco © juriskraulis/stock.adobe.com

Tangier - Morocco © Vlada Z/stock.adobe.com

Region Nuwara Eliya - Sri Lanka © ynos/stock.adobe.com

Medina - Morocco © SmallWorldProduction/stock.adobe.com

Interior - Madagascar © Droits reservés

Landscape near Fès - Morocco © Droits reservés

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

Arrival in Fez and private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation for three nights in the heart of the largest medina in the world, the Batha district. Andalusian-inspired, the decoration is very photogenic and the service is with a smile. Each of the five rooms in this traditional riad features a colour - white, orange, blue, red or green. As soon as it gets too hot, there's shade to be found on the roof, where sofas and tables are waiting. In terms of cuisine, Moroccan flavours are revisited with a refined twist.

This most imperial of Moroccan cities has been the kingdom's capital three times - in the 9th, 13th, and 19th centuries. The first Andalusian and Kairouan inhabitants, sophisticated urban dwellers, made the city an intellectual, artistic and religious centre.
Included in the itinerary - A meeting with a storyteller and musician. A member of the ancient Sufi Brotherhood of the Hamadcha of Fez and a storyteller specialising in traditional tales will take you on a journey of discovery through the city with the accent on its historical, anthropological, architectural, artistic and spiritual aspects. Meetings with musicians and craftsmen punctuate the visit. Gardens, caravanserais, souks, tanneries, mosques... You explore the city's main sites, including some which are not normally open to visitors, while bearing in mind the element to which Fez owes everything, from its foundation to its prosperity: water.

Hand-over of the car and road to Chefchaouen. Accommodation for two nights in the heart of the medina. Some rooms and terraces offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains. The riad revisits Moroccan traditions in a more modern style. Subdued lighting, enchanting fragrances, swimming pool, therapeutic treatments: everything invites you to let go.

The bewitching blue of Chefchaouen is one of Morocco's best-known images. Dominated by the peaks of the Rif mountains, the city blends Moroccan and Andalusian traditions, from the streets of the old medina to Uta el-Hammam Square. About 20 miles away, Talassemtane National Park has every imaginable shade of green.
Included in the itinerary - A private visit to the medina. Founded in the 16th century, Chefchaouen summarises the very turbulent history of this region. Long forbidden to non-Muslims, the city deserves the attention of passing travellers for its kasbah, its medina with typical Moorish architecture and its streets lined with lovely colourful houses, which you take to reach the main square. A private guide accompanies you and helps you to unlock the secrets of the old town.

Journey to Tangier and accommodation for two nights in a guesthouse in the centre, just minutes from the Place du Grand Socco. There are only a few rooms and each object, from the four corners of the globe, has its own history - a diversity that reflects Tangier's multicultural image. In the garden, a century-old palm tree, numerous orange trees, a multitude of flowers and green plants and a swimming pool that is cooling one even the warmest days. The rooftop, covered in plants and wide sofas, is the perfect place to escape the tumult of Tangier, have breakfast or simply quietly sip a drink.

At the crossroads of two seas and two continents, Tangier's construction was influenced by several cultures. It has long attracted artists from all walks of life, from Delacroix to Matisse, to numerous writers including Ernest Hemingway, Paul Bowles and Mohamed Choukri.
To see and do - Visit the Kasbah Museum, located in the ancient Dar el Makhzen Palace - cool off in the caves of Hercules - see a film at the cinema, dedicated to the seventh Moroccan and international art - picnic on the white sand, in the middle of town - stroll in the shade of Mendoubia Park's trees - sip mint tea facing the sea, at the Hafa cafe...

Return of the hire car and return flight.

A COOKERY WORKSHOP IN A RIAD

Moroccan culinary skill is ancient and Moroccan cuisine is one of the most famous in the world. Its refinement and subtlety are explained by its diverse origins - Jewish, Arab-Andalusian and Berber - and by the variety and authenticity of its products. Here, you reconnect with traditions, rediscover the tastes of yesteryear, flavours that are impressed on the palate and memory. The workshop includes a visit to the market to select ingredients, a hands-on course and a tasting of the dishes made.

Optional

TANGIER IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF A RESIDENT

Go for a stroll with a Tangier resident who knows every corner of the city and will share its well-kept secrets. In the maze of streets from the medina to the Kasbah, our enthusiastic guide reveals the secrets of the city, tells the story of this place where once French, Spanish and Arabic were spoken and which saw novelists and adventurers come to draw their inspiration from it.

Optional

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.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Morocco

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Oases of Morocco's North

Fez, Chefchaouen and Tangier