Highlights of Morocco – 15-Day Self-Launched Adventure

Fly into Marrakech Menara Airport. Take the No. 19 airport bus (£0.50) or a petit taxi (£5–8, agree fare before getting in) to your riad in the medina. Spend the evening getting your bearings — wander towards Djemaa el-Fna, grab a bowl of harira soup from a street stall and soak up the atmosphere.

🚌Airport bus No. 19 or petit taxi to medina

🛏Riad Zitoun Guesthouse or similar medina riad (~£18–25/night)

• →Arrive and check into medina riad
• →Explore Djemaa el-Fna square at night
• →Street food dinner on the square

Take an early ONCF train from Marrakech to Casablanca Casa Voyageurs (~2hr 30min, ~£8). Visit the Hassan II Mosque — entrance with guided tour is ~£10, book on-site. Remember to cover knees and shoulders. Then hop on a train from Casa Port station to Rabat (~1hr, ~£4). Explore Rabat's medina, the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) and the souk on foot. Budget hotels cluster near the medina.

🚌ONCF train Marrakech–Casablanca (~£8), Casa Port–Rabat train (~£4)

🛏Hotel Bou Regreg or similar budget hotel in Rabat (~£20–28/night)

• →Guided tour of Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca
• →Explore Rabat medina and Mellah
• →Browse Rabat souk and try harsha bread with amlou

Take an early CTM bus or ONCF train from Rabat to Meknes (~2hr, ~£5). Walk the medina, Bab El Mansour gate and El Hedim square independently — all free. Hire a local guide at the gate for ~£8–12 for a 2-hour walk. Catch a shared grand taxi to Volubilis (~£3, 45min). Entrance to Volubilis is ~£5. Afterwards, grand taxi to Fez (~£4, 1hr). Check into a riad in the Fez el-Bali medina.

🚌CTM bus or train Rabat–Meknes (~£5), shared grand taxi Meknes–Volubilis (~£3), grand taxi Volubilis–Fez (~£4)

🛏Riad Laaroussa or similar riad in Fez medina (~£22–30/night)

• →Walk Meknes medina and Bab El Mansour gate
• →Explore Volubilis Roman ruins (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• →Arrive Fez, settle into medina riad

Fez el-Bali is the world's largest car-free urban area — get lost in it. Book a half-day medina and tanneries tour via GetYourGuide (~£15–20pp) or hire a local guide at the medina gate (~£15 for 3hrs). Visit the Chouara Tanneries (free to view from leather shop terraces), explore the souk quarters for leather, brass and spices, and visit the exterior of al-Karaouine University. In the afternoon, walk to the Jewish Mellah, the Royal Palace façade and take a petit taxi up to the Merenid Tombs viewpoint for panoramic city views (free).

🚌All on foot / petit taxi (~£2)

🛏Riad Laaroussa or similar riad in Fez medina (~£22–30/night)

• →Half-day guided medina and tanneries tour
• →Visit Chouara Tanneries viewpoint
• →Explore Fez souk quarters (leather, brass, spices)
• →Merenid Tombs panoramic viewpoint

This is a long travel day (~9hrs). The most practical self-launched option is a shared minibus or private transfer booked via a local agency in Fez (~£25–35pp) — CTM buses to Errachidia exist but connections to Merzouga require a grand taxi. Alternatively, book a shared day-trip transfer through your riad. The route crosses the Middle Atlas and Ziz Valley — stunning scenery. Arrive Merzouga in the evening, check into an auberge near the Erg Chebbi dunes. Pack an overnight bag for tomorrow's desert camp.

🚌Shared minibus or riad-arranged transfer Fez–Merzouga (~£25–35pp)

🛏Auberge Kasbah Mohayut or similar guesthouse by the dunes, Merzouga (~£15–22/night)

• →Scenic drive over Middle Atlas and through Ziz Valley
• →First views of Erg Chebbi dunes
• →Evening at auberge near the Sahara

Free morning to walk the dunes independently — incredible at sunrise. In the afternoon, book a sunset camel trek + overnight desert camp package directly with your auberge or a local operator (~£35–50pp all-in, includes camel ride, dinner and breakfast in camp). Watch the sunset over the rose-pink dunes, enjoy a home-cooked tagine dinner under the stars and sleep in a traditional Berber tent.

🚌Camel or walking to camp (organised locally)

🛏Traditional Sahara desert camp (~included in camel trek package, ~£35–50pp)

• →Morning walk in Erg Chebbi sand sea
• →45-minute sunset camel trek through the dunes
• →Overnight in traditional Sahara camp with dinner and stargazing

Wake for sunrise over the dunes — unmissable. Return to Merzouga by camel. Arrange a shared grand taxi or day-transfer (book via your auberge, ~£20–28pp) towards Skoura via Todra Gorge. The gorge is free to enter — walk the narrow canyon floor (about 30–40 mins) and grab tea from a local café. Continue along the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs to Skoura, passing ancient kasbahs in lush palm groves.

🚌Shared grand taxi or arranged transfer Merzouga–Todra Gorge–Skoura (~£20–28pp)

🛏Dar Lorkam or similar lodge/guesthouse in Skoura (~£18–25/night)

• →Sunrise over the Sahara
• →Walk through Todra Gorge
• →Drive the Road of 1,000 Kasbahs
• →Arrive Skoura palm grove

A relaxed day in the palm grove capital of Morocco. Optionally hire a local guide (~£10–15) for a 4-hour hike to Toundout Valley and an Amazigh village — your guesthouse can arrange this. Alternatively, spend the day walking free among Skoura's palm groves and kasbahs, visiting Kasbah Amerhidil (entrance ~£2). Excellent birding here too.

🚌On foot / local hire (~£10–15 for guide)

🛏Dar Lorkam or similar lodge/guesthouse in Skoura (~£18–25/night)

• →Optional guided hike to Toundout Valley and Amazigh village
• →Walk through Skoura palm groves
• →Visit Kasbah Amerhidil

Take a grand taxi or shared transfer towards Ouarzazate (~£8), then another towards Ait Benhaddou (~£4). Explore the UNESCO-listed ksar on your own (entrance ~£2) — walk the atmospheric earthen alleys and climb to the granary at the top for views. Continue by arranged transfer (~£15pp) into the High Atlas towards Anmiter. From Anmiter, walk 1.5–2hrs uphill on a mule track to the remote Amazigh village of Tighza. Mule hire available locally (~£5) if preferred. Luggage can be sent ahead by mule.

🚌Grand taxi Skoura–Ouarzazate (~£8), grand taxi to Ait Benhaddou (~£4), arranged transfer to Anmiter (~£15pp), walk/mule to Tighza

🛏Village riad/guesthouse in Tighza (~£15–20/night, typically half-board)

• →Tour Ait Benhaddou ksar (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• →Walk or mule ride to Tighza village
• →Arrive and settle into village riad, mint tea welcome

Start with an optional 4-hour guided walk on mule tracks through the Tighza Valley with High Atlas peaks as backdrop — your host can arrange a local guide (~£8–12). Afternoon is free to relax, read, explore the village or join a football game with local kids. Visit the village hammam in the late afternoon — a genuine local experience. Budget ~£2–3 for soap, scrubber and a small tip. Dinner at your riad/guesthouse.

🚌On foot

🛏Village riad/guesthouse in Tighza (~£15–20/night, typically half-board)

• →Guided morning walk through Tighza Valley on mule tracks
• →Free afternoon — village stroll or football
• →Authentic village hammam experience

Walk the 4km track back to the road, then take an arranged transfer (~£20pp) over the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka pass, stopping at the crumbling Telouet Palace exterior for photos (free, exterior only). Continue to Marrakech and connect via CTM bus to Essaouira (~£6, 3hrs) — buses depart regularly from Marrakech's Bab Doukkala bus station. Alternatively book a direct shared transfer from the Atlas (~£25pp). Check into a riad inside Essaouira's medina.

🚌Arranged transfer Tighza–Marrakech (~£20pp), CTM bus Marrakech–Essaouira (~£6)

🛏Riad Mimouna or similar medina riad in Essaouira (~£18–26/night)

• →Walk back to road from Tighza
• →Stop at Telouet Palace exterior
• →Scenic High Atlas / Tizi n'Tichka pass drive
• →Arrive relaxed Essaouira

A proper rest day in this laid-back Atlantic port town. Wander the blue-and-white medina (UNESCO-listed, free), browse the woodwork and argan oil souks, and stroll the ramparts with Atlantic sea views. The beach stretches for miles — great for kitesurfing (lessons bookable locally ~£30–40 for 2hrs). Grab fresh grilled fish at the harbour market for ~£5. The town has a thriving music and arts scene — check what's on at local cafés.

🚌All on foot

🛏Riad Mimouna or similar medina riad in Essaouira (~£18–26/night)

• →Explore Essaouira medina and ramparts (free)
• →Browse argan oil and thuya woodwork souks
• →Relax on the Atlantic beach
• →Optional kitesurfing lesson (~£30–40)
• →Fresh grilled fish at the harbour

Take the morning CTM bus back to Marrakech (~£6, 3hrs), arriving late morning. Check into a medina riad. Spend the afternoon exploring — visit the Bahia Palace (~£2 entrance), stroll through the Mellah and the souks of the northern medina. As evening falls, head to Djemaa el-Fna for the full spectacle: snake charmers, storytellers, food stalls and music. Book a rooftop café table overlooking the square for dinner.

🚌CTM bus Essaouira–Marrakech (~£6)

🛏Riad in Marrakech medina (~£18–25/night)

• →Bahia Palace visit
• →Northern medina souk exploration
• →Evening at Djemaa el-Fna square

A full free day in Marrakech — pick your own highlights. Options include: Yves Saint Laurent Museum and the Majorelle Garden (~£10 each, book online in advance), the Saadian Tombs (~£2), a cooking class via Airbnb Experiences or GetYourGuide (~£30–40), or a half-day Atlas Mountains day trip with local operator (~£20–25). In the evening, treat yourself to a proper sit-down Moroccan feast — Nomad or Café des Épices are reliable picks near the medina.

🚌On foot / petit taxi

🛏Riad in Marrakech medina (~£18–25/night)

• →Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum (book ahead)
• →Saadian Tombs
• →Optional Atlas Mountains half-day trip
• →Optional Moroccan cooking class
• →Farewell dinner in the medina

Final breakfast at your riad. Take a petit taxi or the No. 19 airport bus to Marrakech Menara Airport (~£0.50–8). Allow extra time if departing from the medina — the narrow lanes mean luggage can slow you down. Perfect morning for one last mint tea on a medina rooftop.

🚌Petit taxi or No. 19 bus to airport (~£1–8)

🛏N/A – departure day

• →Final medina breakfast
• →Transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport