6 days and 5 nights · Fez to Tangier
Morocco Off the Beaten Track: 6 Days from Fez to Tetouan
From US$1,250 per person
Overview · Route map · At a glance · Day by day · What’s included · Prices
Overview
About this 6 day journey
This journey is for travelers who have seen the imperial cities, or who would simply rather meet people than queue for monuments. It leaves Fez for the small towns and villages of the north, where life follows its own rhythm and very few visitors go.
You spend two nights in Bhalil, my home village, famous for its cave houses, with time for the old town of Sefrou nearby. Then two nights in Ouezzane, a quiet holy town of Sufi and Jewish heritage, and two in Tetouan, the white Andalusian medina below the Rif. Every visit happens through people I have known for years, so the encounters feel natural rather than staged.
Highlights
Sefrou
An old caravan town with a medina, a Jewish quarter, gardens and a waterfall, still almost free of tourists.
Bhalil and its cave houses
Two nights in my home village, in a cave house or a countryside guesthouse with gardens and views.
Meeting the people
Tea with women who embroider, the neighbourhood bread oven, artisans and shepherd families in the hills.
Ouezzane
A contemplative holy town of Sufi traditions and Jewish heritage, with olive groves all around.
The Rif foothills
Rural sanctuaries, weaving cooperatives and mountain villages around Ouezzane.
Tetouan
The UNESCO listed white medina with Andalusian roots, its artisan quarters and Mediterranean air.
Route map
Where this journey takes you
Duration6 days and 5 nights, fully private
Start and EndYour riad or hotel in Fez on Day 1, and Tetouan, with a transfer to Tangier airport or port, on Day 6
StyleA cave house or countryside guesthouse in Bhalil, and traditional guesthouses and riads in Ouezzane and Tetouan
NightsBhalil 2, Ouezzane 2, Tetouan 1
MealsDaily breakfast, and dinner on Days 1, 3 and 5
Travel PaceSlow, with two night stays and short drives of two to four hours
Route
Fez · Sefrou · Bhalil · Middle Atlas foothills · Ouezzane · Rif foothills · Tetouan · Tangier
Itinerary at a glance
Your trip in brief
| Day | Where you go | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fez to Sefrou and Bhalil | Cave house or countryside guesthouse in Bhalil, dinner included |
| Day 2 | Bhalil and the villages of the foothills | Cave house or countryside guesthouse in Bhalil |
| Day 3 | Bhalil to Ouezzane | Guesthouse in Ouezzane, dinner included |
| Day 4 | Ouezzane and the Rif foothills | Guesthouse in Ouezzane |
| Day 5 | Ouezzane to Tetouan | Riad in Tetouan, dinner included |
| Day 6 | Tetouan and departure | Departure |
Full itinerary
Day by day
Day 1
Fez to Sefrou and Bhalil
Fez To Sefrou To Bhalil
I drive you from Fez in the morning to Sefrou, one of the most overlooked historic towns in Morocco. Once an important caravan and trading centre, it still feels authentic, with very few visitors. I walk with you through the old medina, the Jewish quarter, the markets and gardens, and visit the waterfall, while I tell you about the Amazigh, Jewish and Arab communities who shaped the town.
In the afternoon I take you on to Bhalil, a peaceful hillside village known for its cave houses and its traditional way of life. You stay in a cave house in the village or in a countryside guesthouse with gardens and views over the plain.
Overnight: Cave house or countryside guesthouse in Bhalil, dinner included
Day 2
Bhalil and the villages of the foothills
Bhalil and the Middle Atlas Foothills
A day of slow exploration around Bhalil and the countryside. This is not about monuments but about atmosphere and encounters: tea with women doing traditional embroidery, the neighbourhood oven where families still bake their bread, artisans working in wood, weaving and traditional clothing, and shepherd families in the hills.
Depending on the season, I can also take you to a weekly market, the olive groves at harvest time, the poppy fields in spring, or walk the paths above the plain.
Overnight: Cave house or countryside guesthouse in Bhalil
Day 3
Bhalil to Ouezzane
I drive you north through rolling hills, olive orchards and rural villages to Ouezzane, one of the most important spiritual towns in Morocco and one that very few foreign visitors discover.
Ouezzane has long been a centre of Sufi traditions and was also important for the Jewish community of northern Morocco. I explore the medina slowly with you, with its markets, bakeries and artisan workshops, and the quiet corners linked to its religious history.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Ouezzane, dinner included
Day 4
Ouezzane and the Rif foothills
A flexible day to discover the region in more depth. I can take you to rural sanctuaries, olive farms, mountain villages and weaving cooperatives, or simply spend more time in the medina, watching daily life unfold.
This is a Morocco that is not designed around tourism. Its richness comes from conversation, hospitality and the layers of spiritual and cultural identity that have shaped the area for centuries.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Ouezzane
Day 5
Ouezzane to Tetouan
I drive you north towards the Rif, where the architecture, the food and the atmosphere change as the Mediterranean comes closer, and reach Tetouan, perhaps the most elegant and artistic medina in Morocco.
In the afternoon I walk with you through its UNESCO listed white medina, the artisan quarters, the old Andalusian neighbourhoods and the quiet streets that large groups rarely explore.
Overnight: Riad in Tetouan, dinner included
Day 6
Tetouan and departure
Tetouan To Tangier
A last morning in Tetouan, which I shape around your interests: artists’ studios, traditional music, Andalusian heritage, a photography walk, local food, or a short drive to the Mediterranean coast.
In the afternoon I take you to Tangier airport or the ferry port, about an hour away, or on to Chefchaouen if you are continuing your journey.
What’s included
Inclusions and exclusions
Included
- Private vehicle for the whole journey
- Guided cultural visits with me throughout
- Five nights in a cave house or countryside guesthouse, traditional guesthouses and a riad
- Daily breakfast, and dinner on Days 1, 3 and 5
- Village visits and meetings with local artisans and families
- Transfer to Tangier airport or port on Day 6
- All fuel, tolls, parking fees and applicable taxes
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Lunches, drinks and the other dinners
- Gratuities and personal expenses
Prices
Morocco Off the Beaten Track prices
Every tour is private, so the price per person depends on how many of you travel together and the accommodation level you choose: Affordable Comfort (3 star hotels and riads), Classic Comfort (4 star riads), Affordable Luxury (4 and 5 star riads) or Deluxe Luxury (5 star riads). Prices are per person for the whole 6 day tour, based on two people sharing a room.
| Group size | Affordable Comfort | Classic Comfort | Affordable Luxury | Deluxe Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 traveler (own room) | US$4,300 | US$4,700 | US$5,200 | US$6,200 |
| 2 travelers | US$2,350 | US$2,550 | US$2,800 | US$3,300 |
| 3 travelers | US$1,800 | US$2,000 | US$2,250 | US$2,750 |
| 4 travelers | US$1,530 | US$1,730 | US$1,980 | US$2,480 |
| 5 travelers | US$1,360 | US$1,560 | US$1,810 | US$2,310 |
| 6 travelers | US$1,250 | US$1,450 | US$1,700 | US$2,200 |
| Single room supplement, whole tour | Affordable Comfort | Classic Comfort | Affordable Luxury | Deluxe Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per single room | US$300 | US$500 | US$750 | US$1,250 |
Included: 5 nights with breakfast, your private vehicle with fuel, tolls and parking, your licensed guide for every day of the tour, entrance fees to the sites on the itinerary, 4 dinners in the places where you stay outside the cities. For groups larger than 6 travelers, ask me for the exact price. A 10% supplement applies to dates between 20 December and 5 January. How my prices work.
Good to know
Before you book
Shorter version
The journey also works in four days, with two nights in Bhalil, one in Ouezzane and a last day in Tetouan before Tangier.
Cave house or guesthouse
The cave houses of Bhalil have private bathrooms, hot showers, heating and Wi Fi while keeping their original character. If you prefer something more refined, I book a countryside guesthouse with gardens nearby.
A good add on
This tour follows well after a tour of the imperial cities or the Sahara that ends in Fez.
Booking and cancellation
A 50% deposit confirms your booking and the balance is due 60 days before the tour starts. Cancellation refunds are 100% for 30 or more days before departure, 50% for 15 to 29 days, 25% for 7 to 14 days, and none under 7 days.
What travelers say
Rated 4.9 on TripAdvisor
Guest reviews written since 2012. Read the reviews on TripAdvisor.
“The ONLY way to see Morocco is with Hassan Bouaouina.”
Young766, TripAdvisor, 2012
“Hassan has a contagious passion for Morocco… I felt safe and taken care of.”
Viator, 5 day desert trip, 2018
“Hassan quickly became more like a brother to us than a guide.”
michalotte02, tourHQ, 2023
Before you go
Read before you travel
- Sefrou and Bhalil from Fez: Cave Houses, Medina and How to Visit
- Sefrou Cherry Festival: Dates, What to Expect and How to Go from Fez
- Artisan Workshops in Fez: Pottery, Leather, Wood and Brass
For visas, money, transport and seasons, see the full Morocco Travel Guide or browse the travel blog.
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Photos from the journey
Cave houses, waterfalls and olive groves
A few moments from the quiet side of Morocco: the cave houses of Bhalil, the waterfall of Sefrou, the olive harvest and the hills of the interior.
