Self-Launched Complete Morocco Discovery: Tangier to the Sahara in 10 Days
10 days · Morocco
Morocco Trip Travel charges £1,290
No-markup version: ~£521 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A solo-friendly, self-launched version of the classic Tangier–Chefchaouen–Fes–Sahara–Ouarzazate–Marrakech–Casablanca–Rabat–Asilah loop. Instead of a private driver and guided group, you use Morocco's excellent CTM/Supratours coaches, shared grand taxis and the overnight-ish desert transfers, booking hostels and riad guesthouses directly and joining small-group day tours or local guides only where they genuinely add value (Fes medina, Sahara camp, cooking class). Everything is bookable a few days ahead — you can decide the pace as you go.
Day-by-day
Tangier to Chefchaouen (the blue city)
Chefchaouen
Arrive in Tangier (ferry from Tarifa/Algeciras or flight) and get to the CTM bus station or the main taxi rank. Take a CTM/Nejme Chamal coach to Chefchaouen (roughly 3 hours, ~£7–9); buses run several times daily — book on the CTM app or buy at the station. Check into a hostel or small guesthouse in the medina, then wander the blue-washed lanes, climb to the Spanish Mosque for sunset over the Rif Mountains, and eat a cheap tagine or bissara soup in Place Outa el Hammam. Cash is king — withdraw dirhams here as ATMs are limited in the mountains.
🚌CTM coach Tangier–Chefchaouen ~£8; airport/port taxi ~£5
🛏Medina hostel dorm or private room in a small guesthouse (~£12–20/night)
- →Sunset at the Spanish Mosque viewpoint
- →Blue medina photo walk
- →Rif Mountain views
- →Cheap local dinner in Place Outa el Hammam
Chefchaouen to Fes via the Rif
Fes
Morning hike to the Akchour waterfalls or a shorter walk on the Ras El Maa spring trail if you want an active start (~£10 shared grand taxi each way). Mid-afternoon take a CTM/Supratours coach from Chefchaouen to Fes (about 4 hours, ~£10–12). Arrive in Fes and stay in a hostel or budget riad inside or just outside the medina walls — Bab Boujloud area is easiest for getting in and out. Evening: cheap street food (msemen, grilled skewers, harira) around the medina gates.
🚌Shared taxi to Akchour ~£10 return; coach Chefchaouen–Fes ~£11
🛏Hostel or budget riad in Fes medina (~£14–22/night)
- →Akchour waterfall hike (optional)
- →Ras El Maa spring
- →Fes medina gate evening food crawl
Fes medina deep dive with a local guide
Fes
Book a half-day licensed medina walking tour (GetYourGuide/Klook, ~£25–35) — this is the one place in Morocco where a guide is genuinely worth it, as the 9,000-alley medina swallows independent visitors. You'll see the Bou Inania madrasa, the Al-Attarine souk, the Chouara tanneries (view from a terrace, tip ~£1), and the exterior of the Quaraouiyine Mosque (non-Muslims can't enter). Afternoon: Bahia Palace-style courtyards, the Nejjarine woodwork museum (~£2), or a rooftop mint tea. Optional evening: hammam (~£8–12) or a Moroccan cooking class (~£30).
🚌Walkable; occasional petit taxi ~£1–2
🛏Hostel or budget riad in Fes medina (~£14–22/night)
- →Licensed medina walking tour
- →Chouara tanneries viewpoint
- →Bou Inania madrasa
- →Nejjarine museum
- →Hammam or cooking class (optional)
Fes to Merzouga: into the Sahara
Merzouga
Long transfer day. Take the morning CTM coach Fes–Merzouga or Fes–Rissani (about 7–8 hours, ~£15–18), then a shared taxi or the camp's pickup to Merzouga village. Alternatively, book a shared 3-day desert tour from Fes (many hostels arrange this for ~£70–100 including two nights) if you'd rather not self-navigate the desert legs. In Merzouga, swap to a camel and ride ~1.5 hours into the Erg Chebbi dunes to a Berber tent camp. Dinner is included at the camp (tagine, bread, tea, drums around the fire).
🚌CTM coach Fes–Merzouga ~£16; camel trek into dunes included with camp
🛏Sahara desert camp, shared tent (~£25–35/night incl. dinner & breakfast)
- →Camel ride into Erg Chebbi
- →Berber desert camp night
- →Drumming and stargazing
Desert sunrise, Todra & Dades gorges to Ouarzazate
Ouarzazate
Wake for sunrise over the dunes (worth the 5am alarm), camel back to Merzouga, breakfast, then take a shared grand taxi or arrange a seat in a shared minivan along the classic Rissani–Todra–Dades route (~£20–25 per person if shared, or ~£60 for a private car split between two). Stop at Todra Gorge for a short walk between the canyon walls and Dades Gorge for the viewpoint. Continue to Ouarzazate, the 'Hollywood of Africa'. Stay in a budget guesthouse near the kasbah.
🚌Shared minivan/grand taxi Merzouga–Todra–Dades–Ouarzazate ~£22
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Ouarzazate (~£15–22/night)
- →Sunrise over Erg Chebbi
- →Todra Gorge walk
- →Dades Gorge viewpoint
- →Kasbah Taourirt exterior
Ait Benhaddou and over the Tizi n'Tichka to Marrakech
Marrakech
Morning: shared taxi to Ait Benhaddou (~£3–5, 30 min) to explore the UNESCO ksar — the film-set fortress from Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Optional Atlas Studios tour in Ouarzazate (~£6) if you're a film buff. Then take the CTM/Supratours coach or a shared grand taxi over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech (about 4 hours, ~£10–12). Arrive in Marrakech, check into a hostel in the medina (Riad Zitoun or near Jemaa el-Fna), and get your first look at the square after dark — snake charmers, storytellers, orange juice stalls.
🚌Shared taxi to Ait Benhaddou ~£4; coach Ouarzazate–Marrakech ~£11
🛏Medina hostel dorm or budget riad in Marrakech (~£14–25/night)
- →Ait Benhaddou ksar
- →Atlas Studios (optional)
- →Tizi n'Tichka pass views
- →Jemaa el-Fna at night
Marrakech: palaces, gardens and souks
Marrakech
Self-guided day using a walking route: start at Koutoubia Mosque gardens, then the Saadian Tombs (~£3) or El Badi Palace (~£3), Bahia Palace (~£3), and the Ben Youssef Madrasa (~£4). Book the Majorelle Garden/Jardin Secret entry online in advance (Jardin Majorelle ~£13, timed slots sell out — GetYourGuide or direct). Afternoon souk wander (Semmarine for leather, the dyers' souk for photos), rooftop tea break, and an optional Moroccan cooking class (~£30) or hammam. Dinner in the square or a cheap local grill off Derb Sidi Bouloukat.
🚌Walkable medina; petit taxi ~£1–2 for longer hops
🛏Medina hostel dorm or budget riad in Marrakech (~£14–25/night)
- →Koutoubia Mosque
- →Bahia Palace
- →Ben Youssef Madrasa
- →Jardin Majorelle (pre-booked slot)
- →Souk shopping
- →Cooking class or hammam (optional)
Marrakech to Casablanca: Hassan II Mosque
Casablanca
Morning train from Marrakech to Casablanca on the ONCF line (about 2h45, ~£7–9 second class) — comfortable and bookable at the station or on the ONCF site. Drop bags at a hostel near the medina or Gauthier. Book a guided interior tour of the Hassan II Mosque (~£12, several slots daily, buy direct or via GetYourGuide) — one of the only mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims, with its ocean-side minaret. Afternoon: Corniche walk, Rick's Café photo stop, and the Art Deco architecture around Boulevard Mohammed V.
🚌ONCF train Marrakech–Casa ~£8; tram/petit taxi ~£1–2
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in central Casablanca (~£15–25/night)
- →Hassan II Mosque interior tour
- →Corniche seaside walk
- →Art Deco city centre stroll
Rabat and Asilah en route to Tangier
Asilah / Tangier
Morning train Casablanca–Rabat (~1 hour, ~£3), where you can visit the Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum (free entry, modest dress), plus the nearby Oudayas Kasbah and its blue-and-white lanes. Then continue by train Rabat–Asilah (~2.5 hours, ~£8) for a couple of hours in this whitewashed, mural-covered Atlantic town — cheap grilled sardines on the beach. Final leg Asilah–Tangier by train (~45 min, ~£3) or shared grand taxi. Overnight in Tangier's old town.
🚌ONCF trains Casa–Rabat–Asilah–Tangier, total ~£14
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Tangier medina (~£14–22/night)
- →Hassan Tower
- →Mohammed V Mausoleum
- →Oudayas Kasbah
- →Asilah medina murals and beach
- →Tangier old town evening
Tangier and departure
Tangier
Final morning: coffee and pastries in the Petit Socco, a walk through the Kasbah and along the seafront, or a quick visit to the American Legation Museum (~£4) if time allows. Then head to Tangier airport or the ferry port (taxi ~£5–8; ferry to Tarifa ~£30–40 if you're crossing to Spain). If you've got a late departure, store bags at the hostel and squeeze in one last mint tea on a rooftop.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£6; ferry to Spain optional ~£35
🛏None (departure day)
- →Petit Socco coffee stop
- →Kasbah and seafront walk
- →American Legation Museum (optional)
Self-launched vs. Morocco Trip Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Morocco Trip Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£521 | £1,290 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £769 per person (60%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Morocco Trip Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£521
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 Complete Morocco Discovery: Tangier to the Sahara in 10 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £521 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 Morocco Trip Travel?+
Yes — Morocco Trip Travel charges around £1,290 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £521 — a saving of roughly £769 (60%) 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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