HubFes to Chefchaouen Day Trip
See the famous blue-painted streets of Chefchaouen on an easy day trip from Fes through the Rif mountains.
Introduction
The Fes to Chefchaouen day trip is the easiest way to see Morocco's blue city if you're based in Fes and don't want to move hotels. In one relaxed day you drive through the green Rif mountains, spend the afternoon exploring the blue-painted medina and its famous viewpoints, and return to Fes by evening. Below is the full plan, pricing, the best time to visit and our tips.
Overview
Chefchaouen, Morocco's blue city, is one of the country's most photogenic places, and it makes an easy day trip from Fes. This private tour drives you about four hours north into the Rif mountains, gives you the afternoon to wander the blue-washed medina and climb to the Spanish Mosque for the classic view, then returns you to Fes the same evening.
Why choose this tour
Why take this day trip:
- The blue city without changing hotels — out and back from Fes in a day.
- Scenic Rif drive through olive groves and mountains.
- Private and flexible — your own pace in the medina.
- Easy to combine with a desert tour afterwards.
Highlights
- The drive through the Rif mountains
- Chefchaouen's blue-painted medina
- The Spanish Mosque viewpoint
- Uta el-Hammam square and the kasbah
- Time to shop for local crafts and wool
Itinerary
Day 1Full day: Fes → Chefchaouen → Fes
Morning. Pickup around 8:00 am and the drive north through olive country and the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen (about 4 hours). Midday and afternoon: free time to wander the famous blue medina, the Uta el-Hammam square beside the kasbah, and the climb to the Spanish Mosque for the best view over the blue town. Lunch in the medina (own account).
Evening. Return drive to Fes, arriving in the evening. Driving: ~8 hours round trip · distance: ~400 km.
Tour route map
Included & not included
- ✓Private vehicle with fuel and driver-guide
- ✓Pickup and drop-off at your Fes hotel
- ✓Free time to explore Chefchaouen
- ✓Bottled water
- ✓English-speaking driver
- ✗Lunch and drinks
- ✗Optional local guide in Chefchaouen
- ✗Tips
- ✗Personal shopping
Pricing
Per person for the private day trip; a relaxed full day with a few hours in the blue city.
| Group size | Price per person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | €75 | private |
| 3 people | €55 | private |
| 4+ people | from €40 | private |
Best time to travel
Chefchaouen is pleasant most of the year. Spring and autumn are ideal; summer afternoons are warm but the mountain air helps; winter can be cool and rainy in the Rif, so bring a jacket. The blue walls photograph beautifully in soft morning or late-afternoon light.
What to pack
Comfortable walking shoes for the sloping medina lanes, a light jacket for the mountains, sun protection and a camera. The narrow blue streets and the Spanish Mosque viewpoint are the most photogenic spots.
Travel tips
What to expect: real driving distances on good but winding roads — bring something for motion sickness if you're prone to it. Tips: carry small dirham notes for lunches, entry fees and tips, and keep onward flights to the evening of the final day or later.
How booking works
Tell us your dates, group size and starting city by the enquiry form or WhatsApp and you hear back personally, usually within a few hours, with a clear all-in price. A small deposit holds your dates and you pay the balance on arrival, so you never prepay in full. Free cancellation up to 7 days before departure, and we confirm your pickup by WhatsApp the night before.
Booking direct with our Berber family
Hotel Les Roches is our own — we were born at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes and have run it since 2004. You deal with the same family that owns the hotel, runs the desert camp and leads the camels, so there is no agency markup, nothing is subcontracted, and the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
What a night at our camp is like
After the sunset camel trek you reach our private camp as the sky turns from gold to deep blue. The tents are proper rooms — a real bed with warm blankets and an en-suite hot shower — and dinner is a home-cooked tagine under the stars, followed by Berber drums around the fire. With no light for a hundred kilometres the Milky Way is astonishing, and you wake early to climb a dune for sunrise.
What our guests say
★★★★★
The best part were the activities: a quad tour was arranged for us in minutes, and we took a jeep tour the next day with guide Asis, who was awesome and led us to a nomad camp. Highly recommend!
Henrik H. · Google · 2025
★★★★★
Hassan and the hosts made me feel at home. The food was like a culinary journey and the location against the Sahara dunes was stunning. Watching the sunset over the dunes was a magical moment.
Joel Harris · Google · 2025
★★★★★
A great experience at Auberge Les Roches and their camp. The camel desert ride and camping experience was amazing. Special mention for their food and the friendliness of the guys at the camp.
Carlos Sousa · Google · 2024
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Frequently asked questions
How far is Chefchaouen from Fes?
About 4 hours each way through the Rif mountains, so it's a full but comfortable day.
Can I stay overnight instead?
Yes — we can arrange an overnight in Chefchaouen, or include it in a longer tour ending at the desert. Just ask.
Is there a guide in the medina?
The medina is easy to explore on your own; we can add a local guide for a small fee.
Can this connect to a desert tour?
Yes — many travellers do Chefchaouen, then a Fes desert tour to Merzouga.
How comfortable is the desert camp?
Very — our private luxury camp at Erg Chebbi has en-suite tents with real beds, hot showers, private bathrooms, rugs and plenty of blankets for the cool desert night, plus a Berber dinner under the stars.
Are your tours private or shared?
Every tour is private by default — your own vehicle, driver-guide and flexible pace. Shared group departures are offered only on the Marrakech–Merzouga–Marrakech and Marrakech–Merzouga–Fes routes.
Is the tour suitable for families and older travellers?
Yes. The pace is gentle, the camel ride is optional (we can drive you to camp by 4x4 instead), and we adapt for children and any mobility needs — just tell us when you book.
When is the best time of year to travel?
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most comfortable, with warm days and cool nights. Winter nights are cold and summer is hot at midday, so we run camel treks at sunrise and sunset.
Have a question before you book?
Message the team directly — we usually reply within a couple of hours.
⚡ Spring & autumn dates fill fast — book ahead. · ✓ Free cancellation up to 48h before arrival.