Yes, you can do a Fes to Chefchaouen day trip, especially in spring, when the days are longer. But it is a long day: about 8 hours in the car for the round trip, with stops, which is close to the most I recommend driving in one day. I have worked in Moroccan tourism since 2012, and before anyone books this trip with us, I explain the driving time, the route, the stops and how much time they will have in Chefchaouen. This page is that explanation. If you have the time, I highly recommend staying a night instead, and I explain that option too.
A private day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen with a driver starts at $200 for two people, which is $100 per person, in the quiet season. The details are in “What it costs” below.
My day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen, hour by hour
This is how the day runs in spring:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. | We leave Fes. |
| After about 3 hours of driving | A stop around Ouezzane, at a café or restaurant where you can eat, have a drink, use the restroom and relax. |
| Around noon | We arrive in Chefchaouen. You have about four hours in the town. |
| About 4:00 p.m. | We leave Chefchaouen. |
| Around 7:00 p.m. | We are back in Fes, before dark. |
In winter I recommend leaving Fes at around 7:00 a.m. We may also stop at a café with a garden and restrooms, for about 20 minutes, or up to an hour if you want breakfast or a proper break. Altogether you spend about 8 hours in the car, with stops. There is not enough time to add Volubilis to this day: it is a drive to Chefchaouen and time in the town.
Leaving Chefchaouen, and driving back after dark
We leave Chefchaouen at about 4:00 p.m., in spring and in winter, so you have a maximum of about four hours in the town. In spring we are back in Fes around 7:00 p.m., before dark. The road through the Rif is a mountain road, not a highway, and it has no street lighting, so driving after dark depends on the road: when it is in good condition, it is no problem; when the road is difficult, I do not drive it at night.
What to do in Chefchaouen in four hours
We usually drop you near the main square. From there you walk through the blue streets, head uphill toward the waterfall, and come back down to the square. The main experience here is walking: the colors, the blue streets and the photos. There are no major attractions you need to pay to enter.
The Spanish Mosque is a longer walk and needs good mobility. On a day trip it is usually not practical, but if you stay overnight you can walk up there for the sunset.
Do you need a guide? For small groups, no. Chefchaouen is easy to explore on your own, and your driver is usually enough. For groups of more than four, we can arrange a local guide in Chefchaouen to help you find your way and explain the history of the town.
When it is busy. The old town is usually busy from about 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., when the day-trippers arrive from Tangier and Fes. In the evening, from about 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., the square is lively again, with restaurants, food and drink sellers and musicians.
If someone offers hashish, or offers to be your guide. Do not get into a conversation. Say “No, thank you” or “I’m okay”, and keep walking. Do not argue.
What it costs
Private trips, for two people traveling together in the quiet season:
| Option | From |
|---|---|
| Day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen and back | $200 for two people ($100 per person) |
| One night in Chefchaouen, back to Fes the next evening (hotel not included) | $150 per person |
| Two days with a hotel in Chefchaouen and a half day at Akchour | $300 per person |
Included in the day trip: a private vehicle with a driver, parking in Chefchaouen, and one bottle of water per person. Children under five travel free. For larger groups the price changes with the vehicle and the number of people.
Not included: lunch, drinks, your own purchases, and tips, which are optional.
Money on the day
Budget for these in Chefchaouen, in dirhams:
- A normal lunch costs about 100 MAD (about $10) per person. A decent meal is about 150 to 200 MAD ($15 to $20).
- At some decorated doorways, a local may ask for a small fee or tip for a photo, often about 5 to 20 MAD.
- There is no fixed tip for the driver. Tip according to the service and what you feel is right.
- Your own coffees, drinks, food and shopping.
Booking works the same way as all our trips: a 30% deposit confirms it, and the balance is paid in cash. Ask me for the written booking terms.
Who should not take a Chefchaouen day trip from Fes
I do not recommend this day trip if you:
- suffer from motion sickness,
- get tired after three or four hours in a car,
- dislike long drives or mountain roads, or
- do not want to rush back to Fes.
The road through the Rif mountains is winding and can be bumpy. If you are prone to car sickness, I would not recommend this day trip: I do not want you to spend the day feeling unwell, with your experience spoiled. Families with children should think carefully about whether the children will manage about eight hours in the car.
Instead, you can stay a night in Chefchaouen (next section), or choose Meknes and Volubilis, which are much closer to Fes, or Ifrane and the Middle Atlas.
Stay a night instead: the Fes to Chefchaouen tour over two days
If you can stay one night, we leave Fes, arrive in Chefchaouen around midday, and you spend the afternoon exploring. In the evening you can see the square, and if you can manage the longer walk, the sunset from the Spanish Mosque. The next morning you have a little more time in the town before returning to Fes in the evening. From $150 per person for two people, hotel not included.
Akchour waterfalls. Akchour does not fit in a day trip from Fes: there is not enough time to see Akchour and Chefchaouen on the same day. Stay one night in Chefchaouen, and visit Akchour for half a day the next morning before returning to Fes. The two-day option with a hotel in Chefchaouen and the half day at Akchour starts at $300 per person for two people in the quiet season.
Here is a real example. Some guests chose the day trip because they thought one day would be enough. They left their luggage at their riad in Fes. When they arrived in Chefchaouen, they fell in love with the colors and the blue streets, and decided to stay instead of going back that day. They booked a hotel on the spot. It was April, the spring weather was fantastic, and they returned to Fes around midday the next day.
If you are still planning the whole trip, I recommend 8 days or more in Morocco if you want Chefchaouen, so you can spend two nights there without rushing. See our Morocco itineraries for the routes that include it.
When to go, and what winter changes
The day trip is possible, especially in spring, when the days are longer. In winter I recommend leaving Fes at around 7:00 a.m., and we leave Chefchaouen at about 4:00 p.m.
Late December can bring heavy rain to northern Morocco and the Rif mountains. The roads can become difficult or damaged, and sometimes we cancel or avoid the trip, depending on the conditions. Snow is not typical in the Rif, but it can be cold or foggy at times. We check the weather and the road conditions before we decide.
Private car, bus or train from Fes to Chefchaouen?
There is no train from Fes to Chefchaouen: Chefchaouen is in the Rif mountains and has no railway station. The CTM bus is an option if you are traveling on a budget. If you want comfort, flexibility and time to enjoy the journey, I recommend a private car with a driver.
On our trips your driver is Brahim, Said, Ayman, Mohamed or Hamza, depending on availability. The car is private: only you and your group travel in it.
What to ask before you book any Chefchaouen day trip
Whichever company you choose, including mine, make sure you have a clear picture of the day before you say yes:
- How many hours will you spend in the car, in total, with stops?
- What is the road like, and what happens if the weather is bad?
- Where do you stop on the way, and for how long?
- What time do you arrive in Chefchaouen, what time do you leave, and how many hours do you really have in the town?
- What is included, and what will you pay on the day?
Our answers are on this page. We give our guests this picture of the journey before they decide to book.
Questions about the Fez to Chefchaouen day trip
Can you do Chefchaouen as a day trip from Fes?
Yes, especially in spring, when the days are longer. It is a long day, with about 8 hours in the car for the round trip including stops, and about four hours in Chefchaouen. If you have the time, I highly recommend staying a night instead.
How long is the drive from Fes to Chefchaouen?
In spring we leave Fes at 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. and arrive around noon, with a stop around Ouezzane. On the day trip you spend about 8 hours in the car altogether, with stops.
How much is a private day trip from Fes to Chefchaouen?
From $200 for two people, which is $100 per person, in the quiet season. It includes a private vehicle with a driver, parking and a bottle of water per person. Children under five travel free. Lunch, drinks and tips are not included.
Is there a train from Fes to Chefchaouen?
No. Chefchaouen is in the Rif mountains and has no railway station. You can take the CTM bus if you are on a budget, or a private car with a driver for comfort and flexibility.
Is Chefchaouen worth visiting?
Yes, absolutely. The blue city is something special in Morocco, beautiful and different, and many travelers are excited to see it. One or two days are more than enough for most visitors.
Do I need a guide in Chefchaouen?
For small groups, no: the town is easy to explore on your own. For groups of more than four, we can arrange a local guide to help you find your way and explain the history.
Can I add the Akchour waterfalls to a day trip from Fes?
No, there is not enough time for Akchour and Chefchaouen on the same day. Stay one night in Chefchaouen and visit Akchour for half a day the next morning. That two-day option starts at $300 per person for two people in the quiet season.
Can I visit Volubilis on the way back?
Not on the day trip: there is not enough time. If you want Volubilis, Meknes and Volubilis are a better alternative, because they are much closer to Fes.
Is the day trip suitable for children?
Children under five travel free, but think carefully about whether your children will manage about eight hours in the car. The road through the Rif is winding and can be bumpy.
What should I say if someone offers hashish or a tour in Chefchaouen?
Do not get into a conversation. Say “No, thank you” or “I’m okay”, and keep walking. Do not argue.
Is Fez nicer than Marrakech?
Both are beautiful, but they are different. Fes is known for its deep history. Marrakech is lively, colorful and international, full of people, musicians and food. Both are worth visiting.
Plan your Chefchaouen day
Tell me your date, how many people you are, and whether you want the day trip or a night in Chefchaouen. I will ask about your interests and travel style, so we can decide together whether the day trip is right for you, and send you the plan and the price. For longer trips that start in Fes, see our desert tours from Fes, and for the town itself, our guide to Chefchaouen.
