Moroccan Cities Self-Launched: Casablanca, Fes, Rabat & Marrakech
5 days · Morocco
Morocco Luxury Tour charges £990
No-markup version: ~£455 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 5-day run through Morocco's imperial cities — Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, Fes's medieval medina and tanneries, Rabat's kasbah and necropolis, then Marrakech's souks and Jemaa el-Fna. Instead of a private guided vehicle, you'll use Morocco's excellent and cheap rail network (ONCF trains) and petit taxis, book a local guide only for Fes's medina (where you genuinely need one), and stay in riads and guesthouses at backpacker-friendly rates. Same cities, same sights, a fraction of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Casablanca: Hassan II Mosque & train to Fes
Casablanca / Fes
Arrive into Casablanca (Mohammed V Airport — take the train direct to Casa Port or Casa Voyageurs, about 50 MAD/£4). Drop bags and head to the Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic Corniche — the only mosque in Morocco non-Muslims can enter, via a guided interior tour (roughly 140 MAD/£11, book a slot on arrival or via GetYourGuide). Wander the Art Deco downtown and the Habous quarter, grab a cheap lunch of harira and msemen near the old medina. In the late afternoon take an ONCF train to Fes (about 4 hours, 2nd class ~200 MAD/£16), arriving in the evening. Check into a riad in the Fes medina and eat at a local spot near Bab Boujloud. Skip the 'Merenid Tombs at sunset' from the original — with the train schedule it's better saved for tomorrow evening.
🚌Airport train ~£4; ONCF train Casablanca–Fes 2nd class ~£16; petit taxis ~£3
🛏Medina riad or guesthouse in Fes (dorm/private budget room, ~£28)
- →Hassan II Mosque interior guided tour (~£11)
- →Casablanca Corniche & Habous quarter walk
- →Art Deco downtown stroll
Fes medina deep dive: tanneries, madrasas & Merenid Tombs
Fes
Fes's medina is a genuine maze — this is the one place worth paying for a local guide. Book a half-day licensed medina walking tour via GetYourGuide (roughly £25-30) or negotiate a guide through your riad. Cover Bab Boujeloud, the Talâa Kebira, the Bou Inania and Al Attarine madrasas (~70 MAD each), the Chouara tannery terraces (tip the leather-shop guide 20-50 MAD) and the Mellah with its Jewish cemetery. Lunch on a medina rooftop. In the late afternoon walk or take a short taxi up to the Merenid Tombs for sunset over the old city — free and one of the best views in Morocco. Evening: cheap street-food dinner (bissara, grilled kefta) and mint tea. If you'd rather go alone, download an offline medina map and be firm with 'guides' who attach themselves.
🚌Walking; occasional petit taxi ~£2-3
🛏Medina riad or guesthouse in Fes (~£28)
- →Half-day licensed medina walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£27)
- →Al Attarine & Bou Inania madrasas (~£6)
- →Chouara Tannery viewpoint
- →Mellah & Jewish cemetery
- →Merenid Tombs sunset (free)
Train to Rabat: Chellah, Kasbah des Oudaias & Hassan Tower
Rabat
Morning ONCF train Fes to Rabat-Ville (about 3.5-4 hours, ~180 MAD/£14). Rabat is compact and very walkable — most of today's sights are free or near-free. Start at the Chellah Necropolis (Roman/Ruin-era ruins with storks nesting on the minaret, ~70 MAD), then walk down to the Kasbah des Oudaias and its blue-and-white lanes, the Andalusian Gardens (free) and the terrace café overlooking the river mouth. Finish at the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free entry, modest dress). For the 'ceramics and tilework collective' stop in the original, visit the free Oudaya Museum or a workshop in the medina instead — no pressure to buy. Dinner in the Agdal or medina area; cheap eats around 50-80 MAD per plate.
🚌ONCF train Fes–Rabat ~£14; tram/petit taxi ~£2
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Rabat medina/Agdal (~£30)
- →Chellah Necropolis (~£6)
- →Kasbah des Oudaias & Andalusian Gardens (free)
- →Hassan Tower & Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free)
- →Oudaya Museum (~£3)
Train to Marrakech: medina, calèche & Jemaa el-Fna
Marrakech
Early ONCF train Rabat to Marrakech (about 3.5 hours on the fast line, ~250 MAD/£20). Check into a medina riad, then explore on foot. Take a calèche (horse-drawn carriage) loop around the medina walls and Koutoubia gardens — agree the price first, roughly 150-200 MAD/£12-16 for a 30-45 min ride. Peek into the medieval fondouks off the souks (small tips to caretakers). In the afternoon pick one paid sight: Bahia Palace (~70 MAD), Saadian Tombs (~70 MAD) or the Majorelle Garden (~150 MAD, book a timed slot online in advance — it sells out). As dusk falls, head to Jemaa el-Fna for the food stalls, storytellers and musicians; dinner of grilled skewers and orange juice at the square (budget ~£8-10).
🚌ONCF train Rabat–Marrakech ~£20; walking + calèche ~£14
🛏Medina riad or guesthouse in Marrakech (~£32)
- →Calèche tour of the medina (~£14 shared/negotiated)
- →Koutoubia Mosque & gardens (free)
- →Bahia Palace or Saadian Tombs (~£6)
- →Majorelle Garden timed entry (~£13, book ahead)
- →Jemaa el-Fna evening (free)
Marrakech souks, then train back to Casablanca
Marrakech / Casablanca
Morning in the souks north of Jemaa el-Fna for last-minute shopping — haggling is expected, start at about a third of the asking price. Optional early Majorelle Garden slot if you skipped it yesterday. Grab a final lunch (tanjia or a tagine) before catching the ONCF train Marrakech to Casablanca (about 3 hours, ~180 MAD/£14), or continue onward by train to the airport for your flight home. If you're flying out the same day, allow at least 3 hours between train arrival and take-off. Travel insurance and a 90-day visa-free entry (for UK/EU/US passports) mean there's nothing else to sort — just confirm current rules with the Moroccan embassy before you go.
🚌ONCF train Marrakech–Casablanca ~£14; train to airport ~£4; taxi ~£3
🛏None included (onward travel day)
- →Souk shopping north of Jemaa el-Fna
- →Optional Majorelle Garden (~£13)
- →Medina farewell walk
Self-launched vs. Morocco Luxury Tour
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Morocco Luxury Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£455 | £990 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £535 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Morocco Luxury Tour-style trips? Check them out here.~£455
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 Moroccan Cities Self-Launched: Casablanca, Fes, Rabat & Marrakech cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £455 per person for 5 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 Morocco Luxury Tour?+
Yes — Morocco Luxury Tour charges around £990 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £455 — a saving of roughly £535 (54%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 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, city-breaks, foodie 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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