Private Day Trip from Rabat to Fes: UNESCO Medina with Guide

See Fes's medieval heart in one day, from the Royal Palace to the leather tanneries

A private full-day tour from Rabat to Fes with round-trip transport, English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle. You depart between 7 and 9 a.m., drive two and a half hours to Fes, then spend the day walking the UNESCO medina with stops at the Royal Palace, North Tower, Jewish Quarter, Kairaouine Mosque, Chouara Tannery, and two historic madrasas before returning to Rabat. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language. Children from age one are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Royal Palace of Fez20m
2. Kairaouine Mosque25m
3. Bou Inania Madrasa20m
4. Al-Attarine Madrasa15m

Full day trip from Rabat to Fes

• Depart Rabat between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM
• Drive to Fes via motorway (2.5 hours)
• Meet tour guide in Fes
• Visit Royal Palace of Fes
• Explore North Tower and Museum of Arms
• Visit Jewish Quarter
• Tour Quaraouiyine University
• Explore Chouara Tannery
• Visit Madrasa Bou Inania
• Visit Madrasa Attarine
• Return drive to Rabat
• Drop off at accommodation in Rabat

The experience

You're picked up from your Rabat accommodation between 7 and 9 a.m. and driven two and a half hours south on the motorway to Fes. The air-conditioned vehicle and WiFi on board mean the journey itself is comfortable. Once you arrive, your guide meets you and walks you through the medina: a maze of narrow streets where leather workers, spice merchants and artisans still work as they have for centuries.

The tour moves through specific stops: the Royal Palace, built in the 1270s and expanded through the 20th century with ornate gates and courtyards you can photograph from outside; the North Tower, a 1582 fortress now housing the Museum of Arms, where you climb for views across the whole city; the Jewish Quarter established in the 14th century near the palace for protection; and the Kairaouine Mosque, founded in 857 as a spiritual center and now Morocco's state university. You also visit the Chouara Tannery, the largest and oldest of Fes's three tanneries, where workers still use stone vessels filled with dyes and softening liquids. The leather goods made here are sold worldwide. Two madrasas round out the stops: the Bou Inania, built between 1350 and 1355 and the only madrasa in Morocco that also served as a congregational mosque, and the Al-Attarine, which once housed students studying at the Kairaouine University.

After the day in Fes, you meet your driver for the return to Rabat, arriving back at your accommodation as the day ends. The whole tour runs about eight hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Private round-trip transportation from your Rabat accommodation.
• English-speaking guide fluent in four additional languages.
• air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• entry to the sites you visit in the medina.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (1 to 15 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Private Taxi Rabat

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Rabat without a car and want to see Fes's medieval core in a single day. The private vehicle picks you up from your accommodation and handles all the driving, so you avoid arranging transport separately or navigating unfamiliar roads.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 15 years).

How long is the drive from Rabat to Fes?

The motorway drive takes about two and a half hours each way, so you spend roughly five hours traveling and three hours exploring Fes itself.

What is the Chouara Tannery like to visit?

The Chouara Tannery is the largest and oldest of Fes's three tanneries, located in the medina along the Oued Fes river. You see workers using traditional methods with stone vessels filled with dyes and softening liquids for leather hides. It's a working tannery and a major stop on the tour where you can photograph the process.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included, so you'll want to plan a meal stop during your time in Fes or eat before or after the tour.