Fes is Morocco's spiritual and craft capital, and its medina - Fes el-Bali - is a UNESCO World Heritage site where no vehicle can pass. Deliveries are still made by mule. That single fact shapes every visit: you arrive by car at a gate, you leave from a gate, and everything in between is on foot. A driver who knows which of the dozen entrances is nearest your riad saves a great deal of walking with luggage.
Beyond the medina, Fes is the best base in northern Morocco. Within an hour and a half you can stand in the Roman city of Volubilis, walk the granaries of Meknes, or drink coffee in the alpine-looking town of Ifrane. Within four hours you reach Chefchaouen or Tangier, and the classic southern route to the desert - Ifrane, Midelt, the Ziz Valley, Merzouga - starts right here.
Our Fes fleet leans towards vans and minibuses, because the city attracts cultural groups, university trips and families travelling together. Air-conditioned 4x4s remain the choice for anyone heading south over the Middle Atlas, where the road climbs through cedar forest and the temperature can drop sharply.
Why hire a driver here
- The medina is entirely car-free - arrivals and departures happen at the gates
- Riads in Fes el-Bali are hard to find even for locals; drivers know the derb entrances
- The road south to Merzouga crosses the Middle Atlas at over 2,000 m
- Volubilis, Meknes and Ifrane have no practical public transport link from Fes
- Tanneries, the Royal Palace and Borj Nord are spread across three separate areas
Included in every booking
- Fuel, tolls and driver fees for the agreed itinerary
- Pick-up at Fes-Saiss Airport, the train station or your riad gate
- Luggage help to the entrance of your derb in the medina
- English, French, Spanish or Arabic-speaking drivers on request
- Flexible stops at cooperatives, viewpoints and lunch spots
