The Ultimate Self-Launched Adventure Through Morocco

Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) and take the Airport Express train into the city centre — fast, cheap, and easy (around £4). Check into a budget hotel or hostel near the city centre. In the evening, head to a local restaurant in the old medina or around Place Mohammed V for a traditional Moroccan welcome dinner — harira soup, tagine, and mint tea for well under £10.

🚌Airport Express train: CMN to Casa-Voyageurs (~£4 one way)

🛏Hotel Guynemer or similar budget hotel near city centre (~£20-25/night)

• →Take the Casablanca Airport Express train to Casa-Voyageurs station (~£4)
• →Check in and freshen up at your budget hotel
• →Self-guided evening walk around Place Mohammed V and the Hassan II Mosque exterior
• →Welcome dinner at a local Moroccan restaurant in the medina

After breakfast, head to the CTM bus station in Casablanca and take a direct CTM bus to Chefchaouen (~5 hrs, £12-15). Arrive in the early afternoon and check into a riad in the medina — many excellent options for £15-25/night. Spend the afternoon wandering the photogenic blue cobblestone streets and browsing artisan craft shops. In the evening, hike up to the Spanish Mosque (a free, well-marked path easily done independently) for spectacular sunset views over the blue medina nestled in the Rif Mountains.

🚌CTM bus Casablanca → Chefchaouen (~£13)

🛏Riad in the medina, e.g. Riad Cherifa or similar (~£20-25/night twin share)

• →CTM bus Casablanca to Chefchaouen (~5 hrs, ~£13)
• →Self-guided walk through the blue medina and craft souks
• →Free self-launched hike up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset views
• →Dinner at a rooftop restaurant in the medina (~£6-8)

Book a half-day guided hike into Talassemtane National Park through a local guide agency in Chefchaouen (easily arranged on arrival, or via GetYourGuide). Follow forest trails and open ridgelines through pine and cedar woodland with views over the Rif Mountains (~3 miles, 656ft elevation). Return to Chefchaouen by lunchtime. Spend the afternoon exploring the medina further, visiting the kasbah museum, and discovering local restaurants recommended by your riad host.

🚌Local walking / short taxi within Chefchaouen

🛏Riad in the medina (same as Day 2, ~£20-25/night)

• →Guided half-day hike through Talassemtane National Park (book locally or via GetYourGuide, ~£15-20pp)
• →Visit the Kasbah Museum in the main square (~£1.50)
• →Free afternoon exploring the medina and photographing the blue streets
• →Lunch and dinner at local medina restaurants (~£6-10 per meal)

Take an early shared grand taxi from Chefchaouen towards Meknes (~3-4 hrs, £10-12). En route, arrange a stop at the Roman ruins of Volubilis — hire a local guide at the entrance for a rich explanation of the Roman-Berber history amid toppled columns and intricate mosaics (~£6 entry + £8 guide). From Volubilis, take a short taxi ride to Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and hike the ridge trail through olive groves to panoramic viewpoints over the twin-peaked holy town (~2 miles). Have lunch at a local restaurant in the medina. Continue by shared taxi or CTM bus to Fes (1.5 hrs, ~£4) and check into your riad in the medina for a free evening.

🚌Shared grand taxis and CTM bus (total ~£14-16)

🛏Riad in Fes el-Bali medina, e.g. Riad Laaroussa or budget equivalent (~£20-30/night)

• →Shared grand taxi Chefchaouen → Meknes region (~£10-12)
• →Volubilis Roman ruins entry + local guide (~£14 combined)
• →Self-launched ridge hike through olive groves around Moulay Idriss (~2 miles)
• →Lunch in Moulay Idriss medina (~£5-7)
• →Shared taxi or CTM bus Moulay Idriss → Fes (~£4)
• →Free evening dinner in Fes medina (~£7-10)

Book a guided walking tour of the Fes medina via GetYourGuide or direct with a licensed local guide (~£15-20pp). Enter through Bab Boujloud and explore the artisan workshops, spice souks, and the iconic Chouara Tannery rooftop viewpoint (free with a shop entry). Enjoy free time for lunch at your own pace. In the late afternoon, book a hands-on Moroccan cooking class at a local cookery school or family home (available via GetYourGuide or Klook for ~£30-40pp) — learn to prepare classic Fassi dishes and enjoy the meal you've created. A wonderfully authentic way to connect with Moroccan culture.

🚌Walking within the medina

🛏Riad in Fes medina (same as Day 4, ~£20-30/night)

• →Licensed guided walking tour of Fes medina including Chouara Tannery viewpoint (GetYourGuide, ~£18pp)
• →Free time to explore souks and grab lunch at your own pace (~£6-8)
• →Hands-on Fassi cooking class and dinner at a local family home (GetYourGuide/Klook, ~£32pp)

This is the big travel day. Take a shared CTM or Supratours bus from Fes south towards Errachidia or Rissani (~7-8 hrs, £15-18), then a shared taxi or local minibus onward to Merzouga (~1-1.5 hrs, £5-7). Alternatively, book a shared day-trip transfer from Fes to Merzouga via a local agency, often available for £20-25pp. On arrival, your desert camp will arrange a short 4x4 or camel transfer to the dunes. Climb the dunes at sunset for sweeping Sahara views, then enjoy dinner at your glamping camp under the stars — the light pollution is almost zero, making for unforgettable stargazing.

🚌CTM/Supratours bus + shared taxi (total ~£20-25)

🛏Desert glamping camp at Erg Chebbi (e.g. Merzouga Desert Camp or similar, ~£25-35/night including dinner and breakfast)

• →CTM/Supratours bus Fes → Errachidia/Rissani (~£15-18)
• →Shared taxi Rissani → Merzouga (~£5-7)
• →4x4 transfer to desert camp (usually included in camp price)
• →Sunset dune climb at Erg Chebbi (self-launched)
• →Dinner at desert camp and stargazing under the Milky Way

Rise early for a peaceful morning walk on the cool Erg Chebbi dunes — you can arrange optional sandboarding directly with your camp (around £6). After breakfast, arrange a shared grand taxi or local minibus transfer west towards Tinghir and on to Boutaghrar in the Valley of Roses (~3-4 hrs, £10-15 shared). Check into your guesthouse overlooking the valley. In the afternoon, take a gentle self-launched walk through rose fields, riverbeds, and mud-brick villages. Ask your guesthouse to point you towards the local rose distillery, which typically welcomes independent visitors for a small tip.

🚌Shared grand taxi (~£12-15)

🛏Local guesthouse in Boutaghrar, e.g. Gite Bougmez or similar (~£15-20/night half board)

• →Optional sandboarding on morning dunes (~£6, payable locally)
• →Shared grand taxi Merzouga → Tinghir → Boutaghrar (~£12-15)
• →Self-launched afternoon walk through rose fields and Berber villages
• →Visit to local rose distillery (~free or small tip)
• →Dinner at guesthouse (~included or £6-8 locally)

Today's highlight is a full-morning hike through the heart of the Valley of Roses (~9 miles, 492ft elevation). Follow ancient footpaths between terraced fields, river crossings, and small Berber villages — a local guide can be hired directly through your guesthouse for around £10-15 for the day, which we'd strongly recommend for navigation and cultural context. Midway, stop in a village for a bread-making session with local women — your guide can arrange this directly for a small contribution (~£3-5pp). Return to the guesthouse for lunch, then enjoy a relaxing afternoon with valley views. In the evening, visit a local hammam — your guesthouse can point you to the authentic neighbourhood one used by residents (around £3-5).

🚌Walking

🛏Local guesthouse in Boutaghrar (same as Day 7, ~£15-20/night)

• →Guided hike through the Valley of Roses via local guesthouse guide (~£10-15pp for the day)
• →Bread-making experience with local village women (~£3-5pp contribution)
• →Lunch at guesthouse
• →Relaxed afternoon with valley views
• →Traditional local hammam experience (~£3-5)

Head north from the Valley of Roses by shared grand taxi towards Ouarzazate (~2 hrs, ~£8). Near Ouarzazate, visit a women's cooperative — ask your guesthouse or a local fixer to arrange an informal visit for a spice and couscous session with lunch (~£8-12 all in). Continue by shared CTM bus or grand taxi over the dramatic Tizi n'Tichka pass through the High Atlas to Marrakech (~4 hrs, £8-12). Arrive late afternoon and check into your riad in the medina. In the evening, take a self-launched walk through the souks to Jemaa el-Fnaa at sunset — one of the world's great public squares, free and electric with atmosphere. Enjoy a final celebratory dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the square.

🚌Shared grand taxi + CTM bus (total ~£17-20)

🛏Riad in Marrakech medina, e.g. Riad Zitoun or budget riad (~£22-30/night)

• →Shared grand taxi Boutaghrar → Ouarzazate (~£8)
• →Visit to women's cooperative for spice/couscous session and lunch (~£10pp)
• →CTM bus or grand taxi over Tizi n'Tichka pass → Marrakech (~£9-12)
• →Self-launched sunset walk through the souks to Jemaa el-Fnaa
• →Final dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the main square (~£10-14)

Your Moroccan adventure comes to an end today. For morning flights, take a petit taxi from the medina to Marrakech Menara Airport — around 15 minutes and £4-6 (agree the fare upfront or insist on the meter). Note: printed boarding passes are required at Marrakech Airport, so print yours in advance or ask your riad. If your flight isn't until the afternoon, spend the morning exploring Bahia Palace (£2 entry) and the Medersa Ben Youssef (£3 entry) independently — both are easily walkable from the medina. Stop for a final mint tea and pastilla before heading to the airport.

🚌Petit taxi to Marrakech Menara Airport (~£4-6)

🛏Riad in Marrakech medina (check-out, same as Day 9)

• →Optional morning visit to Bahia Palace (~£2 entry)
• →Optional visit to Medersa Ben Youssef (~£3 entry)
• →Final mint tea and street food breakfast in the medina (~£3-4)
• →Petit taxi to Marrakech Menara Airport RAK (~£4-6)