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Following a morning exploration of the ancient mosaics of Volubilis and a walk through the white alleys of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, the road winds across the olive groves of the Saïs plain towards Meknes. Located under an hour's drive from Fez, the imperial city founded in the 17th century by Sultan Moulay Ismail is best discovered on foot along its monumental ramparts, offering a striking contrast to the pedestrian intimacy of Fez el-Bali.

1. Arrival with the Driver and Facing Bab Mansour (1-minute walk)

After the journey through the Saïs, your private driver drops you off right by El-Hedim Square, the natural meeting point between the souks of the medina and the royal city. A one-minute walk across the square brings you directly before the majestic Bab Mansour el-Aleuj. The most monumental imperial gate in Morocco, it reveals intricately carved arabesques and ancient marble columns salvaged from nearby Volubilis. Around the square, bustling café terraces and vibrant stalls of seasoned local olives set the tone for an authentic, welcoming city.

2. Towards the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail (6 to 7 minutes' walk)

Leaving Bab Mansour to your right, the walk proceeds beneath the high ochre walls of the imperial compound along the avenue leading to the sanctuaries. Following an easy 500-meter stroll (around 6 to 7 minutes on foot), you reach the entrance of the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail. Beyond tranquil courtyards paved with white marble and delicate zellij tilework, the funerary chamber showcases carved stucco and cedarwood craftsmanship reminiscent of the great architectural heritage of Fez, immersed in deep quietude.

3. The Royal Granaries of Heri es-Souani and the Agdal Basin (15 minutes' walk)

Continuing south through the imperial quarters, the walk leads to the immense Heri es-Souani complex. This 1.5-kilometer route takes about fifteen minutes on foot along the towering ochre fortifications. Inside the granaries, endless vaulted stone naves surprise visitors with their natural coolness, designed through an ingenious underground canal system to preserve grain reserves and house the royal cavalry. Right alongside unfolds the Agdal Basin (Sahrij Swani), a vast historic reservoir whose open promenades offer a peaceful resting point before concluding the visit.

Seamless Organization and Returning to the Peace of the Riad

Following this walking loop through Ismaili grandeur, your driver meets you outside Heri es-Souani for the return drive to Fez el-Bali. In the late afternoon, stepping back into the quiet comfort of Riad Fès Baraka highlights the beauty of the day's contrasts: the refreshing water of the 8 × 4-meter swimming pool, mint tea shared under the courtyard arcades, or the gentle warmth of the traditional zellij hammam provide the ideal unwinding after walking.

The full-day excursion combining Volubilis, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, and Meknes (1,000 MAD for the day) can be arranged directly on site after breakfast with Samir and Touria.

Exploring Fes el-Bali directly is best approached by following its backbone: the Talaa Kebira. This approximately two-hour walking route passes through the great Merinid buildings and historical guilds, all the way to the tanneries.

1. From the Riad to Bab Boujloud via Batha Square (7 to 8 minute walk)

Leaving the riad, walk along the alley towards Batha Square, with its Batha Museum and 19th-century Hispano-Moorish palace. From there, continue up the shaded pedestrian street to the monumental Bab Boujloud gate. Immediately to the right stands the Bou Inania Madrasa, built in the 14th century by Sultan Abu Inan Faris. The only madrasa in the city with a minaret and open to non-Muslim visitors, it is remarkable for its intricately carved plasterwork, zellige tiles, and Atlas cedar wood friezes.

2. The descent of Talaa Kebira (20 minutes)

Go through the arch of the gate to take the descending artery of Talaa Kebira. The slope guides your steps past the medieval water clock, then along the stalls of herbalists and food vendors, before crossing the alleys of the babouche merchants and the silk workshops of the Kissaria.

3. The Souk el-Attarine and the Al-Attarine Madrasa (10 minutes)

At the bottom of the descent lies the Souk el-Attarine, a traditional market for perfumers, incense, and fine spices, bordering the Al Quaraouiyine Mosque. It is here that the Al-Attarine Madrasa stands. Founded by Sultan Abu Said Othman, it reveals an intimate courtyard where geometric patterns interact with the light filtered through remarkable mashrabiya screens.

4. The Chouara tanneries (10 additional minutes)

Continue east to reach the tanneries. From the terraces overlooking the Chouara pits, leather is worked using lime, salt, and natural plant pigments (poppy, turmeric, saffron) according to methods unchanged since the Middle Ages. The early morning hours are ideal for observing the artisans at work in the perfect light.

After this walk through the historic heart, the return to the Riad offers the immediate coolness of the tree-lined patio and its large swimming pool to end the morning.

Riad Fès Baraka also welcomes people who are not staying at the property. Whether for a hammam, a massage, a Moroccan dinner or a cooking class with Samira, visitors can discover the house at their own pace.

The hammam and treatments

In our small traditional hammam, the individual treatment includes the application of eucalyptus black soap, exfoliation with a Kessa glove and a rose-scented ghassoul treatment.

45-minute individual treatment with a practitioner: 250 MAD (approximately €25).

45-minute Duo hammam treatment: 400 MAD (approximately €40) for two people.

45-minute relaxing massage with essential oils: 300 MAD (approximately €30) per person.

Facial treatment: 200 MAD (approximately €20) per person.

Dinner at the guest table

In the evening, Samira prepares a Moroccan menu consisting of two starters, a main course and a dessert, using fresh market produce.

Adult: 150 MAD (approximately €15).

Child under 12: 90 MAD (approximately €9).

The Moroccan cooking class

In the riad's kitchen, Samira shares the preparation of a Moroccan starter and a tajine or couscous. The class ends with a tasting of the meal prepared together.

Class with dinner included: 300 MAD (approximately €30) per person.

Information and booking

These services are available by reservation and subject to availability.

By email: riadfesbaraka@gmail.com

Via WhatsApp with Samir: +212 6 62 22 27 70

After breakfast at Riad Fès Baraka, the road leaves Fez and crosses the landscapes of the Saïs region. About an hour and a half later, the ruins of Volubilis come into view – the first stop on a day that continues to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and Meknes.

An ancient city on the edge of the Roman Empire

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Volubilis already existed before the arrival of the Romans. As an important city of Mauretania Tingitana, it prospered particularly through the cultivation of cereals and olive trees.

The remains of its houses, monuments and olive presses still reveal the organisation and daily life of an ancient city on the western edge of the Roman Empire.

Mosaics still in their original place

One of the distinctive features of Volubilis is its mosaics, preserved in the former residences. The Punishment of Dirce, Diana at the Bath and the Triumph of Bacchus offer a glimpse of the refinement of these houses and the meticulous work of the mosaic makers.

The visit also reveals the Arch of Caracalla, the basilica, the Capitol and the ancient baths. Rather than a single isolated monument, the layout of an entire city gradually emerges beneath your feet.

From Moulay Idriss Zerhoun to Meknes

The road continues to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, a holy city built on a hillside. Its white houses overlook the olive groves and offer a very different stop from the visit to Volubilis.

The final stage leads to Meknes. Monumental gates, ramparts and historic buildings still bear witness to the city's imperial past before the return to Fez.

Organising the excursion

Departure takes place directly from Riad Fès Baraka after breakfast. The route is travelled by car with a driver or by minibus for groups, with a return to the riad in the late afternoon.

Full-day excursion price: 1,000 MAD (approximately €100).

The excursion can be organised and booked on site with Samir and Touria.

In summer, all it takes is leaving a sun-heated alley and stepping through the door of a riad to feel the temperature change. This coolness is not merely an impression: it comes from an architectural design developed over centuries to protect against heat.

The patio, at the heart of the house

Built around a patio open to the sky, the riad turns its back on the street and organises its rooms around a shaded interior space. Warm air rises towards the roof opening, while the galleries and rooms remain protected from direct sunlight for much of the day.

Thick walls made of earth bricks and lime

The walls of Riad Fès Baraka are made of earth bricks and lime. Their thickness slows the progress of external heat and helps maintain a more stable temperature indoors. The heat accumulated during the day is gradually released as the air cools.

Water and greenery

The swimming pool and plants in the patio are not merely decorative. The shade provided by the foliage limits the heating of surfaces, while water evaporation helps cool the surrounding air. Together, they make the patio more pleasant on hot days.

An architecture that remains relevant

As summers become hotter, the architecture of riads is gaining remarkable renewed relevance. An inward-facing design, shade, natural air circulation, thick walls, water and greenery form a simple response that emerged long before modern air conditioning.

Living in a riad also means discovering the intelligence of the builders of the Fez medina and the way they adapted the home to its climate.

Treat yourself to a moment of deep relaxation at Riad Fes Baraka. Our wellness area is open to residents and outside travelers by reservation.

Prices for our rituals and treatments:

• Traditional scrub (250 Dh): complete ritual with eucalyptus black soap and rosewater ghassoul wrap.
• Relaxing massage with essential oils (300 Dh).
• Facial treatment (200 Dh).

Enjoy the purifying and soothing benefits of the hammam in a serene setting.

Information and reservations:

• Contact: Samir
• Phone & WhatsApp: 00212 6 62 22 27 7
• Email: riadfesbaraka@gmail.com

Title: Book Riad Fès Baraka exclusively for a group stay

Spending time with family or friends changes the way a riad is experienced. When all six rooms at Riad Fès Baraka are booked by the same group, the patio, swimming pool and terrace become the spaces of one private home, entirely dedicated to the shared stay.

Up to 18 guests in six rooms and suites

Exclusive booking allows groups of up to 18 guests. The group has sole use of the six rooms and suites, the traditional patio, the 8 × 4 metre swimming pool and the rooftop terrace. The hammam and massage room remain available by reservation; treatments are not included in the private-hire rate.

Each guest retains the privacy of their own room while sharing the communal areas with family or friends. Moroccan breakfast is served every morning.

A stay organised around the group's wishes

Samir and Touria can organise transfers, visits to the medina with an official guide and full-day excursions. After sightseeing, the group can enjoy the hammam, book massages or simply gather around the swimming pool.

For meals, Samira prepares family-style Moroccan cuisine using fresh market produce. Menus can be planned in advance according to the group's programme.

Private evenings in the patio

For a family celebration or an evening with friends, the patio can host a dinner accompanied by musicians. Depending on the atmosphere desired, we can arrange an Aïssawa ensemble – also known as Issaoua – or a smaller formation with oud and derbuka, for an evening inspired by Arab-Andalusian music.

Each evening is prepared on request, according to the group's size and chosen programme.

What Claude and Fairouz say

""An exceptional stay thanks to the kindness and availability of the entire team. Special mention must go to Samir, who organised our stay perfectly. And Samira and her cooking: a real delight. A complete change of scenery.""

— Claude Leroy, Google review, 2026, rating 5/5

""We shared a wonderful time with our friends. There were ten of us and the riad's staff looked after us with great care. Samira is incredibly kind and is equally excellent in the kitchen and in the hammam.""

— Fairouz, Google review, 2026, rating 5/5

Price and booking

Full private hire of the riad is offered at €550 per day. This rate includes the six rooms and suites, Moroccan breakfasts and the arrival transfer from Fez Airport or railway station.

Booking is available only by personalised request, so that availability can be checked and the stay prepared with the group.

Email: riadfesbaraka@gmail.com

In 2006, the first travellers walked through the door of Riad Fès Baraka. The house had just emerged from three years of restoration; its old walls, patio and decorative details were coming back to life. Twenty years later, in 2026, Riad Fès Baraka continues to write its story with the people who enter it.

A story of passion and patience

Twenty years ago, an old house stood silently at the heart of the ancient Fez medina. Nothing was really planned, until there was a glance, an emotion and a moment of falling in love with the place. The idea was simple: to bring the house back to life without ever betraying its soul.

For three years, the master craftsmen of Fez shaped every detail with patience, respect and passion: zellige assembled piece by piece, cedarwood carved and painted by hand, traditional carved gebs plaster and hammered copper.

Little by little, the house was transformed. Light entered, water found its place again and the patio became the living heart of the riad.

More than a hotel, a home open to Fez

Riad Fès Baraka was never imagined as a simple hotel. For two decades, travellers from around the world have shared this home. Some left with memories; others returned as friends.

People do not come here only to stay. They come to slow down, listen to Fez breathe and find calm behind the door. Perhaps that is the meaning of ""Baraka"": good fortune, a blessing, an invisible presence that transforms a house into a refuge.

Twenty years later

The spirit of the house has remained the same: preserving traditions, caring for details and welcoming guests sincerely. Today, Samir, Touria, Samira and the whole team keep this spirit alive every day.

Some houses provide accommodation. Others leave a lasting impression. For twenty years, Riad Fès Baraka has simply tried to be one of the places people do not forget.