Rabat · Half day
Chellah — Roman Ruins & Merinid Necropolis
A Roman town and a medieval royal necropolis under nesting storks
Duration
Half day
Group size
1–6 travellers
Difficulty
Easy
Languages
English, French, Arabic
From / person
$85
Overview
The walled site of Chellah on the edge of Rabat: the excavated Roman town of Sala Colonia, the 14th-century Merinid necropolis with its leaning minaret, an old saint's pool and gardens loud with nesting storks.
Chellah is two ruins in one set of walls. Underneath is Sala Colonia, a Roman river port with a forum, a triumphal arch, baths and a colonnaded street, abandoned by late antiquity. On top, in the 14th century, the Merinid sultans built a royal necropolis — a walled enclosure with a mosque, a zaouia, royal tombs and a slender minaret now crowned with a stork's nest and tilting slightly with age.
The result is one of the most atmospheric places in Morocco: a sunken garden of fig trees and wildflowers, an eel pool tied to local folklore, Roman stonework and Islamic tombs side by side, and dozens of storks clattering overhead. Your guide untangles the layers — Roman, Merinid and the gardens added in the 20th century — on an easy, shaded walk.
Trip highlights
- The excavated Roman town of Sala Colonia (forum, arch, baths)
- The 14th-century Merinid royal necropolis and mosque
- The leaning minaret topped with a stork's nest
- The saint's pool and the eel folklore
- Gardens and ramparts alive with nesting storks
Photo gallery
Inside the trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Rabat → Rabat
- 1
10:00 · Hotel or riad pickup
Rabat / SaléShort drive to the Chellah gate, on the southern edge of the city above the Bouregreg.
- 2
10:20 · The Merinid gate & necropolis
Chellah upper enclosureThrough the fortified Merinid gate to the mosque, zaouia, royal tombs and the leaning minaret with its storks.
- 3
11:10 · Roman Sala Colonia
Lower excavationsDown into the Roman forum, the triumphal arch, baths and the colonnaded decumanus.
- 4
11:50 · Gardens & the pool
Chellah gardensThe sunken garden, the saint's pool and its eels, and time for photographs of the storks.
- 5
12:30 · Drop-off
Rabat / SaléBack at your accommodation with the afternoon free.
Cities & regions on this trip
You'll experience 1 destination.
Each stop has its own deep-dive guide — geography, history, best season, things to see, and other tours that visit it. Tap any card to open its dedicated page.
The route
Map of Chellah — Roman Ruins & Merinid Necropolis
2 stops across Rabat. Distances and timings are flexible — every itinerary is reshaped to your pace.
- 1
Rabat medina
Pickup
- 2
Chellah
Roman & Merinid site
What's included
- Private English-speaking driver-guide for the duration
- Air-conditioned car or minivan with fuel, tolls and parking
- All listed monument and site entrance fees
- Hotel or riad pickup and drop-off in Rabat or Salé
- Bottled water on board
- 24/7 WhatsApp concierge based in Rabat
Not included
- International flights to/from Morocco
- Accommodation unless an overnight is noted in the itinerary
- Travel insurance (we recommend a provider)
- Lunch and personal drinks unless noted
- Tips for your driver and guides
What to bring
Pack light, pack smart.
- Comfortable walking shoes (medina lanes and uneven ruins)
- Sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 30+
- Light layer — the Atlantic breeze cools Rabat evenings
- Modest cover-up for the mausoleum and mosques
- Reusable water bottle (we refill on the road)
- Adaptor for Type C/E plugs (220V)
Frequently asked
Questions about this tour.
Is "Chellah — Roman Ruins & Merinid Necropolis" private or a group tour?
100% private. Just you and the people you book with — your own Rabat driver-guide, vehicle and pace from start to finish. We never pool travellers.
Can I change the itinerary or start time?
Yes. Every itinerary is a starting point. Shift the start time, swap a site, add the Mohammed VI Museum or a riverside lunch — we'll re-quote in 24 hours and lock the price in writing before any deposit.
Where does the tour start?
We collect you from any hotel or riad in Rabat or Salé, or from Rabat–Salé airport (RBA) or the Rabat-Ville / Rabat-Agdal train stations. Tell us where you're staying and we'll confirm the pickup point.
When should I book?
Most day and half-day tours can be arranged with a few days' notice; weekends and holidays fill faster, so a week ahead is safest.
Is Chellah suitable for older travellers and children?
Largely yes — the upper necropolis and gardens are easy walking. The Roman excavations involve some uneven ground and a gentle slope down, which we take slowly. The storks make it a favourite with children.
Are the storks there all year?
White storks nest on the Chellah minaret and walls mainly from late winter through summer, when the chatter of the colony is at its loudest. They are often present at other times too, but spring is the most active.
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