Epic Morocco: Self-Launched 16-Day Adventure from Casablanca to Marrakech

Arrive in Casablanca, Morocco's largest and most cosmopolitan city. Check into your hostel or budget hotel near the city centre. Spend the day exploring at your own pace — wander the Old Medina and its ancient city walls, then hop in a petit taxi (negotiate the fare, expect ~20–30 MAD) to the Quartier Habous, the French-built 'new medina' full of shaded arcades, souks and great spots for a Moroccan coffee. In the evening, connect with fellow travellers at your accommodation. Note: locals may approach you offering tours near popular hotels — stick to vetted, self-booked options.

🚌Arrive via Mohammed V International Airport. Take the Al Bidaoui train from the airport to Casa Voyageurs station (~£3, 35 mins). Use petit taxis locally (negotiate fares, ~£1–3 per ride).

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse near city centre, e.g. Auberge de Jeunesse de Casablanca or similar (~£12–16/night)

• →Explore the Old Medina and city walls on foot (free)
• →Visit Quartier Habous — browse souks and practice your bargaining (free entry)
• →Optional: Religious Casablanca Urban Adventure via GetYourGuide (~£15)
• →Optional: Hassan II Mosque self-guided exterior visit (free) or interior guided tour (~£10)
• →Moroccan coffee at a medina café (~£1)

After breakfast, take the ONCF train from Casa Voyageurs to Meknes (~£8, approx. 3.5 hours). Meknes is one of Morocco's imperial cities — stroll through the grand Bab Mansour gate and the atmospheric medina. From Meknes, take a shared grand taxi to the whitewashed hilltop village of Moulay Idriss (~£2, 30 mins), one of Morocco's most sacred pilgrimage sites. Check into a traditional riad guesthouse where you'll experience genuine family hospitality. Many riads offer home-cooked evening meals on request — a wonderful way to experience authentic Moroccan cooking and mint tea culture.

🚌ONCF train from Casa Voyageurs to Meknes (~£8, ~3.5 hrs). Grand taxi from Meknes to Moulay Idriss (~£2, 30 mins).

🛏Traditional riad guesthouse in Moulay Idriss, e.g. Dar Zerhoune or similar (~£18–25/night including breakfast)

• →Optional: Hassan II Mosque guided interior tour in Casablanca before departure (~£10, book directly at the mosque)
• →Explore Meknes medina and Bab Mansour gate (free)
• →Mint tea experience with your riad host (included in most riads or ~£2)
• →Evening walk around the holy village of Moulay Idriss (free)
• →Home-cooked dinner at the riad (~£6–8)

Start the morning with a visit to the spectacular Roman ruins of Volubilis, just 4 km from Moulay Idriss. You can hire a local guide at the gate for a more informative experience, or explore with a downloaded audio guide. From Volubilis, take a grand taxi back to Meknes, then a CTM or Supratours bus to Chefchaouen (change at Tetouan or take a direct service, ~4–5 hrs total). Arrive in the famously blue-washed mountain town of Chefchaouen and check into your riad. Spend the late afternoon wandering the extraordinary cobalt-blue medina streets.

🚌Grand taxi from Moulay Idriss to Meknes (~£2). CTM/Supratours bus Meknes to Chefchaouen via Tetouan (~£10–13, ~4–5 hrs). Book bus tickets at the station or via ctm.ma.

🛏Riad or budget hotel in Chefchaouen medina, e.g. Dar Salam, Hotel Souika or similar (~£15–22/night)

• →Volubilis Roman ruins entrance fee (~£5)
• →Optional: hire a local guide at the Volubilis gate (~£8–12)
• →Explore Chefchaouen medina on foot (free)
• →Visit the red-walled Kasbah and ethnographic museum (~£2)
• →Evening tagine at a medina restaurant (~£5–7)

A full free day to soak up one of Morocco's most photogenic cities. Wake early to photograph the iconic blue streets before the crowds arrive. Grab fresh-squeezed orange juice and msemen (Moroccan flatbread) at the Plaza Uta el-Hammam for breakfast. Consider a half-day hike to the Akchour Waterfalls and God's Bridge in the Rif Mountains — a stunning natural escape. You can arrange this independently: take a shared taxi from the main square to Ain Tissimane (~£3), then hike the well-marked trail. Return in time for a hammam experience in the medina.

🚌Shared taxi to Akchour trailhead (~£3 each way). All else on foot within the medina.

🛏Riad or budget hotel in Chefchaouen medina (~£15–22/night)

• →Early morning blue medina photography walk (free)
• →Breakfast at Plaza Uta el-Hammam café (~£3)
• →Hike to Akchour Waterfalls and God's Bridge — shared taxi + free trail (~£3–5 transport)
• →Optional: medina walking tour with local guide (~£10, book via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: traditional hammam (public baths) (~£5–8)
• →Optional: goat cheese tasting at a local stall (~£4)

Take a morning CTM or Supratours bus from Chefchaouen to Fes (approximately 4–5 hours). Arrive in the afternoon and check into your riad in or near the medina of Fes el-Bali. Spend the late afternoon exploring at your own pace — the medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's largest and best-preserved medieval city centres. Pop into the exquisite Medersa el-Attarine near the spice and perfume market, and browse the many artisan souks. Fes rewards wanderers — getting (slightly) lost is half the charm.

🚌CTM/Supratours bus from Chefchaouen to Fes (~£10–13, ~4–5 hrs). Book via ctm.ma or at the bus station.

🛏Riad or budget guesthouse in Fes medina, e.g. Riad Dar Seffarine, Pension Batha or similar (~£16–24/night)

• →Arrive and check in to riad in Fes medina
• →Self-guided wander through Fes el-Bali medina (free)
• →Visit Medersa el-Attarine (~£2)
• →Browse spice and perfume souks (free)
• →Evening meal at a local restaurant in the medina (~£6–8)

Dedicate a full day to exploring the medieval wonders of Fes. Book a half-day guided walking tour of the medina through GetYourGuide or Klook — this is one city where a local guide genuinely adds value in navigating the 9,000+ alleyways. Key stops include the restored Medersa Bou Inania, the famous Chouara Tannery (best viewed from a leather shop rooftop terrace above — free access if you enter the shop), and a ceramics cooperative where you can watch traditional potters at work. Spend the afternoon independently exploring, shopping for souvenirs and sampling street food.

🚌All on foot within the medina.

🛏Riad or budget guesthouse in Fes medina (~£16–24/night)

• →Guided medina walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£18–22 per person)
• →Medersa Bou Inania entrance (~£2)
• →Chouara Tannery rooftop viewing (free via leather shops)
• →Ceramics cooperative visit (free)
• →Street food lunch in the medina (~£4–6)
• →Optional: cooking class at a local riad (~£25–35, book via GetYourGuide)

This is a big travel day — the journey from Fes to the Sahara dunes at Merzouga takes around 8–10 hours. The most budget-friendly option is a shared CTM bus to Errachidia (change) then onward to Rissani, and a grand taxi to Merzouga. Alternatively, book a shared day-tour transfer from Fes with a local operator (many guesthouses can arrange this for £25–35). Arrive in the late afternoon at your desert camp near the Erg Chebbi dunes. Join a camel trek at sunset — book directly with your camp or arrange on arrival. Sleep under an extraordinary canopy of stars in a Berber desert camp.

🚌CTM bus Fes to Errachidia (~£12, ~6 hrs), then bus/grand taxi to Rissani (~£3), then grand taxi to Merzouga (~£3). Or shared transfer from Fes guesthouse (~£25–35 all-in). Book CTM at ctm.ma.

🛏Berber desert camp near Erg Chebbi dunes, Merzouga — e.g. Camp Erg Chebbi or similar (~£25–35/night, usually includes dinner and breakfast)

• →Camel sunset trek into the Sahara dunes (book direct with camp, ~£15–20)
• →Overnight desert camp with dinner and breakfast included (~£25–35 per person)
• →Stargazing in the Sahara (free)
• →Optional: 4WD dune excursion (~£15–20 per person shared)

Rise before dawn and climb a nearby dune to watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi — one of the most spectacular natural experiences Morocco offers. After breakfast at the camp, arrange onward transport west to Todra Gorge. Take a grand taxi from Merzouga to Tinghir (~£6–8, 2 hrs), then another short taxi into the gorge itself. The Todra Gorge is jaw-dropping — sheer rock walls rising over 300 m above the narrow canyon floor. Hike the gorge trail independently (well-marked, no guide needed) or arrange a guided rock climbing session. Stay the night at a guesthouse within the gorge.

🚌Grand taxi Merzouga to Tinghir (~£6–8, ~2 hrs). Short local taxi into the gorge (~£2).

🛏Guesthouse in Todra Gorge, e.g. Hotel La Vallee or Auberge Baddou (~£14–20/night, usually includes breakfast)

• →Sahara sunrise dune climb (free)
• →Self-guided hike through Todra Gorge (free)
• →Optional: guided rock climbing in the gorge (~£20–25, arrange with gorge guesthouses)
• →Palm grove walk along the Tinghir oasis valley (free)
• →Dinner at gorge guesthouse (~£6–8)

Travel west along the spectacular 'Road of 1000 Kasbahs' — the N10 through Dades Gorge and past the ancient ksour of Skoura. The most flexible option is to hire a shared grand taxi for the day (negotiate in Tinghir, ~£15–20 per person for a group). En route, stop at the Tawesna Women's Teahouse cooperative near Kalaat M'gouna for the best mint tea of your trip — a genuine community enterprise supporting women's economic inclusion (donation-based). Continue to the magnificent mud-brick ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and backdrop for Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia. Climb to the fortified granary at the top for panoramic views.

🚌Shared grand taxi from Tinghir heading west along N10, stopping at Dades, Kalaat M'gouna and Ait Benhaddou (~£15–20 per person negotiated). Alternatively take CTM bus to Ouarzazate (~£6) then grand taxi to Ait Benhaddou (~£3).

🛏Guesthouse near Ait Benhaddou, e.g. Riad Caravane or Auberge Etoile des Dunes (~£14–20/night)

• →Scenic drive through Dades Gorge and Valley of Roses (from vehicle)
• →Mint tea at Tawesna Women's Teahouse cooperative (donation, ~£2)
• →Explore Ait Benhaddou ksar — entrance free, cross the riverbed on stepping stones
• →Climb to the fortified granary for panoramic views (free)
• →Optional: enter a historic family home within the ksar (~£1–2 donation)
• →Dinner at a guesthouse outside the ksar walls (~£6–8)

After breakfast, head north through the High Atlas Mountains on the dramatic N9 road over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m) — Morocco's highest paved mountain road. Take a shared grand taxi from Ait Benhaddou or Ouarzazate towards Marrakech, or book a seat on a CTM bus from Ouarzazate. The journey offers stunning mountain scenery and takes around 5–6 hours. Arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon and check into your riad in the medina. Head straight to Djemaa el-Fna Square for an unforgettable evening of fire eaters, Gnawa musicians, storytellers and open-air food stalls.

🚌Grand taxi from Ait Benhaddou to Ouarzazate (~£3), then CTM bus Ouarzazate to Marrakech (~£7–9, ~4 hrs). Or shared grand taxi direct to Marrakech (~£12–15). Book CTM at ctm.ma.

🛏Riad or budget hotel in Marrakech medina, e.g. Riad Zitoun, Equity Point Hostel or Riad Yasmine (~£18–28/night)

• →Scenic Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass crossing (from transport)
• →Optional photo stop at the pass summit (~2,260m)
• →Evening at Djemaa el-Fna Square (free entry, budget for food stalls ~£4–6)
• →Street food dinner at the square's outdoor grills (~£5–7)

Immerse yourself in the sensory spectacle of Marrakech. Book a guided morning walking tour of the old medina through GetYourGuide or Klook, including a street food tasting experience — barbecued meats, harira soup, couscous, fresh-squeezed orange juice and Moroccan pastries. Wander through the souks independently in the afternoon, visiting the dyers' souk, the spice market and the leather district. Consider visiting Le Jardin Secret (a beautifully restored Islamic garden) and the Saadian Tombs. For lunch, head to the AMAL Women's Training Center — a non-profit restaurant where disadvantaged women train in Moroccan gastronomy. Evening back at Djemaa el-Fna.

🚌All on foot within the medina. Petit taxi if needed (~£1–2).

🛏Riad or budget hotel in Marrakech medina (~£18–28/night)

• →Guided medina and street food tasting tour (~£20–28, book via GetYourGuide)
• →Souks self-guided wander (free)
• →Le Jardin Secret entrance (~£3)
• →Saadian Tombs entrance (~£2)
• →Lunch at AMAL Women's Training Center (~£6–8)
• →Optional: Luxury Hammam and Spa (~£28–40, book via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: Quad biking in the Palmeraie (~£28–35, book via GetYourGuide)
• →Evening at Djemaa el-Fna food stalls (~£4–6)

A completely free day to explore Marrakech at your own pace — rest, explore or join an optional activity. Great options include: visiting the Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum (book timed tickets in advance at jardinmajorelle.com), exploring the Mellah (Jewish Quarter), visiting the El Badi Palace ruins or heading out to the Palmeraie for a cycling or horse-riding excursion. As evening falls, Marrakech's rooftop bar scene comes alive — head to one with views over the medina for sundowners and to meet fellow travellers.

🚌On foot or petit taxi (~£1–2). Cycling tour provides bikes.

🛏Riad or budget hotel in Marrakech medina (~£18–28/night)

• →Majorelle Garden and YSL Museum (~£10–14, book online in advance at jardinmajorelle.com)
• →El Badi Palace ruins (~£2)
• →Mellah (Jewish Quarter) self-guided walk (free)
• →Optional: Magical Marrakech City Cycling Tour via GetYourGuide (~£18–22)
• →Rooftop bar sundowners (~£5–8)
• →Dinner at a medina restaurant (~£7–10)

After breakfast, take a CTM or Supratours bus from Marrakech to Agadir (~3.5 hours, ~£8). From Agadir, take a local bus or grand taxi north to Taghazout (~20 mins, £1–2). This laid-back Atlantic fishing village has become one of Morocco's premier surf destinations, with warm water year-round and waves that suit all levels. Check into a surf camp (most offer board and wetsuit hire). Spend the afternoon on the beach, signing up for a surf lesson if you're a beginner, or heading straight into the waves if you're more experienced. Ask locally for the best seafood restaurant for dinner.

🚌CTM/Supratours bus Marrakech to Agadir (~£8, ~3.5 hrs). Grand taxi Agadir to Taghazout (~£2, 20 mins).

🛏Surf camp dorm in Taghazout, e.g. Surf Maroc, Taghazout Surf Camp or similar (~£18–28/night, typically includes breakfast)

• →Arrive and settle into surf camp
• →Surf lesson for beginners (~£25–35, book direct with camp or via GetYourGuide)
• →Board and wetsuit hire if experienced (~£10–15/day)
• →Beach time and swimming (free)
• →Seafood dinner at a local Taghazout restaurant (~£7–10)

Another day in this blissful Atlantic surf village. Take another surf lesson, practise yoga (many surf camps offer morning sessions), explore the colourful fishing village on foot, or simply relax on the beach. Anchor Point — just north of the village — is one of Morocco's most famous surf breaks and worth watching even if you're not surfing. The village itself is small and charming, with a string of cafés and a relaxed vibe that invites you to slow right down. Optional: book a day trip to Paradise Valley, a stunning natural gorge with rock pools and palm groves (~45 mins from Taghazout).

🚌On foot locally. Grand taxi for Paradise Valley excursion (~£5–8).

🛏Surf camp dorm in Taghazout (~£18–28/night)

• →Morning yoga session at surf camp (often included or ~£5–8)
• →Surf session — independent or with instructor (~£10–35)
• →Explore Taghazout fishing village on foot (free)
• →Watch surfers at Anchor Point (~2 km north, free)
• →Optional: Paradise Valley day trip by grand taxi (~£5–8 transport, free entry)
• →Beach barbecue or local café dinner (~£7–10)

Travel north from Taghazout along the Atlantic coast to the beautiful walled port city of Essaouira. Take a grand taxi or CTM bus via Agadir (~4 hours total). Essaouira's blue-and-white medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — a labyrinth of art galleries, music shops, jewellery stalls and seafood restaurants all within ancient ramparts overlooking the ocean. Walk the wide Atlantic beach, visit the ramparts at sunset, and enjoy the freshest grilled fish you'll find anywhere in Morocco at the port-side fish grill stalls.

🚌Grand taxi Taghazout to Agadir (~£2), then CTM bus Agadir to Essaouira (~£6–8, ~2.5 hrs). Or grand taxi Agadir to Essaouira (~£8–10 shared).

🛏Riad or hostel in Essaouira medina, e.g. Riad Mimouna, Hostel Jack's Kiosk or similar (~£14–22/night)

• →Essaouira medina self-guided walk (free)
• →Walk the ramparts overlooking the Atlantic (free)
• →Visit port and watch fishing boats unload (free)
• →Grilled fish lunch at the port-side stalls (~£5–8, pick your fish and have it grilled fresh)
• →Explore art galleries and music shops (free entry)
• →Atlantic beach walk at sunset (free)
• →Optional: windsurfing or kitesurfing on the beach (~£30–45, book locally)

Spend a final morning in Essaouira — grab a coffee and msemen at a medina café, do any last-minute souvenir shopping (Essaouira is famous for its thuya wood carvings and Gnawa music instruments), and take a final walk along the beach. Then take a Supratours or CTM bus back to Marrakech for your flight home (approximately 2.5–3 hours). Marrakech Menara Airport is a short taxi ride from the city centre (~£5–7). Congratulations — you've done Morocco independently and in style!

🚌Supratours/CTM bus Essaouira to Marrakech (~£6–8, ~2.5–3 hrs). Book at supratours.ma or ctm.ma. Petit taxi Marrakech bus station to airport (~£5–7).

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final Essaouira medina wander and café breakfast (~£3–5)
• →Souvenir shopping — thuya wood crafts, argan oil, Gnawa instruments (budget as desired)
• →Optional: last hammam in Essaouira (~£5–8)
• →Return bus to Marrakech and onward to airport