Travel Exploration

Chefchaouenor Chauen is a known as the “blue” city in northwest Morocco situated in the Rif Mountains, located inland from Tangier and Tetouan. The city was founded in 1471 by Moorish exiles from Spain. Its blue-glazed houses and buildings are a tradition that comes from the town's former Jewish population.Chefchaouen was known as one of the main concentrations of Moriscos and Jews who sought refuge in this mountainous city after the Spanish Reconquista in medieval times. Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami and the exiles used the fortress of Chefchaouen to fight off the invading Portuguese who were entering Morocco from the north. In 1920, the Spanish seized Chefchaouen to form part of Spanish Morocco.  

The countryside around Chefchaouen has a reputation for being a prolific source of marijuana and the region is one of the main producers of cannabis in Morocco. Hashish is subsequently sold all over town, but is mostly the domain of native Chaouenis.

MID-DAY:
Stop in Salé, a suburb of Rabat for a traditional Moroccan meal at one of the restaurants next to Bab Mrisa, a souk quarter in Salé’s old medina. After lunch peek at the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) then appreciate the Grand Mosque opposite the Medersa of Abou el Hassan.

Next, get back on the road traveling straight to Chefchaouen. Once you enter the poetic Rif Mountains and see a dramatic entrance of a wide set valley full of blue-washed buildings, you will recognize Chefchaouen. Get settled at Dar Terrae, an Andalusian-style guest house. Then dine at one of the hotel’s three rooftop terraces. Relax under a sea of Moroccan stars and enjoy a tajine and couscous meal complemented by an aromatic glass of red wine.

DAY 2:
MORNING: Enjoy a panoramic view of Chefchaouen as you enjoy breakfast with fresh fruits, jams and natural squeezed juices from your hotel’s terrace. After breakfast explore the blue-washed town (old medina) by foot along with your guide who will share stories of Chefchaouen’s history.

Start your tour with the kasbah museum in the medina. The kasbah of Chefchaouen belongs to the early 18th century, and was built by the legendary ruler Moulay Ismail. It is fairly simple without architectural surprises however it is surrounded by gardens on the interior and exterior. Inside the Kasbah, you can visit the ethnographic museum containing antique weapons, musical instruments, and photographs of the old town. Step onto the museum’s roof and take pictures of a panoramic view of the Hispanic flavored town lined with blue and white washed houses, tiny balconies, tiled roofs and patios embellished with citrus trees. Next, visit the cobbled main square, Plaza Uta el- Hammam and where the striking 15^th century Grand Mosque sits. The Mosque and its nearby buildings were built by Jewish refugees, who alongside Muslims escaped the Spanish persecution to Chefchaouen. Until the Spanish arrived in the 1920’s the town remained isolated and with the exception of three western men who snuck in.

MID-DAY:
After exploring the medina, have lunch at one of the local restaurants.  Try fresh goat cheese salad, a local Rif specialty, chicken pastilla or a lamb tajine with prunes. For dessert sit outside by the mulberry trees of Plaza Uta el- Hammam and enjoy local sweets from one of the cafes or browse the small shops famous for selling woven rugs, blankets and woolen goods.

After lunch go for a guided hike in the close-by green hillsides. In the evening it is possible to relax in hammam, a Moroccan spa experience.  For dinner, you will dine at the Restaurant Tissemlal, a beautifully decorated old house with a French-Moroccan set menu.

MID-DAY:
Turning back to the motorway, stop for a seafood lunch in Kenitra, formerly known as Port Lyautey, on the Sebou River. After lunch, stretch your legs and explore this French influenced town that is now one of Morocco’s major agricultural areas, specializing in rice, sugar beet, cotton and citrus fruits. Then take the road to Marrakesh, driving towards Sidi Bouknadel, an area with a tropical garden.