Marrakech to Chefchaouen: 3-Day Tour via Fez, Rabat & Casablanca

Summary

Fez’s winding souks, Chefchaouen’s blue glow, and the pulse of Morocco’s cities in one journey

You’ll wind through Morocco’s imperial cities from Marrakech to Chefchaouen: feel marble chill beneath your feet at Casablanca’s mosque, taste fresh bread in Fez’s tangled medina, sip mint tea among blue-washed walls in Chefchaouen, and catch sunlight on Rabat’s ancient stones. These days linger long after you return—each city leaves its own mark.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that really hit me was the sound — not the call to prayer or anything dramatic, just the muffled chatter outside Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque as we stepped out of the van. Our guide Youssef grinned and pointed at my shoes (I’d worn sandals, mistake) and said something about “marble feet.” The floor was cool and smooth, almost slippery underfoot. I remember the faint smell of sea air mixing with incense from a nearby stall. It was only our first stop after leaving Marrakech that morning and already I felt like I’d landed somewhere else entirely.

Later that day, we wound through cedar forests near Ifrane — Youssef called it “Little Switzerland,” which made us all laugh because honestly it looked nothing like what I pictured Switzerland to be. We stopped for photos and watched a family of baboon monkeys picking at pinecones. My hands got sticky from an orange I bought off a roadside vendor; he winked when he handed me change, his fingers stained with fruit juice. By nightfall we reached Fez, checked into a riad with tile floors cold as river stones, and I slept hard despite the city sounds drifting up from the street below.

The next morning Fez’s medina swallowed us whole. Our local guide Fatima led us through alleys so narrow my backpack kept bumping walls — she knew every shortcut, every bakery where you could smell bread before you saw it. In the Mellah (the old Jewish quarter), she paused by a faded blue door and told us about her grandmother lighting candles there during Shabbat. There was something in her voice — pride maybe? Or just memory. The souks were chaos: copper hammers ringing out, donkeys squeezing past with baskets of mint (the scent stuck to my sleeves). We left Fez behind in the afternoon light, winding north toward Chefchaouen.

Arriving in Chefchaouen felt like stepping into a watercolor painting someone left out in the rain. Everything blue — doors, steps, even flowerpots — but not all the same shade. Our guesthouse owner brought sweet mint tea on a tray and laughed when I tried to pronounce “Chaouen” properly (I definitely didn’t). That evening we wandered with our guide through quiet lanes as dusk settled; locals sat on stoops chatting in Darija while kids played soccer with a half-flat ball. It felt peaceful in a way that stuck with me long after.

The drive back south took us through Rabat for a quick walk around Hassan Tower — sunlight bouncing off red stone — before heading home to Marrakech. The trip blurred together at times but certain moments still flicker: cold marble underfoot, Fatima’s stories in Fez, blue paint on my fingertips from leaning against a wall in Chefchaouen. If you’re thinking about this route from Marrakech to Chefchaouen via Fez and Rabat… well, just go hungry for both food and stories.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Fez via Casablanca and Ifrane

• Visit Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
• Take photo break in cedar forest
• Tour Ifrane city
• Arrive and check in hotel in Fez

Day 2 — Explore Fez and travel to Chefchaouen

• Guided tour of Fez medina and souks
• Visit palaces, mosques, and Koranic schools
• Explore Fez Mellah Jewish Quarter
• Drive to Chefchaouen in Rif Mountains
• Evening stroll in Chefchaouen streets
• Overnight in local riad

Day 3 — Chefchaouen to Marrakech via Rabat

• Breakfast and final stroll in Chefchaouen
• Travel to Rabat, Morocco's capital
• Visit Hassan Tower and King Mohammed V mausoleum
• Return journey to Marrakech
• Arrive in Marrakech and end tour

Top questions

How long does it take to travel from Marrakech to Chefchaouen?

The full journey is spread over three days by comfortable vehicle with stops at major cities including Casablanca, Fez, and Rabat.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included at the start of your 3-day tour from Marrakech.

Are guided tours provided in each city?

You’ll have local guides for city tours in both Fez and Chefchaouen.

Where do you stay overnight during this trip?

You spend one night in a riad or hotel in Fez and another night at a guesthouse in Chefchaouen.

Is transportation wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options are wheelchair accessible throughout the tour.

Are meals included during the tour?

Your accommodation includes half board (breakfast and dinner), but lunches are not specified.

What is special about visiting Fez on this route?

You explore Morocco’s oldest medina with its souks, palaces, mosques, Koranic schools and Mellah (Jewish quarter).

Do you visit any famous landmarks along the way?

Yes—highlights include Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque and Rabat's Hassan Tower with King Mohammed V's mausoleum.

What’s included

Your three days include hotel pickup from Marrakech plus comfortable air-conditioned transport between cities; guided walking tours in both Fez and Chefchaouen; two nights’ accommodation—one at a traditional riad or hotel in Fez and another at a guesthouse in Chefchaouen—with breakfast and dinner provided so you can focus on soaking up every moment along the way.