12-Day Self-Launched Morocco: Chefchaouen, Fes, Sahara & Marrakech
12 days · Morocco
Moroccan Best Tours charges £1,660
No-markup version: ~£790 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Moroccan Best Tours' 12-day private circuit from Tangier to Casablanca, hitting the Rif mountains, Roman Volubilis, Fes, the Erg Chebbi dunes, the Dades and Todra gorges, Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech's medina — done with CTM/Supratours buses, shared grand taxis, locally guided medina walks and a shared desert-camp tour. Costs are rough per-person estimates for a budget-to-midrange solo traveller sharing where possible; booking shared desert excursions and staying in riad dorms or budget guesthouses rather than private riads brings it well below the operator's price.
Day-by-day
Tangier to Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen
Arrive in Tangier (Ibn Battouta airport or ferry port) and take a CTM or Supratours bus to Chefchaouen — about 3 hours, roughly £7-9. Check into a cheap guesthouse or hostel in the medina. Wander the blue lanes at golden hour, climb to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint for sunset, and eat a cheap tagine in Plaza Uta el-Hammam.
🚌CTM/Supratours bus from Tangier, ~£8
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in the Chefchaouen medina (£10-15 dorm/basic room)
- →Bus Tangier to Chefchaouen (~£8)
- →Spanish Mosque sunset viewpoint
- →Medina wander
Chefchaouen at your own pace
Chefchaouen
Free day in the blue medina. Visit the Kasbah Museum (£2), pop into the weaving and leather artisan workshops, and walk up to the Bouzaafer Mosque ruins for the classic panorama. Optional half-day hike to the Akchour waterfalls (shared grand taxi from town, ~£4 each way) if you want a proper leg-stretch. Snack on fresh cheese, msemen and orange juice for a few pounds.
🚌Walking, optional shared grand taxi to Akchour ~£8 return
🛏Same guesthouse in Chefchaouen (£10-15)
- →Kasbah Museum
- →Artisan workshops
- →Optional Akchour waterfalls hike
- →Bouzaafer panorama
Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Meknes – Fes
Fes
Early bus or shared grand taxi down to Meknes. Hop a shared taxi or local bus out to Volubilis Roman ruins (~£2-3 each way) and join an on-site licensed guide (~£10 shared, £20 solo) or use the audioguide. Back in Meknes, walk Bab Mansour, Sahrij Souani and the Moulay Ismail mausoleum (free entry, modest dress required), grab a lunch over the medina rooftops, then take the train (ONCF, ~£3.50, 45 min) or shared taxi to Fes. Check into a budget riad near Bab Boujloud.
🚌Bus/grand taxi to Meknes ~£4, shared taxi to Volubilis ~£5 return, train Meknes–Fes ~£3.50
🛏Budget riad or guesthouse in Fes medina (£12-18)
- →Volubilis Roman ruins with local guide
- →Bab Mansour gate
- →Sahrij Souani
- →Moulay Ismail Mausoleum
- →Rooftop lunch in Meknes
Fes medina deep dive
Fes
Book a licensed local medina guide through your riad or GetYourGuide (~£20-25 half day, sharable if you find others). Cover Al Karaouine university, the Nejjarine fountain and museum, Bou Inania, the tanneries (free but expect a leather-shop pitch) and the Jewish mellah. Eat lunch at a cheap medina spot (harira, pastilla) and finish with the King's Palace gate area. Evening: cheap rooftop mint tea and people-watching.
🚌Walking
🛏Same riad in Fes (£12-18)
- →Licensed medina walking guide
- →Al Karaouine & Nejjarine
- →Tanneries viewpoint
- →King's Palace quarter
- →Mellah walk
Fes across the Middle Atlas to Midelt
Midelt
Take a CTM or Supratours bus from Fes to Midelt (~5 hrs, ~£9) — the scenic way over the Middle Atlas via Ifrane and the cedar forests. Base in a simple hotel or guesthouse in Midelt and take an afternoon walk in the surrounding hills with views up toward Jbel Ayachi. Cheap local dinner — Midelt is known for apples and simple Berber cooking.
🚌CTM/Supratours bus Fes–Midelt ~£9
🛏Simple hotel/guesthouse in Midelt (£10-15)
- →Middle Atlas scenery
- →Midelt hills walk
- →Local Berber dinner
Midelt to Merzouga – Erg Chebbi desert camp
Merzouga
Bus or shared grand taxi from Midelt to Merzouga (~4 hrs, ~£8-10) via the Ziz Valley gorges. In Merzouga, book a shared camel trek + desert camp package locally or via Klook/GetYourGuide from ~£30-45 per person including camel ride at sunset, dinner under the stars, Berber music around the fire and a tent. Leave the big bag at a village guesthouse and take only a small daypack.
🚌Bus/shared grand taxi Midelt–Merzouga ~£9
🛏Shared tent at a Merzouga desert camp (£30-45 package incl. ride and meals)
- →Ziz Valley drive
- →Sunset camel trek on Erg Chebbi
- →Berber desert camp dinner
- →Live berber music and campfire
Erg Chebbi sunrise, Todra Gorges and the Dades Valley
Dades Valley
Sunrise camel ride back to Merzouga village. Splash out on a bit of sandboarding if it's offered at camp (~£5), shower, then get going: shared grand taxi or local bus via Rissani and Tinghir to the Todra Gorges for the gorge walk (~£10-12 total, allow a few hours). Continue on to Boumalne Dades by shared grand taxi (~£5) and stay in a small guesthouse on the Dades river with a valley view.
🚌Shared grand taxis and local buses Merzouga–Tinghir–Boumalne Dades ~£18
🛏Budget guesthouse in Boumalne Dades/Dades Valley (£12-18)
- →Sunrise camel ride
- →Sandboarding
- →Todra Gorges walk
- →Todra Valley kasbahs
- →Dades Valley drive
Dades Valley to Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate
Head up through the Dades Gorges viewpoint and the Valley of Roses (Kelâat M'Gouna), then shared grand taxi or bus onward to Ouarzazate (~£8-10). Visit Taourirt Kasbah (£4) and, if you like film sets, Atlas Studios (£4-5). Cheap guesthouse in town; dinner at a local grill for under £6.
🚌Shared grand taxi/local bus Dades–Ouarzazate ~£9
🛏Budget guesthouse in Ouarzazate (£12-18)
- →Dades Gorges viewpoint
- →Valley of Roses
- →Taourirt Kasbah
- →Atlas Studios (optional)
Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou and the Tichka Pass
Marrakech
Shared grand taxi to Ait Ben Haddou (~£3), explore the ksar on foot (free, small fee to cross to the granary), then continue to Marrakech on a CTM bus or shared grand taxi (~£9-10, 3.5 hrs) over the Tichka Pass. Check into a hostel or budget riad in the medina and eat at a cheap square-side stall for dinner.
🚌Shared taxi to Ait Ben Haddou ~£3, bus/grand taxi to Marrakech ~£10
🛏Hostel or budget riad in Marrakech medina (£12-18)
- →Ait Ben Haddou ksar
- →Tichka Pass drive
- →High Atlas scenery
- →Jemaa el-Fna evening
Marrakech monuments and souks
Marrakech
Buy the combined Marrakech monument ticket (Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs, Ben Youssef Medersa, ~£10-12) or pay individually. Wander the souks, visit the Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum if you're into it (pre-book the garden online, ~£12), then finish at Jemaa el-Fna with the food stalls and street performers at night.
🚌Walking and a few small local taxis (~£4)
🛏Same hostel/riad in Marrakech (£12-18)
- →Bahia Palace
- →Saadian Tombs
- →Ben Youssef Medersa
- →Souk wandering
- →Majorelle Garden
- →Jemaa el-Fna at night
Day trip to Essaouira
Marrakech
Take the CTM or Supratours bus from Marrakech to Essaouira (~2.5 hrs, ~£6-7 each way). Stop at an argan oil cooperative on the way if the bus makes one, explore the blue-and-white medina, walk the ramparts and the fishing harbour, and eat grilled fish at the port for a few pounds. Return to Marrakech on the evening bus.
🚌Return CTM/Supratours bus Marrakech–Essaouira ~£13
🛏Same hostel/riad in Marrakech (£12-18)
- →Argan oil cooperative
- →Essaouira medina and ramparts
- →Fishing harbour
- →Port grilled fish lunch
Marrakech to Casablanca
Casablanca
Take the ONCF train from Marrakech to Casablanca (~3 hrs, ~£8-9) or a Supratours/CTM bus (~£8). If time allows, see the Hassan II Mosque exterior or take the guided interior tour (check times). Depart from Mohammed V airport by train from Casa Voyageurs (~£2) — comfortable buffer of at least 3 hours before a flight.
🚌Train Marrakech–Casablanca ~£9, train to airport ~£2
🛏None (departure day)
- →Train to Casablanca
- →Hassan II Mosque exterior or tour
- →Airport train transfer
Self-launched vs. Moroccan Best Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Moroccan Best Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£790 | £1,660 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £870 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Moroccan Best Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£790
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 12-Day Self-Launched Morocco: Chefchaouen, Fes, Sahara & Marrakech cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £790 per person for 12 days in Morocco. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Moroccan Best Tours?+
Yes — Moroccan Best Tours charges around £1,660 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £790 — a saving of roughly £870 (52%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Morocco.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Morocco, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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