Move from the modern boulevards of Ville Nouvelle to Fes’ walled core, Fes El Bali, and you’ll feel like you’ve walked into a medieval time capsule. Little of the medina has changed in the last thousand years, with its ancient leather tanneries, skilled craftspeople and market stalls manned by everpresent locals since the Middle Ages. You’ll witness this hive of activity first-hand with a guide, exploring tanneries to spy the coloured pools of the dye pits, which resemble a painter’s palette. Fes El Bali is renowned for its architecture, and you’ll also witness the intricate zellige (handcrafted clay tiles) of the Medersa Bou Inania college as well as the expertly carved woodwork lying in wait inside the Funduq al Nejjarine museum.
A whitewashed splash across green hillsides in the shadow of Mount Zerhoun, the mountain village of Moulay Idriss looks almost halo-like in its appearance. It’s rather apt given that this is Morocco’s most sacred town, named after Moulay Idriss I, who brought the Islamic religion to this country. It remains an important pilgrimage site to this day, and Intrepid will have you weaving through its ancient medina for an invaluable glimpse of Moroccan life. You’ll see worshippers paying homage to the great man’s tomb, before being welcomed into a local family’s home for the night – non-Muslims have only been allowed to stay overnight in Moulay Idriss since 2005, so this is still something very special indeed.
Just a 30-minute walk from Moulay Idriss lies one of the Roman Empire’s most south-westerly outposts, the city ruins of Volubilis, Morocco’s best-preserved archaeological site. Rising up from sweeping fertile plains, its dramatic perch shows what a good eye the Romans had for a tactical location, and you’ll feel like you’ve been granted an access-all-areas glimpse into the inner-workings of this UNESCO-listed fortress when roaming with your knowledgeable Intrepid guide. Wander among its baths, temples, gates and still-standing columns, making it easy to imagine Volubilis in its pomp. But it’s the intricate tiled floor mosaics that will slacken your jaw the most.
Tangier’s position, standing sentry on the Strait of Gibraltar, has led the city to develop a cultural make-up unlike anywhere else in Morocco. It wasn’t formally part of the country until 1956, and while its fast-and-loose ideals were king during its shady semi-autonomous days, this free spirit has been reborn as cosmopolitan charm. Intrepid leaves you to your own devices here, allowing you to soak up its infectious café culture, the warren-like whitewashed medina, and landmark buildings like the Dar el Makhzen (Sultanate Palace) and the American Legation Museum – the only US National Monument outside the USA. Finish along the curving corniche for a seafood dinner paired with a fiery Atlantic sunset.
You’ll roll into Marrakech early via the overnight sleeper train from Tangier, leaving you free to wander at your leisure. You might seek out the peach-tinged tower of Koutoubia Mosque or explore the botanical oasis of Jardin Majorelle, but it won’t be long before your nose sniffs out the city’s aromatic spice markets. Marrakech’s souks wind north of lively Jemaa el-Fna, and at the heart of them is Rahba Kedima, or Spice Square, a kaleidoscopic display of hessian sacks piled high with spices like cumin, turmeric and paprika. Locals sell everything from fresh saffron and ras el hanout to argan oil and plant-based cosmetics. It’s a sensory cornucopia.
With over 30 years’ experience of leading small-group tours stacked with adventure, there are few better ways to explore Morocco than on an Intrepid trip. And with 25 established tours across the country, they leave no stone unturned to ensure you have the chance to see every cultural strand of this eclectic nation, working hand-in-hand with local guides and communities every step of the way.
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