Overview
The 3 Days Tour from Rabat to Chefchaouen is the perfect short break for travellers based in Morocco’s capital — a circular northern Morocco journey that packs in an extraordinary range of history, culture, and natural scenery in just three days. Beginning with the Meknes imperial monuments and the Roman ruins of Volubilis, the route continues north through the Rif Mountains to Chefchaouen before returning to Rabat via the coastal road through Larache and Asilah — two beautiful Atlantic towns that most Morocco visitors entirely miss.
The itinerary is designed for those who know Rabat but want to experience the country beyond the capital. It is equally well-suited for visitors arriving at Rabat airport or port, business travellers with a long weekend, or anyone staying in the capital who has already seen Casablanca and wants to venture further. The entire circuit stays in northern Morocco, avoiding the long drives south that characterise most Morocco tours.
Meknes on Day 1 is genuinely extraordinary — Morocco’s most monumentally ambitious imperial city, built on the scale of Versailles by a sultan who was the contemporary of Louis XIV. The Bab Mansour gate and the Heri es-Souani stables are among the most impressive architectural achievements in the Islamic world, and the complete absence of tourist crowds gives you space to appreciate them properly. Volubilis, thirty minutes away, adds the Roman layer — two millennia of continuous settlement in a single day.
Chefchaouen on Day 2 is the journey’s highlight — the famous blue medina at its best in the early morning and evening when the day-trippers have gone. Overnight in a riad inside the old walls is the only way to properly experience the city. The return on Day 3 via the Atlantic coast towns of Asilah and Larache adds a final chapter that is as rewarding as any of the inland stops.
Highlights
- Morning tour of Rabat before departure — Kasbah of the Udayas and Chellah
- Visit Meknes — Bab Mansour gate, royal stables, Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
- Explore Volubilis — the best-preserved Roman city in North Africa
- Arrive in Chefchaouen at golden hour — the perfect blue city introduction
- Overnight in the Chefchaouen medina for sunrise and sunset views
- Morning guided walk: Spanish Mosque, Ras el-Maa waterfall, craft souk
- Return via Asilah — the whitewashed Atlantic art city
- Stop in Larache and the Roman ruins of Lixus
- Complete a northern Morocco circuit without retracing a single kilometre
- Return to Rabat enriched with three days of extraordinary discovery
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Rabat to Chefchaouen via Meknes & Volubilis
Optional morning tour of Rabat highlights (Chellah, Hassan Tower, Kasbah) before departure. Drive east to Meknes (1 hour). Guided visit: Bab Mansour, Moulay Ismail Mausoleum, Heri es-Souani granaries and stables. Lunch in Meknes. Drive north to Volubilis (30 minutes). 90-minute guided tour of the Roman site. Continue north through Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and into the Rif Mountains toward Chefchaouen. Arrive in the late afternoon. Evening walk in the blue medina. Overnight in a riad.
Day 2: Chefchaouen — Full Day Blue City
Early morning walk in the medina before 8am — the quietest and most beautiful hour. Guided morning tour: Spanish Mosque hike, Ras el-Maa waterfall, Plaza Uta el-Hammam kasbah. Free afternoon for independent exploration, shopping, rooftop cafés, and the excellent local restaurants. Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 3: Chefchaouen to Rabat via Asilah & Larache
Depart Chefchaouen after breakfast and drive west to the Atlantic coast. Stop in Asilah — a beautifully preserved Portuguese-era walled town, now Morocco’s most artistic small city, famous for its annual arts festival and the murals painted by international artists on its medina walls. Brief stop at the Roman ruins of Lixus near Larache — an ancient Phoenician and Roman city with a spectacular hilltop position above the Loukos river. Continue south along the Atlantic coast to Rabat, arriving in the evening.
What’s Included
- Private transport Rabat–Meknes–Volubilis–Chefchaouen–Asilah–Rabat
- Expert English-speaking licensed guide throughout
- Entrance fees: Chellah, Volubilis, Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
- 2 nights in riads (1 in Meknes or en route, 1 in Chefchaouen, breakfasts included)
- Lunch in Meknes on Day 1
What’s Not Included
- International flights to and from Morocco
- Travel insurance
- Personal dinners and lunches (Days 2 and 3)
- Tips for guide and driver
- Visa fees where applicable
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Travel Tips
The Rif Mountains road between Volubilis and Chefchaouen is beautiful but winding — the drive takes about 2.5 hours. Asilah on Day 3 deserves 60–90 minutes minimum — it is genuinely one of Morocco’s most charming small towns and is almost entirely unknown to non-Moroccan visitors. The return coastal road south from Asilah to Rabat is fast and straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this tour suitable for families? A: Yes — the itinerary is relaxed with no extreme physical demands. Children enjoy Volubilis (the open ruins), Chefchaouen (the colour and the cat population), and Asilah (beach and murals). We recommend a minimum age of 5 for the full tour.
Q: Can the tour end in Tangier rather than returning to Rabat? A: Yes — Tangier is 45 minutes north of Asilah. We can easily route Day 3 to end in Tangier for a ferry or flight connection.
Q: What is Asilah like? A: Asilah is one of Morocco’s best-kept secrets — a small walled Atlantic town with Portuguese fortifications, white-and-blue painted streets, and an artistic community that produces extraordinary street murals. Think a smaller, more charming Essaouira on the northern Atlantic coast.