Backpacking Morocco: Local Tips for Budget Travellers
Backpacking Morocco on a budget: honest local tips on trains, buses, hostels and scams, plus shared desert tours and small groups to save money. By locals.
Backpacking Morocco
Backpacking Morocco is easy, rewarding and still good value if you travel smart. Trains link Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes and Tangier, buses and shared taxis reach almost everywhere else, and hostels and simple riads are found in every medina. As a local team, we see every day what works for budget travellers – and where they lose money, time and patience. Here is our honest advice.
Our advice: do the cities on your own, and join others for the parts that are hard alone. The Sahara is the best example. Getting to Merzouga and into the dunes by yourself is long and complicated, while a shared departure or small-group tour splits the cost of the vehicle, the driver and the camp. We help with both, honestly.
Best seasonMarch to May, September to November
Why choose backpacking & budget travel in Morocco
Good value for money
Local food, public transport and simple riads are affordable compared with Europe. Your budget goes furthest when you eat where Moroccans eat and travel the way they do.
Classic, easy route
Most backpackers follow a loop between Marrakech, the Atlas, the desert, Fes and Chefchaouen, with Essaouira or the surf coast as a bonus. It is well connected and full of other travellers.
Social hostels and riads
Medina hostels often have rooftop terraces, shared dinners and noticeboards – the easiest way to meet people and form a group for day trips.
Shared tours save money
For the desert, the Atlas or trips from Marrakech, joining a shared departure is cheaper and far simpler than a private car and driver.
Huge variety in a small area
Mountains, dunes, Atlantic beaches, blue towns and imperial cities, all within a few days of travel.
Who is backpacking in Morocco for?
Solo travellers
Morocco is a popular solo destination. Shared tours and hostels make it easy to find company when you want it.
Solo female backpackers
Many women backpack Morocco. Expect attention in busy areas; modest clothes, confident walking and a group tour for the remote parts help a lot.
Students and gap-year travellers
Flexible, cheap and full of new experiences, Morocco is a great first trip outside Europe.
Not for zero-budget travel
Morocco is not free. Haggling everything down to nothing hurts local people, and some things – like a safe desert night – are worth paying properly for.
“Our advice: do the cities on your own, and join others for the parts that are hard alone.”
— Our team in MoroccoHow it works
- Tell us your dates
Send us your dates, where you are staying and how many you are – on WhatsApp or by email.
- We plan it with you
We suggest the best time and option for backpacking & budget travel and send you a clear price.
- Meet our team
On the day, our team meets you and explains everything before you start.
- Enjoy every moment
Live the experience – and add more adventures to your trip if you like.
Ways to do it with us
Book it on its own, or as part of one of our itineraries.
4 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga
A short private tour that crosses the Atlas to the Erg Chebbi dunes, with a camel ride and a night in a desert camp.
See the itinerary →Group tours with shared departures
Join other travellers on fixed dates to split costs while keeping a local guide.
See the itinerary →4 Day Tour from Marrakech to Fes
A one-way route through the desert, ideal if you continue north by train or bus afterwards.
See the itinerary →4 Day Morocco Tour from Spain
For backpackers crossing from southern Spain by ferry who want a short, organised first taste of Morocco.
See the itinerary →A typical trip
This is an example of a shared 4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour; routes and stops can change with the departure and the season.
- Marrakech to the desert
Cross the High Atlas, stop at Ait Benhaddou and sleep in the Dades Gorges.
- Into the dunes
Drive to Merzouga, ride camels into Erg Chebbi at sunset and sleep in a desert camp.
- Sunrise and the road north
Watch the sunrise over the dunes, then travel on through the Middle Atlas.
- Arrive in Fes
Reach the old medina of Fes, ready to continue north by train or bus.
Where it happens
Backpacking & budget travel with us takes place in these parts of Morocco – tell us where you are staying and we suggest the closest option.
- 1Marrakech
- 2Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)
- 3Fes
- 4Casablanca
- 5Rabat
- 6Tangier
- 7Essaouira
Useful information for backpacking in Morocco
Getting around
Trains run between Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes and Meknes, and are comfortable and cheap in second class. Long-distance buses cover the rest, including the desert and the coast. Shared grand taxis leave when full and are good for short hops.
Where to sleep
Hostels and small riads are found in every tourist medina. Book the first night before you arrive, ideally with directions or a pick-up, because finding your door in the medina at night is hard.
Scams to know
Fake guides, “the road is closed” and “the tannery is this way” tricks, and over-priced taxis are the classics. Use petit taxis with the meter running or agree a price first, and politely refuse unofficial guides.
Money
Cash is king in medinas, buses and small cafés. ATMs are easy to find in cities but rare in villages and the desert, so carry enough cash before you leave town.
How we help budget travellers
We run shared departures and small-group tours, give free advice on routes, and are honest when public transport is the better option for you.
Before you book
- Shared departures
- Shared tours run on set dates and fill with other travellers – contact us early for current dates.
- Luggage
- Space in the vehicle is limited; bring one backpack and a small bag for the desert night.
- Cash
- ATMs are rare in the desert and mountains, so withdraw enough cash in Marrakech before leaving.
- Comfort level
- Desert camps and budget stays are simple; tell us if you prefer a private room on the way.
- Onward travel
- Tell us where you go after the tour, so we can advise on trains and buses from Fes or back to Marrakech.
Best time for backpacking in Morocco
Spring and autumn are perfect for backpacking: warm days for the cities, good conditions in the Atlas and comfortable desert nights. Winter is cheaper and sunny but cold at night, especially in hostels without heating. July and August are very hot inland but fine on the coast.
- JanGood
- FebGood
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunPossible
- JulPossible
- AugPossible
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGood
BestGoodPossibleAvoid
Request your backpacking & budget travel
Fill in the form and press send: your request comes straight to our team’s inbox (or WhatsApp, if you prefer) and we reply with the details and a clear price.
- No payment to send a request
- We adapt the option to you
- Or write to us: +212 600 643 098
Backpacking in Morocco: 10 questions
Is Morocco good for backpacking?
Yes. Backpacking Morocco is popular because transport is cheap and connected, hostels are social, and the variety – desert, mountains, coast and medinas – is huge. The first days can feel intense, but most travellers adapt quickly.
Is backpacking Morocco safe?
Generally yes. Violent crime against tourists is rare; the main problems are scams, pushy sellers and petty theft in crowds. Keep valuables hidden, use official taxis and join a tour for remote areas.
Is Morocco safe for solo female backpackers?
Many women travel solo in Morocco. Expect comments and attention in busy medinas; it is usually verbal and easy to ignore. Dress modestly, walk with purpose, stay in well-reviewed hostels and use group tours for the desert.
What is a good backpacking Morocco itinerary for 2 weeks?
A classic loop: Marrakech, the Atlas, a 3-day desert trip to Merzouga, Fes, Chefchaouen, and back via Rabat or Casablanca, with Essaouira if you have time. Fly into Marrakech and out of Fes or Tangier to avoid backtracking.
Is Morocco cheap to visit?
Food, transport and simple accommodation are good value, especially outside Marrakech. Tours, riads in prime spots and shopping can add up quickly. Planning a daily budget and eating local keeps costs low.
How do you travel around Morocco on a budget?
Trains between the big cities, buses for the desert and the coast, and shared grand taxis for short trips. For the Sahara and the Atlas, a shared group tour is usually the cheapest realistic option.
Can you visit the Sahara on a budget?
Yes. Shared desert tours from Marrakech or Fes split the cost of transport, driver and camp between travellers. Reaching Merzouga alone by bus is possible but takes longer and still needs a camp booking on arrival.
What should I avoid in Morocco as a backpacker?
Unofficial guides, taxis without a meter or agreed price, photos with chained animals, drinking tap water in the first days, and revealing clothes in conservative areas. Also avoid arriving in a medina at night without directions.
Do I need cash for backpacking Morocco?
Yes. Small shops, food stalls, buses and grand taxis are cash only. Withdraw in cities, carry small notes, and keep a reserve for the desert and the mountains, where ATMs are rare.
Are there Morocco budget tours for backpackers?
Yes. Our shared departures and small-group tours are designed for travellers who want a local guide without the cost of a private trip. Contact us for current dates; prices are on request.
Combine it with
Two experiences in one trip – our favourite pairings.
+
Backpacking & budget travel + Camel & horseback treksAdd an extra night and a longer camel trek in the Erg Chebbi dunes from Merzouga.See camel & horseback treks →+
Backpacking & budget travel + Surf & kitesurf experienceAfter the cities and the desert, take a bus to the Atlantic coast for budget surf days in Taghazout.See surf & kitesurf experience →
Add backpacking & budget travel to your trip
Tell us your dates and where you are staying – we organise everything with you.