Other towns may be selling a rich choice of crafts, but chances are that many come from Fez -- and better still, in this city, you can watch the artisans make them. Set aside some time for shopping, perhaps at the potters' cooperatives on the edge of town, or the Centre Artisanal,where prices are fixed, unless you enjoy the ritual haggling that is required in the souk.

Set inside a "bowl" formed by surrounding hills, the old city of Fez is a gem of Moorish-Andalusian architecture. Its delicate minarets, flat roofed houses, narrow, winding streets, (some only 4 feet wide!), crowned by the imposing presence of the green tiled Mosque of city founder Moulay Idriss, and of the Karaouyne, all combine to inspire poets and artists from all over the world.

Since the faithful are forbidden by the Holy Coran to flaunt their wealth, many of the plain wooden doors lining the old medina's narrow alleyways often belie the wonders within. Here, large homes are built around an indoor atrium or courtyard with a fountain in the center. Most rooms open onto this cool, indoor garden, filled with trees or bushes.

Our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture and customs. Below are some of our recommended highlights. Some tours and packages can be organized when booking your program, please see the program price page for more information.

city tour
Fez is a easy city to walk and many of the attractions include: Mosque of Moulay Idriss II, founder of the city, and patron saint of Morocco. Karaouyne University and medersas, the famous Bou Jeloud Gate and the Nejjarine Square. The Batha Museum, Merinides Tombs, and royal palace esplanade with nearby mellah or ancient Jewish quarter. Over the centuries, Fez has hosted a sizable Jewish community and the cemetery there is a place of pilgrimage for Jews around the world. Besides the Medina, you can explore the Ville Nouvelle, the French built city. You can get a good view of Fez from several hills around the town.

medina
The Fez medina has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. This means ongoing efforts are being made to preserve it in its present state and to encourage a return to some of its former uses, such as residential. The Fez medina is Morocco's largest, some 2,700 acres. The medina is closed to motorized traffic, so donkey carts are widely used to ferry goods around. It's best to take a guide along as its easy to get lost in such a big marketplace.

shopping
Fez is noted for their quality craftsmanship, particularly evident in their carpets, perhaps the most beautiful in Morocco. There's also a great selection of fine metalwork in Fez.

rug museum
Which features an extraordinary selection of carpets old and new from all over Morocco.

food
Fez is a great place to splurge on quality Moroccan food. Try one of the restored palaces in the Medina. Fez also has a reasonable selection of European type restaurants.

markets
The vibrant markets of Fes - organized by trade - form their crafts using methods from the ancient past. Most colorful is the dyers souk, where giant vats of dye are worked by men who jump in the vats to dye to leather hides. Of equal interest are the brass and ceramic souks. Snake charmers are still a spectacle and you will find them at many markets and souks throughout Morocco. The souk is a place of meeting as much as trade. The women walk down on foot from the neighbouring villages, the men take the asses or the carts drawn by mules and as long hordes surge towards these markets. Fez is still an extremely religious and traditional city. Most women still wear veils.

The craftsmen of the El Atterine souk offer the visitor a non-stop spectacle. For hundreds of years such work bas been regulated by traditional guilds, ensuring that its quality is worthy of the city. Each district has its own speciality : cobalt blue enamelled pottery, carpets, wrought iron ... one looks on as the dyer stirs his yarns, steeped in their multitude of colours, as the tanner tramples his skins under an open sky -skins that the leather-worker will eventually adorn with fine gilt for book-binding.

bahlil and sefrou (day excursion)
Bahlil was reputedly built by Irish captives of Moulay Ismael over 300 years ago. Sefrou, Morocco's cherry capital, is one of the oldest Berber villages in the area, this trip offers a beautiful drive into the hills.

middle atlas mountains (day excursion)
Outside of Fez, this offers a glorious drive into the cedar forest deep into Berber country via Immouzer, Ifrane and Azrou ski resorts. See the Michliffen snowfields, located in an ancient crater.

meknes, volubillis moulay idriss (day excursion)
Meknes is often overshadowed by neighboring Fez ,although it also offers striking sights of its own. Indeed, Meknes is often used as a movie backdrop by film producers from all over the world. The city's most glorious days were under Sultan Moulay Ismail (1672-1727), a contemporary of Louis XIV of France, whom he tried to emulate. During his reign, the sultan attempted to construct the "Versailles of Africa!" His admiration of the French king was such that he even asked for Louis' daughter's hand in marriage. The union never took place but vestiges of Moulay Ismael's grandiose plans dot the city.

erfoud via the atlas mountains
Head for Erfoud on the edge of the Sahara via the mountain towns of Midelt and Rachidia. Two nights with full board in Erfoud allows for visits of historic Sijilmassa, birthplace of Morocco's present day Alaouite dynasty, as well as the market town of Rissani. Optional excursion includes an exciting sunrise or sunset drive by Land Rover to the desert dunes of Merzouga with fossil hunting--an unforgettable experience!

music events
Once a year, Fez is host to the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music which attracts ethnic musicians from all over the world. There are many famous Islamic schools located in the Medina.