Overview
The 2 Days Tour from Fes to Rabat is the most historically layered route in Morocco — a two-day arc from the medieval Islamic capital to the modern political one, stopping at the greatest Roman archaeological site in North Africa and the finest imperial gate in the Arab world. Each stop represents a different era of Moroccan and North African history, and the journey as a whole gives a richer sense of the country’s past than any single-city visit can provide.
Day one covers the ground between Fes and Meknes — one hour by road, a thousand years of history apart. Meknes was built in the seventeenth century by Sultan Moulay Ismail as a rival to Versailles, and it remains largely intact: the colossal Bab Mansour gate, the royal granaries and stables, the mausoleum open to non-Muslim visitors. From Meknes, the route continues to Volubilis, the Roman city that served as the administrative capital of Mauretania Tingitana from the first century AD. The mosaics here — still in their original positions in the floors of the wealthy merchants’ houses — are among the best-preserved Roman mosaics in the world.
Day two belongs to Rabat: the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Kasbah of the Udayas overlooking the Atlantic, and the medina. As a capital city, Rabat has a different quality from Fes or Marrakech — more ordered, more European in its French-influenced new town, but with a genuinely beautiful old kasbah and a medina that moves at a pace you can actually appreciate.
Highlights
- Visit Bab Mansour in Meknes — the most impressive ceremonial gate in Morocco
- Enter the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum — rare access to a royal Moroccan shrine
- Explore Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in North Africa
- Walk among in-situ Roman mosaics, triumphal arch, and forum ruins
- Overnight in Rabat in a riad or boutique hotel in or near the medina
- Visit the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- Explore the Kasbah of the Udayas with its views over the Atlantic and the Bou Regreg river
- Walk the Rabat medina — smaller and more relaxed than Fes or Marrakech
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Fes — Meknes — Volubilis — Rabat
Depart Fes in the morning and drive west to Meknes, arriving in approximately one hour. Begin at Place el-Hedim and Bab Mansour for a thorough introduction to the imperial monuments before continuing to the Moulay Ismail Mausoleum and the Heri es-Souani granaries. After lunch in Meknes, drive north to Volubilis — 28 kilometres across the plain — where your guide will lead you through the excavated Roman city. The forum, the Capitol, the triumphal arch of Caracalla, and the Dionysus mosaic house are the principal sites, but the scale and state of preservation make the whole of Volubilis worth exploring slowly. Depart Volubilis in the late afternoon and drive 130 kilometres northwest to Rabat, arriving in the early evening. Check in to your riad or hotel and dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Rabat
After breakfast, begin at the Hassan Tower — the unfinished twelfth-century minaret that was intended to be the tallest in the Islamic world, now standing beside the columns of its roofless mosque and the adjacent Mausoleum of Mohammed V, a masterpiece of modern Moroccan architecture housing the tombs of the king who led Morocco to independence and his son Hassan II. Continue to the Kasbah of the Udayas, the hilltop fortress at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river, with its Andalusian garden, its whitewashed streets, and its café overlooking the Atlantic. After lunch in the medina, explore the Rabat old city at your own pace before departure.
What’s Included
- Private transport Fes–Meknes–Volubilis–Rabat with all transfers
- Expert English-speaking licensed guide for the full two days
- Entrance fees to Volubilis, Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, and Hassan Tower complex
- One night’s accommodation in Rabat (riad or mid-range hotel)
- Breakfast on day two
- Lunch on day one in Meknes
What’s Not Included
- International flights to and from Morocco
- Travel insurance
- Personal drinks and snacks beyond meals included
- Tips for guide and driver
- Personal purchases
- Visa fees where applicable
- Dinner on day one and lunch on day two
Travel Tips
Volubilis is best visited in the morning or late afternoon; the midday sun in summer is very strong and there is little shade in the ruins. If you are visiting in June–August, carry water and sun protection. The site covers a large area and the ground is uneven — comfortable shoes suitable for walking on cobblestones and rough terrain are essential. In Rabat, the Kasbah of the Udayas is most beautiful in the late afternoon light; if time allows, time your visit for an hour before sunset. The Rabat medina is notably quieter and more navigable than Fes or Marrakech — a pleasant contrast after the intensity of Fes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Volubilis worth the detour? A: Unambiguously yes. Volubilis is the most significant Roman site in Morocco and one of the most impressive in the Arab world. The quality and quantity of the in-situ mosaics — still on the floors of private houses, not lifted and moved to a museum — is exceptional. Travellers with even a passing interest in Roman history tend to find it one of the highlights of their trip to Morocco.
Q: What is special about Rabat compared to other Moroccan cities? A: Rabat is Morocco’s capital and has a different atmosphere from the tourist-oriented imperial cities. The Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V are among Morocco’s most important monuments, and the Kasbah of the Udayas is one of the most beautiful urban spaces in the country. The city is less hectic than Fes or Marrakech, which some travellers find more comfortable for exploration.
Q: Can this tour be reversed — starting in Rabat and ending in Fes? A: Yes — the itinerary works equally well in either direction. If you are flying into Rabat or arriving by train from Casablanca, starting in Rabat and ending in Fes makes good logistical sense.