Self-Launched Morocco Grand Circuit: Marrakech, Ait Benhaddou, Sahara & Chefchaouen in 6 Days
6 days · Morocco
Morocco Desert Trip charges £744
No-markup version: ~£371 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Morocco Desert Trip's 6-day private Marrakech–Sahara–Fes–Chefchaouen circuit, done with shared grand taxis, CTM/SUPRATOUR buses and locally booked guides instead of a private 4x4 and driver. You'll cross the High Atlas via Tizi n'Tichka, see Ait Ben Haddou and Kasbah Amridil, sleep in a budget desert camp at Erg Chebbi after a camel trek, ride through the Ziz Valley and cedar forests to Fes, tour the Fes medina with a licensed local guide, and finish with Volubilis and the blue streets of Chefchaouen before the long haul back to Marrakech. Note the original's final day is a single 8:30am–6:30pm drive; here you can break it with a cheap train leg via Tangier if you have an extra day. All costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP per person and assume shared rooms/basic private rooms and street/mid-range local food.
Day-by-day
Marrakech over the High Atlas to Boumalne Dades
Marrakech → Ait Ben Haddou → Boumalne Dades
Get an early start from Marrakech's Bab Doukkala or Mellah grand-taxi stand and take a shared grand taxi or CTM/SUPRATOUR bus to Ouarzazate (~£8–10, 4 hrs) over the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m) — sit on the right for the best valley views. From Ouarzazate, a shared grand taxi (~£3) gets you to Ait Ben Haddou village, where you can walk up to the ksar viewpoint yourself for free or hire a local guide at the gate (~£8, negotiable) for the UNESCO-listed ksar. If time allows, drop into Kasbah Telouet en route only if you have a private taxi; otherwise skip it. In the afternoon continue to Skoura by shared taxi (~£3) to see Kasbah Amridil (entry ~£2) and its palm oasis, then take another shared taxi or bus to Boumalne Dades (~£4). Walk the Valley of the Roses road if you're there in April–May, and end with a cheap tagine dinner in town (~£5). Book a basic guesthouse or hotel in Boumalne Dades (~£20).
🚌Shared grand taxi Marrakech → Ouarzazate ~£8–10; shared taxi Ouarzazate → Ait Ben Haddou ~£3; shared taxi → Skoura ~£3; shared taxi/bus → Boumalne Dades ~£4
🛏Budget guesthouse/hotel in Boumalne Dades (~£20, e.g. simple 2–3* places near the main road)
- →Tizi n'Tichka pass viewpoint stop
- →Ait Ben Haddou ksar walk-up (free) or local guide ~£8
- →Kasbah Amridil, Skoura (~£2 entry)
- →Valley of the Roses roadside walk
Todgha Gorge, Rissani and a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Boumalne Dades → Tinghir → Merzouga
Take a shared taxi or local bus to Tinghir (~£2, 1 hr) and walk the oasis path to the Todgha Gorge (free; small tip for a local boy to show the path is normal). Continue by shared taxi or CTM bus to Rissani (~£4) — if it's a market day (Tue/Thu/Sun) the livestock souk is worth an hour. From Rissani a shared taxi to Merzouga village is ~£2. Book a standard desert camp the night before online (GetYourGuide, Klook or direct with a Merzouga operator, ~£30–40 per person including dinner, breakfast and the camel trek) and confirm the meeting point. Camel trek out into Erg Chebbi for sunset (~1–1.5 hrs) — if camel riding isn't for you, most camps offer a 4x4 transfer instead at no or small extra cost. Dinner and drumming at camp under the stars.
🚌Shared taxi Boumalne → Tinghir ~£2; shared taxi/bus Tinghir → Rissani ~£4; shared taxi Rissani → Merzouga ~£2
🛏Standard desert camp in Erg Chebbi (~£30–35 pp incl. dinner, breakfast, camel trek; book ahead via GetYourGuide/Klook or direct)
- →Todgha Gorge walk
- →Rissani souk (market days)
- →Camel trek into Erg Chebbi
- →Desert camp dinner and music
- →Optional sandboarding (free with most camps)
Sahara sunrise, Ziz Valley and on to Fes
Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Azrou → Fes
Wake for sunrise over the dunes (free) and camel or 4x4 back to Merzouga village after breakfast. From Merzouga take a shared grand taxi or the CTM/SUPRATOUR bus toward Meknes/Fes — the cheapest reliable option is the CTM bus via Rissani and Errachidia (~£10–12, 7–8 hrs). Break the ride at Midelt for lunch, and if you're in your own/shared taxi, stop at the Ziz Valley viewpoint (free) and the cedar forests of Azrou to look for Barbary macaques (free; small bag of peanuts ~£1). Pass through Ifrane, Morocco's alpine 'Switzerland' town, and arrive in Fes in the evening. Stay in a budget riad or guesthouse in or just outside the medina (~£22). Cheap dinner in the Ville Nouvelle (~£5).
🚌Shared taxi/camel out of dunes ~£2; CTM or SUPRATOUR bus Merzouga → Fes ~£10–12
🛏Budget riad/guesthouse in Fes medina or Ville Nouvelle (~£22)
- →Sahara sunrise
- →Midelt lunch stop
- →Ziz Valley viewpoint
- →Cedar forest of Azrou (Barbary macaques)
- →Ifrane photo stop
Fes medina with a licensed local guide
Fes
Book a licensed Fes medina guide the day before via GetYourGuide (~£20–25 for a half-day small-group walk, or ~£35–45 private — split it with other travellers you meet at the hostel). The classic route covers Bab Boujloud, the Bou Inania Madrasa (~£2), Al-Attarine Madrasa (~£2), the Chouara tannery from a terrace viewpoint (small tip), the Nejjarine and spice/brass souks, and Dar Batha Museum (~£2). The Royal Palace is exterior-only (golden doors photo stop, free). Be firm about 'no shopping stops' when you agree the guide's rate. Spend the afternoon wandering the souks independently, then eat at a cheap medina canteen — harira, msemen and a tagine for ~£5–6.
🚌Walking; petit taxi across town ~£1–2
🛏Budget riad/guesthouse in Fes (~£22)
- →Licensed medina walking tour ~£20–25 (GetYourGuide)
- →Bou Inania & Al-Attarine madrasas ~£4 total
- →Chouara tannery viewpoint
- →Dar Batha Museum ~£2
- →Royal Palace golden doors
Volubilis and the blue city of Chefchaouen
Fes → Volubilis → Chefchaouen
Take an early CTM/SUPRATOUR bus or shared grand taxi from Fes to Meknes (~£3), then a shared taxi or local bus to Moulay Idriss/Volubilis (~£3). Volubilis entry is ~£7 and the site is easily self-guided with the on-site map — the floor mosaics, capitol and triumphal arch are the highlights; local guides wait at the gate for ~£8 if you want context. From Volubilis, head back to Meknes and take a CTM bus to Chefchaouen (~£10, 3.5–4 hrs) — book the bus the day before in Fes if possible. Arrive in the Rif Mountains in the evening and stroll into the blue medina for a cheap dinner (~£5). Stay in a budget guesthouse inside the medina (~£20–22).
🚌Bus/shared taxi Fes → Meknes ~£3; shared taxi Meknes → Volubilis ~£3; CTM bus Meknes → Chefchaouen ~£10
🛏Budget guesthouse in Chefchaouen medina (~£21)
- →Volubilis Roman ruins (~£7 entry, self-guided)
- →Moulay Idriss photo stop
- →Chefchaouen medina evening wander
Chefchaouen medina and the long return to Marrakech
Chefchaouen → Marrakech
Spend the morning in Chefchaouen: climb to the Spanish Mosque for the classic rooftop view (free, 20 min uphill), visit the Kasbah in Uta El Hammam square (~£2), and browse the wool and woven-goods stalls. Have a café terrace lunch (~£4) before the return. The direct CTM/SUPRATOUR bus to Marrakech is long (~9–10 hrs, ~£15) and usually leaves early; a smarter self-launched option is the ~2 hr bus to Tangier (~£5) then the Al Boraq high-speed train Tangier → Marrakech via Casablanca (~£30–35, 5.5 hrs) — slightly more money, much more comfortable, but it needs an extra night's slack in your plan. If you must do it in one day, book the earliest direct bus and expect to arrive in Marrakech in the evening; local petit taxi to your accommodation ~£2.
🚌Direct CTM/SUPRATOUR bus Chefchaouen → Marrakech ~£15, or bus to Tangier ~£5 + Al Boraq high-speed train ~£30–35
🛏Not included — onward travel or own Marrakech accommodation
- →Spanish Mosque viewpoint
- →Chefchaouen Kasbah ~£2
- →Wool and woven-goods souk browsing
- →Café terrace lunch
Self-launched vs. Morocco Desert Trip
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Morocco Desert Trip | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£371 | £744 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £373 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Morocco Desert Trip-style trips? Check them out here.~£371
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Morocco Grand Circuit: Marrakech, Ait Benhaddou, Sahara & Chefchaouen in 6 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £371 per person for 6 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 Desert Trip?+
Yes — Morocco Desert Trip charges around £744 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £371 — a saving of roughly £373 (50%) per person.
How long is the Morocco trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 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?
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