7-Day Self-Launched Morocco: Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert

Arrive at Mohammed V Airport and take the ONCF train into the city (Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port, ~£3). Settle into a budget riad or hostel near the old medina. In the afternoon, self-book a Hassan II Mosque guided tour (non-Muslims can only enter on guided visits; ~£12, book online or on arrival). Wander the Habous quarter and the Corniche beachfront promenade, then eat a cheap tagine dinner in the medina.

🚌ONCF airport train ~£3; city tram/walk

🛏Budget riad/hostel in Casablanca medina (~£18)

• →Hassan II Mosque guided tour (~£12)
• →Habous quarter & Casablanca medina walk
• →Corniche beachfront promenade

Take an early ONCF train or CTM bus from Casablanca to Rabat (~1h, ~£4), where you can stop to see the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah of the Udayas. Then continue by CTM bus from Rabat to Chefchaouen (~4-5h, ~£10), arriving in the famous blue city by evening. Check into a guesthouse in the medina and dine on a cheap set-menu dinner.

🚌ONCF train Casablanca-Rabat ~£4; CTM bus Rabat-Chefchaouen ~£10

🛏Guesthouse/riad in Chefchaouen medina (~£20)

• →Hassan Tower & Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free/cheap)
• →Kasbah of the Udayas
• →Evening in Chefchaouen medina

Spend the morning wandering Chefchaouen's blue-painted lanes, visit the Kasbah Museum (~£1.50) and Plaza Uta el-Hammam, and hike up to the Ras El Maa waterfall and the Spanish Mosque viewpoint. In the early afternoon take a CTM bus to Fes (~4h, ~£9). Check into a riad in the Fes medina; grab a cheap street-food dinner.

🚌CTM bus Chefchaouen-Fes ~£9

🛏Budget riad in Fes medina (~£20)

• →Blue city walk & Ras El Maa waterfall
• →Kasbah Museum (~£1.50)
• →Spanish Mosque viewpoint

Explore Fes el-Bali with a licensed local guide (self-book via GetYourGuide, ~£25): Al-Qarawiyyin, Bou Inania Madrasa, the Chouara tannery, and the souks. Later, take a night bus or shared grand taxi east toward Merzouga (CTM/supratours night bus ~£18, ~9h), or pre-book a shared 4x4 desert transfer. Arrive in Merzouga the following morning, passing Ifrane, the cedar forest (Barbary macaques), and Midelt en route.

🚌Night bus Fes-Merzouga ~£18 (or shared 4x4 transfer ~£35)

🛏Overnight bus en route to Merzouga

• →Fes el-Bali guided medina tour (~£25)
• →Al-Qarawiyyin & Bou Inania Madrasa
• →Chouara tannery & souks

Arrive in Merzouga and check into a small hotel to rest and store bags. In the late afternoon go on a camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset (~£30-40 including one night at a Berber desert camp with dinner and breakfast). Watch the sunset from the dunes and enjoy a traditional Berber dinner with drumming and stargazing under the Sahara sky.

🚌Walking/camel from Merzouga village; transfers arranged locally

🛏Berber desert camp, Merzouga (included in camel trek package ~£35)

• →Camel trek into the dunes at sunset
• →Berber desert camp overnight with dinner & music

Wake for a sunrise camel ride back to Merzouga, then travel west by shared grand taxi or bus toward Tinghir and the dramatic Todra Gorge; walk the canyon floor and visit a traditional kasbah. Continue to Boumalne Dades for sunset over the Dades Valley's rock formations. Budget guesthouses in Boumalne Dades offer cheap rooms and dinners.

🚌Shared grand taxi/bus Merzouga-Tinghir-Boumalne Dades ~£14

🛏Guesthouse in Boumalne Dades (~£18)

• →Sunrise camel ride
• →Todra Gorge canyon walk
• →Dades Valley sunset & kasbahs

Travel via the Valley of Roses and Ouarzazate to the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou (~£5 entry), then over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech by shared 4x4/bus (~£16, ~6-7h). Spend the evening at Jemaa el-Fnaa square with its food stalls and street performers, then take an evening ONCF train back to Casablanca (~£8, ~3h) for your onward flight. If your flight is next day, add a night's hostel in Casablanca.

🚌Shared 4x4/bus Boumalne Dades-Ait Benhaddou-Marrakech ~£16; ONCF train Marrakech-Casablanca ~£8

🛏ONCF train to Casablanca (or hostel ~£18 if staying overnight)

• →Ait Benhaddou UNESCO ksar (~£5)
• →Tizi n'Tichka pass & Atlas Mountains
• →Jemaa el-Fnaa square by night