We also took a camel trek into the pre-Saharan sand dunes near Zagora, camped in desert tents, saw the town of Ourzazate, and hiked through the Dades gorge, a popular spot with European rock climbers. The landscape during the four days varied from lush green mountains to sand dunes to amazing rock formations, and was truly the highlight of our Moroccan excursion. From Marrakesh, we headed to historical Fes where we got a guided tour of the medina. We actually stayed in the French quarter during our stay in Fes, but mostly because it was more convenient to the bus terminal where we arrived. The bus ride from Marrakesh to Fes was absolute hell, and again I would strongly recommend the train.
Fes is extremely historical and it is well worth spending the money on an official guide.
Believe me, there are enough dead ends and side streets to waste hours, even days. Don't attempt the medina without a guide, and don't skip the medina. You will miss out on a true cultural experience, and you may not get another chance to return. From Fes, we took a shorter bus ride to the laid back town of Chefchaouen in the northern Rif region. This is a true change of pace from either Fes or Marrakesh, and proved to be both a much needed break and a refreshing change.