Fes Day Trip: Volubilis, Moulay Idriss & Meknes – A Detailed Review

Planning a trip out of Fes? That sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Very, very, very popular among visitors is that a day trip that hits Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, and Meknes, so, you know, should be considered. If you’re like your, you enjoy seeing bits of history, soaking up bits of local culture, and generally prefer to cram a lot into one day, so this could very much be the outing for you. So, let’s examine how this trip actually shapes up, some good stuff, things that could maybe be improved, plus some advice, to be honest, if you are going to go ahead and book it.

What To Expect: Glimpses of Roman History, Holy Cities, and Imperial Grandeur

At the very beginning, you could typically expect to be picked up at the hotel; it might be very early so plan accordingly, is that what happens, usually? Anyway, we set off, is that how the day began for me, at that. The first stop, usually, too, is Volubilis, so it gives you time there; you might be looking at some older Roman ruins, with, honestly, pretty decent mosaics too. Then next it’s onwards to Moulay Idriss, so, that is actually a seriously holy town in Morocco and where the founder of the first Moroccan dynasty is actually buried. Last on the agenda should probably be Meknes, the tour here includes time, usually, at various points of interest like Bab Mansour (one of the well-known gates in Morocco, incidentally) and the granaries/stables; it’s very huge.

Volubilis: Wandering Through Ancient Ruins

The ruins out at Volubilis, wow, they’re very atmospheric, I think anyway. I am not too sure why I wasn’t that thrilled, maybe because, I was a bit travel-worn at the point, as a matter of fact. The ruins sprawl out; I might have liked maybe more info, so, at the location itself. That said, you know, strolling about, you could imagine what life back then was, just a bit, apparently. So the mosaics really do make a serious impression. You just, so, tend to forget, you know, that you’re stood basically in the back end of what was, you know, one important bit of the Roman empire at one point or something. Early morning stop here avoids, well, some people at least, plus heat that really cooks you up, really.

Moulay Idriss: Experiencing a Sacred Town

After Volubilis, it can be the stop to Moulay Idriss, very different in that what you can see. Just sitting right on top of the hill, and also, very picturesque. Given its sacred status you may be aware that at one time, if you weren’t Muslim you just could not actually spend any time in it; in some respects now those limitations seem just pretty crazy to me. So it’s a fleeting thing though as we didn’t spend a huge amount of time there, yet there is a chance for a quick exploration around the small bit of town you can actually walk. I can still remember, very strongly at that, just how very ‘real’ it all felt. As a matter of fact that is the place that’s stuck, to be honest, when I think on the day as a whole. To be sure, I’m very glad, still, that the tour incorporated this.

Meknes: An Imperial City’s Highlights

Then, you’ll get the chance to soak up the bustle of Meknes; maybe they all visit, or they should at least. Now, for one, it has some big gates like the Bab Mansour – impressive even, you know, if you have something like seen a whole bunch, in a way, before this; these things are truly special and massive, definitely take photographs. By and large it feels very laid back, and a bit less of that total hard sell which, clearly, you tend to experience often enough down in Fes. What I think, arguably, is something of a surprise is actually something like the sheer scale of what you might see over at the likes of the royal stables. That said, I could have certainly done maybe with longer to explore the Medina but maybe, too, it’s just me.

What Could Be Better: Time Management and Tour Guide Engagement

So it wasn’t a poor day out and frankly it never even tended towards that, but very few tour outings I have taken are totally perfect in that, so in general is that you’re left wishing perhaps that some things maybe ran differently. Very often you will be rushed from place to place. Apparently it might suit some; yet personally, it seemed just fairly relentless for my liking. Basically you get enough to see some ‘stuff,’ yet perhaps the tour managers might consider, if I’m being frank, to perhaps give back something like 30 minutes here and maybe an hour over somewhere there in return. I wanted someone who maybe seemed, still, just more passionate about everything, you may want to see whether he even likes guiding very much, or the stuff, you see too. As a matter of fact there were some occasions on that excursion on that particular occasion at that when my questions were just straight up answered in the guide more or less seeming uninterested, really! You get this type of guide they aren’t even particularly bad, yet equally you’re left maybe just feeling they are sort of ‘going through the motions’, I think.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Day Trip

Here are some very simple guidelines, when thinking something like about this experience. Try your absolute best to go, maybe, wearing something comfy; some shoes most especially since, let’s be real, a lot involves on-foot exploring and a lot involves going up and going down, too it’s almost all up and down! Try to carry, too, some bottled drinking water – because just like I saw a lot of days felt super very hot over there anyway. When it’s seriously scorching, maybe apply sunscreen and also wear any sun-hat that actually does its work. Listen, if you have some questions or whatever, fire those straight towards your guide; and listen – some tend to be obviously much better than other, true. Respect, naturally enough, is just really what I try giving toward just about everyone I encountered over on these sort of organized trips, yet very really really really strongly towards holy sites too (Moulay Idriss especially; I suggest it would be a must anyway, right?). Be prepared basically for vendors/traders because they could be maybe reasonably very pushy in that case anyway, I thought, though basically by going along prepared at the end of the day it can easily just become a part, apparently, of this experience (after all; it happens loads around other visitor locations).

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