Magical Morocco: 13-Day Self-Launched Adventure

Fly into Mohammed V International Airport and take the train into Casa-Voyageurs station (~£4, 35 mins). Check into a budget riad or hostel in the city centre. Spend the afternoon getting your bearings — wander the old medina and grab a mint tea. In the evening, stroll past the iconic Hassan II Mosque exterior and consider popping into Rick's Café for a cocktail if you fancy a splurge (entrance free, drinks from ~£5). No need to book a tour today — just settle in.

🚌Train from Mohammed V Airport to Casa-Voyageurs (~£4, ~35 mins)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Casablanca city centre, e.g. Auberge de Jeunesse de Casablanca or a medina guesthouse (~£15–20/night)

• →Arrive and take the airport train to city centre (~£4)
• →Wander the old medina independently
• →Evening stroll past Hassan II Mosque exterior
• →Optional: drinks at Rick's Café

After breakfast, take the ONCF train from Casa-Voyageurs to Rabat Agdal (~£5, 1 hr). Check into a riad or guesthouse near the medina. Head straight to Hassan II Mosque for a guided interior tour (entry ~£10, bookable at the gate). Spend the afternoon exploring the Rabat medina and Kasbah of the Udayas — entry to the Kasbah gardens is free. Stroll the beach behind the medina at sunset. Plenty of cheap eats around the medina for dinner.

🚌ONCF train Casablanca → Rabat (~£5, ~1 hr)

🛏Budget riad or guesthouse in Rabat medina (~£18–25/night)

• →Train from Casablanca to Rabat (~£5)
• →Guided interior tour of Hassan II Mosque (~£10)
• →Explore Rabat medina and souks (free)
• →Visit Kasbah of the Udayas and Andalusian gardens (free)
• →Sunset stroll along the beach behind the medina

An early start for a long but rewarding travel day. Take a grand taxi or CTM bus from Rabat to Meknès (~£6, 1.5 hrs), then a shared grand taxi to Volubilis (~£3, 30 mins). Spend 2–3 hours exploring the Roman ruins — entry is ~£7, and you can walk the site independently using a free map or download a self-guided audio tour via apps like Rick Steves Audio Europe. After Volubilis, take a grand taxi back to Meknès or Moulay Idriss, then a CTM bus onwards to Chefchaouen (~£8, 3–4 hrs). Check in, grab dinner and get lost in the blue alleyways.

🚌Grand taxi Rabat–Meknès (~£6), grand taxi to Volubilis (~£3), CTM bus Meknès–Chefchaouen (~£8)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Chefchaouen medina, e.g. Hostel Souika or Dar Ismohan (~£15–22/night)

• →Grand taxi/bus Rabat to Meknès (~£6)
• →Grand taxi Meknès to Volubilis (~£3)
• →Self-guided tour of Roman ruins of Volubilis incl. Tingis Gate, Capitoline Temple and Basilica (entry ~£7)
• →Bus/taxi onward to Chefchaouen (~£8)
• →Evening wander through the blue medina and Plaza Uta el-Hammam

A full day in and around Chefchaouen. Hire a local guide or join a shared guided hike from your hostel to Akchour Falls and God's Bridge in Talassemtane National Park (~£10–15 for a guide, or self-navigate the trail from Ain Tissimane). The hike is about 4–5 hrs return and spectacular. Pack a picnic lunch from the medina market to eat at the falls. Back in town by late afternoon for more medina exploration, street food snacking and sunset photos from the Spanish Mosque viewpoint (free).

🚌Shared taxi or walk to Ain Tissimane trailhead (~£3 return)

🛏Same as Day 3 (~£15–22/night)

• →Hike to Akchour Falls and God's Bridge in Talassemtane National Park (~4–5 hrs)
• →Optional local guide from hostel (~£10–15)
• →Picnic lunch by the falls
• →Evening: explore Chefchaouen medina, try local street food
• →Sunset from the Spanish Mosque viewpoint (free)

Take a CTM or Supratours bus from Chefchaouen to Fes (~£8, 4 hrs). Check into a riad or hostel in the Fes el Bali medina — staying inside the medina walls is a must for the atmosphere. In the afternoon, do a self-guided wander through Fes el Bali — the world's largest car-free urban area. Head to the Chouara Tanneries viewing platform (free from rooftop leather shops) for stunning views over the dye pits. Grab dinner at one of the medina's many cheap food stalls.

🚌CTM/Supratours bus Chefchaouen → Fes (~£8, ~4 hrs)

🛏Hostel or budget riad in Fes el Bali medina, e.g. Dar Bensouda or a medina hostel (~£18–25/night)

• →CTM/Supratours bus Chefchaouen to Fes (~£8, ~4 hrs)
• →Check into medina riad/hostel
• →Self-guided afternoon explore of Fes el Bali medina
• →Visit Chouara leather tanneries from rooftop viewpoint (free with leather shop visit)
• →Cheap medina dinner from street stalls (~£4–6)

Book a half-day guided medina tour through GetYourGuide or directly via your hostel (~£15–20) to get proper orientation — Fes el Bali is notoriously maze-like and a guide adds real depth. Visit the Al-Attarine Madrasa (entry ~£3), the Bou Inania Madrasa (~£2), and the tanneries again for a deeper look. In the afternoon, book a tagine cooking class via GetYourGuide (~£25–35) — a hands-on way to learn Moroccan cuisine. Evening: enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner with live music at one of the medina restaurants (~£10–15).

🚌Walking day — no transport needed

🛏Same as Day 5 (~£18–25/night)

• →Half-day guided medina walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)
• →Visit Al-Attarine Madrasa (~£3) and Bou Inania Madrasa (~£2)
• →Tagine cooking class via GetYourGuide (~£25–35)
• →Evening Moroccan dinner with live entertainment (~£10–15)

Take a grand taxi or local bus from Fes to Ifrane (~£4, 1 hr) — a quirky alpine-style town that feels utterly unlike the rest of Morocco. Stroll the tidy streets, spot the famous stone lion sculpture, and visit the nearby lakes. Continue by grand taxi to Azrou (~£2, 20 mins) and stop at the cedar forests on the edge of town to spot the Barbary Macaque monkeys — they're wild and come right up to you (don't feed them). Stay the night in Azrou at a small hotel or guesthouse.

🚌Grand taxi Fes–Ifrane (~£4), Ifrane–Azrou (~£2)

🛏Small hotel or guesthouse in Azrou, e.g. Hôtel Panorama or similar (~£18–25/night)

• →Grand taxi/bus Fes to Ifrane (~£4)
• →Explore Ifrane's Swiss-style town centre and surroundings
• →Visit nearby lakes and waterfalls around Ifrane
• →Grand taxi to Azrou (~£2)
• →Walk into cedar forest to spot wild Barbary Macaque monkeys (free)

A long but epic travel day through the Middle Atlas Mountains and down into the Sahara. Take a shared grand taxi or a pre-booked private transfer from Azrou through Midelt, passing the spectacular Gorges du Ziz (~£20–35 for a shared/private taxi). Arrive in Merzouga by mid-afternoon. Book a camel trek directly with a local operator at the dunes (~£20–30 incl. overnight Berber camp and dinner) — countless outfitters line the village, so shop around. Watch the sunset over Erg Chebbi from camelback, then spend the night under the stars at a desert camp.

🚌Shared or private grand taxi Azrou–Merzouga (~£20–35 depending on sharing)

🛏Berber desert camp in Erg Chebbi (included in camel trek package ~£20–30) or budget guesthouse in Merzouga (~£15–20)

• →Shared/private grand taxi Azrou to Merzouga via Gorges du Ziz (~£20–35)
• →Stop at Gorges du Ziz viewpoints en route
• →Mint tea with Berber family at local guesthouse
• →Camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes (book locally, ~£20–30 incl. camp dinner)
• →Overnight at Berber desert camp under the stars

Rise before dawn for a sunrise camel trek back from the camp — truly one of Morocco's great moments. After breakfast, arrange a shared or private grand taxi from Merzouga to Todra Gorge via Tinghir (~£15–20). The gorge walls rise 300m and you can walk through independently (free). Stop at the Valley of Roses (Kelaa M'Gouna) en route — the women's cooperative sells rose water, oils and cosmetics direct. Continue by grand taxi to Dades Gorge (~£8–12) and check into a guesthouse with gorge views.

🚌Grand taxi Merzouga–Todra Gorge (~£15–20), Todra–Dades Gorge (~£8–12)

🛏Guesthouse or auberge in Dades Gorge with gorge views, e.g. Auberge Tissadrine (~£18–25/night)

• →Pre-dawn sunrise camel trek back from camp
• →Grand taxi Merzouga to Todra Gorge via Tinghir (~£15–20)
• →Walk through Todra Gorge independently (free)
• →Stop at women's rose cooperative in Valley of Roses
• →Grand taxi onwards to Dades Gorge (~£8–12)

Take a grand taxi from Dades Gorge through Skoura (~£6), where you can stop to visit Kasbah Amherdhil — a beautiful 17th-century ksar amid a palm grove (small entry fee ~£2). Continue by grand taxi to Ouarzazate (~£8). In the afternoon, visit the Atlas Film Studios — one of the world's largest, famously used for Game of Thrones, Gladiator and more. Entry is ~£5 and you can self-tour the sets including the Gladiator Colosseum replica and Jewel of the Nile prop jet. Book via the gate on arrival.

🚌Grand taxi Dades–Skoura (~£6), Skoura–Ouarzazate (~£8)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Ouarzazate, e.g. Dar Amoudou area guesthouses (~£18–25/night)

• →Grand taxi Dades Gorge to Skoura (~£6)
• →Visit Kasbah Amherdhil in Skoura (~£2)
• →Grand taxi Skoura to Ouarzazate (~£8)
• →Self-guided tour of Ouarzazate Film Studio / Atlas Studios (~£5)
• →Explore Gladiator Colosseum set and Jewel of the Nile prop jet

Start with a morning trip to Ait Benhaddou — the UNESCO-listed ksar used in Game of Thrones, Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. Hire a grand taxi from Ouarzazate (~£4 one-way, 30 mins). Entry to the ksar is ~£3 and you can self-explore freely. En route back, stop at Kasbah Telouet (~£4 entry), a crumbling but atmospheric pasha's palace. Then take a CTM bus or shared grand taxi from Ouarzazate over the dramatic Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech (~£10, 4–5 hrs). Check into a riad or hostel in the medina and head straight to Djemaa el Fna for the evening spectacle.

🚌Grand taxi Ouarzazate–Ait Benhaddou (~£4), CTM bus/grand taxi Ouarzazate–Marrakech (~£10)

🛏Hostel or budget riad in Marrakech medina, e.g. Equity Point Marrakech or similar (~£18–28/night)

• →Grand taxi Ouarzazate to Ait Benhaddou (~£4 return)
• →Self-guided visit to Ait Benhaddou ksar (~£3 entry)
• →Stop at Kasbah Telouet (~£4 entry)
• →CTM bus/grand taxi Ouarzazate to Marrakech over Tizi n'Tichka (~£10, 4–5 hrs)
• →Evening at Djemaa el Fna — food stalls, snake charmers, musicians (free to wander)

A full day to explore Marrakech's unmissable highlights. Book a half-day guided medina walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15–20) for insider knowledge on the souks and hidden spots. Visit the Bahia Palace (~£3), the Saadian Tombs (~£3), and admire the Koutoubia Mosque exterior (non-Muslims cannot enter but the gardens are lovely). Spend the afternoon souk-shopping for argan oil, leather goods and spices. Return to Djemaa el Fna for sunset — watch the square transform into a massive open-air restaurant and entertainment hub. Dinner from the food stalls (~£5–8).

🚌Walking and occasional petits taxis (~£2–4)

🛏Same as Day 11 (~£18–28/night)

• →Half-day guided medina and souks walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)
• →Visit Bahia Palace (~£3)
• →Visit Saadian Tombs (~£3)
• →Admire Koutoubia Mosque and gardens (free)
• →Afternoon souk shopping for souvenirs
• →Sunset at Djemaa el Fna with food stall dinner (~£5–8)

Final morning in Marrakech — grab a coffee and msemen (Moroccan flatbread) at a local café before checking out. If your flight allows, squeeze in a visit to the Majorelle Garden (~£12) or the Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door. Take a petit taxi to Marrakech Menara Airport (~£5–8, 15 mins). If returning to Casablanca, take the ONCF train (~£9, 3 hrs) or a CTM bus. Safe travels!

🚌Petit taxi to airport (~£5–8) or train to Casablanca (~£9)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final medina breakfast at a local café (~£3–5)
• →Optional: visit Majorelle Garden (~£12)
• →Petit taxi to Marrakech Menara Airport (~£5–8)
• →Or ONCF train to Casablanca if needed (~£9, 3 hrs)