Self-Launched Morocco Grand Circuit: Casablanca to Marrakech via the Sahara
10 days · Morocco
Morocco Sahara Desert Travel charges £1,840
No-markup version: ~£579 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of the classic 10-day Casablanca-to-Marrakech loop covering Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Middle Atlas, a Sahara night in a Berber camp at Erg Chebbi, the Todra and Dades gorges, Ait Benhaddou and Marrakech. Instead of a private driver and pre-booked riads, you'll use Morocco's excellent, cheap CTM/SUPRATOUR coach network plus shared grand taxis, book riads and hostels direct, and pick up day guides on arrival for a few hundred dirhams. Everything is bookable the day before, so you can flex the pace. Costs are rough backpacker-to-midrange estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Casablanca — Hassan II Mosque & the coast
Casablanca
Fly into Mohammed V Airport and take the train (ONCF, ~45 min, 50 MAD/£4) into Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port. Check into a medina-adjacent hostel or budget hotel. Spend the afternoon on a self-guided Hassan II Mosque exterior walk (the mosque sits dramatically over the Atlantic at Sidi Abderrahmane) — guided interior tours run several times daily for ~140 MAD/£11 and are the only way inside for non-Muslims. Eat grilled sardines near the old medina and pick up a Maroc Telecom or Orange SIM at the airport or station (~100 MAD/£8 for a tourist pack). Buy your Rabat train ticket tonight.
🚌ONCF airport train ~£4; city tram ~£0.60
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel near the old medina (~£18)
- →Hassan II Mosque exterior & optional interior tour
- →Corniche & Ain Diab seafront walk
- →Old medina (Habous quarter)
- →Buy Moroccan SIM card
Rabat en route to Chefchaouen
Rabat & Chefchaouen
Take an early ONCF train to Rabat (1 hr, ~£6). Do Rabat's headline sights on foot in half a day: Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free), the Oudaya Kasbah with its blue-and-white lanes and Atlantic viewpoint (free), and the Chellah necropolis if time allows (~£6). Note: the operator's 'Hassan 2 Mosque' on this day is actually in Casablanca — the Rabat equivalent is Hassan Tower. Then catch an afternoon CTM/SUPRATOUR coach from Rabat to Chefchaouen (approx 5-6 hrs with a change or direct service, ~£13-16). Arrive after dark into the blue medina and settle into a small riad or guesthouse.
🚌Rabat train ~£6 + coach Rabat–Chefchaouen ~£14
🛏Guesthouse inside the Chefchaouen medina (~£16)
- →Hassan Tower & Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- →Oudaya Kasbah & Andalusian gardens
- →Chellah ruins (optional)
- →Evening walk in Chefchaouen medina
Chefchaouen blue medina & Rif foothills
Chefchaouen
Full day in the blue city. Wander the blue-washed alleys early before the day-trippers arrive, browse the Plaza Uta el-Hammam cafés, and walk up to the Spanish Mosque for the classic sunset view over the medina (free, 30-40 min uphill). Pay a few dirhams to peek into the kasbah and its gardens (~£2). Optional: a local guide for 2 hrs is ~250 MAD/£20 and worth it for context on the Rif. Book tomorrow's onward coach to Fes in the afternoon and buy snacks for the ride. Cooking class or hammam in the evening is a nice splurge (~£15-20).
🚌On foot
🛏Guesthouse inside the Chefchaouen medina (~£16)
- →Chefchaouen medina blue alleys
- →Plaza Uta el-Hammam
- →Spanish Mosque viewpoint hike
- →Kasbah museum
- →Optional hammam or cooking class
Coach to Fes — the medieval medina
Fes
Morning CTM/SUPRATOUR coach Chefchaouen to Fes (approx 4 hrs, ~£10). Check into a medina riad or hostel and head straight into Fes el-Bali. Self-guide the great gates: Bab Boujloud (Blue Gate), the Bou Inania Madrasa (~£6), the Nejjarine fountain and woodwork museum, and the Al-Attarine souk. The tanneries are free to view from leather-shop terraces (a small tip is expected) — ignore the hard sell and the 'guides' who attach themselves. For the Kairaouine Mosque and University, non-Muslims can't enter but the courtyard views from the surrounding lanes are the real draw. A licensed local guide costs ~£25-35 for a half day and will save you from getting lost in the 9,000 lanes — highly recommended if travelling solo.
🚌Coach Chefchaouen–Fes ~£10
🛏Budget riad in Fes medina (~£18)
- →Bab Boujloud & Fes el-Bali medina
- →Bou Inania Madrasa
- →Chouara Tanneries viewpoint
- →Nejjarine fountain & souks
- →Optional licensed medina guide
Middle Atlas to the Sahara — Merzouga desert camp
Ifrane, Midelt, Merzouga
The classic long transfer day. Take an early CTM/SUPRATOUR coach Fes to Merzouga/Rissani (approx 7-8 hrs, ~£18-22), breaking the scenery with the Middle Atlas cedar forests near Azrou/Ifrane and the Ziz Gorge on the way in. Alternatively, if you want the flexibility of stops, join a shared 4x4/van desert transfer from Fes (bookable via Klook or your riad, ~£45-60 including the desert camp). In Merzouga, meet your camel team and ride ~1 hr into Erg Chebbi for sunset. Overnight in a Berber tent camp with dinner and drumming. Book the camp package (camel + dinner + breakfast + tent) direct or via GetYourGuide from ~£35-50 standard, more with en-suite tents.
🚌Coach Fes–Merzouga ~£20 (or shared desert transfer ~£50)
🛏Berber tent camp, Erg Chebbi (~£20 pp incl. dinner/breakfast in a shared camp deal)
- →Middle Atlas cedar forest & Barbary apes (Azrou)
- →Ziz Gorge viewpoint
- →Sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi
- →Berber desert camp dinner & music
Sunrise dunes, Todra Gorge & Dades Valley
Merzouga, Todra Gorge, Dades Valley
Wake for sunrise on the dunes, camel back to Merzouga village, breakfast, then take a shared grand taxi or minivan to Tinghir/Todra (approx 3 hrs, ~£10-15 shared). Walk the 300 m slot of Todra Gorge and the palm-grove paths on your own. Continue by shared taxi to Boumalne Dades (approx 1.5 hrs, ~£6-8) and overnight in a Dades Valley guesthouse. Optional detour to Rissani's Moulay Ali Cherif mausoleum on the way out of Merzouga. Note: with public transport this is a tight day — the easiest alternative is a shared Marrakech-bound minivan transfer that covers Todra and Dades for ~£30-40; arrange with your camp or a Merzouga guesthouse the night before.
🚌Shared taxis/minivan Merzouga–Todra–Dades ~£20-30
🛏Guesthouse in Dades Valley (~£17)
- →Sunrise on Erg Chebbi dunes
- →Todra Gorge walk
- →Todra palm grove & kasbah walk
- →Dades Valley viewpoints
- →Optional Rissani mausoleum stop
Dades to Marrakech via Ait Benhaddou
Dades Valley, Ait Benhaddou, Marrakech
Take a morning shared minivan or CTM coach down the Dades and through Kalaat M'Gouna (rose valley — the rose cooperative is a quick, free stop). Get off at Ait Benhaddou to walk the UNESCO ksar on foot (free from outside; small fee to cross to the granary). Then catch a shared van or CTM from Ouarzazate over the Tizi n'Tichka pass into Marrakech (approx 4 hrs, ~£10-13). This whole chain is easiest as a shared Marrakech transfer (~£35-45 door to door including the Ait Benhaddou stop). Arrive in Marrakech in the evening and check into a medina riad or hostel.
🚌Shared minivan Dades–Ait Benhaddou–Marrakech ~£40 (or coach ~£13 + shared taxi legs)
🛏Budget riad in Marrakech medina (~£18)
- →Kalaat M'Gouna rose valley & argan cooperative
- →Ait Benhaddou UNESCO ksar
- →Tizi n'Tichka pass viewpoints
Marrakech highlights self-guided
Marrakech
A full day on foot in the red city. Start early at the Jardin Majorelle (~£13, book online the day before — slots sell out) and the adjacent Yves Saint Laurent Museum if you like. Walk to the Koutoubia minaret, then the Saadian Tombs (~£7) and Bahia Palace (~£7) — buy the combined ticket where available. Lunch in a cheap local tagine spot near Jemaa el-Fna, then explore the souks and the Ben Youssef Madrasa (~£5). Finish at Jemaa el-Fna at dusk for the food stalls and musicians. A guided Marrakech medina walk via GetYourGuide runs ~£15-25 if you want orientation on day one.
🚌On foot; taxi back ~£2
🛏Budget riad in Marrakech medina (~£18)
- →Jardin Majorelle
- →Koutoubia Mosque exterior
- →Saadian Tombs
- →Bahia Palace
- →Ben Youssef Madrasa
- →Souks & Jemaa el-Fna at sunset
Marrakech free day — hammam, Atlas or ballooning
Marrakech
Choose your own adventure. Cheapest good option: a traditional hammam with scrub in a local neighbourhood bath (~£10-15) plus the artisan souks (Souk el Attarin for spices, Souk Chouari for wood, the dyers' souks). Splurges: sunrise hot-air balloon over the Atlas foothills (~£130-160 via GetYourGuide, includes pickup), an Ourika Valley or Imlil day trip by shared grand taxi (~£25-35), or a Moroccan cooking class (~£30-40). Tonight, book your onward transfer or train — there's a direct ONCF train Marrakech to Casablanca (approx 3 hrs, ~£9) if you're flying out of Mohammed V.
🚌On foot / local taxi ~£2-3
🛏Budget riad in Marrakech medina (~£18)
- →Traditional hammam & scrub
- →Artisan souks walk
- →Optional hot-air balloon flight
- →Optional Atlas foothills day trip
- →Optional cooking class
Departure from Marrakech or Casablanca
Marrakech
Breakfast at the riad, then head to Marrakech Menara Airport by taxi (~80-100 MAD/£7) or the local bus (L19, ~30 MAD). If your flight is out of Casablanca, take the morning ONCF train to Casa Voyageurs (approx 3 hrs, ~£9) then the airport train (~£4) — allow 5 hrs total. Last chance for argan oil and spices at the souks before you go.
🚌Marrakech airport taxi ~£7, or train to Casablanca ~£9 + airport train ~£4
🛏None (departure day)
- →Souk shopping for last-minute gifts
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Morocco Sahara Desert Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Morocco Sahara Desert Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£579 | £1,840 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,261 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Morocco Sahara Desert Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£579
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 Self-Launched Morocco Grand Circuit: Casablanca to Marrakech via the Sahara cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £579 per person for 10 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 Sahara Desert Travel?+
Yes — Morocco Sahara Desert Travel charges around £1,840 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £579 — a saving of roughly £1,261 (69%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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 adventure, culture, 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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