An imperial cities tour links the four towns that have served as Morocco’s capital over the past thousand years: Fes, Marrakech, Meknes and Rabat. Each was built or rebuilt by a ruling dynasty, and each still carries its founder’s ambitions in its gates, palaces and mosques. Travelling between them in order shows you how the country grew, from medieval scholarship in Fes to the modern administration of Rabat.
If you want to know how the four cities differ in character and which deserves the most time, our article on the imperial cities of Morocco compares them in detail. This page is the practical side: the routes we drive, how long each takes, whether to go by train or with a driver, and how to fit the Sahara in.
The classic four-city loop
Most imperial routes start in Casablanca, where the main international airport is, and follow the same logic: north-east up the Atlantic to Rabat, inland to Meknes and Fes, then south to Marrakech.
- Casablanca to Rabat (about 90 km, 1 hour 15 minutes). Stop at the Hassan II Mosque before leaving Casablanca, then visit the Hassan Tower, the Mohammed V Mausoleum and the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat.
- Rabat to Meknes (about 140 km, 2 hours). Bab Mansour, the granaries of Moulay Ismail and the Place el-Hedim are the essentials.
- Meknes to Volubilis and Fes (about 90 km, 2 hours including the detour). The Roman ruins of Volubilis and the hill town of Moulay Idriss sit just off the road.
- Fes (two nights at least). The medina of Fes el-Bali, listed by UNESCO, is the largest car-free urban area in the world and needs a full day with a licensed guide.
- Fes to Marrakech (about 530 km, 7 to 8 hours via the Middle Atlas). We break the drive at the cedar forests near Azrou, where Barbary macaques live, and at the Ouzoud waterfalls on request.
The loop works equally well in reverse, which suits travellers flying into Marrakech. Our Fes activities and Marrakech activities pages have ideas for the free afternoons.
Sample 5, 7 and 10-day routes
These outlines are starting points. Every one can be run as a private tour and adjusted to your flights, pace and hotel style.
| Length | Route | Nights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes and Volubilis – Fes – Marrakech | Rabat 1, Fes 2, Marrakech 1 | Short trips focused on the cities only |
| 7 days | Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes – Fes – Merzouga – Dades or Todra – Marrakech | Rabat 1, Fes 2, desert camp 1, gorges 1, Marrakech 1 | First-time visitors who want cities plus dunes |
| 10 days | Casablanca – Rabat – Chefchaouen – Fes – Merzouga – Dades – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech | Rabat 1, Chefchaouen 1, Fes 2, desert camp 1, Dades 1, Ait Benhaddou 1, Marrakech 2 | A complete first visit at an unhurried pace |
On shorter trips we often suggest dropping Rabat to an afternoon visit rather than a night, so that Fes keeps two full nights. Fes rewards time more than any other city on the loop.
Rail or private driver?
Morocco has one of the better rail networks in Africa, and some travellers ask whether they need a driver at all. Here is how the two compare on this particular route.
Train versus private driver
- Trains run between Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes and Fes several times a day, and the Al Boraq high-speed line links Tangier with Rabat and Casablanca.
- Fes to Marrakech by train takes around seven hours, often with a change, so many rail travellers lose a full day.
- A driver can stop at Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, Ifrane and the cedar forests, none of which are on the railway.
- With a driver your luggage stays in the vehicle and hotel pick-up is door to door, which matters in medinas where taxis cannot enter.
- The Sahara, the Dades Valley and Ait Benhaddou are only reachable by road.
A mixed approach can work: train from Casablanca to Fes, then a private driver from Fes through the desert to Marrakech. We are happy to quote for that combination.
Our imperial cities tours
These itineraries cover the imperial cities in different lengths and directions. Each includes hotel or riad pick-up and can be upgraded to luxury accommodation.
Private tour · 8 days · from Casablanca8-Day Imperial Cities & Sahara Tour from Casablanca
- Private tour · 15 days · from Casablanca
15-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca: Complete Grand Tour
- Private tour · 7 days · from Casablanca
7-Day Morocco Tour from Casablanca
- Private tour · 8 days
8-Day Morocco Tour from Fes
- Private tour · 18 days · from Tangier
18 Days in Morocco: Grand Tour from Tangier
Adding the Sahara
Fes is the natural springboard for the desert. The drive to Merzouga is around 470 km and seven to eight hours, crossing the Middle Atlas at Ifrane, the cedar forests, the town of Midelt and the palm-filled Ziz Valley. You reach the Erg Chebbi dunes, which rise to about 150 m, in time for a sunset camel ride and a night at a camp.
From Merzouga the road west passes the Todra Gorge, the Dades Valley and the kasbahs of Skoura before Ait Benhaddou and the Tizi n’Tichka pass into Marrakech. That turns a city tour into a full loop of the country without doubling back. Desert nights are cold from November to March and summer days are very hot, so plan accordingly. Our Sahara desert tours page explains the camp options.
Photography tips for the imperial cities
- Light: Rabat’s Hassan Tower and Meknes’s Bab Mansour face the late afternoon sun; plan them for the last two hours of daylight.
- Tanneries: the Chouara tannery in Fes is best photographed in the morning from the leather shop terraces, when the dye pits are busiest.
- Rooftops: Jemaa el-Fna in Marrakech looks its best from a café terrace at dusk, as the grill smoke rises.
- People: always ask before photographing someone, and accept a no gracefully. Street performers will expect a small tip.
- Drones: they are not allowed without a permit and are often confiscated at the airport, so leave yours at home.
- Palaces and mosques: royal palaces can be photographed from outside only, and apart from the Hassan II Mosque, mosques are closed to non-Muslims.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for an imperial cities tour?
Five days covers all four cities at a brisk pace. Seven to ten days lets you add the Sahara and still enjoy each city properly.
Which city should I start from?
Start wherever your flights are cheapest. Casablanca and Marrakech are the usual choices, and the route works in either direction.
Do we need a local guide in each city?
We strongly recommend licensed guides in Fes and Marrakech, where the medinas are hard to navigate. Rabat and Meknes are easier to explore with your driver’s advice.
What should I wear when visiting religious sites?
Shoulders and knees covered for both men and women; women need a headscarf inside the Hassan II Mosque. Our guide on what to wear in Morocco has more detail.
Can the tour run during Ramadan?
Yes. Sites stay open, though some restaurants close during the day and hours can be shorter. Evenings in the medinas are especially lively.
Ready to plan your route through the imperial capitals? Contact our team in Marrakech by email at nomalortravel@gmail.com or on WhatsApp at +212 673 55 54 08. Tell us your arrival city, dates and travel style, and we will send a free, no-obligation quote; you can then secure your tour online with a 10% deposit.