Fes is a very good base for day trips. Within a few hours you can reach Roman ruins, an imperial capital, a blue-washed mountain town, cedar forest and, with an overnight, the Sahara. The challenge is not finding options, it is choosing among them without spending your whole holiday in a vehicle. Here is how the main excursions compare.
Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes
This is the best single excursion for most visitors and the easiest to fit into a stay. The Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes day trip links three very different places in one day. Volubilis is the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site with mosaics, a triumphal arch and the outlines of houses and olive presses, set among fields. Moulay Idriss is a whitewashed hillside town that holds the tomb of the founder of the first Moroccan Islamic dynasty and has wide views from its viewpoints. Meknes, one of the four imperial cities, has monumental gates, old walls and a calmer medina than Fes. The day is full but the distances are short, and it suits history lovers and travellers with limited time.
Chefchaouen
The blue mountain town is photogenic and relaxed, and its lanes and viewpoints are a delight to wander. The Chefchaouen day trip is popular, but it is a long day because the drive each way is several hours. It suits people who want one dramatic change of scene and do not mind being on the road. If you can spare a night, staying in Chefchaouen is much more relaxed, and a two-day route that continues toward the north coast is a good alternative. Do not expect to have the town to yourself in spring or summer, and go early for the quietest lanes.
The Middle Atlas: Ifrane and Azrou
For a change of landscape and a break from heat, the Middle Atlas day trip is the gentlest option. Ifrane is a mountain town with a notably European look, Azrou sits beside a famous cedar forest and the surrounding landscape is cool, green and quiet. Barbary macaques are often seen in the cedar woods, so bring a camera, but do not feed them. It is a good choice for families, for summer and for travellers who want a slower day than the medina allows. In winter the area can be snowy and cold.
The Sahara overnight
The Merzouga overnight takes you to the Erg Chebbi dunes for a night in a desert camp, with a camel ride at sunset and sunrise. It is a spectacular experience, but it is not a casual day trip. The drive is long in both directions, so you should view it as a two-day expedition that uses much of the time. It suits adventurous travellers who have at least a few extra days, and it is most comfortable in spring and autumn, when the heat is bearable by day and the nights are mild. In summer the desert is very hot, and in winter the nights are very cold.
How to choose
If you have one spare day, choose Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes. If you want landscape and cool air, choose the Middle Atlas. If you want the postcard view and accept a long drive, choose Chefchaouen. If you want the desert and have two spare days, choose the Sahara overnight. Trying to do more than one in quick succession is tiring, so spread them across your stay with a rest day between.
Combining trips with your stay
Day trips work best when your riad knows the plan. Tell the staff when you will leave, ask for an early breakfast to be left out and confirm the best meeting point at the gate. Returning in the evening, you will usually want a simple dinner nearby rather than a long reservation, so keep the first night back free.
Practical advice
Ask your riad which operators they trust, confirm what is included, such as entry fees, lunch and the guide, and check the pickup time and place. Carry water, sun protection, small notes for tips and a layer for cooler mountain air. Roads can be winding, so travellers prone to motion sickness should bring remedies. Most day trips leave early, so plan an early night beforehand.
