Tour Fes Sacred Music Festival Tour 2025

Others

Entrance fees to monuments and museums Hotel tax and service charges All tickets to festival concerts local guides Conferences and Festival gatherings Sufi Spiritual night in a private home

Transport

Land transportation in chauffeured vehicles

Meals

Breakfast and Dinner Daily

Accommodation

13 night accommodation in 3-star hotels (best in Morocco)

Guide

Services of English-speaking guides in major & tour leader throughout

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Optional

Other activities and services not mentioned

Flights

International flights are not included

Others

Other activities and services not mentioned

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Casablanca - Rabat
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Casablanca - Rabat

Once you land at the Mohamed V Airport in Casablanca, Morocco, your guide will meet you at your arrival gate to take you immediately to check-in to your hotel in Rabat (the Capital of Morocco). This is a beautiful short drive of about 45 miles through the lush farms and exotic plants. You will spend your day discovering the delights that Rabat has to offer. First, your guide will take you on a historical and lively tour of the Jewish quarter, the Mellah in the Heart of the city, starting at Place Sidi Makhlouf. The 12-century ramparts are best seen from this landmark. Next, walk up to Bab Chellah in the medina and cross Sidi Fateh St. This will lead you to the traditional Souk Laghzel (Yarn market). Your guide will introduce you to the importance of this guild in a textile role in Moroccan society.

Later, you will cross to the citadel of the Oudaya Kasbah, entering from its 12th-century main gate to explore an extraordinary Morocco medieval Moorish marvel overlooking the delta of the Bourgreg River. You can visit the old-fashioned Moorish gardens, stop in a traditional coffee house for mint tea and a Morocco National drink, and explore the Oudaya Museum of tribal arts and Crafts of Morocco. A docent will introduce you to traditional Berber Textiles. Then, you will continue your quest by exiting the Oudaya Kasbah and up the hill to visit the Hassan Tower and Mohamed the V Mausoleum, an emblem of authentic Moroccan architecture at its finest. You will reach the Royal Palace and the Necropolis of Chellah at the end of your tour. Finally, you will return to the hotel for dinner and other accommodations.
Day 2 Day 2: Rabat - Volubilis - Meknes - Fez City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Rabat - Volubilis - Meknes - Fez City

The first stop will be the ancient Roman city of Volubilis. Volubilis was a critical city in the imperial Roman department of Mauritania (modern-day Morocco and Western Sahara) during the reign of Caracalla. Next, jumping forward in time and just a few minutes away, is the venerated citadel of Moulay Idris, founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idris Al Akbar, grandson of the Prophet Mohamed (s.a.w.s). This sacred citadel is considered the cradle of Sufism in Morocco and the first Islamic capital for the premier Arab dynasty of Morocco.

The next stop was the imperial city of Meknes. Meknes is a 17th Century city built by Moulay Ismail to rival the city of Fez. It is also considered to be the Versailles of Morocco. Finally, you have reached your destination, the ninth-century town of Fez. In the evening, you will get a taste of the greatest of the Imperial Cities of Morocco. You will visit the sights outside the ancient walled city, including the ramparts, the gates, and the Borjs (Moorish Forts). After this introductory aperitif in the town of Fez, you will dine in your hotel and prepare for day three: The city of Fez!
Day 3 Day 3: Fes Medina And Nouvelle City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Fes Medina And Nouvelle City

The most ancient of Morocco’s imperial capitals and the Islamic world’s complete medieval city, the city of Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outside its walls. Time spent in the town of Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path. First, your morning will be spent visiting the Medina. Then, our specialized guide will take you on a historic discovery of the city of Fez, starting at the King’s Palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates.

Next, you will explore the Jewish Quarter, a 15th-century citadel with all its Moorish maze architecture and medieval glory in Morocco. Visits to Sephardic synagogues and mausoleums of holy Rabbis will be the highlights of this part of town. Then, we will drive to Merinides Hill to visit their necropolis over the city’s Northern hills. Here you will enjoy the best panoramic view of the old walled Medina (the largest in Morocco), brimful with its countless minarets to call for prayers in a city that has responded to these calls for 12 centuries. Finally, drive down the hills to the gate of Bab Guissa to leave your vehicle and enter the ancient world of Morocco. The city of Fez has preserved its Medina as it was centuries ago. Not even a bicycle can be used as a tool for transportation. Only donkeys, mules, and horses can help move all that the city produces and needs as supplies.

The first guilds you will immediately encounter are the cobblers, the saddlers, and blacksmiths, interlaced by some caravansaries for tribe members who come from the surrounding areas to trade and supply their needs. Down the hill to Juteya, you will encounter all sorts of crafts, but noticeably carpenters and leather workers as one of the traditional tanneries is not far. This walk will lead you to El Ashabine Square with its various activities. From there, you will find your way to the Sgha square, which will lead you to Attarine (spices merchants ST), then Souk el Henna and the Mausoleum of Moulay Idris, the founder of the city Fez. Next to it, you will visit the Nejjarine Square with its famous fountain, its Guild of Carpentry, and the Museum of folk arts at the Fondouk.

You will walk to the tannery and visit the Great Mosque University of Al Quarrawiyyine, passing by Shemma’ine, the dried fruit market. After that, you will see the Medersa Attarine and walk to Sbetryyine, a guild of bookbinders, which will lead you to the Seffarine Square, where the tapping of metalworkers is still deafening passersby as it was the case for centuries. You will break for lunch and then continue exploring the marvels of Fez Medina. These will highlight the Dyers souk, Foundouk Tetouani, and the shrine of Sidi Ahmed Tijani. You will end your walk at Foundouk Lihoudi, where a local Fez family will host you for traditional mint tea in their home. After dinner, we will take you to the festival’s Grand Opening.
Day 4 Day 4: Fes - Moulay Yacob Thermal Springs
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Fes - Moulay Yacob Thermal Springs

Today is a day to explore nature, Morocco’s culture from the insider perspective, and the spiritual healing of Sufi Saint’s landmarks. In the morning, you will travel to the Hot springs of Moulay Yacob. Hot Spring is so popular all over Morocco. Located in a small, charming Berber village at the foothills of the Rif Mountains, the springs are famous for their healing powers. Legend affirms that Moulay Yacob was a Sufi master able to heal different diseases, incredibly muscular and skin disorders. The sanctuary is in the heart of this hilly village where you find herbalists and traditional healers still curing locals and visitors as the tradition holds. In their small workshops and even in the streets around the sanctuary, these healers are still selling herbs and pouches of compounds in the same manner as in medieval times.

Across the valley from the village, you can spot a mausoleum crowning the hill called Lalla Shafia (meaning literally "The Healer Lady"). It was indeed her name as a saintly healer who was handed this secret healing power from her father, Moulay Yacob. Even today, many women come from remote areas in North Africa seeking her Baraka (blessings). It is a revered area and a spa for the poor and the wealthy. The traditional baths are down the hill, where these hot springs pump 138-degree hot water from as deep as 470 feet below. There is another spa bath with all modern amenities, where you can enjoy all kinds of treatments or bathe in an indoor domed pool, which gets its hot water straight from natural springs. After a picnic lunch, you will return to Fez for the afternoon concerts, followed by dinner at your hotel and the Festival’s evening events.
Day 5 Day 5: Fes - Sidi Ahmed Bernoussi Shrine - Fez
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Fes - Sidi Ahmed Bernoussi Shrine - Fez

Today we will have a taste of what Sufism is in Morocco. Your morning will be spent on an excursion to the Rif Mountains, where you will visit the Sidi Ahmed al Barnoussi shrine. Then, with local Sufi scribes, you will enjoy a typical couscous picnic lunch over the red poppy fields. Traditionally, this couscous lunch is considered a Sadaka, which is an offering to feed the Sufi retreat of devoted Mureeds, the guests, and the passersby. Finally, upon your arrival at the shrine in the peaks of Mount Zalagh, masters of local Sufi Music will meet you, the Jajouka musicians and dancers of Morocco, who will enchant you with haunting melodies of their oboes and drums – a ceremony that you will treasure for the rest of your life.

Sidi Ahmed El Bernoussi (Zerrouq) was born in Fez in 1482 and died in 1534 AD. He took from many scholars and sheiks of his time, mainly in the Quarawiyyine School of Thoughts, especially Sidi Abdellah Fekhar and Lalla Oum Hani Abdoussia. First, he traveled on a Sufi journey to Mekkah, where he studied. Then, he traveled to Cairo to learn from many sheiks. He was a master in Tafssir, numerology, and alchemy. He contributed to the Moroccan intellect a vast number of books and essays. His best work is the foundation of Tassawuf and the meanings of the attributes of Allah. Many of his disciples have followed in his footsteps and become eminent sheiks, such as Sidi Al Hattab al Kabir, Imam Shaarani, and the Quotb Abul Hassan Bekri. He was a scholar, an imam, a mufti, a poet, a sheik, a fequih, and a faquir (well venerated in Morocco). At the end of his life, he left Fez for Sabrata, west of Tripolis, the location of his burial site.

His school of Sufism and Alchemy and retreat sanctuary still function on the outskirts of Mount Zalagh overlooking the Old city of Fez. His Mureeds are still holding on to the tradition faithful to his wadhifa up to our days. No sheik in this tariqa has ever claimed his Sirr. So, Sidi Ahmed El Bernoussi remains the sheik of his mureeds. After lunch, you will have a tea ceremony and close with blissful prayers. Then, you will return to Fez for the afternoon festival activities, dinner, and the evening’s events.
Day 6 Day 6: Fes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Fes

Today is devoted to taking a leisurely break from the busy pace of this journey. You will have the entire morning at your leisure, free to do whatever you please in the city or to relax in your hotel to reflect on this marvelous experience. You will attend the scheduled sacred music concerts in the afternoon, followed by dinner and the Festival’s evening events. Later on, for those who feel resilient and wish to explore more, a Sufi master will open the doors of his home to share a Sufi gathering for Sufi dhikr and chants in the Harraki Order way. This Sufi gathering is only for this Morocco Discoveries Tour group, as it is not open to the public. This brotherhood dates back to Sidi Abu Lhassan Chadhuli, born in Morocco but buried in the Idab desert in Egypt. He was a disciple of Cheikh Moulay Abdeslam Ben Mashish. The current Cheikh, who is responsible for the renaissance of the brotherhood, is Imam Sidi Nour El Houda Ibrahimi Andalouissi Chadhuli. Afterward, you will enjoy dinner at the hotel. Then, you will experience the sacred evening events of the Festival.
Day 7 Day 7: Fes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Fes

The morning will be spent at your leisure, and after lunch, you will journey to the afternoon concert at Dar Batha. The evening concerts will be at Bab Makina. After the show, Morocco Discoveries will offer a night of Issawa healing music. Experience the Hadra circle dance to heal the world with the Sufi drummers of Issawa Tariqa. The Aissaoui Order has the most exciting sacred drumming with invocations to Allah praising all prophets and saints. Their slogan states: "Come to visit Moulay Al Hadi Sidi Ben Aissa, warrantor of his visitor’s wishes." The adepts of this order use the key phrase in their private and public meetings: "God is eternal." "Allah Da’em."
Day 8 Day 9: Fes - Sefrou City - B’Halil Village
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Fes - Sefrou City - B’Halil Village

In the early morning, you will enjoy a sunrise Sufi ceremony offered over the Merinides dynasty necropolis looking East for a dramatic sunrise over the sleeping giant of the 9th century Medina. Then, return to the hotel for breakfast and relax. Your day will include an optional day trip to the ancient Jewish city of Sefrou. Predating Fez by a thousand years, Sefrou once played a vital role as the last stop for the sub-Saharan caravans transporting goods to the European markets. There, you will visit the shrine of Sidi Lahcen Al Yussi, a venerated Sufi master considered the guardian and sacred custodian of Sefrou. In addition, you will see the mausoleums of other Rabbis and the city’s synagogues. On your return trip to Fez, you will visit the ancient Christian village of B’Halil, known for its distinctive troglodyte dwellings. Upon your arrival at Fez, you will attend the Festival’s evening events.
Day 9 Day 10: Fes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Fes

In the morning, you will attend a lecture on Sacred Music traditions, followed by the Festival’s afternoon Musical events at the Dar Batha Museum. Dinner will be at the hotel, followed by the evening Festival events at Bab Makina, the court of the King’s palace.
Day 10 Day 11: Fes
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Fes

You will spend your morning visiting the Andalucian part of the Medina on the eastern side of the river, where you will learn the history of the settler Moors, who arrived from Spain during the 13th century. Learn about their lifestyle that is still intact today. Shop for musical instruments and other artifacts of your interest, as the Andalusian market is known for these artifacts. The Festival’s afternoon sacred music concerts will take place at Dar Batha, followed by dinner at the hotel and, afterward, the Festival’s closing ceremony of World Sacred Music 2023
Day 11 Day 12: Fes - Marrakech
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Fes - Marrakech

You will spend your day discovering the rural environs of the Atlas Mountains’ Berber villages, wards, and nomadic settlements. Covered with evergreen pines, tall cedar trees, and poplars and laced with flowing streams, your first view of the Middle Atlas will appear oddly un-Moroccan. Passing by Imouzzer, with a quick stop at the Swiss-like town of Ifrane, you will soon come across the first real town of the Middle Atlas, Azrou. Azrou is an important market center for the region’s Berber tribes, located at a major junction of mountain routes. Next, your driver will take a little detour in a cedar forest to introduce you to one of the oldest inhabitants of this region, the Barbary apes. This may also coincide with the encounter of a nomadic family at its temporary encampment. As nomads are hospitable people, we are invited at least for a mint tea under their tents whenever we encounter them.

At Khenifra, the Middle Atlases give way to the High Atlas Mountains, whose peaks are visible through the haze, soaring to over 12,000 feet. After lunch, you will descend the Atlas Mountains, finally arriving in the foothills, which overlook the magnificent oasis city of Marrakech Alhamra. Some of the stops, as mentioned earlier, will include visits to Berber villages, scenic views, and traditional markets. Finally, you will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.
Day 12 Day 13: Marrakech
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Marrakech

You will devote your morning to exploring Marrakech’s many historical sites, starting at the Menara, a magnificent pool surrounded by flowerbeds, reflecting the image of an exquisite Moorish edifice. It was constructed in 1866 for dignitaries who enjoyed glorious sunsets with the ethereal Atlas Mountains as a backdrop. The pool is an innovative irrigation system serving dry life in the desert. Next, your tour will cover many impressive sites, including the Koutoubia Minaret (identical to la Giralda, a tower found in Sevilla, Spain) and the Saadien tombs, demonstrating Moorish architecture at its best. The tombs consist of sixteenth-century mausoleums, which had lain walled-in and undiscovered until 1917. Next, you will explore the gardens of the Agdal and then the Marjorelle. Finally, you will return to your hotel for dinner and other accommodations.
Day 13 Day 14: Marrakech - Casablanca - Home
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Marrakech - Casablanca - Home

On your last day in Morocco, you will depart for the Casablanca Airport early in the morning. Then, you will catch a flight home with a lifetime of memories packed neatly into your suitcase.

+10

13 days tour

Fes Sacred Music Festival Tour 2025

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip Fes Sacred Music Festival Tour 2025

Day 1: Casablanca - Rabat

Day 2: Rabat - Volubilis - Meknes - Fez City

Day 3: Fes Medina And Nouvelle City

Day 4: Fes - Moulay Yacob Thermal Springs

Day 5: Fes - Sidi Ahmed Bernoussi Shrine - Fez

Day 6: Fes

Day 7: Fes

Day 9: Fes - Sefrou City - B’Halil Village

Day 10: Fes

Day 11: Fes

Day 12: Fes - Marrakech

Day 13: Marrakech

Day 14: Marrakech - Casablanca - Home

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