Fez, Rabat and Marrakech: Imperial Morocco by Train

We’ll arrange for you to see Fez in the company of a local today, who will guide you around the old town’s maze of alleys while letting you in on the secrets of life in the city. As you stroll, let yourself be carried away by the enthusiasm your companion has for their home. Learn about food and culinary traditions at the market and in a café under a mulberry tree; discover architecture and crafts at the 14th-century Bou Inania Madrasa and the trade districts; and visit the Andalusian gardens during a stroll in the Jnan Sbil garden, established in the 18th century. This is your chance to get to the heart of what this city is all about, and to pick up some tips and advice for the rest of your trip.

Because of their proximity to each other, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss and Meknes can all be visited in one go. You’ll explore them today with a private guide. First is the Berber-Roman city of Volubilis, capital of olive oil in ancient Mauretania. This vast site evokes a real sense of what the prosperous cities of North Africa were once like, and the many mosaics testify to the value of art in the Roman world. Meknes has a long history. Founded in the 11th century, it acted as the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismaïl from 1672 to 1727. Many of the great monuments that have earned Meknes a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list date from this era. 18 miles north of Meknes you’ll find Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, which houses the late eighth-century tomb of Idriss I, the first major Islamic ruler of Morocco and the founder of Fez, who died in Volubilis.

Today you’ll travel to Morocco’s capital by train, which takes three hours. When you arrive, you’ll head straight to your intimate riad in the medina, where you’ll spend two nights. This afternoon, spend some time on the shady patio surrounded by flowers, or take a dip in the pool before a spa treatment. A delicious Moroccan meal is yours to tuck into tonight at the restaurant.

With a private guide and a driver at your disposal, you’ll visit the great monuments of Morocco’s modern capital. You’ll begin with the Kasbah of the Udayas, a striking citadel built in the 12th century by the Almohads. Also built by the Almohads, The Hassan Tower is a real emblem of Rabat, an impressive minaret of an incomplete mosque. In Chellah, you’ll find traces of a Roman city and those that came after it. It eventually became a burial site for the Marinid dynasty, and this fortified necropolis is both peaceful and opulent. Finally, the Dar al-Makhzen (Royal Palace of Rabat) is a beautiful classical-style structure built in the 19th century. Along the way, you’ll stop for coffee or tea to keep you fuelled up as you explore.

This morning you’ll take a three-and-a-half-hour train to Marrakech, where you’ll spend your last two nights in Morocco. You’ll find your accommodation in the medina behind a solid studded door that allows you to shut away the hustle and bustle of the souq, so all that’s left to listen to is the murmur of a fountain. Whether you’re in the large shaded patio or the excellent restaurant, every part of this riad celebrates the Moroccan way of life. Once you’ve settled in, head out into the city to bag some bargains in the souk, enjoy a plateful of traditional tagine, or sip a sunset drink on a rooftop.

We’ll get you tickets for the Jardin Majorelle, the Berber Museum and the Yves Saint-Laurent Museum today. The garden, created in the 1930s by French painter Jacques Majorelle, is a mesmerising mix of luscious plants, trickling water and colourful architecture. This is also where you’ll find the Berber Museum, a collection of 600 pieces of art and ethnographic artefacts collected by Pierre Bergé and installed on the ground floor of the famous blue villa. This museum documents the story of a civilisation that’s both ancient and contemporary. The Yves Saint-Laurent Museum, meanwhile, invites you to be enchanted by this couturier's work through clothes, accessories, photographs and drawings. Designed by Studio KO, the building that houses the museum is something in itself. You’ll have the whole day to visit these three fascinating places at your leisure.