Romantic Morocco: Exploring Enchanting Fez

Emily and Aaron are a couple in their mid-20s who first bonded over their shared love of travel when they studied abroad through the same program in college. Since graduating, they have made it a goal to travel internationally together every year.

The couple enjoys getting thoroughly off-the-beaten-path, and immersing themselves in cultures that are completely different from their own. They’re happiest when the sights, smells, and sounds of their destination are vibrant and stimulating, and they believe the most challenging destinations are also the most rewarding.

Emily and Aaron’s most recent adventure coincided with their five-year anniversary, so they reached out to Project Kaif for help planning something extra special and romantic. However, they also requested a destination where they could get the most “bang for their buck” in terms of costs.

With all of this in mind, Project Kaif planned an amazing getaway to Fez, Morocco for Emily and Aaron.

Step 1: Choosing the Perfect Destination

Beautiful and exotic Fez seduces visitors with its lively market streets, shady tiled courtyards, lush tea gardens, and ancient, sun-drenched architecture. It’s considered to be the most complete ancient city in the Arab world, and the cultural heart and soul of Morocco.

The walled section of the city known as the Medina of Fez is a wonderland of sights and experiences. Here, tens of thousands of local artisans sell their handicraft tiles, leather goods, tajines, jewelry, rugs, and other speciality items.

When you’re not exploring the bazaars, you can sneak away to sip mint tea on a quiet shaded terrace, unwind in a hammam, or indulge in a flavorful local cuisine. Additionally, Fez tends to attract less tourist crowds than the more well-known Marrakesh, making it an ideal choice for Emily and Aaron.

Step 2: Where to Sleep, Eat, Drink, and Play

Stay: Dar Roumana

Fez is home to a growing number of beautiful and inviting “riads” and “dars” - traditional Moroccan houses or palaces with an interior garden or courtyard.

For Emily and Aaron, we selected the charming Dar Roumana, a magnificently restored traditional Fassie guest house just outside the ancient walls of the Medina. Framed by lush olive groves, Dar Roumana offers guests boutique accomodation in a beautiful heritage setting.

The couple loved their stay in the elegant Yasmina suite, which features carved mosaic tiles, a four-poster bed with fluffy linens, and large stained glass windows.

Eat: Dar Roumana

Conveniently, the restaurant at Dar Roumana is considered among the very best in Fez. The cuisine is defined as Franco-Moroccan fusion, and features dishes like roast pumpkin salad with tahini, braised local rabbit with seeded mustard sauce, and saffron served with a carrot and cumin mash.

After long days of exploring and sightseeing, Emily and Aaron enjoyed starting their evenings with a cocktail on the rooftop terrace, then sitting down for dinner in the intimate tiled courtyard.

Do: Traditional Moroccan Cooking Lesson

Enchanted by Morocco's rich cuisine and aromatic spices, Emily and Aaron were eager to try their hand at cooking some of their favorite dishes. Their private cooking lesson began with a morning trip to the markets, where they learned to bargain with vendors for meats, vegetables, and spices.

Back in their traditional Moroccan kitchen, they learned to cook spicy zaalouk salad, hearty harira soup, Berber lamb tajine, and dates stuffed with almond paste and spices.

Step 3: Booking the Right Travel Arrangements

Fez’s maze of narrow streets and abundance of activity means that navigating the city can be challenging, especially near the bustling Medina. Even taxi drivers may be unfamiliar with certain riads, dars, restaurants, and shops.

To ensure that Emily and Aaron’s trip was as hassle-free as possible, we arranged a private driver who took care of airport pickup and dropoff, as well as transportation to all of their excursions.

No cars are allowed in the ancient Medina, so on their first day in the city we also arranged a private guided walking tour, to help get them acquainted with their surroundings.

Dreaming of a romantic escape of your own? Contact Project Kaif today to start planning your perfect getaway.