Chefchaouen Day Trip from Fez: Blue City & Waterfall

The drive to Chefchaouen surprises you before you arrive

You get picked up from your Fez hotel, drive through the Rif Mountains with stops at Sidi Shahid Dam and a panoramic viewpoint, then spend four hours exploring Chefchaouen's blue medina on your own, visiting the Kasbah Museum, Uta el-Hammam Square, and Ras el-Maa Waterfall if you choose. Hotel pickup, minibus transport, and a multilingual driver are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day trip from Fez to Chefchaouen

• Depart from Fez
• Visit Sidi Shahid Dam for photos
• Take break at local café
• Stop for panoramic Chefchaouen view
• Explore Chefchaouen medina streets
• Visit Uta el-Hammam Square and Kasbah Museum
• See Grand Mosque and Ras Elma River
• Visit Ethnographic Museum
• Lunch (not included)
• Return to Fez

The experience

You don't expect the streets to actually be that blue. Not in photographs: in person, walking through the medina of Chefchaouen after a two-hour drive from Fez, the color hits different. The minibus picks you up from your hotel in the morning and heads north toward the Rif Mountains, stopping first at Sidi Shahid Dam where the light is good and the valley spreads out below you. It's the kind of stop that makes sense halfway through: time to stretch, take photos, grab coffee at a local café. Then the road climbs, and somewhere on the outskirts of the city, your driver pulls over one more time so you can see Chefchaouen whole, the blue buildings stacked on the hillside like someone painted the entire place and forgot to stop.

Once you're in the medina, you have about four hours to move at your own pace. The streets are narrow enough that you can touch both walls, and they're lined with shops selling rugs, ceramics, and the kind of things you didn't know you wanted until you saw them. Uta el-Hammam Square is the center: the Kasbah Museum sits there, built in the early 18th century, and if you want to go inside you can, but most people just sit at one of the cafés and watch other tourists navigate the same blue alleyways you're in. The Ethnographic Museum has traditional instruments and old photographs if you want context. Ras el-Maa River runs through the old city too, and the waterfall is there if you follow it. You're not on a schedule once you arrive. The guide is there if you need help, but the four hours are yours.

Lunch isn't included, which means you eat where you want. There are restaurants in the medina, some tourist-focused, some not. After you've walked enough and eaten, the minibus collects you in the afternoon for the drive back to Fez. It's a long day (the round trip is substantial), but the surprise of actually seeing that blue, and having time to get lost in it without being herded through, is what makes it work.

What’s included

Hotel pickup from your Fez accommodation, comfortable air-conditioned minibus transport, three scenic stops en route (Sidi Shahid Dam, refreshment break, and a panoramic viewpoint of Chefchaouen), four hours of free time in the medina, and a knowledgeable multilingual driver throughout the day. A local guide is provided when the group reaches 8 passengers or more.

Options for this experience

4 options

Group tour for up to 27 people08:00Shared group option for up to 27 participants, who travel together to the iconic Blue City of Chefchaouen. The trip lasts about 12 hours, leaving from Fes, arriving in Chefchaouen, and returning to Fes. Food and drinks are not included. Transport from Fes to Chefchaouen is by air-conditioned minibus or minivan. Pickup is included.

Group tour for up to 17 people08:00Shared group trip for up to 17 travelers, who explore the captivating Blue City of Chefchaouen together. Lasts 12 hours. Food and drinks are not included. Travel from Fes to Chefchaouen by air-conditioned minibus or minivan. Pickup is included.

Private day trip to Chefchaouen08:00 and 08:30Private day trip lasting 12 hours. Food and drinks are not included. The journey starts in Fes, continues to Chefchaouen, and drives back to Fes. Travel in a private, air-conditioned car. Hotel pickup and drop-off: our driver collects you from and returns you to your accommodation in Fes. Pickup is included.

Group tour for up to 8 people08:00Shared tour with a local guide in Chefchaouen for groups of up to 8 people. Lasts 12 hours. Food and drinks are not included. Travel from Fes to Chefchaouen in an air-conditioned minivan or minibus. Extra detail: the guided portion is about 40 minutes, after which you have free time to explore on your own. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 12h, runs every day at 08:00 and 08:30, from US$ 29 per person and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to2h before

AgesUp to age 90

GroupUp to 27

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Morocco Shared Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Chefchaouen without arranging your own transport from Fez and prefer to explore the medina at your own pace rather than follow a fixed itinerary. The long drive is what makes a full afternoon in the blue city possible in a single day.

Traveler reviews

4.93★★★★★★★★★★

335 verified traveler reviews

5 ★316

4 ★15

3 ★3

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Fez to Chefchaouen?

Around two hours each way, with scenic stops included on the route.

Is a guide included for the whole day?

A local guide is provided for a short visit when the group has 8 or more passengers. Otherwise, the multilingual driver is available to help.

How much free time do you have in Chefchaouen?

Approximately four hours to explore the medina, visit museums, and wander at your own pace.

Is lunch included?

No, lunch is not included. You can eat at restaurants in the medina during your free time.

Does the tour include entry to museums?

Museum entries are not mentioned as included. You pay separately if you choose to visit the Kasbah Museum or Ethnographic Museum.

What if I have young children?

Infants and small children can use a pram or stroller. Specialized infant seats are available in the minibus.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

The medina has steep, narrow streets with uneven surfaces. It's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

What time does the tour start?

Hotel pickup is arranged in the morning. Specific times depend on your hotel location in Fez.