Luxury Fes
Tours made for you
Brass and copper
Browse stalls of hand-crafted goods
Out in nature
Visit the Jnan Sbil Gardens
Back in time
Explore the city's medina on foot
Step back in time and explore the city of intellectuals and artisans
The city of Fes, Morocco’s second largest, is considered to be its cultural and religious capital.
Divided into three districts, the oldest and most fascinating is Fes el Bali. Founded in the 9th century, venturing through its vast gates into the medina is like stepping back in time. It’s dense maze of some 9000 alleys are plied by donkeys and hand-pulled carts (said to be the largest car-free urban area in the world), with narrow passageways leading through beautiful squares, into the middle of a spice-scented food market or to a dead end and the ruins of an abandoned house. Head up to a rooftop terrace to really appreciate the maelstrom at street level.
It’s in Fes el Bali that you’ll find out why its long been the city of intellectuals, imams and artisans. Among the dozens of madrasas (Islamic schools) is the University of Al Quaraouiyine, the oldest degree-granting university in the world, great mosques such as the Bou Inania Madrasaa and holy shrine to the city’s founder, the Zaouia Moulay Idriss II. Countless workshops and souks are packed between, most pungently in the Tanner’s Quarter where barefoot workers tread hides in dyeing pits. The medina is also famous for its brass and copper crafts, handmade ceramic, Berber rugs as well as its leatherware.
The fresh air of the public Jnan Sbil Gardens connects the old medina to Fes el Jdid, or ‘New Fes’, the 13th century extension which contains the vast Royal Palace and the Mellah which was once home to some 250,000 Jews, many immigrants from Spain. Built by the French at the beginning of the 20th century, the Ville Nouvelle is the third and most modern of Fes’ districts.
With a fraction of Marrakesh’s tourist footfall, Fes and its medina offers a raw, sensuously intense experience of Morocco that isn’t for everyone. For those after an unfiltered insight into Moroccan culture, we recommend a couple of nights here with a private guide on hand to lead you through.
Highlights
Visit a specialist drum-maker, choose an unfinished tom tom drum and learn how to attach your chosen hide to it, choosing your own sound.
Discover more about how the tanneries in Fes work, focusing on methods that have been used for hundreds of years.
Browse the exquisite Al Qarawiyyin library, the buildings of which were constructed in 859 AD.
Explore the beautifully diverse Ifrane National Park on an easy trekking circuit with your expert guide.
Jack Beckford
Travel Designer
Follow the trail of history through the medina of this welcoming city. Take your time getting to experience the essence of Fes as you explore the markets, wander its streets and take time getting to know the people who call it home.
Jack Beckford
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Fes
Trip Inspiration
Discover more of Morocco
Casablanca
This city is the chief port, the financial, commercial and manufacturing center of the country.
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Essaouira
On Morocco’s Atlantic coast, a little under three hours due west of Marrakesh, Essaouira is a laid-back port town cooled by the vents alizés trade winds gently blowing in from the ocean.
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High Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains are a rugged chain that span North Africa from the Atlantic coast through Algeria and Tunisia, an imposing barrier between the fertile Mediterranean coast from the vast Sahara Desert.
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Marrakesh
With its rich atmosphere, fascinating history and rich Berber culture, the city of Marrakesh encapsulates what draws people from around the world to Morocco.
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Moroccan Sahara
Morocco’s corner of the desert lies south of the High Atlas Mountains, a smattering of oasis towns becoming less frequent the further you venture, eventually reaching the golden dune seas that evokes the most romantic images of the Sahara.
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Oualidia
200km north of Essaouira, between El Jadida and Safi, is the peaceful town of Oualidia. Overlooking a coastal lagoon frequented by migratory birds, beyond which is the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean, its setting couldn’t be more idyllic.
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Skoura
Skoura is an oasis town that sits south of the Atlas Mountains at the gateway to the Sahara beyond. Once an important trading post where camel trains would offload spices and gold to be hauled over to Fes, its illustrious past can be glimpsed in the sand coloured Kasbahs that still stand here today.
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Tangier
Morocco’s northernmost city, looking out across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain, Tangier is a place with a fascinating history. Known as ‘The Door of Africa’, it has changed hands dozens of times.
Discover moreMeet your Middle East team
When to visit
Morocco’s varied landscapes mean that the best time to go to Morocco depends on where you want to go and what you want to do.
Spring and Autumn are warm and sunny across the country. This is a great time for exploring cities, climbing mountains or sleeping out in the desert.
Winters are mild and summer is extremely hot, but there are many pleasant retreats that can be found in both seasons.
Exploring souks
March–May
Go hiking
September–November
Sahara camping
October–May
Plan your trip to Fes
Whatever you want from your adventure in Fes, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
Responsible travel
Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Jacada was our first choice for creating a memorable holiday experience. It all began with a very empathetic phone call where they carefully listened to our preferences, dos, and don’ts. We were kept well-informed throughout the booking process. Everything was so well-organized that there wasn’t much we wanted to do differently. We completely trusted their recommendations for hotels, guides, drivers,…
We went to Marrakesh, Essaouira and Oualidia with Jacada. Our only regret was not having had more time to spend in Morocco. It was absolutely magical. James from Jacada must have been able to read our mind putting the perfect vacation together, which not only the adults but also our 6 and 10 year old boys enjoyed. Everybody we came…
Planning my daughter and my adventure with Berni and Jen was easy and fun. We outlined the key things we wanted to do and they put it all together. Throughout our holiday, we enjoyed ziplining, nature walks and sloth searches, traversed the hanging bridges, hiked to waterfalls, rafted into and out of our amazing lodge in the rainforest and were…
It worked out exactly as described by the Jacada team ahead of the trip. Like a Swiss watch at work. Thank you for a great family experience.
Jacada team is amazing I booked 4 trips with them so far during these trips I visited 11 wonderful countries. one of my trips was a 2 month long trip to South America it was a dream . My favorite thing about Jacada is the attention to details and making almost everything possible thank you can’t wait to travel with…
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When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.
