The Ultimate Self-Launched Adventure Through Morocco

Arrive at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) and make your own way into the city centre. The easiest option is the Casa Voyageurs train from the airport (around £4, ~35 mins), which runs regularly throughout the day. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the city. In the evening, head out to a local Moroccan restaurant to try your first tagine and get your bearings. The Corniche area and the Hassan II Mosque surroundings are great for a first-night wander.

🚌Airport express train: CMN Airport → Casa Voyageurs, ~£4, 35 mins. Runs every 30 mins.

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Casablanca city centre, e.g. Lazy Camel Hostel or similar — twin/dorm from ~£12–18pp

• →Arrive at Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport (CMN)
• →Take the airport train to Casa Voyageurs station (~£4)
• →Check into budget accommodation
• →Evening stroll and welcome dinner at a local Moroccan restaurant

After breakfast, take a CTM or Supratours bus from Casablanca to Chefchaouen (typically via Tétouan, ~5–6 hrs, ~£10–13). On arrival, drop your bags at your hostel and explore the famous Blue City on foot — no guide needed. Wander the cobblestone medina, browse the craft shops, and hike up to the Spanish Mosque for a classic sunset view over the blue rooftops cradled by the Rif Mountains. The hike up to the mosque takes around 20–30 minutes and is clearly signposted.

🚌CTM or Supratours bus: Casablanca → Chefchaouen, ~£10–13, ~5–6 hrs. Book online at ctm.ma or at the bus station.

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Chefchaouen medina, e.g. Hostal Souika or Dar Meziana — dorm/twin from ~£12–18pp

• →Bus from Casablanca to Chefchaouen via CTM or Supratours (~£10–13, ~5–6 hrs)
• →Self-guided walk through the medina and cobalt-blue streets
• →Browse local craft shops in the souks
• →Hike up to the Spanish Mosque for sunset views over Chefchaouen

Head to Akchour Falls, a stunning hidden gem in the Rif Mountains. Take a shared grand taxi from Chefchaouen to the Akchour trailhead (~£2–3pp each way). The hike is a well-marked 12km round trip (400m elevation gain/loss, ~3–4 hrs) through forested gorges, past rivers and cascades, to the turquoise pool at the base of the falls. Pack a picnic lunch from the medina the night before or eat at one of the small local restaurants at the trailhead. Return to Chefchaouen in the afternoon for a free evening — try the rooftop restaurants around Plaza Uta el-Hammam.

🚌Shared grand taxi: Chefchaouen → Akchour trailhead, ~£2–3pp each way. Departs from the main taxi rank near Bab el-Ain.

🛏Same as Day 2 — hostel or guesthouse in Chefchaouen medina

• →Shared grand taxi to Akchour trailhead (~£2–3pp each way)
• →Self-launched hike to Akchour Falls: 12km, ~3–4 hrs, 400m ascent/descent
• →Wild swim in the turquoise pool beneath the falls
• →Picnic lunch at the falls
• →Free evening in Chefchaouen — explore restaurants and rooftop bars

Take a morning CTM bus or shared taxi towards Fès (~5 hrs, ~£10–14). Ask to be dropped near Meknès to make a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage ruins of Volubilis (~£3 entry), the best-preserved Roman archaeological site in Morocco. From Volubilis, it's a short taxi ride to the nearby hilltop holy town of Moulay Idriss (free to enter, though non-Muslims cannot enter the shrine). Grab lunch in the village before continuing by grand taxi or bus to Fès. Check into a riad or medina guesthouse and explore the narrow alleyways of the old city before dinner.

🚌CTM bus or shared grand taxi: Chefchaouen → Meknès, ~£10–14. Grand taxi: Meknès → Volubilis → Moulay Idriss → Fès, ~£3–6 per leg.

🛏Riad or medina guesthouse in Fès el-Bali, e.g. Riad Dar Seffarine or similar budget riad — twin from ~£20–30pp

• →Morning bus or shared taxi towards Fès via Meknès (~£10–14)
• →Visit the UNESCO Roman ruins of Volubilis (entry ~£3)
• →Grand taxi to the holy hilltop town of Moulay Idriss (free entry)
• →Lunch in Moulay Idriss
• →Grand taxi or bus onwards to Fès (~£3–5)
• →Evening stroll in Fès el-Bali medina

Spend a full day exploring Fès el-Bali — the world's largest car-free urban area. You can book a half-day guided tour of the medina via GetYourGuide (~£12–18pp) or hire a local licensed guide directly at Bab Boujloud (bargain to around 150–200 MAD/~£12–15). Highlights include the Chouara Tannery (best viewed from the leather shop terraces above — tip or buy something small for access), the Mosque of Kairouine (exterior only for non-Muslims), and the ornate Medersa Bou Inania (entry ~£2). In the evening, the riad neighbourhood quietens down — try a traditional pastilla (pigeon pie) at a local restaurant.

🚌All on foot within Fès el-Bali medina.

🛏Same as Day 4 — riad or guesthouse in Fès el-Bali

• →Self-launched or locally-guided half-day medina walk through Fès el-Bali
• →Walk through Bab Boujloud and get lost in the medina labyrinth
• →Visit the Chouara Tannery viewpoints
• →View the exterior of the Mosque of Kairouine
• →Visit Medersa Bou Inania (entry ~£2)
• →Free evening — try traditional Fassi cuisine at a local restaurant

This is the longest travel day — from Fès to Merzouga is roughly 8–10 hours. The most budget-friendly option is the CTM overnight bus from Fès to Errachidia or Rissani (~£15–20), then a local grand taxi to Merzouga (~£4–6). Alternatively, shared day trip buses operate from Fès to Merzouga for around £20–25. Arrive at your Berber desert camp in the late afternoon or evening. In the evening, hike up a dune for the sunset and star-gaze under an extraordinary desert sky. Desert camps typically include dinner and breakfast in their price.

🚌CTM bus: Fès → Errachidia or Rissani, ~£15–20, ~7–8 hrs. Grand taxi: Rissani → Merzouga, ~£4–6.

🛏Budget Berber desert camp near Merzouga, e.g. Bivouac Les Dunes or Sahara Desert Camp — tent with dinner and breakfast from ~£25–35pp

• →CTM bus or shared transport from Fès to Errachidia/Rissani (~£15–20, 7–8 hrs)
• →Grand taxi from Rissani to Merzouga (~£4–6)
• →Check into a Berber desert camp at Erg Chebbi
• →Hike to the top of a sand dune for sunset over the Sahara
• →Dinner and star-gazing at the desert camp

Rise early for sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes before departing for Todra Gorge. Take a grand taxi or local minibus from Merzouga to Tinghir (~£6–10, ~3 hrs), then a short grand taxi to the gorge itself (~£2–3). En route or with a small detour, stop at Ksar El Khorobat, an ancient ksar (fortified village) where traditional Berber life continues. In the afternoon, book a 2-hour introductory rock climbing session at the gorge walls with a local instructor — this can be arranged on arrival at the gorge for around £15–20pp. Equipment is usually provided.

🚌Grand taxi or shared minibus: Merzouga → Tinghir, ~£6–10. Grand taxi: Tinghir → Todra Gorge, ~£2–3.

🛏Budget guesthouse or hotel at Todra Gorge, e.g. Hotel la Vallée or Auberge Baddou — twin from ~£12–18pp

• →Early sunrise over the Erg Chebbi sand dunes
• →Grand taxi or minibus: Merzouga → Tinghir (~£6–10, ~3 hrs)
• →Short taxi to Todra Gorge (~£2–3)
• →Stop at Ksar El Khorobat ancient ksar village en route
• →Introductory rock climbing session on the gorge walls with a local instructor (~£15–20pp, gear included)
• →Alternatively, self-guided walk through the limestone river canyons

A full day of hiking through the spectacular Todra Gorge — no guide required as the trails are clearly navigable. Set off through fertile palm groves, passing local farming communities, before entering the dramatic narrow gorge where 400m-high limestone cliffs close in on either side. If you'd like local insight, you can hire a guide at the gorge entrance for around £10–15. In the evening, treat yourself to a traditional hammam experience at a local public bathhouse (around £3–8pp for a basic hammam, or £12–20pp for a full scrub) — ask your guesthouse for the nearest local one.

🚌All on foot from guesthouse into the gorge.

🛏Same as Day 7 — guesthouse at Todra Gorge

• →Self-launched full-day hike through Todra Gorge (~4 hrs)
• →Walk through palm groves and past local farming villages
• →Hike through the dramatic narrow limestone canyon (walls up to 400m high)
• →Optional: tea with a nomad family in the mountains
• →Evening hammam experience at a local public bathhouse (~£3–20pp depending on treatment)

A long but rewarding drive day. Take a shared grand taxi or CTM bus from Tinghir towards Ouarzazate (~£8–12, ~3 hrs), then another towards Marrakech (~£10–15, ~4 hrs). Stop en route at Aït Ben Haddou, the iconic UNESCO-listed fortified ksar that has featured in dozens of Hollywood films (entry ~£2). Explore the winding streets and climb to the top for sweeping views of the surrounding plains. Continue through the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass (2,260m) and arrive in Marrakech by early evening. Check in and head to Jemaa el-Fna square for your farewell dinner — the food stalls here are legendary and very affordable.

🚌Grand taxi or CTM bus: Tinghir → Ouarzazate, ~£8–12. Grand taxi or CTM bus: Ouarzazate → Marrakech, ~£10–15. Aït Ben Haddou is a short detour from the main road — local taxis wait at the junction.

🛏Hostel or budget riad in Marrakech medina, e.g. Equity Point Marrakech or Riad Dar One — dorm/twin from ~£14–22pp

• →Shared grand taxi or bus: Tinghir → Ouarzazate (~£8–12, ~3 hrs)
• →Visit to Aït Ben Haddou UNESCO ksar (entry ~£2)
• →Shared taxi or bus: Ouarzazate → Marrakech via Tizi n'Tichka pass (~£10–15, ~4 hrs)
• →Check into Marrakech accommodation
• →Farewell dinner at the legendary Jemaa el-Fna food stalls

Your adventure ends today. Take a petit taxi or the No. 19 public bus from the medina to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) — around £3–5 by taxi or £0.50 by bus (allow 20–30 mins). Note: printed boarding passes are required at Marrakech airport — print yours before you arrive. If your flight is in the afternoon, use the morning to explore Marrakech: the Majorelle Garden (entry ~£10), the souks around the medina, or the Bahia Palace (entry ~£2) are all close to the city centre.

🚌Petit taxi to Marrakech Menara Airport: ~£3–5. Public bus No. 19: ~£0.50.

🛏Check out of Marrakech accommodation

• →Optional morning: visit Majorelle Garden (~£10), Bahia Palace (~£2), or wander the medina souks
• →Petit taxi or public bus No. 19 to Marrakech Menara Airport (~£0.50–5)
• →Depart from Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) — remember to bring a printed boarding pass