5 days · 4 nights · Tetouan, Chefchaouen and Tangier
The Shadhili Path
Mountains, remembrance and reflection.
Price on requestPrivate or group · devotional or open track
Retreat · Fez and Meknes
The Spiritual Heart of Morocco
Fez, Meknes and the Idrisid heritage.
A journey through Morocco’s spiritual and scholarly heritage: three nights in Fez, the city of Moulay Idriss II and of the masters of the path, then two in Meknes, with the ziyara of Moulay Idriss I at Zerhoun and of al-Shaykh al-Kamil, Sidi Muhammad ibn ʿIsa.
Retreat focusSacred learning, the Idrisid legacy, devotional traditions and spiritual companionship.
- Duration
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Starts
- Fès–Saïss airport (FEZ)
- Travel
- Private, or a small group of 8 to 14
- Tracks
- Devotional or open
Highlights
- Moulay Idriss II and the zawiya of Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani
- Sidi ʿAbd al-ʿAziz al-Dabbagh and Sidi ʿAli al-Jamal
- Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, resting place of Idris I
- Meknes: Sidi ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Majdhub and al-Shaykh al-Kamil
Day by day
Day 1
Arrival in Fez
Fès–Saïss airport welcome → your riad in Fès el-Bali (17 km, about 25 minutes) → rest
Evening. Welcome dinner, and an introduction to the spiritual heritage of Fez.
Day 2
Moulay Idriss II and Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani
The darih of Moulay Idriss II → past al-Qarawiyyin → the zawiya of Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani → an afternoon of rest
- Darih of Moulay Idriss IIInterior for eligible guests
- Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and UniversitySeen from its doorways and quarter by every guest; the prayer hall for eligible guests when permitted.Interior for eligible guests
- Zawiya of Sidi Ahmad al-TijaniThe sanctuary of the Tijani order, one of the great Sufi places of Fez.Interior for eligible guests
Evening. An evening of remembrance.
Day 3
Sidi ʿAbd al-ʿAziz al-Dabbagh and Sidi ʿAli al-Jamal
The tomb of Sidi ʿAbd al-ʿAziz al-Dabbagh → the zawiya of Sidi ʿAli al-Jamal → a discussion on spiritual education and good character
- Tomb of Sidi ʿAbd al-ʿAziz al-DabbaghThe master (d. 1719) whose sayings were gathered in al-Ibrīz.Interior for eligible guests
- Zawiya of Sidi ʿAli al-Jamal al-ʿImraniSidi ʿAli al-Jamal (d. 1779) was the master of Moulay al-ʿArbi al-Darqawi.Interior for eligible guests
Evening. A quiet evening at the riad.
Day 4
The al-Fasi saints, and on to Meknes
A morning of ziyara in Fez → afternoon transfer to Meknes (72 km, about 1 hour) → check-in at your riad
- The three saints of the al-Fasi familyTheir visits are set out in your programme.Confirmed per date
Day 5
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and the saints of Meknes
Meknes → Moulay Idriss Zerhoun (26 km, about 35 minutes) → back to Meknes → Sidi ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Majdhub → al-Shaykh al-Kamil, Sidi Muhammad ibn ʿIsa
- Moulay Idriss ZerhounThe town and viewpoints for every guest; the sanctuary of Idris I for eligible guests.Interior for eligible guests
- Sidi ʿAbd al-Rahman al-MajdhubThe sixteenth-century saint and poet, buried in Meknes.Interior for eligible guests
- Al-Shaykh al-Kamil, Sidi Muhammad ibn ʿIsaFounder of the ʿIsawiyya (d. 1526), buried in Meknes.Interior for eligible guests
Evening. Remembrance at the riad.
Day 6
Departure
A closing reflection → breakfast → Fès–Saïss airport (74 km, about 1 hour)
What the labels mean
- Interior for eligible guestsSome interiors are reserved, for example to Muslim visitors, or close at prayer times.
- Confirmed per dateDepends on a host or custodian agreeing for your date. We confirm it before you book and describe any alternative.
Labels: Interior for eligible guests, Confirmed per date
Two tracks on this retreat
Same route, same places. You choose how you take part when you book.
Devotional track
For Muslims walking the path.
- Prayer
- The five prayers in congregation along the way
- Dhikr
- Full participation with the zawiya
- Sanctuaries
- Inside the shrines open to Muslim visitors
- Readings
- The Mashīshiyya, the Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt and the Ḥizb al-Baḥr recited together
On this retreat
- The five prayers in congregation, in the mosques of the medina where permitted
- The sanctuaries of Moulay Idriss II and Idris I from inside
- Full participation in the evenings of remembrance
Open track
For every seeker, of any faith or none.
- Prayer
- Prayer times kept as moments of quiet
- Dhikr
- Attended as a quiet guest, where the zawiya welcomes visitors
- Sanctuaries
- A guided exterior visit where the interior is reserved
- Readings
- Readings from the Shadhili tradition in English, with time to reflect
On this retreat
- Prayer times kept as moments of quiet
- Guided exterior visits where a sanctuary is reserved, with readings in English
- The evenings attended as a quiet guest
A retreat here is a journey with set times for prayer, dhikr, reading and silence. It is not a formal khalwa under a sheikh.
Included
- Airport pickup on arrival and your transfer back on departure
- Five nights in named riads chosen for quiet, three in Fez and two in Meknes, confirmed before you book
- Three meals a day, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure, and drinking water throughout
- All ground transport in the programme, with a private vehicle and driver
- A local guide, and a qualified spiritual facilitator for the sessions agreed in your programme
- Time and space each day for prayer, Qur’an recitation, dhikr, ṣalawāt, journaling and rest
- Private devotional evenings with Moroccan madīḥ, where arranged
- Entry to every monument marked “Entry included”
- A local contact number throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Visas, where needed
- Travel insurance
- Personal purchases
- Extensions and day trips you add
Route and driving times
- Fès–Saïss airport to Fez medina17 km · 22 min
- Fez medina to Meknes medina72 km · 58 min
- Meknes medina to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun26 km · 33 min
- Moulay Idriss Zerhoun to Meknes medina26 km · 32 min
- Meknes medina to Fès–Saïss airport74 km · 58 min
Road estimates from OpenStreetMap, without stops or traffic.
Open in Google MapsWhere you stay
Three nights in a riad in Fès el-Bali and two in a riad in the Meknes medina, named in your proposal.
Meals
Three meals a day, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure. Tell us your dietary needs when you enquire.
Dates and prices
Private
Any date you choose: just you, your family or your companions.
Small group
Join other guests on one of the scheduled dates below, in a group of 8 to 14.
Prices are calculated from the accommodation level, group size, transport and confirmed programme, and sent with your proposal.
Loading group dates…
Read before you go
- Sufi retreats in Morocco, 2026–2027: the six retreats, when to go and how to bookSix Sufi retreats in Morocco for 2026–2027: Jbel Alam, Fez, Marrakech, the Drâa valley and more. Who they are for, the best months and how dates are set.
- Morocco for Muslim travellers: a practical guideA practical guide to Morocco for Muslim travellers: mosques and prayer times, halal food, Ramadan, dress, visiting shrines, and travelling as a woman or family.
- Spiritual retreats in Morocco from the UK: a practical guidePlanning a spiritual retreat in Morocco from the UK? Which airport to fly into, entry rules, money, dress and what an all-inclusive Sufi retreat includes.
- Sacred Fez: a guide to its Sufi shrines and zawiyasThe Sufi shrines of Fez: the darih of Moulay Idriss II, al-Qarawiyyin, the Tijani zawiya and the Shadhili heritage of the old city, with visiting etiquette.
- What is dhikr? A beginner’s guideDhikr means the remembrance of God. What it is, the common words of dhikr, how it is practised alone and in a zawiya gathering, and how to attend one.
Questions about this retreat
How long is this retreat, and where does it start?
6 days, 5 nights, in Fez and Meknes. Start: Fès–Saïss airport (FEZ).
Is it a private retreat or a group retreat?
Both. Book it privately for your own party on any date, or join a scheduled small-group date with 8 to 14 guests at a lower price per person. Group dates are listed on this page as they are scheduled.
What changes between the devotional and the open track?
Devotional track: the five prayers in congregation, in the mosques of the medina where permitted, the sanctuaries of Moulay Idriss II and Idris I from inside and full participation in the evenings of remembrance. Open track: prayer times kept as moments of quiet, guided exterior visits where a sanctuary is reserved, with readings in English and the evenings attended as a quiet guest. The route and the places are the same.
What is included?
Airport pickup on arrival and your transfer back on departure, five nights in named riads chosen for quiet, three in Fez and two in Meknes, confirmed before you book, three meals a day, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure, and drinking water throughout, all ground transport in the programme, with a private vehicle and driver, a local guide, and a qualified spiritual facilitator for the sessions agreed in your programme, time and space each day for prayer, Qur’an recitation, dhikr, ṣalawāt, journaling and rest, private devotional evenings with Moroccan madīḥ, where arranged, entry to every monument marked “Entry included” and a local contact number throughout. Not included: international flights, visas, where needed, travel insurance, personal purchases and extensions and day trips you add.
How much does it cost?
The price is quoted on request: send your date and number of guests with the booking panel and we reply with your itinerary and price. Prices are calculated from the accommodation level, group size, transport and confirmed programme, and sent with your proposal.
Can non-Muslim visitors join the visits to mosques and shrines?
Yes, every guest joins every visit. Some interiors are reserved for eligible (Muslim) visitors or close at prayer times: Darih of Moulay Idriss II, Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and University, Zawiya of Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani, Tomb of Sidi ʿAbd al-ʿAziz al-Dabbagh, Zawiya of Sidi ʿAli al-Jamal al-ʿImrani, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Sidi ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Majdhub and Al-Shaykh al-Kamil, Sidi Muhammad ibn ʿIsa. At those places everyone gets a guided exterior visit.
Is the visit to the three saints of the al-Fasi family guaranteed?
It depends on the custodians and on road and access conditions for your date. We confirm it before you book and describe any alternative.
How do I book?
Choose private or group, your track, your date and guests in the booking panel, then send your name and email. You receive a reference immediately and we confirm availability. No payment is taken online.
Good to know
- A retreat here is a journey with set times for prayer, dhikr, reading and silence. It is not a formal khalwa under a sheikh.
- The Fès-Meknès regional heritage association documents the Moulay Idriss II and Tijani zawiyas and notes restrictions on entering mosque and zawiya interiors. Each stop says whether it is an exterior visit or an interior visit for eligible guests.
- Volubilis lies 4 km from Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and can be added on day 5.
- Arriving at Casablanca instead? We can add a private transfer to Fez (321 km, about 3 h 40).
- Visits inside sacred spaces, taking part in zawiya gatherings and meetings with resident teachers are confirmed individually for each date. If one cannot happen, we tell you before you book and describe the alternative.
Enquire
Plan this retreat.
Send your dates and preferences. We reply with a confirmed programme and price.
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