6-Day Imperial Cities Tour: Fes, Meknes, Rabat & CasablancaMorocco's Four Historic Capitals
6 days / 5 nights·Max 12
About this journey
Morocco had four imperial capitals across its history — Fes, Meknes, Marrakech and Rabat — and this tour focuses on three of them plus Casablanca, the modern commercial capital, for travellers whose primary interest is history and architecture rather than desert dunes or mountain treks. The route runs Casablanca to Rabat to Meknes to Fes, each city building on the last: Casablanca's modern Hassan II Mosque, Rabat's Hassan Tower and royal history, Meknes's underrated Bab Mansour gate and imperial granaries, and Fes's medieval medina, the best-preserved in the Arab world. This suits travellers who've already done a desert tour, or who simply aren't drawn to the Sahara and Atlas Mountains circuits most Morocco itineraries centre on. It's also a strong choice for architecture and history enthusiasts who want depth in each city rather than a rushed drive-by. If you want to add the desert afterward, several guests extend into one of our Merzouga-route tours once they've finished here — ask when you enquire.
- All three northern imperial cities: Rabat, Meknes and Fes
- Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque and modern city
- Meknes's Bab Mansour gate and imperial granaries, usually overlooked
- Two full days in the Fes medina, the best-preserved in the Arab world
- No desert or mountain driving — a city and history-focused route
Day by day
Your guide meets you at the airport for an orientation drive past the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world, built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic. Overnight in Casablanca.
- Hassan II Mosque exterior
- Casablanca corniche
Rabat, Morocco's political capital since 1912, gets a proper full day rather than a drive-through stop: the 12th-century Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the Kasbah of the Udayas overlooking the river mouth, and the exterior of the Royal Palace. Overnight in Rabat.
- Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- Kasbah of the Udayas
- Royal Palace exterior
Meknes, the smallest and most underrated of the four imperial cities, gets real time here — the monumental Bab Mansour gate, the royal granaries built to feed 12,000 horses, and the mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail. On to Fes for the evening.
- Bab Mansour gate
- Royal granaries and stables
- Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
A local guide leads a walking tour of Fes el-Bali — the Chouara tanneries, the Al Quaraouiyine exterior (the world's oldest continuously operating university), and souks organised by trade rather than geography. The afternoon is free to get properly lost in the medina.
- Fes medina walking tour
- Chouara Tanneries
- Al Quaraouiyine exterior
Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site with intact mosaics still in place among the columns, sits an hour from Fes and rarely gets the crowds of the medina. The afternoon is free back in Fes for a final look at anything you missed.
- Volubilis Roman ruins and mosaics
- Free afternoon in Fes
The tour ends after breakfast, with airport transfers arranged around your actual departure time.
- Flexible airport transfer
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
- 5 nights accommodation (hotels and riads in each city)
- All transport in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Licensed English-speaking guide for the full 6 days
- 5 breakfasts, 4 dinners
- Entry fees at major historical sites
- Local Fes medina guide for a half-day walking tour
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches (budget $8–$14/day)
- Personal travel insurance (required)
- Tips for guide and driver
- Alcohol and personal purchases
Choose your style
Small-Group Tour
- Max 12 travellers
- Weekly departures year-round (excl. Jul–Aug)
- 5 nights accommodation included
- English-speaking guide throughout
What travelers say
“We'd done a desert tour on a previous trip and wanted pure history and architecture this time — Meknes especially was a pleasant surprise, way less crowded than Fes.”
“As an architecture student this was exactly the depth I wanted — the guide clearly knew the historical detail, not just the highlight reel.”
“Good option for anyone who isn't fussed about the desert or mountains and just wants the cities done properly.”
Why choose AZA Morocco Tours
- Local expert guides — born and raised in Morocco
- Small groups capped at 10 people maximum
- All-inclusive pricing — no hidden fees
- Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure
- Weekly departures year-round (except desert tours Jul–Aug)
- Verified reviews on TripAdvisor
Questions about this tour
Marrakech is covered extensively in our other tours and destination pages. This route focuses specifically on the three northern imperial cities plus Casablanca, which most itineraries rush through or skip.
Yes — several guests extend into one of our Merzouga-route tours or a few days in Marrakech once they finish here. Ask when you enquire.
Yes — it's designed specifically for travellers whose main interest is history and architecture rather than desert or mountain scenery.
A fair amount, mostly on flat medina terrain — comfortable shoes matter more than fitness level.
Year-round works reasonably well given the city focus, though July and August get very hot for walking tours. Spring and autumn are most comfortable.
As a guideline, $8 per traveller per day for the guide and $5 per day for the driver, given directly at the end of the tour.