The Tetouan Experience
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Port
Tangier, Morocco
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$99
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Tetouan, known as the White Dove due to the color of its buildings, was once a haven for pirates and a refuge for Arabian refugees from Andalusia after the fall of Arab rule in Spain. Tetouan still exhibits a profoundly Spanish influence, asserting Independence from Spain only as recently as 1956. Some administrative offices still use Spanish names.
Begin your tour with a 35-mile drive along a gently winding road that leads directly to the city of Tetouan, crossing the beautiful Rif Mountains.
You'll visit the Ethnographic Museum of Tetouan (Musée Bab El Oqla), located east of the old medina, inside a historic fortress built by Sultan Moulay Abd al-Rahman around 1830. Founded in 1928 and renovated in 2022, it illustrates the cultural life of Tetouan through two main themes: public life and private life, showcasing traditional crafts, costumes, jewelry, and a beautifully recreated wedding hall.
Cross on foot the ancient medina (Old Town), complete with narrow alleys and streets, popular shops, and colorful souks (markets) with vendors of goat cheese, vegetables, and spices. The medina is home to a Jewish minority living in harmony with Muslims.
Walk through the gate to the Museum of Moroccan Handicrafts. Various handicrafts are on display here, including embroidery, woodwork, and woolen garments.
You will also see the outside of the Royal Palace of Tetouan, during a brief photo stop, renowned for its wide esplanade, Arab-Islamic architecture, and its magnificently decorated gate.
Savor Moroccan tea and fresh pastries in the heart of the medina before you return to the coach and head back to the port at Tangier.
Notes:
Tour does not operate on holidays. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Shade is limited; to avoid sunburn, wear light, long clothing suitable for use as a cover-up. Bring a hat and sunglasses; wear biodegradable/reef-safe sunscreen. Bring bottled water. On Tuesdays, the Ethnographic Museum of Tetouan will be replaced with Dar Oddi.