Fez to Meknes and Moulay Idriss: Private day trip

Founded in the 11th century as a military settlement, Meknes rose to prominence in the late 17th century when Sultan Moulay Ismaïl made it the imperial capital of Morocco. He transformed it into an impressive stronghold with high walls with grand gates protecting a Spanish-Moorish style city. While today it’s overshadowed by neighbors like Fez, its UNESCO-listed medina offers some of the finest historical monuments in the country without the mass of crowds that clog other cities. A sign of its former stature, the main imperial gate, known as the Bab El Mansour, was built using materials from palaces taken during Ismail’s sack of Marrakesh. While impressive the gate doesn’t hold a candle to the incomparable craftsmanship at Ismail’s tomb. Then there’s the the king’s cavernous fortified granary, which could house 12,000 horses, mosques dating back to the 12th century, and plenty of other sites to discover in its winding alleys.

Moulay Idriss is the burial site of the great-grandson of the prophet Muhammed, who came to Morocco in the 6th century. His tomb was rebuilt and renovated by Moulay Ismail in the late 17 or early 18th century, and its sacred significance meant that non-Muslims weren’t allowed into the town until 1912 (and are still not allowed to enter the tomb). It wasn’t until 2005 that the current King of Morocco, Muhammed VI, issued a decree permitting non-Muslims to stay overnight in the town. Because of its historic inaccessibility, the holy town is still a relaxing place to explore compared to the country’s main tourist destinations. Wandering the winding roads through the historic center, you’re sure to discover brightly painted passageways, traditional architecture, and intricate mosaics. The Moulay Idriss mosque has the only cylindrical minaret in Morocco, and was built using stones from the nearby Roman ruins of Volubilis, and is covered with verses from the quran.