Camels, Souks & Kasbahs — 15 Days, Self-Launched
15 days · Morocco
On The Go Tours charges £1,310
No-markup version: ~£735 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A solo-friendly, self-launched version of On The Go Tours' 15-day Morocco circuit — Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Chefchaouen, Fes, the Middle Atlas, a Sahara camel trek and Berber camp at Erg Chebbi, Todra Gorge, Ait Benhaddou and Essaouira — done on local buses, trains and shared grand taxis with hostel/riad stays and self-booked guides. Same route, same highlights, roughly half the price. All costs are approximate per person.
Day-by-day
Arrive Marrakech — Jemaa el-Fna at dusk
Marrakech
Fly into Marrakech Menara (RAK) and take bus 19 or a petit taxi (~£3-4) to a riad-hostel in the medina or Gueliz. Settle in, then wander into Jemaa el-Fna square after sunset for the food stalls — grilled skewers, harira soup and fresh orange juice for under £6. Get a Moroccan SIM (Maroc Telecom or Orange, ~£8 for 20GB) at the airport or in town. Optional pre-arranged airport transfer is ~£12 if you arrive late.
🚌Bus 19 or petit taxi from RAK airport, ~£4
🛏Riad hostel dorm or budget riad in the medina, £14/night
- →Jemaa el-Fna square and night food stalls
- →Medina orientation walk
- →Buy local SIM card
Marrakech to Casablanca by train
Casablanca
Morning walk through the souks and the Koutoubia gardens, then take the ONCF train from Marrakech station to Casablanca Voyageurs (~3h15, 2nd class ~£9). Afternoon at La Corniche seafront and the Hassan II Mosque exterior (interior tours ~£12, book on arrival). Optional photo stop at Rick's Café for the film-buff tick. Eat at a local snack bar in the old medina rather than the tourist strip.
🚌ONCF train Marrakech–Casablanca, ~£9
🛏Budget hotel or hostel near the old medina, £16/night
- →Koutoubia gardens and souk wander
- →La Corniche seafront walk
- →Hassan II Mosque exterior
Casablanca to Rabat — imperial capital sightseeing
Rabat
Morning train to Rabat (~1h, ~£5), drop bags and self-guide the classic circuit on foot: Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free entry, closed to non-Muslims at prayer times) and the Oudaya Kasbah with its blue-and-white lanes and ocean viewpoint. Sunset at the kasbah café terrace with mint tea. Optionally squeeze in a Hassan II Mosque interior tour in Casablanca before leaving if you skipped it.
🚌ONCF train Casablanca–Rabat, ~£5; local tram ~£0.50
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in the medina, £15/night
- →Hassan Tower
- →Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- →Oudaya Kasbah
- →Bouregreg river mouth viewpoint
Rabat to Chefchaouen via Tetouan
Chefchaouen
Train Rabat to Tangier or Kenitra, then CTM bus on to Tetouan (~£12 total, 5-6h). Stretch your legs in Tetouan's Spanish-influenced medina — Royal Palace exterior, Our Lady of Victories church, and a mint tea in a café — then a shared grand taxi or local bus up to Chefchaouen (~1h, ~£2). Evening in the blue medina: cheapest and quietest after the day-trippers leave. Dorms and small guesthouses here are superb value.
🚌Train + CTM bus + shared taxi, ~£14
🛏Guesthouse in the Chefchaouen medina, £13/night
- →Tetouan medina stroll
- →Chefchaouen blue medina at dusk
- →Mint tea on Place Uta el-Hammam
Chefchaouen — kasbah, springs and Rif views
Chefchaouen
Self-guided blue-city day: Chefchaouen Kasbah and gardens (~£5), the Ras El-Ma spring where locals wash wool and carpets, and the Spanish Mosque hike for sunset over the Rif (free, 45 min up). Pick up a local guide for a 2-hour medina walk if you want the history — negotiate ~£15-20 for the group, or join a small-group GetYourGuide walk from ~£12 per person. Eat cheap at the Thursday/Sunday market if your dates line up.
🚌On foot
🛏Guesthouse in the Chefchaouen medina, £13/night
- →Chefchaouen Kasbah
- →Ras El-Ma spring walk
- →Spanish Mosque sunset hike
- →Optional 2h medina guide, ~£12
Chefchaouen to Fes via Volubilis and Meknes
Fes
Bus or shared taxi to Meknes (~3h, ~£7), then a local grand taxi or tour van out to the Roman ruins of Volubilis (~£8 return, entry ~£6) — the mosaics and triumphal arch are the highlight of this stretch. Back in Meknes, walk the medina walls and the monumental Bab El Mansour gate, grab a cheap lunch, then train to Fes (~1h, ~£3). Stay inside the Fes medina for atmosphere, but be ready for a taxi drop at Bab Boujloud.
🚌Bus + shared taxi + train, ~£12
🛏Dar/riad hostel in the Fes medina, £14/night
- →Volubilis Roman ruins
- →Bab El Mansour and Meknes medina
- →Fes medina first wander
Fes — guided medina, tanneries and souks
Fes
Fes el-Bali is a maze, so a half-day guide is genuinely worth it: book an official local guide through your riad or a GetYourGuide small-group tour (~£20-25) covering the tanneries (Chouara), Bou Inania madrasa (~£4), the pottery and zellige workshops, and the souks. Be firm about no forced shopping stops. Afternoon on your own for the Merenid tombs viewpoint and a cheap dinner of tagine or a sandwich in the medina — skip the tourist 'Moroccan night' dinner show unless you want it (~£20).
🚌On foot + petit taxi ~£1
🛏Dar/riad hostel in the Fes medina, £14/night
- →Guided Fes medina half-day, ~£22
- →Chouara tanneries
- →Bou Inania madrasa
- →Merenid Tombs viewpoint
Fes to Midelt across the Middle Atlas
Midelt
Shared grand taxi or CTM bus via Azrou and the cedar forests to Midelt (~4-5h, ~£10). Afternoon short hike in the hills around town with the Middle Atlas peaks on the horizon (free; bring water). Stop by a Berber family home or a local carpet co-op if your driver arranges it — a small tip (~£5) is appreciated. Midelt is cold at night, even in spring and autumn.
🚌CTM bus or shared taxi, ~£10
🛏Simple family-run hotel, £14/night
- →Middle Atlas scenic drive
- →Short afternoon hike near Midelt
- →Optional Berber home visit
Midelt to Merzouga — camel trek and Berber camp
Merzouga / Erg Chebbi
Morning bus or shared taxi east through the Ziz Gorge to Merzouga (~4h, ~£9). Book the Erg Chebbi camel trek + Berber camp direct with a Merzouga operator or through your hotel (~£35-45 including dinner, breakfast, camel ride and blankets) rather than a reseller. Swim or relax in the afternoon, ride out at golden hour, dinner and drumming at the camp, then stargazing over the dunes. Bring a sleep sheet; blankets are supplied.
🚌Bus/shared taxi Midelt–Merzouga, ~£9
🛏Berber desert camp (included in trek price)
- →Ziz Gorge drive
- →Sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi, ~£40
- →Berber camp dinner and music
- →Desert stargazing
Erg Chebbi to Todra Gorge
Todra Gorge
Sunrise on the dunes, camel back or 4x4 out of the sand, then onward by bus or shared taxi via Rissani and Tinejdad to Tinghir (~4-5h, ~£9). Early lunch at a village rug cooperative on the way if you like — buying is optional. Afternoon walk through the Todra palmerie and up into the gorge itself (free). Cheap local tagine dinner in Tinghir. Adventure option: half-day rock climbing in the gorge with a local guide, ~£35.
🚌Bus/shared taxi Merzouga–Tinghir, ~£9
🛏Guesthouse in Tinghir/Todra, £13/night
- →Sunrise on the dunes
- →Todra Gorge walk
- →Palmerie walk
- →Optional rock climbing, ~£35
Todra Gorge to Ait Benhaddou via Ouarzazate
Ait Benhaddou
Bus or shared taxi along the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to Ouarzazate (~3h, ~£7), optional Atlas Film Studios tour (~£6) — it's cheesy but fun. Continue to Ait Benhaddou (~45 min shared taxi, ~£3). Cross the river and climb the ksar for sunset (free, or ~£2 with a local guide who shows you the interiors). Cheap auberge dinner on the terrace looking at the kasbah lights.
🚌Bus/shared taxi, ~£10
🛏Auberge opposite the ksar, £14/night
- →Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs drive
- →Atlas Film Studios (optional)
- →Ait Benhaddou ksar sunset climb
Ait Benhaddou to Essaouira via Marrakech
Essaouira
Long travel day: shared taxi or bus to Marrakech over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (~3h, ~£8), then CTM/Supratours bus on to Essaouira (~2h45, ~£7). Arrive in time for the beach and a cheap fish grill at the port. The bus is comfortable and far cheaper than a private transfer. Break the journey in Marrakech if you'd rather not rush it.
🚌Shared taxi + coach, ~£15
🛏Hostel in the Essaouira medina, £14/night
- →Tizi n'Tichka pass drive
- →Essaouira beach sunset
- →Port fish grill dinner
Essaouira — medina, ramparts and wind
Essaouira
Unhurried day: the UNESCO medina and its woodcarving and thuya workshops, the Skala de la Ville ramparts, and café terraces with ocean views. Optional extras booked direct on the beachfront: horse trek (~£25/hr), quad biking on the dunes (~£30), or a Moroccan cooking class (~£30 including market trip). Sunset from the beach, then a cheap grilled sardine dinner.
🚌On foot
🛏Hostel in the Essaouira medina, £14/night
- →Essaouira medina and souks
- →Skala ramparts
- →Optional horse trek, quad bike or cooking class
- →Beach sunset
Essaouira to Marrakech
Marrakech
Morning bus back to Marrakech (~2h45, ~£7). Afternoon self-guided walk: Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace (~£6), and the souks for souvenir shopping. Optional pre-booked hot-air balloon flight over the High Atlas foothills (~£160 via GetYourGuide, or ~£130 booked direct) if you want one splurge. Farewell dinner at a cheap medina grill, then one last Jemaa el-Fna pass.
🚌Coach Essaouira–Marrakech, ~£7; local walk/taxi ~£2
🛏Riad hostel in the medina, £14/night
- →Koutoubia and Bahia Palace
- →Souk shopping
- →Optional hot-air balloon flight
- →Jemaa el-Fna evening
Marrakech — departure
Marrakech
Breakfast, last mint tea, and a slow morning in the Mellah or Majorelle Garden (~£13 entry, pre-book) if your flight is late. Bus 19 or petit taxi to the airport (~£4). Departure transfers aren't included in the original tour either — the airport bus is the cheapest way out.
🚌Bus 19 or petit taxi to RAK, ~£4
🛏—
- →Majorelle Garden (optional)
- →Last medina coffee
Self-launched vs. On The Go Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | On The Go Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£735 | £1,310 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £575 per person (44%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more On The Go Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£735
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 Camels, Souks & Kasbahs — 15 Days, Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £735 per person for 15 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 On The Go Tours?+
Yes — On The Go Tours charges around £1,310 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £735 — a saving of roughly £575 (44%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 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, hiking 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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