6 Days Best of Morocco: Tangier to Marrakech (Self-Launched)

Take a morning CTM or Supratours bus from Tangier bus station to Chefchaouen (~2.5 hrs, ~£7). On arrival check into a medina riad or guesthouse and walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the blue town. Explore the blue-washed medina lanes, the Kasbah garden and the Berber souks at your own pace; a short guided walk can be arranged locally for ~£15 if you want the history. If you arrive early enough, detour to Cap Spartel and the Hercules Cave on the Tangier coast before departing (shared grand taxi ~£12 return from Tangier centre).

🚌CTM/Supratours bus Tangier to Chefchaouen ~£7; local petit taxi in Chefchaouen ~£1-2

🛏Budget riad or guesthouse in Chefchaouen's medina (double ~£25-35/night, dorm ~£10-14/bed)

• →Sunset at the Spanish Mosque
• →Walk the blue medina and Kasbah gardens
• →Browse the Berber souks
• →Optional: Cap Spartel and Hercules Cave (if arriving via Tangier)

Morning bus or shared grand taxi from Chefchaouen to Meknes (~3 hrs, ~£6), then a local grand taxi or day-hire to the UNESCO Roman site of Volubilis (~30 min, ~£10 return shared). Entry to Volubilis is ~£6. Wander the mosaics and triumphal arch with a written guide or audio app, then continue to Fes by train or bus (~1 hr, ~£3) and settle into a riad in the old medina.

🚌Bus/grand taxi Chefchaouen-Meknes ~£6; shared taxi to Volubilis ~£10 return; train Meknes-Fes ~£3

🛏Riad or guesthouse in Fes medina (~£20-30 double, ~£10 dorm)

• →Volubilis Roman ruins (UNESCO)
• →Evening orientation walk in Fes el-Bali

Book a half-day licensed medina guide direct or via GetYourGuide (~£25-30 pp for a small group) covering the Bou Inania or Al-Qarawiyyin madrasa, the tanneries (Chouara) and the souks. After lunch, take an afternoon CTM bus toward Midelt or Azrou (~4 hrs, ~£9) to position yourself in the Middle Atlas. If timing is tight, stay a second night in Fes and take the early bus the following morning.

🚌CTM bus Fes to Midelt/Azrou ~£9

🛏Simple hotel or guesthouse in Midelt/Azrou (~£18-25 double)

• →Guided walk of Fes medina and souks
• →Tannery visit and leather workshops
• →Al-Qarawiyyin / medersa entry (~£2)
• →Cedar forest stop near Azrou if travelling by shared taxi

Early CTM or Supratours bus from Midelt to Merzouga (~5-6 hrs, ~£12), passing Ifrane's lion statue and the cedar forests if you go via Azrou. In Merzouga, book a standard Berber desert camp directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£40-50 pp including camel ride, dinner and breakfast). Ride camels out at sunset, eat tagine by the fire, and sleep in a tent under the stars.

🚌Bus Midelt to Merzouga ~£12; camel trek included in camp package

🛏Standard desert camp in Erg Chebbi, twin tent with shared or private bathroom (~included in £40-50 camp price)

• →Sunset camel ride in Erg Chebbi
• →Berber desert camp dinner and drumming
• →Stargazing in the Sahara
• →Optional sandboarding (~£5)

Sunrise in the dunes, then a shared grand taxi or local bus from Merzouga to Rissani and on to Tinghir (~3-4 hrs, ~£10 combined). Walk the Todra Gorges on foot from town, maybe with a short local guide for the Berber villages (~£10). In the late afternoon take a shared taxi up to Boumalne Dades (~1.5 hrs, ~£5) and stay in a valley guesthouse with dinner included.

🚌Shared grand taxis Merzouga-Rissani-Tinghir ~£10; shared taxi Tinghir-Boumalne Dades ~£5

🛏Guesthouse or small riad in Boumalne Dades (~£20-28 double, often with breakfast)

• →Sunrise over Erg Chebbi
• →Todra Gorges walk
• →Berber village visit
• →Dades Valley viewpoints

Catch the morning bus or shared taxi down the Valley of Roses via Kalaat M'Gouna to Ouarzazate (~3 hrs, ~£8), with an optional quick stop at Atlas Studios (~£7). Take a shared taxi to Ait Benhaddou (~30 min, ~£3) and explore the UNESCO ksar on foot, or hire a local guide at the gate (~£10). Finish with the onward CTM bus Ouarzazate to Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (~4 hrs, ~£10), arriving in the early evening. Book your own riad in Marrakech for the night — the original tour ends here without accommodation.

🚌Bus/shared taxi Dades-Ouarzazate ~£8; shared taxi to Ait Benhaddou ~£3; CTM bus Ouarzazate-Marrakech ~£10

🛏Own riad or hostel in Marrakech (~£15-25 double, ~£8 dorm) — not included in tour

• →Ait Benhaddou kasbah (UNESCO)
• →Atlas Studios, Ouarzazate (optional)
• →Tizi n'Tichka pass views
• →Optional Kalaat M'Gouna rose cooperative stop