8 Best Day Trips from Meknes

The world's largest car-free urban zone — Fes el-Bali is the medieval medina of Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most complex, atmospheric, and overwhelming old city in the Arab world. A day trip from Meknes gives you 6–7 hours to explore. Essential sights: the Bou Inania Medersa (entry 20 MAD) — the most ornate Marinid-era theological college, with carved stucco, cedar, and zellige tilework of extraordinary detail. The Chouara Tanneries — the oldest leather tanneries in the world, best viewed from the terraces of surrounding leather shops (free, but you'll be expected to browse). The Nejjarine Museum of Wood Arts & Crafts (entry 20 MAD) occupies a beautifully restored caravanserai. The University of Al Quaraouiyine (founded 859 AD, the world's oldest continuously operating university) — the courtyard is sometimes visible through the entrance but the interior is restricted. The medina has over 9,000 lanes — GPS doesn't work here. Hiring a licensed guide (300–500 MAD for half day) is strongly recommended for a first visit. The train from Meknes runs hourly (25 MAD second class, 45 minutes). From Fes Ville station, a petit taxi to the medina costs 10–15 MAD. The last return train is around 9pm. Start early and focus on the core sights rather than trying to see everything.

Morocco's most famous thermal springs — a hillside village centered on hot sulfurous waters that have drawn bathers since Roman times. Moulay Yacoub sits in a valley 20 km northwest of Fes (accessible from Meknes via the Fes road, 45 minutes). The thermal water emerges at 54°C from deep underground, rich in sulfur, calcium, and magnesium — locals and visitors use it for treating skin conditions, rheumatism, and respiratory ailments. The modern Moulay Yacoub Thermal Spa (opened 2008) offers professional hydrotherapy treatments: thermal pools, steam rooms, mud wraps, and massage (100–300 MAD depending on treatment). The traditional public baths at the bottom of the village offer a more authentic (and much cheaper) experience — separate sections for men and women, hot and warm pools, and a local atmosphere (20–30 MAD entry). The village cascades down a steep hillside — white houses, a minaret, and steam rising from the valley floor. The souk area has simple restaurants and shops selling thermal water products (sulfur soap, mineral creams). The valley setting is dramatic: steep green hills on three sides, with the thermal steam creating a misty atmosphere. Grand taxis from Meknes (15 MAD) via the N6 toward Fes. Combine with a visit to Fes for a full day. Best on weekday mornings when the spa is quiet. The modern spa is air-conditioned and luxurious; the traditional hammam is steamy, loud, and culturally immersive.

A scenic driving circuit through the Middle Atlas highlands, linking volcanic lakes, cedar forests, and Berber villages. The route from Meknes heads south through Ifrane and Azrou, then loops east through the lake district. Dayet Aoua (30 km south of Ifrane) is a seasonal lake surrounded by oak forest — in wet years, it fills with water and attracts migratory birds (herons, coots, cranes). In dry years, the lakebed becomes a meadow grazed by sheep. The road continues to Dayet Ifrah — a larger, deeper lake in a volcanic crater, set among cedar-covered hills. The water is a deep blue-green and the surrounding forest is pristine. Picnic spots line the shore. Further south, Dayet Hachlaf is a smaller crater lake with a more remote, wild character. The circuit passes through Berber villages where traditional stone houses, terraced agriculture, and donkey transport are still the norm. The road surface varies — some sections are smooth tarmac, others are rough piste (4WD recommended for the full circuit). A hired taxi for the full-day circuit (Meknes → Ifrane → Dayet Aoua → Dayet Ifrah → Azrou → Meknes) costs 600–900 MAD. The circuit is approximately 100 km and takes 6–7 hours with stops. Bring lunch — there are no restaurants on the route. Best season: March–May for wildflowers and full lakes, September–November for autumn colors. The lakes freeze occasionally in January–February.