Moroccan Cities Grand Tour
8 days · Morocco
Morocco Luxury Tour charges £950
No-markup version: ~£232 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic Morocco city circuit, tracing the imperial cities from Casablanca and Rabat through the blue alleys of Chefchaouen, the medinas of Fes and Meknes, the Roman ruins of Volubilis, and finishing in vibrant Marrakesh. Travelling independently by CTM buses, shared grand taxis and trains, you'll visit all the same landmarks and soak up the history, food and culture for a fraction of the private guided tour price.
Day-by-day
Casablanca to Rabat
Rabat
Start the day with a self-guided visit to the magnificent Hassan II Mosque on the Casablanca coastline (buy a ticket at the entrance for the guided interior tour). Then catch a CTM or Supratours bus or a first-class train from Casablanca Port to Rabat (~£4). In the afternoon explore the Kasbah des Oudaias with its blue-and-white streets and Andalusian Gardens, then the Chellah Necropolis (Roman and Islamic ruins) and finish with Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V.
🚌CTM/Supratours bus or 1st-class train Casablanca–Rabat
🛏Budget riad or hostel in Rabat medina (~£12)
- →Self-guided tour of Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
- →CTM bus / train to Rabat
- →Explore Kasbah des Oudaias and Andalusian Gardens
- →Visit Chellah Necropolis ruins
- →See Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohamed V
Rabat to Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen
Take a morning CTM bus from Rabat to Chefchaouen via Tangier or a direct connection (~£10, around 5 hours) with a stop for lunch. On arrival, wander the famous blue-washed medina and alleyways, visit Plaza Outa el-Hammam with its cafés, the Grand Mosque and the kasbah (with its garden, museum and old prison cells). In the late afternoon hike the 20–30 minutes up to the Spanish Mosque for unforgettable sunset views over the blue town.
🚌CTM bus Rabat–Chefchaouen
🛏Riad guesthouse in the Chefchaouen medina (~£13)
- →CTM bus Rabat to Chefchaouen
- →Explore the blue medina and alleyways
- →Visit Plaza Outa el-Hammam, Grand Mosque and kasbah
- →Sunset hike to the Spanish Mosque
Chefchaouen to Fes via Meknes and Volubilis
Fes
Move on from the blue city by CTM bus to Fes (~£9). Break the journey by stopping in Meknes first: take a shared grand taxi from Fes out to the Roman ruins of Volubilis (entrance ~£5) and the nearby Moulay Idriss. In Meknes proper, walk the medina, see the monumental Bab al-Mansour gate and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, then hike up to the Merenid Tombs for panoramic city views before taking a final shared taxi or bus into Fes for the night.
🚌CTM bus + shared grand taxis
🛏Riad or hostel in Fes medina (~£13)
- →CTM bus Chefchaouen to Fes via Meknes
- →Explore Meknes medina, Bab al-Mansour and Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail
- →Grand taxi to Roman ruins of Volubilis
- →Hike to Merenid Tombs overlook
- →Evening arrival in Fes
Fes el Bali old city
Fes
Spend the day exploring the vast, car-free medieval medina of Fes el Bali, the world's largest. Enter at the Bab Boujeloud gate and wind through the souks of Talâa Kebira, visiting the Chouara Tannery (viewed from a rooftop leather shop) and the University of Al-Qarawiyyin with its celebrated library and mosque. Consider hiring a local licensed guide for a few hours (~£20) to navigate the labyrinth, or follow a good map app.
🚌On foot / local taxis
🛏Riad or hostel in Fes medina (~£13)
- →Guided or self-guided walk through Fes el Bali from Bab Boujeloud
- →Explore souks and Talâa Kebira
- →Chouara Tannery rooftop views
- →Visit University of Al-Qarawiyyin library and mosque
Fes culture and gardens
Fes
A slower cultural day in Fes. Visit the Batha Museum (Islamic arts, ceramics and woodwork) housed in a 19th-century palace with Andalusian-style gardens, then walk through the Mellah (the old Jewish quarter) and its cemetery. Visit a ceramics and zellige tile collective to watch artisans at work, and wind down in the leafy Jnan Sbil (Bou Jeloud Gardens) before an evening in the medina.
🚌On foot
🛏Riad or hostel in Fes medina (~£13)
- →Visit Batha Museum and gardens
- →Walk the Mellah and Jewish cemetery
- →Tour a ceramics and zellige tile collective
- →Relax in Jnan Sbil Gardens
Fes to Marrakesh
Marrakesh
Take the ONCF train (or an overnight option) from Fes to Marrakesh — a comfortable journey (~£25 in first class or ~£15 second class) around 7–8 hours, with a scenic change in Casablanca. Arrive in the ochre city in the late afternoon and head straight to the frenzy of Jemaa el-Fna square as the food stalls and storytellers light up. Grab dinner from the stalls and sip mint tea at one of the café terraces overlooking the square.
🚌ONCF train Fes–Marrakesh
🛏Riad or hostel in the Marrakesh medina (~£14)
- →ONCF train Fes to Marrakesh
- →Explore Jemaa el-Fna square by night
- →Mint tea at a café terrace overlooking the square
Marrakesh monuments and souks
Marrakesh
A day exploring Marrakesh's headline sights. Visit the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque and its gardens (exterior only for non-Muslims), sniff out the spice market at Souk el-Attarin and Souk Smata, and admire the exquisite carved courtyard of Ben Youssef Madrasa (ticket ~£6). Add the Saadian Tombs (~£7), El Badi Palace and the opulent Bahia Palace at your own pace, then dive into the traditional-ware markets.
🚌On foot / petit taxis
🛏Riad or hostel in the Marrakesh medina (~£14)
- →Visit Koutoubia Mosque and gardens
- →Explore spice markets (Souk el-Attarin, Souk Smata)
- →Tour the Ben Youssef Madrasa
- →Visit Saadian Tombs, El Badi and Bahia Palaces
- →Browse markets
Marrakesh to Casablanca departure
Marrakesh
Enjoy a leisurely final morning — maybe stroll the Boulevard de la Corniche or take a drink at the famous Rick's Café. Then catch the fast ONCF Al Boraq or regular train from Marrakesh to Casablanca (~2.5–3 hours, ~£20), arriving in the city by mid-afternoon, in time to connect to your onward flight or travel.
🚌ONCF train Marrakesh–Casablanca
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Optional stroll on Boulevard de la Corniche or Rick's Café
- →ONCF train Marrakesh to Casablanca
- →Connect to onward travel
Self-launched vs. Morocco Luxury Tour
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Morocco Luxury Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£232 | £950 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £718 per person (76%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Morocco Luxury Tour-style trips? Check them out here.~£232
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 Moroccan Cities Grand Tour cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £232 per person for 8 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 Morocco Luxury Tour?+
Yes — Morocco Luxury Tour charges around £950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £232 — a saving of roughly £718 (76%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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, city-breaks, foodie 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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