Morocco, Seville & Lisbon: Self-Launched 12-Day Route
12 days · Morocco, Spain & Portugal
Europamundo charges £1,545
No-markup version: ~£725 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Europamundo's 12-day Casablanca-to-Lisbon coach tour, rebuilt for independent travellers using Morocco's excellent (and cheap) rail and bus network, the Tangier–Tarifa ferry plus Spanish low-cost trains, and overnight-avoiding hops into Lisbon. You'll cover the same headline stops — Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque, Marrakech's medina and Bahia Palace, the Atlas passes to Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, Todgha Gorge and the Sahara dunes at Erg Chebbi, Fez's tanners' quarter, Tangier, Seville's Giralda and Triana, Roman Mérida and Évora — but in hostels, riads and guesthouses rather than 4–5* tour hotels, with self-bookable guides where you need them. Costs are approximate budget-backpacker estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Casablanca — Hassan II Mosque & the corniche
Casablanca, Morocco
Land at Mohammed V Airport and take the ONCF train straight into Casa Voyageurs or Casa Port (~£3, 40–50 mins). Check into a medina or Gauthier-district hostel. Depending on arrival time, walk the seafront corniche past the enormous Hassan II Mosque (one of the guided interior slots is worth booking ahead, ~£12; exterior and esplanade free) and take a sunset stroll past the old medina walls and Mohammed V Square. Dinner on cheap grilled fish or tagine near the Marché Central, ~£6–8.
🚌ONCF airport train Mohammed V → Casa Voyageurs ~£3; tram and walking locally ~£1
🛏Medina or Gauthier-district hostel dorm, ~£12/night
- →Hassan II Mosque exterior & esplanade
- →Mohammed V Square and Arab League Park walk
- →Old medina walls & corniche sunset
Train to Marrakech — medina, Bahia Palace & Jemaa el-Fnaa
Marrakech, Morocco
Morning ONCF train (or CTM/Supr@tours bus) Casablanca → Marrakech, roughly 3h15 and £8–11 second class. Drop bags at a riad or hostel in the medina. Afternoon: self-guided wander of the souks, Koutoubia Mosque gardens, and Bahia Palace (entry ~£6, or a combined medina ticket). Optional local guide for 3 hours ~£25–35 if you want the stories. As dusk falls head to Jemaa el-Fnaa for the food stalls, juice carts and performers — pick the busiest stall and eat for ~£5. Optional horse-drawn calèche loop ~£10.
🚌ONCF train Casablanca → Marrakech ~£10; local petit taxi ~£2
🛏Medina riad dorm or budget private room, ~£14/night
- →Koutoubia Mosque & gardens
- →Bahia Palace
- →Medina souks self-guided walk
- →Jemaa el-Fnaa evening food stalls
Marrakech deep dive — palaces, tanners & hammam
Marrakech, Morocco
A slower day in Marrakech: Saadian Tombs (small entry fee), El Badi Palace ruins, the tanners' and dyers' souks, and the Musée de la Photographie if you want a cool courtyard break. Book a shared or private walking guide via GetYourGuide for the morning (~£20–30) if you want orientation, then spend the afternoon haggling for lunch in the medina (~£5). Evening option: a hammam and scrub for ~£12–20, or the Berber-style dinner-and-fantasia show in the Palmeraie if you want the tour's optional extra (book direct, ~£55–60 — cheaper than the €70 the coach tour charges).
🚌Walking; occasional petit taxi ~£2
🛏Medina riad dorm or budget private room, ~£14/night
- →Saadian Tombs & El Badi Palace
- →Tanners' and dyers' souks
- →Optional guided medina walk
- →Optional hammam, ~£15
Over the Tizi n'Tichka to Ait Benhaddou & Ouarzazate
Ait Benhaddou / Ouarzazate, Morocco
The famous mountain day, DIY style. Take a shared grand taxi or a CTM/Supr@tours bus from Marrakech to Ouarzazate (~4–5 hrs, £8–12) and get off at Ait Benhaddou, or join a small-group day tour via GetYourGuide (~£30–40 including the ksar stop). Climb to the granary at the top of the UNESCO-listed ksar (small local fee, ~£1), then continue to Ouarzazate for the Atlas Film Studios and Taourirt Kasbah (~£5 combined). Overnight in a guesthouse either in Ait Benhaddou village or Ouarzazate town; ask your host about a shared taxi onward to Boumalne Dades the next morning (~£10–15, 2.5–3 hrs).
🚌Shared grand taxi / CTM bus Marrakech → Ouarzazate/Ait Benhaddou ~£10
🛏Kasbah guesthouse in Ait Benhaddou or Ouarzazate, ~£15/night
- →Tizi n'Tichka pass viewpoint stops
- →Ait Benhaddou ksar climb
- →Atlas Film Studios & Taourirt Kasbah
Dades Valley, Todgha Gorge & into the desert at Erfoud
Boumalne Dades / Todgha / Erfoud, Morocco
Morning shared taxi or bus along the Dades Valley (the switchback road viewpoint above Boumalne is the photo stop). Continue to Tinghir and walk the Todgha Gorge floor between the 300m canyon walls (free; local guide ~£8 if you want one). Onward shared taxi to Erfoud (~£10). Tonight either sleep in a cheap Erfoud hotel (~£15) or push into the dunes: book a 4x4 transfer plus desert-camp night at Erg Chebbi direct with a Merzouga camp (~£45–55 including dinner, drumming and a sunrise camel ride) — the same experience the tour sells as a €55 optional.
🚌Shared grand taxis Boumalne → Tinghir → Erfoud ~£20 total
🛏Erfoud budget hotel ~£15 or Erg Chebbi desert camp ~£45 incl. dinner
- →Dades Valley viewpoints
- →Todgha Gorge walk
- →Erg Chebbi dunes sunset & desert camp
- →Optional camel ride at sunrise
Middle Atlas crossing to Fez — Azrou monkeys & Bhalil
Erfoud → Fez, Morocco
Long transfer day, but a scenic one. CTM or Supr@tours bus Erfoud → Fez takes 8–9 hrs (~£15), or break it with a shared taxi to Midelt for a lake-side lunch stop. If you're driving-shared or on a small-group transfer, stop at Azrou's cedar forest to see the Barbary macaques and at the hillside village of Bhalil with its cave houses. Arrive Fez in the evening, check into a medina riad dorm or hostel and eat cheap harira and msemen near Bab Boujloud, ~£5.
🚌CTM/Supr@tours bus Erfoud → Fez ~£15
🛏Fez medina riad dorm, ~£13/night
- →Middle Atlas mountain scenery
- →Azrou cedar forest & monkeys
- →Bhalil cave-house village (if transport allows)
Fez medina guided walk & bronze gates
Fez, Morocco
Book a half-day licensed medina guide through GetYourGuide (~£25–35) — Fez's 9,000 alleys are genuinely worth a guide. Cover the Bronze Gates of the Royal Palace, the mellah (Jewish quarter), the Bou Inania madrasa, the Chaouwara tanners' quarter terraces and the souks. Lunch in a restored medina palace is the tour's headline extra; DIY it at Café Clock or a riad lunch for ~£8–12 instead of a set palace meal. Afternoon: the Merenid Marinid Tombs viewpoint for sunset over the medina (free).
🚌Walking; petit taxi ~£2
🛏Fez medina riad dorm, ~£13/night
- →Guided Fez medina & souks walk
- →Bronze Gates of the Royal Palace
- →Mellah & Bou Inania madrasa
- →Chaouwara tanners' quarter
- →Marinid Tombs sunset viewpoint
Fez to Tangier, ferry to Spain — overnight Seville
Tangier, Morocco → Seville, Spain
Morning train Tangier-bound: ONCF Fez → Tangier Ville is ~4 hrs and £15–20 (or a cheaper CTM bus, ~£12). Stretch your legs in the Tangier medina and the Café Hafa clifftop for a mint tea overlooking the Strait. Then take the fast ferry Tangier Ville → Tarifa (~1 hr, ~£25–35 booked direct or via FRS/Intershipping — the tour uses this same crossing) and a bus Tarifa → Seville (~2h30, ~£15 via Comes/Alsa). Alternatively the Algeciras → Seville train is ~2h45 for ~£20. Arrive Seville, check into a Triana or Centro hostel.
🚌ONCF train Fez → Tangier ~£18; ferry Tangier → Tarifa ~£30; bus Tarifa → Seville ~£15
🛏Seville hostel dorm in Centro or Triana, ~£20/night
- →Tangier medina & Café Hafa
- →Strait of Gibraltar ferry crossing
- →Evening wander of Triana
Seville — cathedral, Alcázar, Santa Cruz & Triana
Seville, Spain
Self-guided Seville day. Pre-book the Seville Cathedral and Giralda tower online (~£12–15), then the Real Alcázar (~£14–16, book a slot — it sells out). Wander Santa Cruz's lanes, cross to Triana for the ceramics shops and Mercado de Triana tapas lunch (~£10), and take a Guadalquivir river cruise or the cheap public ferry-style boat trip (~£8–18) in the late afternoon. Evening: a real flamenco tablao — Casa de la Memoria or La Carbonería (free entry) rather than the €40 hotel-transfer show, ~£18.
🚌Walking and city buses ~£3
🛏Seville hostel dorm, ~£20/night
- →Seville Cathedral & Giralda climb
- →Real Alcázar
- →Santa Cruz & Triana neighbourhoods
- →Guadalquivir river boat trip
- →Flamenco tablao, ~£18
Seville → Mérida → Évora → Lisbon
Mérida & Évora → Lisbon, Portugal
Bus or train Seville → Mérida (~2h, ~£10; ALSA or Renfe Media Distancia). Explore the UNESCO Roman ensemble: theatre, amphitheatre and circus (combined ticket ~£13), plus the Alcazaba and the longest surviving Roman bridge in Spain (free). Then a bus Mérida → Évora (~2h30, ~£12) for a quick loop of the whitewashed old town, Roman temple and cathedral square, before the final bus Évora → Lisbon Sete Rios (~1h40, ~£10). Check into a Baixa or Bairro Alto hostel. It's a big day — if you'd rather slow down, stay a night in Évora and take the 7am bus to Lisbon on day 11.
🚌Bus Seville → Mérida ~£10; Mérida → Évora ~£12; Évora → Lisbon ~£10
🛏Lisbon hostel dorm in Baixa/Bairro Alto, ~£20/night
- →Mérida Roman theatre & amphitheatre
- →Évora old town, Roman temple & cathedral
- →Arrival in Lisbon
Lisbon — Belém, Alfama & miradouros
Lisbon, Portugal
Ride tram 15 or the train to Belém for the Jerónimos Monastery (~£10) and Belém Tower exterior, plus a pastel de nata from the original Pastéis de Belém (~£3). Back in the centre, a free walking tour of Alfama and Baixa (tip ~£8-10) covers the cathedral, Praça do Comércio and the castle views. Sunset at a miradouro in Graça or Santa Catarina with a €1.50 beer. If you want the Sintra day trip: train from Rossio to Sintra (~£2.50 each way, 40 mins), Pena Palace entry ~£17 — far cheaper than the €40 coach excursion.
🚌Lisbon metro/tram day ticket ~£6
🛏Lisbon hostel dorm, ~£20/night
- →Jerónimos Monastery & Belém
- →Pastéis de Belém
- →Alfama free walking tour
- →Miradouro sunset
- →Optional Sintra day trip (train + Pena Palace ~£22)
Lisbon — last pastel and departure
Lisbon, Portugal
Slow breakfast, a last wander through the Feira da Ladra flea market (if it's a Tuesday or Saturday) or the Time Out Market, and pick up a Viva Viagem card top-up for the metro to the airport (~£2). Depart Lisbon. If you're flying home from elsewhere, a cheap regional bus or train onward is easy to book on the day.
🚌Lisbon metro to airport ~£2
🛏—
- →Feira da Ladra flea market or Time Out Market
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Europamundo
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Europamundo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£725 | £1,545 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £820 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Europamundo-style trips? Check them out here.~£725
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 Morocco, Seville & Lisbon: Self-Launched 12-Day Route cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £725 per person for 12 days in Morocco, Spain & Portugal. 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 Europamundo?+
Yes — Europamundo charges around £1,545 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £725 — a saving of roughly £820 (53%) per person.
How long is the Morocco, Spain & Portugal trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Morocco, Spain & Portugal.
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 culture, backpacker, adventure trip through Morocco, Spain & Portugal, 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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