Morocco Eclipse 2027: Wonders of Earth & Sky — Self-Launched
9 days · Morocco
G Adventures charges £3,650
No-markup version: ~£1,215 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 9-day Geluxe eclipse trip from Casablanca to Marrakech: the blue alleyways of Chefchaouen, the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027, Roman Volubilis and imperial Meknès, the Fes medina and tannery, a Middle Atlas lakeside stop at Bin El Ouidane, the Ouzoud waterfalls, and the souks of Marrakech. Book the same experiences independently — CTM/Supratours coaches and the ONCF train instead of a private vehicle, small riads and guesthouses instead of premium hotels, and local guides hired per-site. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Casablanca: An Introduction to Morocco
Casablanca
Land at Mohammed V Airport and take the ONCF train (about 45 min, ~£2.50) or a petit taxi (~£8) into the city. Check into a central guesthouse near the old medina, then stretch your legs with a walk to the Hassan II Mosque esplanade (exterior free; guided interior tours ~£12 if you're interested). In the evening wander the art-deco downtown streets around Boulevard Mohammed V and grab your first tagine at a neighbourhood cafe. Book your onward coach ticket tonight for an early start tomorrow.
🚌ONCF airport train to Casa Voyageurs, then tram/taxi; all onward coach tickets bookable at CTM or Supratours stations or online
🛏Guesthouse/riyad in central Casablanca (dorm or private single, ~£18-25)
- →Hassan II Mosque esplanade walk
- →Art-deco downtown orientation stroll
- →Buy CTM/Supratours ticket to Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen: The Iconic "Blue City"
Chefchaouen
Take the CTM or Supratours coach from Casablanca to Chefchaouen (roughly 5-6 hours with a change in Tangier or direct services depending on schedule, ~£11-14). Watch for storks' nests on rooftops and minarets as the farmland turns to Rif mountains. On arrival, check into a small medina guesthouse and spend the afternoon getting lost in the blue alleyways. In the early evening walk up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the town — it's the classic view and completely free.
🚌CTM/Supratours coach Casablanca–Chefchaouen, ~£11-14
🛏Small riad or guesthouse inside the Chefchaouen medina (~£20-28)
- →Self-guided blue medina wander
- →Sunset walk to the Spanish Mosque
- →Explore the kasbah square and Rif crafts shops
Chefchaouen: Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Day
Chefchaouen
The main event. Totality across this part of northern Morocco falls in the late morning of 2 August 2027, so scout a viewpoint the day before — the Spanish Mosque hill, the hillside terraces above town, or the road toward the Ras El Maa springs all offer clear western horizons. Bring certified eclipse glasses (buy in the UK beforehand — they sell out locally) and a picnic so you're in position early. The town fills up fast; arrive at your spot at least an hour before first contact. Afterwards, celebrate with mint tea and a rooftop dinner in the medina.
🚌Walking; share a petit taxi to outlying viewpoints if you prefer (~£1-2)
🛏Small riad or guesthouse inside the Chefchaouen medina (~£20-28)
- →Total solar eclipse viewing from Chefchaouen hillside (free)
- →Picnic lunch
- →Rooftop dinner in the medina
Fes: Roman Volubilis and Imperial Meknès
Fes
Travel from the Rif down to the plains. Take a coach or shared grand taxi Chefchaouen–Meknès (about 4-5 hours, ~£10-12), drop bags at your Fes or Meknès accommodation, then use a local grand taxi to visit the UNESCO site of Volubilis (roughly £15-20 return for the vehicle, split between travellers) — hire a certified guide at the gate for ~£15-20 per group or join a shared tour. Continue to Meknès for Bab Mansour, Bab El Khmis and the medina food stalls. In the late afternoon take the train or coach on to Fes (~1 hour, ~£3) and settle into a medina riad.
🚌Coach/grand taxi Chefchaouen–Meknès ~£10-12; local grand taxi to Volubilis ~£15-20 per vehicle; train or coach Meknès–Fes ~£3
🛏Budget riad or guesthouse in the Fes medina (~£22-30)
- →Volubilis Roman ruins with local guide (entry ~£6, guide ~£15-20 per group)
- →Meknès imperial city walk: Bab Mansour and Bab El Khmis
- →Meknès medina food stop
Fes: The Lively Medina
Fes
Hire a licensed medina guide through your riad or a GetYourGuide-listed walking tour (~£25-35 for a half-day, or ~£12-18 on a shared group tour) — Fes' 9,000 alleys are genuinely hard to navigate solo and unlicensed 'guides' will pester you. Cover the tanneries (view from a leather shop balcony; a small tip is expected in lieu of a fee), the Bou Inania madrasa (~£3), the Nejjarine fountain and the souk food stalls. Spend the afternoon at your own pace: buy fruit for tomorrow's breakfast, try a pastilla, and end with a rooftop sunset over the medina.
🚌Walking; petit taxis back to the riad in the evening ~£2
🛏Budget riad or guesthouse in the Fes medina (~£22-30)
- →Guided Fes medina walking tour incl. tannery (~£12-35)
- →Bou Inania madrasa entry ~£3
- →Local food tasting: pastilla, harira, orange juice
Bin El Ouidane: Into the Middle Atlas
Bin El Ouidane
Today is a long scenic transfer. Take the coach or shared taxi from Fes to Beni Mellal via Khenifra (roughly 5-6 hours, ~£10-14), then a local grand taxi up to Bin El Ouidane (~30-40 min, ~£6-8 split). The route climbs through the Middle Atlas with regular stops for viewpoints and villages. Book a lakeside guesthouse or small hotel in advance — this area sees very few tourists and budget beds are limited. Arrive in time for a swim and a lakeside dinner with views over the reservoir.
🚌Coach Fes–Beni Mellal ~£10-14; grand taxi Beni Mellal–Bin El Ouidane ~£6-8 split
🛏Lakeside guesthouse or small hotel in Bin El Ouidane (~£25-32)
- →Middle Atlas scenic drive with village stops
- →Lakeside sunset walk
- →Optional kayak hire on Lake Ouidane ~£8
Bin El Ouidane: Imsfane Cathedral Hike or Amazigh Family Lunch
Bin El Ouidane
A free-choice day. Option A: hike to the Imsefrane 'Cathedral' rock formation — a striking natural monolith in the surrounding hills. Trails aren't marked, so ask your guesthouse to arrange a local guide (~£20-30) or join a small group; bring water and sun protection. Option B: arrange a home lunch with an Amazigh family through your guesthouse (~£12-15) for couscous, bread and olive oil in a village home. Either way, spend the late afternoon swimming or relaxing by the lake.
🚌Walking; local grand taxi to trailheads ~£5-8
🛏Lakeside guesthouse or small hotel in Bin El Ouidane (~£25-32)
- →Imsfane Cathedral hike with local guide (~£20-30)
- →Or Amazigh family home lunch (~£12-15)
- →Lake swim
Marrakech: Ouzoud Waterfall and the Souks
Marrakech
Leave early for the Ouzoud Waterfall (about 1-1.5 hours by grand taxi or shared minibus from Azilal, ~£8-12) — the falls are free to visit, with a short descent path and the option of a boat ride to the base (~£3). After lunch, continue to Marrakech by coach or shared taxi (roughly 3-4 hours, ~£8-10). Check into a medina riad, then head to Jemaa el-Fna for the evening: food stalls, musicians and the nightly buzz. Practise your bargaining in the souks before dinner.
🚌Grand taxi/shared minibus to Ouzoud ~£8-12; coach or shared taxi Ouzoud/Azilal–Marrakech ~£8-10
🛏Budget riad in the Marrakech medina (~£22-30)
- →Ouzoud Waterfall (free entry; optional boat ~£3)
- →Marrakech souk and Jemaa el-Fna evening
- →Optional hammam ~£10-15
Marrakech: Trip Ends
Marrakech
Last morning in Marrakech. If you have time before your flight, book a hot-air balloon flight over the Atlas foothills in advance through GetYourGuide or a local operator (~£150-175 including transfers) — the trip's optional extra — or simply take a slow breakfast on a riad rooftop and visit the Bahia Palace (~£6) or the Jardin Majorelle (~£12, book ahead). Menara Airport is a 20-minute taxi ride away (~£8-10).
🚌Petit taxi to Menara Airport ~£8-10
🛏None (last day)
- →Optional hot-air balloon flight ~£150-175
- →Bahia Palace or Jardin Majorelle
- →Rooftop breakfast in the medina
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,215 | £3,650 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,435 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,215
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Morocco Eclipse 2027: Wonders of Earth & Sky — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,215 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £3,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,215 — a saving of roughly £2,435 (67%) 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, hiking 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.