Self-Launched Northern Morocco: Blue Cities & Bustling Marrakech

Land at Mohammed V Airport and take the airport train into Casablanca (ONCF, ~MAD 50 / £4, roughly 45 mins to Casa Voyageurs). Check into a budget guesthouse near the old medina or the Anfa district. Spend the late afternoon walking the old medina (Habous quarter is also worth a wander), the seafront corniche and — if your timing allows — the exterior terraces of the Hassan II Mosque, Morocco's monumental oceanfront mosque (guided interior visits run in fixed slots, ~MAD 140 and must be joined with a guide). In the evening, eat like a local near the Marché Central: grilled fish, brochettes, harira soup and a fresh orange juice, then settle in.

🚌ONCF airport train, ~MAD 50 (£4), then walking or petit taxi (~MAD 20)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in central Casablanca (dorm or private double)

• →Airport train into Casablanca
• →Old medina & Habous quarter walk
• →Hassan II Mosque exterior visit
• →Evening food at Marché Central

Take an early ONCF train from Casablanca to Rabat Ville (~1 hr, ~MAD 40/£3). Store your bag at the station and walk into the old quarter: the Kasbah des Oudaias with its blue-and-white alleys, the ramparts over the Atlantic and the Andalusian gardens. Grab an inexpensive lunch in the medina. In the afternoon, travel on to Chefchaouen — best option is a CTM or Supratours coach from Rabat (roughly 5–6 hrs, ~MAD 130–160/£11–13); book online a few days ahead as these fill up. Alternatively take two CTM legs via Tangier. Arrive after dark to Chefchaouen's blue streets, take a short orientation walk of the medina to find your bearings and settle into a small guesthouse inside the old town.

🚌ONCF train Casablanca→Rabat ~£3; CTM bus Rabat→Chefchaouen ~£12

🛏Small guesthouse/riad inside Chefchaouen medina

• →Kasbah des Oudaias & Oudaias gardens (Rabat)
• →Old quarter ramparts walk
• →CTM coach to Chefchaouen
• →Evening medina orientation walk

Full day in Chefchaouen. Start with breakfast on a rooftop terrace, then wander the blue-washed lanes and shops at your own pace. In the morning, do the Rif Valley day hike independently or book a guided route through a local agency or GetYourGuide — most routes climb above the town to Akchour or the Cascades d'Akchour area with viewpoints over the Rif. Alternatively, a shorter self-guided walk to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint is free and takes about 30 minutes one way. In the late afternoon, climb back to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the blue city — the classic Chefchaouen photo. Dinner: goat cheese, honey and a tagine in the medina.

🚌On foot; optional shared taxi/grand taxi to trailhead (~MAD 30–50)

🛏Small guesthouse/riad inside Chefchaouen medina

• →Blue medina wander
• →Rif Valley day hike (self-guided or locally booked)
• →Spanish Mosque sunset viewpoint

Take a morning CTM or Supratours coach from Chefchaouen to Fès (roughly 4 hrs, ~MAD 75–100/£6–8). On arrival, check into a guesthouse near Bab Boujloud on the edge of the medina. In the afternoon, get lost in Fès el-Bali, the world's largest car-free urban area. Walk the main artery, Talaa Kebira, down to the tanneries — the famous Chouara Tanneries can be viewed from a leather shop terrace (small tip expected) — and pass the Amazigh/Berber pharmacy stalls. Have mint tea at a terrace café and sample street snacks: msemen, bissara and fresh bread from the carts.

🚌CTM bus Chefchaouen→Fès ~£7; walking in medina

🛏Guesthouse/riad near Bab Boujloud, Fès medina

• →CTM coach to Fès
• →Fès el-Bali medina wander
• →Chouara Tanneries viewpoint
• →Berber pharmacy & artisan stalls

Book a half-day guided medina tour yourself via GetYourGuide or Klook (typical backpacker price £15–25 per person) — it's the best way to navigate the 9,000 lanes and get context on the medina's history. Alternatively, hire a licensed local guide at Bab Boujloud (~MAD 250 for a half day). Spend the rest of the day in Fès: artisan quarters, the Bou Inania Madrasa, the Nejjarine fountain and the souk. In the late afternoon, do a self-led food crawl — olives, harira, a tagine or tanjia and pastilla — and finish with sweet mint tea. Optional: hammam visit in the medina.

🚌On foot; occasional petit taxi (~MAD 15–20)

🛏Guesthouse/riad near Bab Boujloud, Fès medina

• →Guided Fès medina tour (booked via GetYourGuide/Klook)
• →Bou Inania Madrasa & Nejjarine fountain
• →Self-led medina food crawl
• →Optional hammam

Take the ONCF train from Fès to Marrakech (roughly 7–7.5 hrs, ~MAD 180–260/£15–22 second class; book a day ahead at Fès station or online). The journey passes through Meknès, Rabat and Casablanca and is comfortable and cheap — bring snacks and water. Arrive late afternoon, check into a guesthouse or riad in or near the medina. Spend the evening exploring the souks and the Koutoubia gardens before diving into Djemaa el Fna at dusk: storytellers, musicians, snake charmers, food stalls and orange-juice carts.

🚌ONCF train ~£18; petit taxi from station ~MAD 20–30

🛏Guesthouse/riad in or near Marrakech medina

• →ONCF train Fès→Marrakech
• →Koutoubia gardens
• →Souks wander
• →Djemaa el Fna market square at dusk

Final day. Options include a self-guided morning walk of the Bahia Palace, Saadian Tombs and the Jardin Majorelle (pre-book Majorelle slots online in high season), or a hammam. If you want the classic sunrise view, book a hot-air balloon flight directly with a local operator or via GetYourGuide/Klook — usually £150–180 per person for a standard flight with transfer, far cheaper than pre-booked tour add-ons. In the afternoon, do last-minute souvenir shopping in the souks, then enjoy a farewell dinner on a medina rooftop. Consider booking an extra night rather than flying straight out — Marrakech deserves more time.

🚌Walking; petit taxis locally (~MAD 20–30) or balloon operator transfer

🛏Guesthouse/riad in or near Marrakech medina

• →Bahia Palace & Saadian Tombs
• →Jardin Majorelle (pre-book online)
• →Optional hot-air balloon flight
• →Medina souk shopping
• →Rooftop farewell dinner