Artisan Workshops & Royal Fes Experience

Guided by a PhD historian born and raised in the medina.
Duration
4 hours
Group size
Private for 1-8 guests
Highlights Gallery Itinerary Meeting Point FAQs
Artisan Workshops & Royal Fes Experience
Highlights Gallery Itinerary Meeting Point FAQs

Highlights

  • Unlock the secrets of the Fes Medina alongside a PhD historian born within its walls.
  • Stand before the golden gates of the Royal Palace as you hear about Morocco’s imperial legacy.
  • Enter a traditional zellige workshop where artists craft intricate mosaics.
  • Learn about the centuries-old craft of pottery under the guidance of a master artisan.
  • Visit the Chouara Tannery, where the art of organic leather tanning has remained virtually untouched since the 11th century.
  • Enjoy panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Medina.

Your private Fes experience

Fes is Morocco's intellectual and artistic capital, and this tour takes you straight to its creative heart. Your private guide is a historian who not only holds a PhD in Moroccan studies but has lived it firsthand — he was born and raised in the medina. Following his lead, you'll go beyond the main streets and into...

Fes is Morocco's intellectual and artistic capital, and this tour takes you straight to its creative heart. Your private guide is a historian who not only holds a PhD in Moroccan studies but has lived it firsthand — he was born and raised in the medina. Following his lead, you'll go beyond the main streets and into the working studios where the city's most celebrated crafts are still made by hand.

Start at the golden gates of the Royal Palace, where your guide sets the scene with stories of the dynasties that shaped the city. Next, you’ll visit zellige tile and pottery studios, where you’ll learn about these age-old crafts from master artisans. Along the way, your guide takes you through the souks where Fassi families do their daily shopping, into the communal bakery where locals bring their dough each morning, and through sites you won't find in any guidebook. Your guided private tour of Fes concludes with a panoramic view of the medina and the ancient dye vats of the Chouara Tannery before a traditional tea at a cafe away from the tourist crowds. See the real Fes through a local’s eyes and discover why it’s charmed travelers for centuries.

Itinerary

  • Royal Palace

    A stop outside the golden gates as your historian guide provides context on the royal dynasties that shaped Fes

  • Zellige workshop

    Special access to a tilework studio where experts cut and assemble elaborate mosaics

  • Pottery experience

    A hands-on experience shaping clay alongside skilled artisans using centuries-old techniques

  • Chouara Tannery

    A living workshop where tanners dye leather in stone vats with saffron, poppy, and indigo, a process virtually unchanged for nearly a millennium

  • Medina viewpoint

    Sweeping views over the layered rooftops of the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site

  • Traditional tea

    Moroccan tea or coffee at a charming cafe handpicked by your guide

What sets this experience apart

  • A private PhD historian guide born and raised in the Fes Medina
  • Pottery, zellige, and leather craft experiences led by master artisans
  • A traditional Moroccan tea or coffee at a local cafe away from the crowds
  • Private transfer to and from your hotel

Meeting Point

Your private guide will be waiting for you inside your hotel lobby. Pickup and drop-off to hotels located within two miles of the city center are included. If you’re staying in a hotel outside of this area, please contact us after booking and we can advise on pickup. There may be an additional charge.

FAQs

This private experience is available on request. After you complete your booking online, we’ll confirm availability with our local team. You’ll receive an email within 72 hours either confirming your booking or letting you know if that date is unavailable. If we’re unable to proceed with your reservation, you’ll receive a full refund.
Pickup and drop-off to hotels located within two miles of the city center are included. If you’re staying in a hotel outside of this area, please contact us after booking and we can advise on pickup. There may be an additional charge.
Yes, this experience is family-friendly, and your guide can tailor it for your group to make sure kids are included. Because hotel pickup is included, every person needs a seat, including infants.
We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund or the option to reschedule up to 48 hours before the experience start time.
Unfortunately, this experience isn’t accessible for wheelchairs due to the narrow, uneven streets in the Fes Medina.
No, it’s run by one of our trusted and vetted partners in Fes.

  • Exclusively private

    Unforgettable moments shaped around you

  • Thoughtfully curated

    Hand-picked experiences for the highest quality

  • High-touch service

    So your visit is stress-free from start to finish