Best of Morocco: Marrakech to the Sahara, Fez & the Atlantic — Self-Launched
11 days · Morocco
Tilila Travel charges £1,785
No-markup version: ~£745 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 11-day Morocco loop following the same route as Tilila Travel's small-group tour — Marrakech, the High Atlas, Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley, a Sahara camp in Erg Chebbi, Fez, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Casablanca, El Jadida and Essaouira — but done on public buses, shared grand taxis, trains and self-booked riads. You'll use local licensed medina guides (cheap and excellent), book your own desert camp, and piece together the long transfers using CTM/Supratours coaches and the ONCF train instead of a private van. Expect roughly a quarter to a third of the guided-tour price while seeing the same places at your own pace.
Day-by-day
Arrive Marrakech — settle into the medina
Marrakech
Fly into Marrakech Menara (RAK). Skip the private transfer: the airport bus (line 19) runs to Jemaa el-Fna every 20-30 minutes for about 30 MAD (£2.50), or a petit taxi should cost 70-100 MAD (£6-8) if you agree the price first. Check into a riad or hostel inside the medina walls (dorm £10-14, private room £20-30). Spend the late afternoon getting lost in the souks, then eat at a Jemaa el-Fna food stall — grilled skewers and harira soup for £4-6.
🚌Airport bus line 19 (~£2.50) or petit taxi (~£7)
🛏Medina riad or hostel dorm, Marrakech (£10-16)
- →Jemaa el-Fna square at dusk
- →Souk browsing
- →Street food dinner
Marrakech medina, palaces and Majorelle
Marrakech
Self-launch day two of the guided tour with a licensed local guide you book yourself — the official Marrakech guides' association charges around 300-400 MAD (£25-32) for a half-day private medina walk, and you can also book a small-group walking tour on GetYourGuide for £15-20. Cover the Koutoubia Mosque exterior, the Ali Ben Youssef Medersa (£5), the Saadian Tombs (£6), the Bahia Palace (£6) and the souks. In the afternoon, walk or take a petit taxi to the Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum — book the timed entry online in advance (£14 combined, often sold out).
🚌Walking + a couple of petit taxis (~£4 total)
🛏Medina riad or hostel dorm, Marrakech (£10-16)
- →Licensed medina guide (shared ~£18)
- →Ali Ben Youssef Medersa
- →Saadian Tombs
- →Bahia Palace
- →Majorelle Garden + YSL Museum
Over the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley
Dades Valley
This is the tour's big driving day, done on public transport. Take the CTM or Supratours coach from Marrakech to Ouarzazate (roughly 4 hours, ~120 MAD/£10, book online or at the station a day ahead) over the Tizi n'Tichka pass. From Ouarzazate take a shared grand taxi or local bus to Ait Ben Haddou (30-45 min, ~30 MAD/£2.50) to explore the UNESCO ksar on foot (£2 entry), then continue to Ouarzazate to see Taourirt Kasbah (£3). Late afternoon, take a shared grand taxi or local bus up the Valley of Roses and Skoura palm grove to Boumalne Dades (2-3 hours, ~£8-10 shared). Sleep in a guesthouse in the Dades Valley (£14-20).
🚌Marrakech–Ouarzazate coach (~£10) + shared grand taxis to Ait Ben Haddou and Dades (~£12)
🛏Dades Valley guesthouse (£14-20)
- →Tizi n'Tichka pass scenery
- →Ait Ben Haddou ksar (UNESCO)
- →Taourirt Kasbah, Ouarzazate
- →Skoura palm grove
Todra Gorges and into the Erg Chebbi dunes
Merzouga
Morning shared taxi or local bus from Boumalne to Tinghir (£4), then a short taxi to the Todra Gorges for the walk through the canyon (£5 return). Continue by shared taxi/bus to Rissani and on to Merzouga (£10-12, roughly 3 hours total). Book a desert camp directly — mid-range camps in Erg Chebbi including camel trek in and out, dinner, breakfast and drumming start around £45-60 per person for a shared tent, and you can book via GetYourGuide or contact a camp directly. Ride a camel out at sunset (~1.5 hours), eat tagine under the stars, and sleep in a Berber tent.
🚌Shared taxis/local buses Dades–Tinghir–Merzouga (~£15)
🛏Erg Chebbi desert camp, shared nomadic tent (£45-60 incl. meals, camel ride)
- →Todra Gorges walk
- →Road of 1000 Kasbahs scenery
- →Sunset camel trek
- →Desert camp dinner and drumming
Sunrise in the dunes, then the long road to Fez
Fez
Wake for sunrise on the dunes, camel back to Merzouga, breakfast at the camp edge. Then do the transfer to Fez the independent way: the Supratours/CTM coach from Merzouga to Fez leaves in the morning and takes 7-8 hours via Rissani, the Ziz Valley, Midelt and the Cedar Forest — stop-offs at Ifrane aren't practical on a scheduled coach, so if you want the Ifrane and cedar-forest stops, take a shared grand taxi Merzouga–Midelt (£10) and then a bus or shared taxi to Ifrane (£5) before a final bus to Fez (£4). Cheaper but longer. Arrive Fez in the evening and check into a medina riad/hostel (£12-18).
🚌Merzouga–Fez coach (~£15) or shared taxis via Midelt/Ifrane (~£19)
🛏Fez medina riad or hostel (£12-18)
- →Sunrise on the dunes
- →Ziz Valley viewpoint (from the bus window)
- →Cedar Forest and Ifrane (if routing via Midelt)
Fez medina with a local guide
Fez
Fez's medina is the one place almost everyone recommends a guide. Book a licensed Fez guide directly or a small-group GetYourGuide walking tour (£20-30 for 3-4 hours) to cover the Attarine and Bou Inania medersas (£4 each), the Nejjarine fountain and museum, the Karaouine Mosque courtyard, the tanneries (view from a terrace, small tip), Fes Jdid and the Merenid Tombs for sunset views over the city. Be wary of 'guides' who approach you offering free tours — they lead to carpet and leather shops. Eat a cheap medina lunch of bissara and msemen for £3.
🚌Walking (the medina is car-free)
🛏Fez medina riad or hostel (£12-18)
- →Licensed medina walking tour
- →Bou Inania and Attarine Medersas
- →Nejjarine fountain
- →Tanneries viewpoint
- →Merenid Tombs sunset
Bus to the blue city, Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen
Take the CTM or Supratours coach from Fez to Chefchaouen (about 4 hours, ~£8-10, book a day ahead as it fills). Check into a small guesthouse in the medina (£15-20) and spend the afternoon wandering the blue-washed lanes — the Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the kasbah (£2), and the Spanish Mosque hike above town for sunset (free, 30 minutes up). Dinner of goat cheese, bread and olives for £5-7.
🚌Fez–Chefchaouen coach (~£9)
🛏Chefchaouen medina guesthouse (£15-20)
- →Blue medina wandering
- →Chefchaouen kasbah
- →Sunset hike to the Spanish Mosque
Chefchaouen to Casablanca via Rabat
Casablanca
Long travel day on trains: shared taxi or bus Chefchaouen to Tangier or directly to the rail line, then ONCF train to Rabat (2-4 hours, ~£8-12 depending on route and class). Break the journey in Rabat to see the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free), then take the next train Rabat–Casablanca (1 hour, £4-6). In Casablanca, visit the Hassan II Mosque — exterior is free, guided interior visits run about £12 at set times. Overnight in a budget hotel or hostel near the centre (£15-22).
🚌Bus/shared taxi to rail line (~£5) + ONCF trains Rabat and Casablanca (~£15)
🛏Casablanca budget hotel or hostel (£15-22)
- →Hassan Tower, Rabat
- →Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- →Hassan II Mosque visit
Atlantic coast to Essaouira via El Jadida
Essaouira
Take the train or CTM coach from Casablanca to El Jadida (1-1.5 hours, £4) for a quick look at the Portuguese Cistern and ramparts (UNESCO, £3-4). Then continue by coach or shared taxi down the coast to Essaouira (3-4 hours, £8-10). The medina of Essaouira is another UNESCO site and far calmer than Marrakech — check into a riad or hostel (£15-22) and eat grilled sardines at the port for £5.
🚌Train/coach Casablanca–El Jadida (~£4) + coach El Jadida–Essaouira (~£9)
🛏Essaouira riad or hostel (£15-22)
- →El Jadida Portuguese Cistern and ramparts
- →Essaouira medina
- →Port fish stalls
Essaouira: wind, hammam and beach
Essaouira
A free day to do what the tour's optional extras cover, self-booked. Book a traditional hammam and scrub at a local bathhouse (£10-15) or a massage (£20-25); walk the ramparts and Skala de la Ville, watch the kite surfers on the beach, or take a local bus/taxi to Sidi Kaouki or the nearby valley and waterfall walks (£5-8). Buses back to Marrakech run several times daily — buy your ticket today for tomorrow morning (about 3 hours, £8-10).
🚌Local transport for the day (~£6)
🛏Essaouira riad or hostel (£15-22)
- →Hammam and scrub
- →Skala de la Ville ramparts
- →Beach time
- →Sidi Kaouki or valley walk
Back to Marrakech and fly home
Marrakech
Morning CTM/Supratours coach Essaouira to Marrakech (around 3 hours, £8-10). From the bus station take a petit taxi to the airport (£5-7) or the airport bus if timing works. If your flight is late, leave bags at a riad or luggage store and have one last mint tea on a Jemaa el-Fna rooftop. Tour ends.
🚌Essaouira–Marrakech coach (~£9) + petit taxi to RAK (~£6)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Last souk shopping
- →Rooftop mint tea
Self-launched vs. Tilila Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Tilila Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£745 | £1,785 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,040 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Tilila Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£745
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 Best of Morocco: Marrakech to the Sahara, Fez & the Atlantic — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £745 per person for 11 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 Tilila Travel?+
Yes — Tilila Travel charges around £1,785 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £745 — a saving of roughly £1,040 (58%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 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?
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.