Discover Morocco in Style — Self-Launched
12 days · Morocco
Exodus charges £2,900
No-markup version: ~£530 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 12-day Morocco loop from Casablanca to Marrakech, covering the same ground as Exodus's small-group tour but booked independently. Ride the rails and CTM/grand-taxi network through Casablanca, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss, Fez, the Erg Chebbi dunes, Todra Gorge, Skoura's palm groves, Ait Benhaddou, Imlil in the High Atlas and finally Marrakech. Swap riads and a luxury desert camp for quality guesthouses, riad dorms and a mid-range desert camp, arrange your own local guides through GetYourGuide or on the ground, and take the hammam, cookery class and camel trek as standalone bookings. Costs are approximate per person and assume shared dorm or twin accommodation, street food plus the odd sit-down meal, and public/shared transport.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Casablanca
Casablanca
Fly into Casablanca (Mohammed V) and hop on the train (ONCF, ~30 mins, ~£1) or a shared taxi into the city. Check into a medina- or city-centre hostel. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Art Deco architecture around Boulevard Mohammed V and the old medina, grab dinner at a cheap local grill (grilled sardines and salad ~£4). Plan your onward rail ticket tonight.
🚌Airport train to Casa-Voyageurs, then walking/petit taxi
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Casablanca city centre (e.g. dorm £12-18)
- →Old medina walk
- →Boulevard Mohammed V Art Deco stroll
Hassan II Mosque, Volubilis and Moulay Idriss to Fez
Casablanca → Fez
Join a Hassan II Mosque guided tour (book on the spot, ~£11; shoulders and knees covered). Then take the morning train to Meknes (~4h, ~£12) and a grand taxi up to Volubilis (~£8 shared) to see the Roman mosaics, then on to Moulay Idriss for a walk and lunch. Continue by grand taxi or bus to Fez (Riad-based medina guesthouse). Train is 7h total with stops, but split it for the sights.
🚌ONCF train Casablanca–Meknes; grand taxi to Volubilis/Moulay Idriss/Fez
🛏Riad guesthouse in Fez medina (dorm £15-20, private twin ~£30pp)
- →Hassan II Mosque tour
- →Volubilis Roman ruins
- →Moulay Idriss walk
Explore Fez medina with a local guide
Fez
Hire a licensed medina guide via GetYourGuide or through your riad (~£25-35) for a half-day walk through the tanneries, pottery and brass souqs, the Mellah and the Royal Palace exterior, finishing at a panoramic viewpoint. Afternoon free: head up to a rooftop for a sunset drink, or just get lost in the lanes on your own (safe and fun once you know the main arteries).
🚌Walking; petit taxi to viewpoints (~£1-2)
🛏Riad guesthouse in Fez medina
- →Guided medina and souq tour
- →Tanneries visit
- →Panoramic viewpoint
Long travel day to Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara
Fez → Merzouga
Take the CTM or Supratours bus from Fez to Merzouga/Rissani (~8-9h, ~£16-20 early booking recommended). The route crosses the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley — sit on the right for the best views. Arrive late afternoon, check into a guesthouse or budget riad near Erg Chebbi and watch sunset over the dunes from a terrace with a cold drink.
🚌CTM/Supratours bus Fez–Merzouga (~£18)
🛏Guesthouse/riad in Merzouga or Hassi Labied (£15-22)
- →Ziz Valley scenery from the bus
- →Desert sunset from a terrace
Khamlia village, camel trek and desert camp
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
In the morning take a shared 4x4 to Khamlia for a Gnawa music session in a local home (~£10-15 including lunch). In the late afternoon meet your camel guide for a 1.5h trek into the dunes to a mid-range desert camp (book via your guesthouse, typically £35-55 including dinner, breakfast and camel ride). Dinner is cooked at camp, then stargazing and a campfire with other travellers.
🚌Shared 4x4 to Khamlia; camel or on-foot into the dunes
🛏Mid-range Sahara desert camp near Erg Chebbi (tent, shared bathroom or en-suite upgrade)
- →Gnawa music experience in Khamlia
- →Camel trek at sunset
- →Campfire and stargazing
Todra Gorge and the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Skoura
Merzouga → Skoura
Return from camp after breakfast. Take a shared grand taxi or minibus from Rissani to Tinghir (~£6) and walk the Todra Gorge (30-45 mins of easy strolling between the cliff walls). Then continue by grand taxi / shared minibus via Ouarzazate to Skoura (~£15-20), staying in a kasbah guesthouse inside the palm groves. It's a long day — start early.
🚌Shared grand taxi / minibus Merzouga–Tinghir–Skoura
🛏Kasbah guesthouse in Skoura palm grove (£15-25)
- →Todra Gorge walk
- →Road of a Thousand Kasbahs viewpoints
Skoura palm grove and Amerhidil Kasbah
Skoura
A relaxed day. Walk the palm groves independently or with a local guide arranged through your guesthouse (£15-20) to see fig, tamarisk and palm gardens and the restored Amerhidil Kasbah interior. Stop for a picnic lunch (bread, olives, cheese and fruit from the village shop ~£3). Afternoon back at the guesthouse; most kasbah lodges have a garden or rooftop for sunset.
🚌Walking
🛏Kasbah guesthouse in Skoura palm grove
- →Palm grove walk
- →Amerhidil Kasbah visit
- →Village picnic
Ait Benhaddou, Tizi n'Tichka and Imlil
Skoura → Imlil
Take a shared grand taxi or bus from Skoura to Ait Benhaddou via Ouarzazate (~£7-10). Cross the river bed for the classic view of the ksar, then walk up through the fortified village (free entry from the riverbed; small local guide optional ~£8). Continue by shared transport over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m) and on to Imlil at the foot of Mount Toubkal (~£15-20). Check into a guesthouse in the village.
🚌Shared grand taxi / bus Skoura–Ait Benhaddou–Imlil
🛏Guesthouse in Imlil (£15-22)
- →Ait Benhaddou ksar walk
- →High Atlas drive over Tizi n'Tichka
Hike to Aremd and evening hammam
Imlil / Aremd
Follow the irrigation channel up to the Amazigh village of Aremd — a 2h uphill walk with ~200m of ascent through fruit trees. Stop at the waterfall edge for a fresh orange juice. Home-cooked lunch at a village guesthouse (~£7). For a non-walking option, mules are available (~£3 each way). Return to Imlil (1h down) and book a hammam at your riad or a reputable local spa (soap, scrub and rinse ~£10-15, plus a small tip). Dinner at the guesthouse with mountain views.
🚌Walking; mule optional
🛏Guesthouse in Imlil
- →Hike to Aremd village
- →Traditional hammam
Over the High Atlas to Marrakech
Imlil → Marrakech
Shared grand taxi or bus from Imlil down to Marrakech (~£8-12, 1.5-2h). En route stop at a women's argan oil cooperative if your driver is willing, or visit one in Marrakech. On arrival, join an afternoon guided walking tour of the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Djemaa el Fna area (GetYourGuide ~£25, or self-guide for just entry fees ~£10). Evening: eat at Djemaa el Fna's food stalls (a full meal ~£5).
🚌Shared grand taxi / bus Imlil–Marrakech
🛏Boutique hotel or guesthouse in Gueliz or the medina (£20-30)
- →Bahia Palace
- →Saadian Tombs
- →Djemaa el Fna at night
Moroccan cookery class and Marrakech free time
Marrakech
Book a half-day market-and-cookery class via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£35-45) — you shop in the market, learn to cook tagine and salads, then eat lunch together. Afternoon free: Koutoubia Mosque exterior, the souqs, Ben Youssef Madrasa and the Museum of Marrakech; or take a calèche (horse-drawn carriage, ~£15-20 per carriage) to the Jardin Majorelle. Farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant or the medina (~£10-15).
🚌Walking; calèche or petit taxi optional
🛏Boutique hotel or guesthouse in Marrakech
- →Market shopping and cooking class
- →Souq and medina wander
- →Jardin Majorelle (optional)
Depart Marrakech
Marrakech
Breakfast at your guesthouse, then head to Marrakech Menara Airport (bus or taxi ~£8-10, 15-20 mins). If you have time, extend a night or two to explore beyond the medina — Ourika Valley, the Agafay Desert or Essaouira (3h bus, ~£7) all make easy add-ons.
🚌Taxi or city bus to Marrakech Menara Airport
🛏N/A (departure day)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£530 | £2,900 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,370 per person (82%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£530
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 Discover Morocco in Style — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £530 per person for 12 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 Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,900 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £530 — a saving of roughly £2,370 (82%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 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 culture, adventure, 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.