9-Day Self-Launched Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert Adventure from Casablanca
9 days · Morocco
Personalized Morocco Tours charges £1,117
No-markup version: ~£565 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Explore Morocco's iconic imperial cities, the breathtaking Sahara Desert, and everything in between — completely independently. This self-launched itinerary follows the same route as the commercial tour (Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen → Fes → Merzouga → Dades Gorge → Marrakech) using CTM/Supratours buses, shared grand taxis, budget riads, and self-booked activities via GetYourGuide and direct booking. All cost estimates are approximate and per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Casablanca
Casablanca
Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport and take the Al Bidaoui train (Line 1) into Casablanca city centre — a quick, cheap alternative to taxis (~£1.50). Check into your budget riad or hostel in the city centre. If energy allows, head to the Hassan II Mosque waterfront for sunset views from the outside (guided interior tours bookable via GetYourGuide for ~£10). Explore the Art Deco Corniche neighbourhood in the evening and grab dinner at a local café.
🚌Al Bidaoui airport train to city centre (~£1.50), then walk or petit taxi (~£2)
🛏Riad or hostel in central Casablanca — e.g. Hôtel Guynemer or Auberge de Jeunesse (~£18-25/night)
- →Take the train from Mohammed V Airport to Casablanca city centre (~£1.50)
- →Visit Hassan II Mosque exterior at sunset (optional guided interior tour via GetYourGuide ~£10)
- →Explore the Art Deco Corniche neighbourhood
- →Dinner at a local medina café (~£5-8)
Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen
Start early with an interior visit to Hassan II Mosque (book the morning guided tour via GetYourGuide, ~£10). Then take a train from Casa Voyageurs to Rabat (~£4, 1hr). Explore Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, and the Kasbah des Oudayas on foot — all free to enter or under £3. Grab lunch in Rabat's medina. In the afternoon, take a CTM bus from Rabat to Chefchaouen (~£7-10, 4hrs). Check into a riad in the Blue City and wander the illuminated blue alleyways at night.
🚌Train Casablanca→Rabat (~£4); CTM bus Rabat→Chefchaouen (~£8)
🛏Riad in Chefchaouen medina — e.g. Riad Chaouen or similar (~£20-30/night)
- →Guided interior tour of Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca (~£10, book via GetYourGuide)
- →Train from Casablanca to Rabat (~£4, ~1 hour)
- →Visit Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free entry)
- →Explore Kasbah des Oudayas (~£1 entry)
- →Lunch in Rabat medina (~£5-7)
- →CTM bus from Rabat to Chefchaouen (~£7-10, ~4 hours)
- →Evening wander through the blue alleyways of Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Fes
Fes
Take a morning CTM bus from Chefchaouen towards Meknes (~£8, 3hrs). Arrange a grand taxi or organised stop at Volubilis Roman ruins (~£5-8 shared taxi from Meknes, entry ~£4) — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with remarkably preserved mosaics and columns. Continue by grand taxi or local bus into Fes (~£3-5, 1hr from Meknes). Check into your riad in the Fes el Bali medina and explore the neighbourhood at dusk.
🚌CTM bus Chefchaouen→Meknes (~£8); grand taxi to Volubilis (~£6); bus/taxi to Fes (~£4)
🛏Riad in Fes medina — e.g. Riad Dar Roumana or similar (~£20-30/night)
- →CTM bus from Chefchaouen to Meknes (~£8, ~3 hours)
- →Grand taxi from Meknes to Volubilis Roman ruins (~£5-8 shared)
- →Explore Volubilis UNESCO World Heritage Site (~£4 entry)
- →Grand taxi or bus from Meknes to Fes (~£3-5, ~1 hour)
- →Evening stroll in Fes el Bali medina
Full Day in Fes
Fes
Hire a certified local guide for a half-day tour of Fes el Bali — easily arranged via GetYourGuide or directly through your riad (~£15-20pp). Visit the University of Al Quaraouiyine (the world's oldest university), Bou Inania Madrasa (entry ~£2), and the world-famous Chouara Tannery viewpoints (free from nearby leather shops). Spend the afternoon exploring the souks and Moroccan craft workshops at your own pace. Try a traditional tagine lunch in the medina (~£5-7).
🚌All on foot within the medina
🛏Riad in Fes medina — e.g. Riad Dar Roumana or similar (~£20-30/night)
- →Hire a local guide for Fes el Bali medina half-day tour (~£15-20 via GetYourGuide or riad booking)
- →Visit University of Al Quaraouiyine exterior (free)
- →Visit Bou Inania Madrasa (~£2 entry)
- →View Chouara Tannery from leather shop terraces (free)
- →Explore traditional souks and craft workshops
- →Tagine lunch in the medina (~£5-7)
Fes → Ifrane → Azrou → Merzouga Sahara Desert
Merzouga
This is the big travel day. Take a CTM bus or shared grand taxi from Fes towards Errachidia, passing through Ifrane (the 'Little Switzerland of Morocco' with alpine architecture) and Azrou (famous cedar forest where wild Barbary macaques roam). Arrive in Merzouga by early evening. Arrange your camel ride through the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset directly with your desert camp (~£15-25). Stay overnight in a Berber desert camp with dinner and live music included.
🚌CTM bus or shared grand taxi Fes→Merzouga (~£15)
🛏Berber desert camp in Merzouga — e.g. Sahara Desert Camp or similar (~£30-45/night including dinner and breakfast)
- →CTM bus or shared grand taxi Fes→Merzouga via Ifrane and Azrou (~£12-18, ~7-8 hours)
- →Stop in Ifrane to see alpine architecture and Lion sculpture (free)
- →Stop at Azrou cedar forest to spot wild Barbary macaques (free)
- →Lunch stop in Midelt (~£5-7)
- →Camel ride through Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset (~£15-25, book direct at camp)
- →Dinner and Berber music performance at desert camp (included with camp)
Merzouga → Todgha Gorge → Dades Gorge
Dades Gorge
Wake before dawn for a Sahara sunrise, then after breakfast take a shared grand taxi westward along the Route des Mille Kasbahs towards Tinghir and the Todgha Gorge (~£10-15 shared). Walk through the dramatic 300-metre-high canyon walls of Todgha on foot (free). Continue by grand taxi or local minibus to Boumalne Dades and the Dades Gorge (~£5-8). Check into a guesthouse with gorge views and enjoy dinner at the guesthouse restaurant.
🚌Shared grand taxis throughout (~£18 total)
🛏Guesthouse with gorge views in Boumalne Dades — e.g. Dar Echchaouen or similar (~£18-28/night)
- →Sahara sunrise from the dunes (free)
- →Shared grand taxi Merzouga→Tinghir→Todgha Gorge (~£10-15)
- →Self-guided walking tour of Todgha Gorge canyon (free)
- →Lunch at a local café in Tinghir (~£5-7)
- →Grand taxi or minibus Todgha→Dades Gorge (~£5-8)
- →Evening hike up Dades Gorge viewpoint (free)
Dades Gorge → Kalaat M'gouna → Ouarzazate → Aït Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Marrakech
Take a shared grand taxi or local bus westward along one of Morocco's most scenic roads. Stop in Kalaat M'gouna (Valley of Roses) to admire the rose fields and shop for local rose products (~£3-5 budget). Visit the Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate — self-bookable entry ~£5. The UNESCO World Heritage fortress of Aït Ben Haddou is a must-visit (~£3 entry, free to explore the exterior ksar). Continue over the dramatic Tizi-N-Tichka mountain pass (highest paved road in Morocco) into Marrakech by evening. Visit a women's argan oil cooperative along the way (free entry, purchases optional).
🚌Shared grand taxis and local buses Dades→Marrakech via Ouarzazate (~£20 total)
🛏Riad in Marrakech medina — e.g. Riad Layla or similar (~£22-35/night)
- →Shared grand taxi/bus Dades→Kalaat M'gouna→Ouarzazate (~£8-12)
- →Visit Kalaat M'gouna Valley of Roses (~free to wander, rose products ~£3-5)
- →Atlas Film Studios, Ouarzazate (~£5 entry, self-visit)
- →Visit Aït Ben Haddou UNESCO ksar (~£3 entry)
- →Stop at women's argan oil cooperative (free, purchases optional)
- →Drive over Tizi-N-Tichka mountain pass (shared taxi or bus ~£8-12)
- →Arrive Marrakech, check in and explore Djemaa el-Fna square at night
Full Day in Marrakech
Marrakech
Book a half-day medina walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£12-18) or explore independently. Visit the Koutoubia Mosque and tower (exterior free), Saadian Tombs (~£3), and the stunning Bahia Palace (~£2). Lose yourself in the souk districts of the medina — leather, spices, textiles, and ceramics. As dusk falls, head to Jemaa el-Fna Square for the famous nightly spectacle of storytellers, musicians, snake charmers, and food stalls. Try a bowl of harira soup and fresh-squeezed orange juice at the square (~£2-3).
🚌All on foot within the medina
🛏Riad in Marrakech medina — e.g. Riad Layla or similar (~£22-35/night)
- →Half-day guided medina walking tour (~£12-18 via GetYourGuide, or self-guided free)
- →Visit Koutoubia Tower and mosque exterior (free)
- →Visit Saadian Tombs (~£3 entry)
- →Visit Bahia Palace (~£2 entry)
- →Explore souk districts: spice market, leather souk, textile souk
- →Evening at Jemaa el-Fna Square — food stalls, musicians, performers (~£5-8 food)
Marrakech → Casablanca (Departure)
Casablanca
Use your final morning for any last-minute souvenir shopping or a slow breakfast in the medina. Take the Supratours or ONCF train from Marrakech to Casablanca (~£10-12, ~3.5 hours — trains run regularly and are very comfortable). Alternatively, CTM buses are slightly cheaper at ~£7. Arrive in Casablanca by early afternoon with plenty of time to reach Mohammed V Airport for onward flights. The airport train from Casa Port costs ~£3.
🚌Train Marrakech→Casablanca (~£11); airport train (~£3)
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Final morning exploring Marrakech medina and souvenir shopping
- →Breakfast at a medina café (~£3-5)
- →Supratours/ONCF train Marrakech→Casablanca (~£10-12, ~3.5 hours)
- →Airport train from Casa Port to Mohammed V Airport (~£3)
Self-launched vs. Personalized Morocco Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Personalized Morocco Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£565 | £1,117 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £552 per person (49%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Personalized Morocco Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£565
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 9-Day Self-Launched Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert Adventure from Casablanca cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £565 per person for 9 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 Personalized Morocco Tours?+
Yes — Personalized Morocco Tours charges around £1,117 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £565 — a saving of roughly £552 (49%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 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 culture, adventure, backpacker 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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