Self-Launched Morocco Grand Circuit: Casablanca to the Sahara in 6 Days

Start early at the Hassan II Mosque (guided entry ~£12, book a slot via GetYourGuide or at the door) — the ocean terrace outside is free and spectacular. Take the tram or a short petit taxi (~£1.50) to Casa Voyageurs station and catch a train to Rabat (~£3, 1hr, ONCF). In Rabat walk the Kasbah of the Udayas, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and the Royal Palace gate, plus the Chellah ruins (~£3). Late afternoon continue by train to Tangier or direct CTM bus to Chefchaouen; the simplest option is the CTM/SUPRATOUR bus Rabat–Chefchaouen (~£10, 3.5hrs, book a day ahead on the CTM app). Arrive after dark into the blue medina and eat at a local tagine house (~£5).

🚌ONCF train Casablanca–Rabat ~£3; CTM/SUPRATOUR bus Rabat–Chefchaouen ~£10; local petit taxis ~£3 total

🛏Budget riad or guesthouse in the Chefchaouen medina, ~£18 (e.g. small family riads around Place Outa el Hammam)

• →Hassan II Mosque guided visit
• →Train Casablanca–Rabat
• →Kasbah of the Udayas & Mausoleum of Mohammed V
• →Chellah ruins
• →Evening wander in the blue medina

Up early for the empty blue alleys — best photos before 9am. Climb to the Spanish Mosque viewpoint (free), visit the Kasbah garden (~£2) and the Great Mosque with its octagonal minaret from outside. Mid-morning take a CTM/SUPRATOUR bus to Meknes or direct to Fes (~£9, 4hrs). For Volubilis, break the journey: bus to Meknes, then a shared grand taxi to Moulay Idriss/Volubilis (~£6 each way split) — site entry ~£6, allow 1.5hrs among the Roman mosaics. Continue by train or bus into Fes (~£3). Drop bags at a medina riad and take a self-booked half-day walking tour with a licensed local guide via GetYourGuide (~£25) or simply walk the main axis from Bab Boujloud to the tanneries yourself with a map.

🚌Bus Chefchaouen–Meknes ~£7; shared grand taxi to Volubilis ~£12 return split; train/bus Meknes–Fes ~£3

🛏Medina riad or guesthouse in Fes, ~£16 (dar-style guesthouses near Bab Boujloud)

• →Sunrise photography in the blue medina
• →Spanish Mosque viewpoint & Chefchaouen Kasbah
• →Roman ruins of Volubilis
• →Grand taxi through Moulay Idriss
• →Fes medina orientation walk

This is the big transit day. Catch the early CTM/SUPRATOUR bus Fes–Merzouga (~£18, 8–9hrs, book online in advance — it sells out). You'll pass Ifrane's alpine-style streets, the cedar forest near Azrou (Barbary apes visible from the road), Midelt and the dramatic Ziz Gorge. Alternatively, take the train Fes–Meknes and connect, or book a seat in a shared desert-transfer minivan through your Merzouga camp (~£20). Arrive late afternoon; your pre-booked desert camp sends a 4x4 or you take the short camel ride (~£20 including guide, sunset timing) over the dunes to the camp. Berber dinner, drumming and sunrise wake-up included in most camps.

🚌CTM/SUPRATOUR bus Fes–Merzouga ~£18; camel trek to camp included in camp price

🛏Standard desert camp tent in Erg Chebbi (shared, with dinner & breakfast), ~£25

• →Scenic bus through Ifrane & Azrou cedar forest
• →Ziz Gorge and Ziz Valley viewpoints
• →Sunset camel trek into Erg Chebbi
• →Night in a Sahara desert camp with Berber music

Wake for sunrise over the dunes, camel or 4x4 back to Merzouga village, then shower and breakfast at a village café. From Merzouga take a shared grand taxi/minivan to Rissani (~£3) and on to Tinghir/Todra (~£10, 3hrs — grand taxis run when full; alternatively arrange a shared transfer through your camp for ~£25). Walk into the Todra Gorge canyon (free) and lunch at a riverside café. In the late afternoon take a shared taxi or local bus to Boumalne Dades (~£5) and continue by taxi up the Dades Valley to your guesthouse (~£5); catch the monkey-fingers rock formation viewpoint on the way.

🚌Shared grand taxis/minivans Merzouga–Tinghir–Boumalne ~£18 total; local taxi up Dades Valley ~£5

🛏Family-run guesthouse in Dades Valley, ~£16 with breakfast

• →Sunrise over Erg Chebbi
• →Todra Gorges canyon walk
• →Dades Valley viewpoint & monkey toes rock formation

Take the morning shared taxi or local bus down to Kalaat M'Gouna (~£4) and visit the rose cooperative (free entry, rosewater ~£3). Continue to Ouarzazate (~£6) and hop a shared grand taxi to Ait Benhaddou (~£3); entry to the UNESCO ksar is ~£2 and you can wander the alleys independently — much less pushy than the Fes showrooms. From Ait Benhaddou, either join a shared minivan over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech (~£12, 4hrs) or take a CTM bus from Ouarzazate (~£9). Arrive Marrakech in the evening; eat at a cheap medina grill (~£6) and watch Jemaa el-Fna after dark.

🚌Shared taxis/local bus Dades–Kalaat M'Gouna–Ouarzazate ~£10; Ait Benhaddou return ~£6; shared minivan to Marrakech ~£12

🛏Budget riad or hostel in the Marrakech medina, ~£20 (dorm or small private room)

• →Kalaat M'Gouna rose cooperative
• →Ait Benhaddou UNESCO kasbah
• →Argan oil women's cooperative near Ouarzazate
• →Tizi n'Tichka pass crossing
• →Jemaa el-Fna square at night

Book a combined monument ticket or buy individually: Bahia Palace (~£6), Saadian Tombs (~£6), Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa (~£5), Majorelle Garden (~£13, book online to skip queues) and the Koutoubia gardens (free). One self-booked medina walking tour via GetYourGuide/With Locals (~£20) is a good way to hear the history without a group. In the afternoon take the train Marrakech–Casablanca (~£7, 3hrs, ONCF) for onward flights, or fly out of Marrakech Menara. If time is tight, skip one palace — the souks are the real highlight.

🚌ONCF train Marrakech–Casablanca ~£7; local taxis ~£4

🛏None included — onward travel day (add ~£20 if you stay a night in Casablanca)

• →Bahia Palace
• →Saadian Tombs
• →Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa
• →Majorelle Garden
• →Koutoubia Mosque & medina souks
• →Train to Casablanca