Chefchaouen tour
Hosting you is a delight
Chefchaouen, the beautiful blue pearl of the North
Travelers to Chefchaouen are captivated by the surreal impression Chefchaouen leaves in their souls. The facades of its houses are painted with various shades of blue that makes the city looks to be soaked in azure. Walking around its medina narrow streets give the impression of a blue labyrinth. It makes you feels like moving through a dream. And yet Chefchaouen has much more to offer than just a cute face. Chefchaouen encloses a national park of Talassemtane which englobes endemic species of fauna and flora with gorgeous views of the Rif mountains. For those who love hiking, the national park of Talassemtane is the perfect choice. Chefchaouen is also on the Mediterranean coast (120km) where to enjoy the crystal clean water of its rustic coast line.
This tour is fully customizable
- DAY 1 : TANGER/FES - CHEFCHAOUEN
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Pick up at the airport/port or your hotel in Tangier or Fes. Then drive to the heart of the Rif mountains in search of the blue pearl Chefchaouen. After checking in your boutique Riad in the medina and after some refreshment, start exploring the blue medina of Chefchaouen. Its medina is small, but authentic: wander through its alleys to blend with the locals and take in the smells of everyday life, such as bread hot out of the oven and expertly prepared tagines.
Continue to the source Ras El Mae where to enjoy the waters murmurs and watch the locals using the river’s water as a fridge for orange juice. Ras el-Maa River would pass along the eastern fringes of the medina of Chefchaouen before eventually emptying out into the Mediterranean Sea. In the old days, traditional water mills were all along the river functioning with water power.
Continue your exploration to the Kasbah right in the middle of the historic district, whose lush gardens are a cool haven in the heart of the city. The Kasbah was the nuclear part around which the old medina evolved due the arrival of The Moorish people expelled from Andalucía because of their religious beliefs. The Kasbah was built in 1471 by Mouly Ali Ben Rachid, the founder of the city of Chefchaouen
Relax over a cup of mint tea in the Big Square Outa Hammam, the heart of the medina, facing the Great Mosque with its unique rectangular shape.
Continue to Souika, the former Jewish quarter Mellah, now lined up with numerous shops of local handicrafts and Goldsmith. The Jews original work. The Jews settled here in the early sixteen centuries when they were expelled from Spain and were welcomed by the Mouly Ali Ben Rachid.
Have you lunch is nice restaurant serving local dishes and don’t miss a taste the goat cheese one of the specialty of the region
B&B accommodation in a boutique Riad in Chefchaouen Medina
- DAY 2 : CHEFCHAOUEN-MEDITERRANEN COAST
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Rise and have your breakfast and get ready for an exploration journey the Chefchaouen Mediterranean coast. Chefchaouen beaches are renowned for their beauty. The village of Targha is no exception. This village located 70 km from Chefchaouen has a superb view over the Mediterranean. Targha is one of the places that once represented the crossroads of several ancient civilizations. It is a journey through the sunken ruins of Targha. This site was a maritime defense base and has several monuments now in ruins, such as the barracks of Dar Assoultan, as well as the guard tower perched on a block of rocks.
Before arriving to Targha, you pass the magnificent Oued Laou Gorge. A superb road with a lot of difference of altitude and twisting curves.
Continue your coastal journey to reach El Jebha, a little port town in the northern part of Morocco. Its name is based on its location at the foot of a set of mountains. During the Spanish colonization of Northern Morocco between 1911 and 1956, the town was called Puerto Capaz, the Spanish translation of El Jebha. It has clean and natural beaches, which all seem to have a different appearance. The bays behind the eastern mountain are ideal to enjoy the sun and the beach in absolute solitude.
The main economic activity in this region is fishing. Walking on the sand of this beach, vacationers see handmade wooden boats. Every morning, fishermen cast their nets to catch the region's fish. The best known and most popular are the red porgy (or common: seabream), anchovies and sardines.
Enjoy the freshest fish in one of the restaurant at the village. Then go back to Chefchaouen with a portfolio of wonderful pictures of the glorious Mediterranean coast both in you mind and your camera. On returning back to Chefchaouen, you will take a different road. Instead of the coast, it will be the Rif Mountains with its stunning landscape. You will reach the bleu town late in the day.
B&B accommodation in a boutique Riad in Chefchaouen medina.
- DAY 3: CHEFCHAOUEN-TALASSEMTANE NATIONL PARK
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After breakfast, your driver will take you for a unique expedition to the unique fir forest of the African continent located in the national park of Talassemtane.
Located in the eastern portion of the Limestone Ridge of the Rif, the Talassemtane National Park was created in October 2004. It covers an area of 58,950 ha, a very original territory that is characterized by its unique biodiversity and landscapes. With its rugged terrain characterizing the Rif mountains, the Talassemtane National Park offers natural landscapes of great heritage value throughout the Mediterranean. It encompasses deep valleys excavated by torrential wadis, gorges with impressive cliffs and abundant caves.
The Talassemtane National Park is home to a large number of remarkable plant species: the endemic Moroccan fir, as well as Atlas cedar and black pine. “La Sapinière”, Fir forest is the most original forest.
Talassemtane is also home to some forty mammals, the most notable of which are the barbary macaques and the Otter. More than 100 bird species, including rare raptors (Golden Eagle and Bearded Vulture), are observed at the site. Reptiles and amphibians are also represented by around thirty species
Cultural resources, combined with natural potential, offer the Talassemtane National Park an ecotourism potential of national and Mediterranean importance. It is officially part of the Transcontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (Morocco - Spain)
Take a picnic lunch in the heart of Talassemtane reserve and feel free to either go for a leisurely walk in the forest or climb Mountain Lakrra, the highest summit of the region ( 2159m). From “Placa D’espana” which is the national reserve up to Lakrra summit it will take you some 4hrs.
Drive back to Chefchaouen, B&B accommodation in a boutique Riad.
- DAY 4 : CHEFCHAOUEN-TANGER/FES
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After breakfast and drive to Tangier or any other city of your choice.
