Morocco Kasbahs & Desert — Self-Launched
8 days · Morocco
G Adventures charges £560
No-markup version: ~£338 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' classic Morocco Kasbahs & Desert loop, travelling from Casablanca to Marrakech via Fès, the Sahara dunes of Merzouga and the kasbahs of the south — with the same highlights (Roman ruins at Volubilis, the Fès medina, a camel ride into the desert, Todra Gorge and Aït Ben Haddou) but using local buses, budget riads and self-bookable excursions. Built for independent travellers who want the full north-south Morocco circuit for around a third of the guided cost.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Casablanca
Casablanca
Fly or take a train into Casablanca and settle into a budget hotel near the city centre or the medina. Spend the afternoon exploring your own way: walk the Art Deco boulevards of the Ville Nouvelle, visit the seafront corniche, and if time allows admire the striking Hassan II Mosque from outside (or take the guided interior tour, ~130 MAD). Optional evening stroll through the old medina for street food.
🚌Train from airport or town, ~£5
🛏Budget hotel/riad near centre (e.g. Hotel Central), ~£18
- →Explore Casablanca medina
- →Visit the beachfront corniche
- →View Art Deco architecture
- →Hassan II Mosque exterior (interior tour +130 MAD optional)
Casablanca to Fès via Volubilis
Fès
Catch an early morning CTM or Supratours bus from Casablanca towards Meknès (~3 hrs, ~£9), then a shared grand taxi or local bus out to the extraordinary Roman ruins of Volubilis (~£4). Explore the mosaics and arches at your own pace, then continue by taxi to Fès where you'll check into a charming budget riad in the medina. Evening wander for dinner in the old city.
🚌CTM coach Casablanca→Meknès + shared taxi to Volubilis/Fès, ~£18
🛏Budget riad in Fès medina (e.g. Riad Maison Bleue), ~£18
- →Visit Volubilis Roman ruins (70 MAD entry)
- →Self-guided exploration of the site
- →Evening mint tea and street food in Fès medina
Explore the Fès Medina
Fès
Dedicate a full day to getting lost in the labyrinthine Fès medina — one of the world's largest car-free urban zones. Hire a certified local guide for a few hours (around 200-250 MAD from the tourist office) or simply wander the streets with a map. Don't miss the Chouara Tannery, the Bou Inania Madrasa, and the bustling souks selling everything from spices to leatherwork. Book your onward transport for tomorrow.
🚌Local transport on foot within medina
🛏Budget riad in Fès medina, ~£18
- →Wander Fès medina (UNESCO site)
- →Visit Chouara leather tannery
- →See Bou Inania Madrasa
- →Shop in the local souks
- →Optional traditional hammam (~100-150 MAD)
Fès to Merzouga via the Middle Atlas
Merzouga / Sahara Desert
Take the morning CTM bus from Fès towards Errachidia (long but scenic ~7 hrs through the cedar forests and high plains of the Middle Atlas, ~£11), then connect by shared grand taxi to Merzouga, arriving at the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes by late afternoon. Check into a desert auberge, then take a sunset camel trek out into the dunes to sleep in a simple desert camp beneath the stars.
🚌CTM coach Fès→Errachidia + shared taxi to Merzouga, ~£16
🛏Desert auberge/camp in Merzouga (e.g. Auberge Dunes d'Or), ~£20
- →Sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes
- →Overnight in a desert camp
- →Tuareg drumming and campfire evening
- →Stargazing in the Sahara
Merzouga to Todra Gorge
Todra Gorge
Wake for sunrise over the dunes and ride the camels back to the auberge for breakfast. Those wanting more can take an optional 4x4 desert excursion around the lakes and nomadic camps (~350 MAD). Then catch a shared grand taxi west toward Tinghir (~£8) and on to the spectacular red-cliff canyon of Todra Gorge, where you'll spend the afternoon hiking the dramatic 300m-high walls and wading in the river below.
🚌Shared grand taxi Merzouga→Tinghir→Todra Gorge, ~£12
🛏Simple guesthouse in Todra Gorge (e.g. Hotel Amazir), ~£18
- →Sunrise camel trek back out of the dunes
- →Optional 4x4 desert excursion (~350 MAD)
- →Hike through Todra Gorge
- →Relax by the river in the gorge
Todra Gorge to Aït Ben Haddou
Aït Ben Haddou
At leisure in the morning you can hike further along the gorge or sample local Amazigh breakfast dishes. Then take shared grand taxis south-west via Ouarzazate to the famous fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou (~£12, full afternoon of travel). Check into a riad just opposite the kasbah, and in the late afternoon cross the river to explore the UNESCO-listed earthen citadel and its atmospheric alleyways as the light turns golden.
🚌Shared taxis Todra→Ouarzazate→Aït Ben Haddou, ~£15
🛏Riad near Aït Ben Haddou (e.g. La Rose du Sable), ~£18
- →Hike the Todra Gorge amphitheatre stretch
- →Optional visit to Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate
- →Self-guided sunset exploration of Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah
Aït Ben Haddou to Marrakech
Marrakech
Optionally join a tagine cooking demonstration in the morning at your riad, then take shared grand taxis over the dramatic Tizi n'Tichka pass in the High Atlas down to Marrakech (~£10, 3-4 hrs). Check into a budget riad in the medina and spend the evening soaking up the extraordinary spectacle of Jemaa el-Fna square — snake charmers, musicians, storytellers and food stalls all under the stars.
🚌Shared grand taxi Aït Ben Haddou→Marrakech, ~£10
🛏Budget riad in Marrakech medina, ~£18
- →Optional tagine cooking demonstration
- →Cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass (High Atlas)
- →Evening visit to Jemaa el-Fna Square
Discover Marrakech & Depart
Marrakech
Spend your final morning exploring Marrakech's sights at your own pace. Choose from the vibrant souks, Bahia Palace (100 MAD), the Saadian Tombs (100 MAD), El Badi Palace (70 MAD), or the serene Jardin Majorelle and YSL Museum (~150 MAD combined). For a show-stopping finale, treat yourself to a dawn hot-air balloon ride over the palm groves (book direct, ~£120-150 — half what the tour operators charge). Then head to the airport.
🚌Local city transport + airport transfer, ~£8
🛏Depart day — no stay required (or extend at riad)
- →Visit Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs
- →Explore Jardin Majorelle & YSL Museum
- →Optional dawn hot-air balloon ride over Marrakech
- →Final wander through Djemaa el-Fna
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£338 | £560 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £222 per person (40%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£338
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 Morocco Kasbahs & Desert — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £338 per person for 8 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 £560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £338 — a saving of roughly £222 (40%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 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 adventure, culture, 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?
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.