I have just returned home to Ireland after a week long solo trip where my main aim was climb Toubkal. First of all i got lots of great info on Thorn Tree so thanks to everyone who gave me info. This was my 3rd trip to Morocco so the main part of the trip was spent in Atlas Mountains with a day either side in Marrakesh.

• Marrakesh
  This was my 2nd trip to Marrakesh so I had no need to visit the tourist sites. I am into my photography so i just spent my 2 days here wandering around taking…

Hikes on the highlands of Lalibela is recommend. You can combine it with a visit to the famous 11 rock cut churches in town, and also other monasteries and cave churches like: Asheten Mariam and Yimerhane Kristos on the way.
Entrance fee to the churches in town maybe bit expensive, $50, but the hike should not be expensive compared to Simien and Bale.
There are some companies like Highland Eco Trekking Tours operating treks there
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ethiopia/northern-ethiopia/lalibela/acti…

I thought of going via Ouarazate since there's a CTM bus leaving Marrakesh 10.00 which arrives at 14.45
I should then be able to get the 16.00 bus to M'Hamid, arriving at 21.45
From Marrakesh there's an earlier bus which should give me time enough to get a glimpse of Ouarzazate before heading to M'Hamid
Any idea where I can leave my luggage for a few hours?

I catch a taxi at the airport going into Fez, or Marrakesh, or ..... Can I just show the driver the name of the Riad in English and he will know where to go? Or how is it done? Does the driver use his cell to call the Riad to find directions? Are the drivers good at reading a map?

Any help appreciated!

..... I'm not clear how many days you have, or whether it's hike/walk over mountain tracks, or a part car-tour you have in mind.?

Rather than the well worn road from Marrakesh to Ouarzazate taken by so many tourists enroute to rushed 'Desert Expeditions' via the Tizi-n-Tickhla Pass..... consider instead the slower much-less used Tizi-n-Test Pass to the Sous Valley. This route has several interesting sights/ sites to visit, the Tin-Mal Mosque, already mentioned Ouiragane, Ansi and Imlil…

Looking for the ultimate rough backpacking trip starting and finishing in Fez. We want it cheap ie. sleeping on roofs etc but always very intense so we can see a lot. So far we have Fez - Casablanca - Marrakesh - Ouarzazate and waterfall - Atlas mountains. Any other none touristy places we should go?

..... to make three comments.... 1) on your trip north via the N1, keep an eye out for estuary/ sea-inlets in May dried river-beds, flocks of Flamingos gather in May and June.

2) Including a trip over the Tizi-n-Test Pass, where you can visit the Tin Mal Mosque circa 1100, (if open)one of only two Mosques in Morocco where non-Muslims can enter.

The village of Ourigane on the road to Marrakech is a place to find terrific little restaurants, a good place to rest and eat....... if the above…

..... there's 12 trains between Mohamed V Airport and Fez daily>

Sorry, this is really confusing. Let's be clear. There are no trains "between" Mohamed V Airport and Fes at all. Every train from the airport terminates at Casa Port station. A ticket can be bought from the airport booking office to Fes. If it's a first class one, it will have details of 2 trains on it and mention the compartments and seats (the latter only for the Fes train)reserved on the system for the ticket holder. The…

There are two airlines that are equal with time frame and fees that I have to decide on.

Iberia Airlines fly from Barcelona with a 2 hour layover in Madrid, change of terminals then onwards to Marrakesh. Both in standard airplanes.

The alternative airlines is Royal Air Moroc that flies from Barcelona with a 1 hour and 35 min layover in Casablanca, change terminal and a smaller plane onwards to Marrakesh.

Vueling Airlines is non-stop but leaves 9:00pm and arrives 10:30pm not the best timeframe…