Last May, I spent 9 absolutely beautiful days in Morocco; exploring Marrakech, hiking through the Atlas Mountains, sleeping under the stars in the Sahara (surreal!), wandering one of the oldest cities in the world, Fez, and soaking up the dreamy blues of Chefchaouen.
And guess what?
No, you don’t have to visit Morocco on a private tour or with a personal driver! You can do it all independently, affordably, and with a whole lot of fun. Let me tell you how.
Getting to Morocco on a Budget (Flights & Routes)
I travelled from Malta to Morocco for just €160, 10 KG hand luggage included — for four flights!
Yes, you read that right. Ryanair, my friends!
Ryanair flies into so many major Moroccan cities, and you should definitely take advantage of that. Morocco is huge, just to give you an idea, Marrakech to Fez is over 500 km apart (that’s more than twice the distance from Malta to Catania in Sicily!).
That’s why I highly recommend flying into one city and out of another.
We flew into Marrakech and out of Fez, which saved us a long, backtracking journey.
Ryanair currently flies to:
- Agadir – gateway to the coast and a surfing paradise
- Essaouira – colourful, bohemian coastal town
- Tangier – only 13 km from Spain!
- Marrakech – the vibrant heart of Morocco
- Ouarzazate – close to the Sahara Desert
- Fez – home to the world’s oldest and largest medina
- Rabat – Morocco’s capital city
Our route looked like this:
- Malta – Milan Malpensa – Marrakech
- Fez – Barcelona – Malta
Each travel day took around 8 hours, not bad at all for hopping across countries!
The Best Time to Visit Morocco
The weather is one of Morocco’s best features. You can visit even in winter and still find dry, sunny days.
Even during the “wettest” months (November–March), Marrakech rarely gets more than 1–2 inches of rain per month, it’s basically a semi-desert climate!
Ideal months to visit? April, May, September, and October — perfect temperatures.
Accommodation — Riads, Mountain Huts & Desert Camps
I booked all my stays via Booking.com, just four weeks in advance, and scored some amazing late getaway deals.
In Marrakech, we spent 3 nights, including one night in a 5-star riad, for €100 each total.
Yes, you read that right; €100 per person for two nights in a gorgeous traditional riad and one night in a 5-star one! Both included breakfast and were absolutely beautiful.
In Fez, we paid €50 for two nights.
You can check out where we stayed in my detailed posts here: Fez | Marrakech.
During our shared tours, accommodation was also included:
- 1 night in a mountain hut in Toubkal
- 1 night in the Sahara Desert camp
- 1 night in a hotel en route to the desert
All of these were part of the tours I booked — and trust me, they were worth every cent.
Getting Around Morocco Without a Private Driver
So, how did we travel across Morocco without driving or hiring a private driver?
Shared tours! 🙌
They’re incredible; super affordable, well-organized, and perfect for solo travellers, couples, or small groups. You’ll see all the same places as a private tour, just at a fraction of the cost, and you’ll meet amazing people along the way.
Most groups are capped at around 15 people (a minivan’s capacity), and it’s such a great way to experience Morocco in good company.
Here’s the exact route I followed, broken down step by step; including all the tours I took to cover more than 1,600 KM in just 9 days!
Tour 1: 2-Day Mount Toubkal Trek
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I LOVE the mountains and climbing Mount Toubkal had been on my bucket list for 6 years!
Joining a group trek from Marrakech turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.
It wasn’t just about reaching the summit, it was about the journey: the people, the laughter, the challenge, and the incredible hospitality of our guides.
Sleeping at 3,200m, sharing meals in a mountain hut, and watching the sunrise over the Atlas Mountains, it was pure magic. I’d go back in a heartbeat.
The cost? €100 for a 2-day trek including:
- Transfers between Marrakech & Imlil
- A licensed guide (you must have one)
- 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
- 1-night accommodation in a shared mountain hut
I tipped my guide €30, and he truly deserved every bit of it. (Bring cash; you’ll want to tip more once you see how hard they work!)
If hiking isn’t your thing, you can still visit the Atlas Mountains on a day trip to experience Berber culture; one of the world’s oldest and most resilient indigenous communities.
Day trips to places like Ourika Valley start at just €8 per person!
Read more about my first 4,000m+ mountain climb in Morocco and discover the best day trips from Marrakech for your next adventure.
Tour 2: 3-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech to Fez
After our mountain trek, we spent one night relaxing in a 5-star riad before heading off on another adventure — a 3-day, 2-night shared tour from Marrakech to Fez.
Smart move? The tour ended in Fez, which aligned perfectly with our flight home — no 5.5-hour drive back to Marrakech!
We paid €290 per person for the deluxe camp option (private ensuite tent), but there’s also a standard camp for €180 per person — still great quality.
The price included:
- Transfers & transport
- 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners
- A night in a hotel en route (with a pool!)
- 1 night in the desert camp
- Entertainment & cultural shows
It was such a fun, social experience with travellers from all over the world and every stop was breathtaking.
(Full details for this exact tour coming soon!).
Visiting Fez & Chefchaouen
We ended our journey with two nights in Fez and a day trip to the stunning blue city of Chefchaouen for just €20 each — an absolute must-see. You can read all about it in my detailed post here.
How to See Morocco for Under €700
All of this — flights, accommodation, tours, all breakfasts, and most dinners — came to just €700. I climbed a mountain, slept under the stars in the desert, and packed so much adventure into just 9 days.
And the best part? You can absolutely do it for even less, depending on what you want to do. Want to save on accommodation? Go for it. Want to splurge on a riad or a deluxe tour? That works too, it’s totally up to you.
I’m telling you, Morocco is one of the most diverse, affordable, and rewarding destinations I’ve ever visited. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to go. consider this it!
Whether you have 4, 7, or 9 days — Morocco will fill them easily.
Even if you base yourself in Marrakech alone, you can fill your week with:
- Cooking classes
- Hot air balloon rides
- Day trips to Berber villages
- Visits to the Agafay Desert
Don’t forget to check out my post about the best day trips from Marrakech here.
Visit Morocco. You won’t regret it!
Happy Travels! x
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