7-Day Morocco Desert Loop: Marrakech, Aït Ben Haddou & the Sahara (Self-Launched)
7 days · Morocco
Morocco Trip Travel charges £755
No-markup version: ~£310 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Morocco Trip Travel's 7-day Marrakech-to-Sahara circuit: the same kasbahs, gorges, palm oases and a night under the stars in a Berber camp at Erg Chebbi — but booked piece by piece instead of as a private vehicle-and-driver package. You'll use CTM/Supratours coaches and shared grand taxis between towns, join a small-group 2-3 day Merzouga desert tour (widely sold via GetYourGuide, Klook and local agencies for ~£80-120 including camel trek, camp, dinner and breakfast), and take cheap petit taxis around Marrakech. The route is a big clockwise loop (roughly 1,000 km of road), so plan for early starts — but you keep total control of budget and pace. Costs are approximate per person, sharing a twin/dorm where possible.
Day-by-day
Arrive Marrakech — medina orientation
Marrakech
Land at Menara Airport and take bus line 19 or a petit taxi (agree ~£5-7 / 60-80 MAD before getting in) to your riad or hostel in the medina. Settle in, then wander the lanes on foot: the souks north of Jemaa el-Fna, the spice square Rahba Kedima, and the tanneries. In the evening head to Jemaa el-Fna as the food stalls fire up — a bowl of harira, grilled skewers and mint tea should cost £5-7. Book your coach tickets for Day 3 today (CTM or Supratours, online or at the office near Bab Doukkala).
🚌Airport bus line 19 or petit taxi ~£5-7
🛏Riad or hostel in the medina (dorm £10-14, private twin ~£16-22 pp)
- →Medina and souk wander
- →Jemaa el-Fna food stalls at dusk
- →Book Ouarzazate coach tickets
Marrakech highlights — palaces, gardens and mosques
Marrakech
Self-guided day on foot. Start early at Bahia Palace (70 MAD / ~£6) before the crowds, then walk to the Koutoubia Mosque for exterior views. In the afternoon take a petit taxi to the Menara Gardens (free-ish, small entry) or swap in the Majorelle Garden if you book a slot in advance (150 MAD / ~£12). Evening: rooftop dinner near the medina with a tagine and couscous (~£8-10).
🚌Walking plus 2-3 petit taxi rides (~£6 total)
🛏Same riad/hostel in Marrakech
- →Bahia Palace (70 MAD)
- →Koutoubia Mosque exterior
- →Menara Gardens or Majorelle Garden
- →Souk shopping: leather, lanterns, carpets
Over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass to Aït Ben Haddou & Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate / Aït Ben Haddou
Early CTM or Supratours coach from Marrakech to Ouarzazate (~4.5-5 hrs, ~£9-12), climbing the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 m) with photo stops. From Ouarzazate take a shared grand taxi or local bus to Aït Ben Haddou (~30 km, 30-40 min, ~£2-3 each way) and explore the UNESCO ksar on foot — entry to the granary at the top is ~20 MAD. Back in Ouarzazate, visit Kasbah Taourirt (20 MAD) and, if you're into it, the Atlas/CLA film studios (50 MAD). Note: some coaches run Marrakech–Aït Ben Haddou directly — ask at the station.
🚌Coach Marrakech–Ouarzazate ~£10; shared grand taxi to Aït Ben Haddou ~£2-3 each way
🛏Budget guesthouse in Ouarzazate or Aït Ben Haddou (~£14-20 pp)
- →Tizi n'Tichka Pass views
- →Aït Ben Haddou ksar walk (top granary 20 MAD)
- →Kasbah Taourirt (20 MAD)
- →Film studios (optional, 50 MAD)
Ouarzazate → Todra Gorge → Merzouga (desert camp)
Todra Gorge / Merzouga
Long transfer day. Take a morning coach or shared grand taxi from Ouarzazate via Dades Valley and Rose Valley to Tinghir (Todra) — ~3 hrs, roughly £6-9 — and walk the 300 m canyon walls of Todra Gorge (free). Continue by shared taxi/bus to Rissani and on to Merzouga (~3-3.5 hrs, ~£7-10). Tonight join a small-group desert package you've pre-booked (GetYourGuide/Klook/local agency, ~£80-110): camel or 4x4 transfer into Erg Chebbi, sunset on the dunes, Berber camp dinner, drumming around the fire and a night in a tent.
🚌Coach/shared taxi Ouarzazate–Tinghir ~£8; shared taxi Tinghir–Merzouga ~£8; desert transfer included
🛏Berber desert camp at Erg Chebbi (included in the desert package; upgrade to a private tent for a small supplement)
- →Todra Gorge walk
- →Dades & Rose Valley scenery from the road
- →Camel trek into Erg Chebbi
- →Sahara sunset, campfire music, overnight in desert camp
Sunrise over the dunes → Rissani, Alnif & the Draa Valley to Zagora
Zagora
Wake for sunrise on the dunes (free, and the best photos of the trip), then breakfast at camp before the transfer back to Merzouga village. Travel south-west via Rissani (worth a stop for its market and fossil workshops) and Alnif, then on towards Zagora — realistically this is a long series of shared taxis and buses via Tazzarine/Nekob, roughly 5-6 hrs and ~£12-16. Alternatively, if that feels too tight, overnight in Nekob or Tazzarine and continue early on Day 6. In Zagora, stroll the palm groves and the old kasbahs at the edge of town, and see the famous 'Tombouctou 52 jours' sign.
🚌Shared taxis/buses Merzouga–Rissani–Alnif–Zagora ~£12-16
🛏Budget guesthouse in Zagora (~£12-18 pp)
- →Sunrise on Erg Chebbi dunes
- →Rissani market and fossil stalls
- →Alnif desert scenery
- →Zagora palm groves and kasbahs
Draa Valley back over the Atlas to Marrakech
Marrakech
Morning bus or shared taxi from Zagora to Ouarzazate (~3 hrs, ~£6-8), then the afternoon CTM/Supratours coach to Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass again (~4.5 hrs, ~£9-12) — sit on the left for the best valley views. Berber village photo stops happen naturally at the roadside cafés. Arrive Marrakech in the evening, check into your riad and reward yourself with a decent dinner in Gueliz or a rooftop in the medina (~£10).
🚌Shared taxi/bus Zagora–Ouarzazate ~£7; coach Ouarzazate–Marrakech ~£10
🛏Riad or hostel in Marrakech (dorm £10-14, private twin ~£16-22 pp)
- →Draa Valley drive
- →Tizi n'Tichka Pass viewpoints
- →Berber village stops
Marrakech farewell — medina, hammam or café morning
Marrakech
Final morning at your own pace: a last lap of the souks for handicrafts, a cheap traditional hammam (~£8-12), or a slow breakfast on a medina rooftop. Petit taxi or bus 19 back to Menara Airport for your flight (~£5-7). If your flight is late, leave bags at the riad and squeeze in Le Jardin Secret or the Saadian Tombs (70 MAD).
🚌Petit taxi or bus 19 to airport ~£5-7
🛏None (departure day)
- →Souk shopping
- →Traditional hammam (optional)
- →Rooftop café breakfast
- →Le Jardin Secret or Saadian Tombs (optional)
Self-launched vs. Morocco Trip Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Morocco Trip Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£310 | £755 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £445 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Morocco Trip Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£310
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 7-Day Morocco Desert Loop: Marrakech, Aït Ben Haddou & the Sahara (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £310 per person for 7 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 Trip Travel?+
Yes — Morocco Trip Travel charges around £755 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £310 — a saving of roughly £445 (59%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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, budget 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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