Mesmerizing Morocco Tour: One-Week Off the Beaten Path

After spending a morning at the Roman ruins of Volubilis, you will be back in Meknes for lunch and an artisanal workshop. You will have three workshop options for this afternoon, and all three reflect artisanal techniques that originated in this city. Damascene involves embedding metal into metal, which is a time-consuming but breathtakingly unique process that is still practiced in the city. Another craft will be to recycle animal bone and turn it into art. You can also learn Moroccan tile work with the opportunity to create your own before visiting the master tiles of Bab Al Mansour Gate.

Ascending into this pretty scene, you will find Chefchaouen, which is an old city that clings to a green hillside. There are no cars here, and steps will lead you into the walled city, where cobblestone lanes will reveal intrigue and alluring colors. After a private transfer, you will have some time to rest at your riad before an afternoon tour of the city. Chefchaouen is small, and you can see most of it in less than two hours; however, the streets have a surreal spiral pattern that can be very difficult to navigate. It can feel like you are in a labyrinth because every turn leads you to the same place. There is a secret and story to this labyrinth, much like there is a story to all the blue.

Chefchaouen is distinctively Moroccan, from calligraphy on mosque doorways to women in traditional robes that sell vegetables on cobbled lanes. Traveling north to the coast will allow you to discover an off-the-beaten-path city with a unique atmosphere and character. Tetouan was the capital of the Spanish protectorate, which spread across northern Morocco. Today, you will be able to step inside the city after a private transfer. During the day, you will tour the city’s iconic sights with a local guide that will regale you with stories of Spanish design and Moorish impression. Tetouan now basks in its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it remains off the beaten path, and it possesses a revered authenticity.

Tangier has been immortalized by a gamut of writers, such as Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs. Much of Tangier’s historic charm has been lost behind the ever-growing metropolis of a massive port city, so you need to venture off the beaten path to discover the stories that inspired the aforementioned writers. Then, after a few hours of exploring the city, you will continue down the coast to Asilah, which is a whitewashed town with an omnipresent allure. While Tangier has a few standout sights, Asilah is more of a place to stroll around at your leisure and to absorb the charming atmosphere.

After exploring Northern Morocco, you will be ready to discover the intense and inviting city of Fes. Fes is an enormous place, and much of it is vehicle free. You will first get your bearings by indulging in the aerial view from a hilltop that demonstrates the sheer scale of the city. By descending into the city, you will pass through an iconic blue gate before completing your journey to your hotel on foot. Once inside Fes, the best first experience is to indulge in a glass of mint tea and watch the city life unravel. A local guide will show you the off-the-beaten-path side to Fes, which is away from the central thoroughfare.

Today, your week in Morocco will come to an end, and you will have some time to see more of Fes before your private transfer to the airport.