Self-Launched 10-Day Morocco Grand Tour: Casablanca to Marrakech via the Sahara
10 days · Morocco
Moro Tours charges £1,257
No-markup version: ~£585 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Moro Tours' 10-day Casablanca-to-Marrakech circuit (sold via TourRadar from £1,257pp / US$1,665). You'll cover the same imperial cities, blue Chefchaouen, Roman Volubilis, the Fes medina, the Middle Atlas cedars, a Sahara night in Erg Chebbi, Todra Gorges, Dades Valley, Ait Ben Haddou and Marrakech — but using CTM/Supratours coaches, the ONCF train, grand taxis and shared 4x4s, plus locally-booked guides and a budget desert camp. Independent solo travellers can realistically do this for around £600-700 all-in, saving roughly half versus the private guided group tour. Costs are approximate and based on 2025/26 backpacker-to-mid-range rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive Casablanca — Corniche sunset
Casablanca
Land at Mohammed V Airport and take the ONCF train into Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port (~MAD 50 / £4, runs every ~hour, 45-60 mins). Check into a budget hotel or hostel near the old medina, then walk the Corniche at sunset and grab your first tagine in the Habous or Gauthier quarter. Get a Moroccan SIM (Orange/Inwi, ~£8 for 10GB) and buy your coach ticket for tomorrow at the CTM office or online.
🚌ONCF train from Mohammed V Airport to Casablanca (~£4)
🛏Budget hotel/hostel near the medina, e.g. Hotel Aday or similar (~£20-25 dbl / £12 dorm)
- →ONCF airport train to city centre
- →Corniche seafront walk
- →Habous quarter & medina stroll
- →Buy Moroccan SIM card
- →Pre-book CTM coach to Chefchaouen
Casablanca → Rabat → Chefchaouen
Chefchaouen
Start early: the Hassan II Mosque exterior (or a 10:00/12:00 timed interior tour, ~MAD 140 / £11). Then take the ONCF train Casablanca → Rabat Ville (~1hr, ~£4), and spend 3 hours on Rabat's highlights: Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V (free entry) and the Oudaya Kasbah with its blue-and-white walls. Late afternoon take a CTM/Supratours bus Rabat → Chefchaouen (~4.5hrs, ~£12-15, last departures mid-afternoon). Check into a riad in the medina and eat on Place Outa el Hammam.
🚌Train Casablanca→Rabat (~£4) + CTM/Supratours coach Rabat→Chefchaouen (~£14)
🛏Budget riad/guesthouse in Chefchaouen medina (~£22-30 dbl / £14 dorm)
- →Hassan II Mosque visit
- →ONCF train to Rabat
- →Hassan Tower & Mausoleum of Mohammed V
- →Oudaya Kasbah
- →Evening in Chefchaouen medina
Chefchaouen blue streets → Volubilis → Fes
Fes
Sunrise walk through the blue-painted alleys and the Spanish Mosque viewpoint before tourists arrive. At ~11:00 take a shared grand taxi or CTM coach to Meknes/Volubilis (~3hrs to Volubilis junction, ~£10-12). Hire a local site guide at Volubilis (official guides ~MAD 200-300 split between travellers, entry MAD 70 / £6) to see the mosaics and Roman ruins. Continue by shared taxi/grand taxi to Meknes (~30 mins) then train or coach to Fes (~1hr, ~£4). Evening in the Fes medina.
🚌Shared grand taxi/coach Chefchaouen→Volubilis→Meknes (~£13) + train Meknes→Fes (~£4)
🛏Riad/guesthouse in Fes medina (~£22-30 dbl / £14 dorm)
- →Blue streets & Spanish Mosque viewpoint
- →Local guide at Volubilis Roman site
- →Volubilis mosaics and triumphal arch
- →Meknes medina stop
- →Arrive Fes medina
Fes medina day with a local guide
Fes
Book an official medina guide through your riad or a GetYourGuide small-group tour (~£20-30pp, 3-4hrs) covering the Royal Palace gates, the Mellah (Jewish quarter), Al-Quaraouiyine, Bou Inania Madrasa (MAD 20 entry) and the Chouara tanneries (view from a terrace, small tip expected). It's worth it — the medina is a maze and guides keep you out of dead-end hassles. Afternoon free to wander and shop; ceramics and leather are best bought here.
🚌Walking (petit taxi ~£1-2 if needed)
🛏Riad/guesthouse in Fes medina (~£22-30 dbl / £14 dorm)
- →Guided Fes medina walking tour
- →Royal Palace gates & Mellah
- →Al-Quaraouiyine University exterior
- →Bou Inania Madrasa
- →Chouara Tanneries viewpoint
- →Free time in the souks
Fes → Azrou cedar forest → Ifrane → Midelt
Midelt
Take the CTM coach Fes → Azrou (~1.5hrs, ~£4) and spend an hour or two in the Cedre Gouraud forest with the Barbary macaques (locals sell peanuts; keep your distance). Hop the next coach or shared grand taxi to Ifrane (~30 mins, ~£2) for a quick look at the alpine-style town, then continue south on the CTM/coach route toward Midelt (~2.5hrs, ~£7). Overnight in Midelt as a base for the desert. This is the day the group tour covers by private van — public transport here is limited, so check CTM timetables the day before and be flexible.
🚌CTM coach segments Fes→Azrou→Ifrane→Midelt (~£13 total)
🛏Simple hotel/kasbah in Midelt (~£20-28 dbl)
- →Cedar Forest of Azrou & Barbary macaques
- →Ifrane alpine town stop
- →Midelt market stroll
Midelt → Merzouga: camel trek & Sahara camp
Merzouga
Morning coach or shared grand taxi to Rissani/Merzouga (~4hrs, ~£10-12; some routes require a change in Errachidia). Pre-book a budget desert camp package in Erg Chebbi (~£35-55pp including 4x4 transfer, camel ride, Berber dinner and breakfast — book direct with a Merzouga operator or via GetYourGuide). Arrive, drop bags, then ride camels into the dunes for sunset and overnight in a nomad-style tent camp with tagine and drumming under the stars.
🚌Coach/shared taxi Midelt→Merzouga (~£11) + included 4x4/camel transfer at camp
🛏Nomad/desert camp in Erg Chebbi (standard tent, shared or private bathroom) (~£35-55pp incl. meals)
- →Coach to Merzouga via Rissani
- →Camel trek into Erg Chebbi dunes
- →Sahara sunset from the dunes
- →Berber dinner and drum circle at desert camp
Sunrise in the dunes → Todra Gorges → Dades Valley
Dades Valley
Wake for sunrise over the dunes, breakfast at camp, then 4x4 back to Merzouga village. Take a shared grand taxi to Tinghir (~2.5hrs, ~£8-10pp when shared), walk the Todra Gorges canyon floor, then a grand taxi or local bus up to Boumalne Dades (~1.5hrs, ~£5). Check into a budget guesthouse in Dades Valley and enjoy the sunset over the rock formations.
🚌Shared grand taxis Merzouga→Tinghir (~£9) + Tinghir→Boumalne Dades (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse/kasbah in Dades Valley (~£22-30 dbl)
- →Desert sunrise
- →4x4 out of the dunes
- →Todra Gorges canyon walk
- →Dades Valley sunset viewpoint
Dades → Valley of Roses → Ait Ben Haddou → Marrakech
Marrakech
Early grand taxi along the Valley of Roses via Kalaat M'Gouna (~£5), then continue to Ait Ben Haddou (~1.5hrs, ~£6). Cross the river to the ksar and either explore independently or hire a local guide (~MAD 150-200, ~£12-16, split between travellers). Then take a shared grand taxi or the CTM coach over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech (~4hrs, ~£10-12). Alight at the medina and walk to your riad near Jemaa el-Fna. Long day — leave by 08:00.
🚌Shared grand taxis Dades→Ait Ben Haddou (~£11) + coach/CTM Ait Ben Haddou→Marrakech (~£11)
🛏Riad in Marrakech medina (~£25-35 dbl / £15 dorm)
- →Valley of Roses & Kalaat M'Gouna
- →Ait Ben Haddou ksar with local guide
- →Tizi n'Tichka High Atlas pass
- →Evening at Jemaa el-Fna square
Marrakech: palaces, tombs and souks
Marrakech
Self-guided palace day: Bahia Palace (MAD 70), Saadian Tombs (MAD 70), Koutoubia Mosque gardens (free) and the souks. Entry combos or a GetYourGuide skip-the-line pass (~£20-25) can save queuing. In the afternoon visit a garden (Jardin Majorelle ~MAD 170, or the free/cheap Jardin Secret's cheaper option / Menara Gardens) and finish with mint tea on a Jemaa el-Fna rooftop. Optional hammam ~£15-30.
🚌Walking + petit taxis (~£3)
🛏Riad in Marrakech medina (~£25-35 dbl / £15 dorm)
- →Bahia Palace
- →Saadian Tombs
- →Koutoubia Mosque & gardens
- →Souk shopping
- →Jardin Majorelle or Menara Gardens
- →Jemaa el-Fna food stalls
Marrakech → Casablanca / depart
Casablanca
ONCF train Marrakech → Casablanca (~3hrs, ~£9-11, several daily) then the airport train, or fly out of Marrakech Menara if your ticket allows an open-jaw. If you have time, a final souk browse or a cheap hammam before heading to the airport.
🚌ONCF train Marrakech→Casablanca (~£10) + airport train (~£4)
🛏None (departure day) or budget hotel near Casablanca airport (~£25) if on a late flight
- →ONCF train Marrakech to Casablanca
- →Last-minute souk shopping
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Moro Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Moro Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£585 | £1,257 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £672 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Moro Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£585
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 Self-Launched 10-Day Morocco Grand Tour: Casablanca to Marrakech via the Sahara cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £585 per person for 10 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 Moro Tours?+
Yes — Moro Tours charges around £1,257 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £585 — a saving of roughly £672 (53%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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, budget 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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