Imperial Cities & Sahara Desert — Self-Launched 11-Day Morocco Adventure

Arrive at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport and take the Airport Train (ONCF) directly to Casa Voyageurs station (~£2, 35 min), then an onward train to Rabat Agdal (~£3, 1 hr). Check into your budget riad or guesthouse in the Rabat medina. In the afternoon, take a guided morning tour of the Hassan II Mosque (book via GetYourGuide, ~£10), then make your way to Rabat for the Kasbah des Oudaias, Andalusian Gardens, Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V — all free or very low entry. Grab dinner in the medina; a solid tagine costs around £4–6.

🚌ONCF train from Casablanca airport to Rabat Agdal (~£5); city walking

🛏Budget riad or guesthouse in Rabat medina — e.g. Riad Dar Baraka or similar (~£18–25/night)

• →Airport train Casablanca → Rabat (~£5 total including city metro)
• →Guided tour of Hassan II Mosque via GetYourGuide (~£10)
• →Explore Chellah Necropolis (entry ~£1.50)
• →Visit Kasbah des Oudaias and Andalusian Gardens (free)
• →See Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V (free exterior, small entry fee)

Take an early CTM or Supratours bus from Rabat to Chefchaouen (~£10, ~4 hrs). Check into a budget riad in the blue medina. Spend the afternoon exploring the winding blue-washed streets, Plaza Outa el-Hammam, the Grand Mosque exterior and the Kasbah museum (entry ~£2). In the evening, hike up to the abandoned Spanish Mosque for sunset — one of Morocco's most spectacular free viewpoints. The next morning, consider a shared taxi or organised day hike to Cascades d'Akchour waterfalls (~£8 return shared taxi + £1.50 park entry).

🚌CTM/Supratours bus Rabat → Chefchaouen (~£10)

🛏Budget riad in Chefchaouen medina — e.g. Dar Zitoun or similar (~£18–22/night)

• →CTM/Supratours bus Rabat → Chefchaouen (~£10, ~4 hrs)
• →Explore medina and narrow blue streets (free)
• →Visit Plaza Outa el-Hammam (free)
• →Kasbah of Chefchaouen museum (entry ~£2)
• →Hike to Spanish Mosque for sunset (free)
• →Shared taxi to Cascades d'Akchour waterfalls (~£8 return)

This is a long transit day best handled by hiring a shared grand taxi from Chefchaouen toward Meknes (~£12–15 per person shared). Ask the driver to stop at Volubilis Roman ruins en route (entry ~£4) — allow 1.5 hrs to explore this UNESCO site. Continue to Meknes to see the monumental Bab al-Mansour gate, Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail (entry ~£1) and Royal Stables (free exterior). Take a local bus or petit taxi onward to Fes (~£3–5). Check into a hostel or budget riad near Bab Boujeloud. End the day at the Merenid Tombs for panoramic city views at sunset — totally free.

🚌Grand taxi Chefchaouen → Meknes (~£15); local bus/taxi Meknes → Fes (~£4)

🛏Hostel or budget riad near Bab Boujeloud, Fes — e.g. Dar Bensouda Hostel or similar (~£15–22/night)

• →Grand taxi Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes (~£15 shared)
• →Explore Volubilis Roman ruins (entry ~£4)
• →Visit Bab al-Mansour gate in Meknes (free)
• →See Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail (entry ~£1)
• →View Royal Stables exterior (free)
• →Bus or petit taxi Meknes → Fes (~£4)
• →Sunset at Merenid Tombs overlooking Fes (free)

Devote a full day to Fes el Bali, the world's largest car-free urban area. Book a half-day guided medina walk via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£15–20) — a licensed guide is genuinely worth it here as the medina is notoriously easy to get lost in. Enter through the iconic Bab Boujeloud blue gate, weave through Talaa Kebira, reach the Chouara Tannery (free rooftop views from leather shops), and visit Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque and Library (exterior viewing). Spend the afternoon exploring independently and browsing the souks. Budget around £8–12 for meals today.

🚌Walking within medina

🛏Same hostel/riad as Day 3 (~£15–22/night)

• →Half-day guided Fes medina walk via GetYourGuide (~£18)
• →Enter medina through Bab Boujeloud gate (free)
• →Explore Talaa Kebira and souks (free)
• →Rooftop views of Chouara Tannery from leather shops (free with small purchase)
• →View Al-Qarawiyyin Library and Mosque exterior (free)
• →Afternoon independent souk exploration

A slower, more relaxed day in Fes. Visit the Batha Museum (entry ~£2) and its beautiful Andalusian-style courtyard gardens. Wander into the Mellah, Fes's historic Jewish quarter — explore the cemetery and the fascinating blend of Moroccan and Jewish architecture. Pop into the Ceramics and Tile Collective to watch artisans at work (free to browse). Wind down with a relaxing afternoon in Jnan Sbil (Bou Jeloud Gardens), free and perfect for people-watching. If you're interested in Ville Nouvelle, grab a petit taxi (£1) over to explore the French-colonial boulevard architecture.

🚌Walking and occasional petit taxi (~£2)

🛏Same hostel/riad as Day 3–4 (~£15–22/night)

• →Batha Museum and Andalusian gardens (entry ~£2)
• →Walk through Mellah Jewish quarter and cemetery (free)
• →Visit Ceramics and Tile Collective (free)
• →Relax in Jnan Sbil / Bou Jeloud Gardens (free)
• →Optional: Ville Nouvelle architecture stroll (petit taxi ~£1)

This is the longest travel day of the trip and the hardest to replicate cheaply without a private vehicle. The best self-launched option is to book a shared day-transfer minibus from Fes to Merzouga via a local agency (~£30–40 per person), which stops at the Barbary Macaque viewpoint in the Middle Atlas, Col du Zad pass, Ziz Valley, and Erfoud fossil collective. Alternatively, take a CTM bus Fes → Errachidia (~£12) and a shared grand taxi onward to Merzouga (~£8). Arrive in time for the highlight: a camel ride through Erg Chebbi dunes to your desert camp (~£25–35, bookable via GetYourGuide or directly with camp operators in Merzouga). Watch the sunset from the top of a dune and enjoy a traditional dinner at camp under the stars.

🚌Shared minibus or CTM bus + grand taxi (~£35–40)

🛏Desert camp in Erg Chebbi — e.g. Azalai Desert Camp or similar (~£25–35/night including dinner & breakfast)

• →Shared minibus or CTM bus + grand taxi Fes → Merzouga (~£35–40 total)
• →Stop to view Barbary Macaque monkeys in Middle Atlas (free)
• →Cross Col du Zad and Tizi n'Talremt passes (en route)
• →Visit fossil collective in Erfoud (free to browse)
• →Camel ride through Erg Chebbi dunes to desert camp (~£30 via GetYourGuide or direct)
• →Trek up sand dune for sunset (free)
• →Dinner at desert camp (included with most camp packages)

Wake before dawn for the desert sunrise — one of the great free spectacles of Morocco. After breakfast at camp, take a shared grand taxi or arranged transfer to Khemliya Saharan village (~£8), where you can experience traditional Gnawa drumming and music (often free or by small donation). Head to Rissani market town for a browse, then continue via Tinerhir to Todra Gorge (~£12 shared taxi). The gorge is dramatic and almost entirely free to explore — walk the canyon floor, wade in the shallow Todra River, and watch rock climbers on the 300m-high walls. Budget accommodation available right in the gorge itself.

🚌Shared grand taxis Merzouga → Khemliya → Rissani → Tinerhir → Todra Gorge (~£20 total)

🛏Guesthouse in or near Todra Gorge — e.g. Hotel Yasmina or Auberge du Gorge (~£15–20/night)

• →Desert sunrise viewing (free)
• →Shared taxi to Khemliya village (~£8)
• →Traditional Gnawa drumming and dancing experience (free/donation)
• →Visit Rissani market town (free)
• →Shared taxi via Tinerhir to Todra Gorge (~£12)
• →Explore Todra Gorge canyon floor (free)
• →Wade in shallow Todra River (free)
• →Optional: sandboarding (~£10) or ATV tour (~£25) — bookable locally

Take a shared grand taxi westward along the Draa Valley road, stopping in Kelaa M'Gouna (the Valley of Roses) to view the rose fields and visit the rose water cooperative — free to enter and fascinating (~£12 shared taxi leg). Continue via Ouarzazate (optional movie studio tour via GetYourGuide ~£12, or Musée du Cinéma ~£3) to Aït Benhaddou (~£8 grand taxi). Explore this UNESCO World Heritage ksar freely — cross the river on stepping stones (or a small boat in rainy season), wander the alleys and passageways, and climb to the old granary for panoramic views. Stay in a guesthouse with valley views and enjoy a simple dinner overlooking the ksar.

🚌Shared grand taxis Todra → Kelaa M'Gouna → Ouarzazate → Aït Benhaddou (~£20 total)

🛏Guesthouse near Aït Benhaddou with valley views — e.g. Riad Caravane or similar (~£18–25/night)

• →Shared grand taxi Todra → Kelaa M'Gouna (~£12)
• →Visit rose fields and rose water cooperative in Kelaa M'Gouna (free)
• →Shared taxi → Ouarzazate → Aït Benhaddou (~£8)
• →Optional: movie studio tour in Ouarzazate via GetYourGuide (~£12)
• →Explore Aït Benhaddou UNESCO ksar (entry ~£2)
• →Climb to old granary for panoramic views (free with entry)
• →Optional: trek to Game of Thrones filming gates at river (free)

Take a shared grand taxi or the Supratours bus from Ouarzazate to Marrakech (~£8–12) over the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260m — one of the most dramatic road journeys in Africa. Ask to stop briefly at the Argan Oil Cooperative in Taddert for free samples and to learn about argan processing. Arrive Marrakech in the afternoon. Check into a budget riad in the medina, freshen up, and head straight to Jemaa el-Fna Square as the sun goes down — soak up the snake charmers, storytellers, and food stalls. Mint tea at a rooftop café overlooking the square is a must (£1–2).

🚌Supratours bus or shared grand taxi Ouarzazate → Marrakech (~£10)

🛏Budget riad in Marrakech medina — e.g. Riad Assakina or similar (~£20–28/night)

• →Shared grand taxi or Supratours bus Aït Benhaddou/Ouarzazate → Marrakech over Tizi n'Tichka (~£10)
• →Roadside stop at Tizi n'Tichka summit — views of Mount Toubkal (free)
• →Visit Argan Oil Cooperative in Taddert (free with samples)
• →Evening at Jemaa el-Fna Square (free)
• →Mint tea at rooftop café overlooking the square (~£1–2)

A full day in Marrakech. Start with a calèche (horse-drawn carriage) tour of the medina walls (~£8–10 per person negotiated). Then explore on foot: Koutoubia Mosque and gardens (exterior free), the labyrinthine souks — Souk el Attarin, Souk Chouari, Souk Smata, Souk des Teinturiers. Visit the stunning Ben Youssef Madrasa (entry ~£5). In the afternoon, choose from optional extras: Majorelle Gardens (~£8, book in advance online to avoid queues), Saadian Tombs (~£2), Bahia Palace (~£2), or El Badi Palace (~£2). End the evening back at Jemaa el-Fna for street food dinner — budget £5–8 for a full feast at the market stalls.

🚌Walking and calèche (~£9)

🛏Same riad as Day 9 (~£20–28/night)

• →Calèche horse-drawn carriage tour of medina (~£9)
• →Koutoubia Mosque and gardens (exterior free)
• →Explore Souk el Attarin, Souk Chouari, Souk Smata, Souk des Teinturiers (free)
• →Ben Youssef Madrasa (entry ~£5)
• →Optional: Majorelle Gardens (~£8, pre-book online)
• →Optional: Saadian Tombs (~£2)
• →Optional: Bahia Palace (~£2) and El Badi Palace (~£2)
• →Street food dinner at Jemaa el-Fna stalls (~£6)

Morning visit to the Saadian Tombs if not visited yesterday (entry ~£2). Then take the ONCF train from Marrakech to Casablanca (~£10, 3 hrs) — fast, comfortable, and scenic. If you have time before your flight, stroll along Boulevard de la Corniche in Casablanca or grab a final meal at a local café (Rick's Café is a touristy treat at ~£15–20 but fun for a send-off). Take the airport train from Casa Voyageurs to Mohammed V Airport (~£3). End of a brilliant self-launched adventure.

🚌ONCF train Marrakech → Casablanca (~£10); airport train (~£3)

🛏Airport hotel or transit only (no overnight needed if departing same day)

• →Morning: Saadian Tombs, Marrakech (entry ~£2)
• →ONCF train Marrakech → Casablanca (~£10, 3 hrs)
• →Optional: stroll Boulevard de la Corniche (free)
• →Optional: farewell meal at Rick's Café (~£15–20) or local restaurant (~£6)
• →Airport train Casa Voyageurs → Mohammed V Airport (~£3)