How to travel from Europe to Africa on the cheap, by travelling across the Gibralter straights by ferry. From Algeciras in Spain, to Tangier, Morocco.
With the new low budget flights to Morocco from the UK, travelling from Europe to Africa has never been so cheap. But the flights are only cheap for those who book early, the planes are busy, and let’s face it four or five hours on a no frills airline with limited leg room, no movie choice, and only overpriced packaged sandwiches to distract you from the screaming baby behind is hardly an ideal way to travel. But there is another, equally cheap, slightly longer but vastly more rewarding way to reach Morocco from Western Europe. Here it is.
Step 1:Take a no frills flight to Andalusia
Unfortunately you’re not going to avoid the low budget carriers altogether, but travelling this way will mean you spend much less time on a cramped plane, get to enjoy a day or two in Southern Spain, and with the abundance of cheap flights to the region save a few quid. Easy Jet and Ryan Air both fly to numerous handy cities in southern Spain including Malaga, Seville, Jerez, and Granada.
Step 2:Take a train or bus to Algeciras
The most southern point of southern Spain, and the port which has the most choices in term of ferries to Morocco is Algeciras. There are buses from Algeciras to all of the above mentioned towns and indirect train connections. The train journey from Malaga winds it’s way through some of the country’s most stunning mountain scenery.
Step 3:Take the ferry to Tangier
At the port of Algeciras you’ll find a large departure terminal filled with various ferry companies touting tickets for the crossing. Ferries leave almost every hour during the day so there’s no need to book. Just turn up, buy a ticket on site and then enjoy your last serving of Tapas before hopping across the pond where nothing will be quite this easy and organised again. There are several fast ferries that make the crossing in times ranging from 70 minutes to 2.5 hours. Ferry prices vary depending on company and crossing time but broadly speaking you should be able to pick up a single ticket for between 20 and 30 Euros. Wave goodbye to the Rock of Gibraltar to your left and keep your eyes peeled for the first glimpses of Africa as it appears on the horizon.
Step 4:Explore Morocco!
Once you get adjusted to the new sights, sounds and smells of the Arab world, the country is your oyster to explore, and the most leisurely, scenic and cheapest way to do it is by train. Tangier has a shiny new station that connects the city with Fez, Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech, Marrakech being the last stop and reachable in a full day, or over night on a sleeper train. Tickets are very cheap by European standards, most ‘First Class’ fares costing only a few pounds. The first class sleeper train all the way to Marrakech costs just 20£ sterling. Trains are usually quiet, and a first class ticket will buy you a seat in a private cabin for six, a rolling window view of the Atlas mountains, and all the leg room you could only dream of on a no frills flight!
For more alternative Africa travel ideas see : Climbing Mount Sinai
