Morocco Eclipse 2027: Sun, Shadow & Chefchaouen — Self-Launched
7 days · Morocco
G Adventures charges £1,899
No-markup version: ~£415 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Same seven-day route from Tangier to Casablanca — Tetouan, the Blue City of Chefchaouen (with a front-row seat to the 2027 total solar eclipse), Roman Volubilis, imperial Meknes and Fes, coastal Rabat, and Casablanca — done independently at a fraction of the group-tour price. Swap the private vehicle for CTM/Supratours buses and shared grands taxis, book your own riad or guesthouse beds, and self-book guided medina and ruins tours through GetYourGuide or directly with local guides on arrival. All the magic, none of the mark-up.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Tangier
Tangier
Arrive into Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport or Tangier-Ville ferry terminal at any time. Check into your riad or hostel in the medina — the Tangier Medina area has solid budget options from around £18–25/night. Spend the evening exploring the Grand Socco (main square), grab a mint tea in a café, and get your bearings. No formal commitments today — just settle in and meet fellow travellers at the hostel.
🚌Airport to medina: petit taxi ~£3–5. Ferry port to medina: walking or petit taxi ~£2
🛏Riad or hostel dorm in Tangier medina (e.g. Dar Nour or similar) — approx £18–25/night
- →Explore the Grand Socco and Petit Socco on foot
- →Visit the American Legation Museum (free entry, donation welcome)
- →Wander the kasbah and enjoy views over the Strait of Gibraltar
- →Optional dinner at a local medina restaurant (tagine ~£4–6)
Tetouan & Onwards to Chefchaouen
Tetouan → Chefchaouen
Take a shared grand taxi from Tangier to Tetouan (approx 1hr, ~£3–4 per person). Spend 2–3 hours exploring Tetouan's UNESCO-listed medina, El Feddan Square, and Mellah Avenue — all free to walk. Afterwards, take another shared grand taxi or CTM bus from Tetouan to Chefchaouen (approx 1.5–2hrs, ~£3–5). Arrive in the Blue City in the afternoon, check into your guesthouse, and take your first stroll through those iconic indigo alleyways before sunset.
🚌Tangier → Tetouan shared grand taxi: ~£3–4pp. Tetouan → Chefchaouen shared grand taxi or CTM bus: ~£3–5pp
🛏Guesthouse or small riad in Chefchaouen medina (e.g. Casa Perleta or similar) — approx £20–28/night
- →Self-guided walk through Tetouan UNESCO Medina — El Feddan Square and Mellah Avenue
- →Visit Tetouan's Royal Palace exterior and the Place Hassan II
- →Arrive Chefchaouen and explore the blue-washed medina on foot
- →Sunset walk up to the Spanish Mosque for panoramic views (free, ~20 min uphill walk)
Total Solar Eclipse Day in Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen
This is the centrepiece of the entire trip — the total solar eclipse passes over northern Morocco on 2 August 2027, with Chefchaouen sitting within the path of totality. Join one of the many local or independent eclipse viewing events that will be organised in the main plaza (Uta el-Hammam) and rooftop terraces. Bring or buy eclipse glasses in advance (available online from ~£2–5 a pair — buy early, they sell out). The afternoon is yours to explore the medina freely. Head back up to the Spanish Mosque for a stunning sunset.
🚌All on foot within Chefchaouen
🛏Guesthouse or small riad in Chefchaouen medina — approx £20–28/night
- →Watch the total solar eclipse from Plaza Uta el-Hammam or a rooftop terrace — totality expected mid-morning
- →Wander the blue alleys of the medina at your own pace post-eclipse
- →Visit the Kasbah Museum (entry ~£1.50)
- →Hike to Ras el-Maa waterfall and local laundry rocks (free, 10 min walk from medina)
- →Sunset walk to the Spanish Mosque for views over the city
Volubilis Roman Ruins & Imperial Meknes → Fes
Chefchaouen → Volubilis → Meknes → Fes
An action-packed travel day through Morocco's imperial heartland. Take a CTM bus or shared grand taxi from Chefchaouen towards Meknes (change at Ouazzane if needed, total ~3–4hrs, ~£6–9). Stop at Volubilis (UNESCO Roman ruins) — a local guide can be hired at the entrance for ~£8–12pp for a 1hr tour, or explore independently with a guidebook. Re-join transport to Meknes (shared taxi from Volubilis junction ~£2), grab lunch in the medina (harira soup and bread ~£1–2), and visit the landmark Bab Mansour gate and Bab El Khmiss (free). Take an evening CTM bus to Fes (~1hr, ~£3–4). Check into your riad.
🚌Chefchaouen → Meknes via CTM bus or grand taxis (via Ouazzane): ~£6–9pp. Meknes → Volubilis shared taxi: ~£2pp. Volubilis → Meknes: ~£2pp. Meknes → Fes CTM bus: ~£3–4pp
🛏Riad or guesthouse near Fes el-Bali medina (e.g. Riad Ziat or similar) — approx £22–30/night
- →Volubilis Roman ruins self-visit or hire a local guide at the gate (~£8–12pp for guided tour)
- →Meknes: visit Bab Mansour gate and Bab El Khmiss — free to view
- →Wander Meknes medina and Heri es-Souani granaries (~£1.50 entry)
- →Lunch in Meknes medina: harira, kefta sandwich, or tagine (~£2–4)
- →Evening arrival in Fes — settle into riad and explore Bab Bou Jeloud (Blue Gate) area
Fes Medina Deep Dive
Fes
Fes el-Bali is one of the world's largest living medieval cities — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 9,000 streets. Book a half-day guided medina walk through GetYourGuide or directly at your riad (~£12–18pp) for the morning; a good guide is genuinely worth it here to navigate the labyrinth and gain access to the best viewpoints. Key highlight: the Chouara Tannery viewed from a leather shop balcony (free with entry to the shop). Lunch inside the medina at a traditional riad restaurant (~£6–10). Afternoon is free to browse souks, visit the Al-Attarine Madrasa (~£2), or simply get wonderfully lost.
🚌All on foot within Fes medina. Petit taxi from new to old medina if needed: ~£1–2
🛏Riad or guesthouse near Fes el-Bali medina — approx £22–30/night
- →Guided medina walking tour booked via GetYourGuide or riad recommendation (~£12–18pp, half-day)
- →Chouara Tannery viewpoint from a leather shop balcony (free — shopkeeper will show you up)
- →Al-Attarine Madrasa visit (~£2 entry)
- →Lunch at a riad restaurant inside the medina (~£6–10)
- →Explore the souks: spice market, carpenter's souk, brass-workers' street
- →Evening at leisure — rooftop mint tea with medina views
Rabat Stop & Onwards to Casablanca
Fes → Rabat → Casablanca
Take an early ONCF train from Fes to Rabat (~2hrs 15min, ~£8–11 in 2nd class). Spend 3–4 hours in Morocco's capital: walk the ramparts of the Kasbah des Oudaias, explore the colourful alleyways of the old quarter, and visit the Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free entry). Grab lunch near the medina (~£4–7) before hopping back on the train to Casablanca (~50min, ~£4–5). Check into your accommodation in the city centre or near the old medina.
🚌Fes → Rabat ONCF 2nd class train: ~£8–11pp. Rabat → Casablanca ONCF train: ~£4–5pp
🛏Hotel or hostel in Casablanca city centre or near Hassan II Mosque (e.g. Hôtel Guynemer or similar) — approx £20–28/night
- →Kasbah des Oudaias — walk the ramparts and explore the Andalusian garden (free)
- →Hassan Tower and Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free entry)
- →Wander Rabat's old medina and souks
- →Lunch near Rabat medina (~£4–7)
- →Evening arrival in Casablanca — explore the Corniche or old medina
Casablanca: Farewell to Morocco
Casablanca
Your final morning in Morocco — make it count. The Hassan II Mosque is one of the world's largest mosques and sits dramatically on the Atlantic coast; guided interior tours run most mornings for non-Muslims (~£10–12pp, book directly at the mosque). Stroll the Art Deco boulevards of the Ville Nouvelle, browse the old medina, and have a final tagine or seafood lunch near the port. Depart from Mohammed V International Airport when ready — a CTM bus or train from Casa-Voyageurs station serves the airport (~£3–4).
🚌Hotel to airport: CTM bus or train from Casa-Voyageurs ~£3–4pp. Or petit taxi ~£12–15
🛏Check-out — depart day
- →Hassan II Mosque guided interior tour (~£10–12pp — one of the world's most stunning mosques)
- →Walk the Art Deco Ville Nouvelle architecture along Boulevard Mohammed V
- →Browse the old medina and central market
- →Final Moroccan lunch: fresh seafood or tagine near the port (~£5–8)
- →Depart from Mohammed V Airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£415 | £1,899 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,484 per person (78%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£415
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 Morocco Eclipse 2027: Sun, Shadow & Chefchaouen — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £415 per person for 7 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,899 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £415 — a saving of roughly £1,484 (78%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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, backpacker 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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