Central Morocco

The imperial cities of Fez, Meknes and Rabat, plus Casablanca and the cedar forests of the Middle Atlas, form the hub of Moroccan history and modernity.

This region is defined by administrative region and includes four regions: Fès-Meknès, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Casablanca-Settat and Béni Mellal-Khénifra, covering the Atlantic coastal plain and the Middle Atlas mountains. Marrakech, the fourth imperial city, is grouped with the south, following the way tours are usually organized.

Highlights: the Fez medina (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) with its maze of a thousand alleys, the Chouara tanneries, the Qarawiyyin Mosque and Bab Boujloud, the Blue Gate; Meknes' Bab Mansour and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, with the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the holy town of Moulay Idriss nearby; the capital Rabat's Hassan Tower, Kasbah of the Udayas and the ancient site of Chellah; Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque and Art Deco buildings; the Portuguese city of El Jadida; and the Barbary macaques in the cedar forests of Ifrane and Azrou, plus Ouzoud Falls.

Classic itineraries: 2 days for Casablanca and Rabat, 1 day for Meknes and Volubilis, 2–3 days for Fez; then cross the Middle Atlas southward to the Merzouga desert.

Getting there: Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport is the main gateway, and intercity trains are convenient. Note: it is easy to get lost in the Fez medina, so consider hiring an official guide and beware of guides who claim to be "students."

Destinations

• Fes
• Casablanca
• Rabat
• Meknes

Itineraries

• Classic Imperial Cities & Sahara Loop – Head north from Casablanca to the Blue City and Fes, then cross the desert and gorges to Marrakech.
• Morocco Rail Journey: North to South – Skip the car rental and private drivers; connect Tangier to Marrakech via high-speed and standard trains
• Northern Morocco: Tangier, Blue City & Fes – Enter the Rif Mountains from the strait port city, then head south to Roman ruins and the Imperial City of Fes.
• Andalusia to the Sahara Crossing – Cross the sea from Seville via Tarifa, traveling through the Blue City, Fes, and the desert to Marrakech