Buses from Marrakech to Merzouga: Complete Operators Guide 2026

Buses from Marrakech to Merzouga: Complete Operators Guide

The Marrakech–Merzouga bus market is smaller and simpler than it might look once you start searching for it: there are really two national operators worth knowing, CTM and Supratours, and beyond them a scattering of smaller regional companies whose quality varies enough that we won't recommend specific ones by name here. If you see a guide listing half a dozen named "top" bus companies with star ratings and review counts for this specific route, treat it with real skepticism — much of that level of detail simply isn't independently verifiable, and some of it is likely invented outright.

CTM and Supratours, the two that matter

CTM (Compagnie de Transports au Maroc) is Morocco's oldest and largest bus operator, with the widest network and generally the cheaper fares on this route. Supratours is the coach arm of ONCF, the national railway, and tends to run a newer fleet with a somewhat more comfortable standard seat, for a fare a step above CTM's. Both run day and overnight services, both use reasonably comfortable long-distance coaches with air conditioning and an onboard toilet, and both are safe, well-established choices that Moroccans themselves use daily, not just tourists. Crucially, neither operator's own stop is in Merzouga village — both terminate in Erfoud or Rissani, the towns on the paved highway before the desert track to Merzouga, so factor in a short grand taxi (roughly 30-45 minutes) to finish the trip. A shared grand taxi from Rissani is cheap, often around 15-30 MAD per person if you're willing to wait for it to fill; hiring the whole vehicle privately runs more, roughly 60-150 MAD depending on time of day. Confirm the exact drop-off point with whichever operator you book.

Smaller regional operators

You'll come across smaller, more local bus and shared-van operators serving this corridor as well, generally cheaper than CTM or Supratours and sometimes more flexible on timing. Quality here genuinely varies — vehicle age, driver experience, and reliability aren't standardized the way they are with the two national operators — so if you go this route, it's worth asking locally (your riad, hotel, or a Marrakech travel agency) which specific companies are currently well regarded rather than trusting an unverified name from an online guide, since which small operators are reliable shifts over time and isn't something we can vouch for from a distance.

Choosing based on what you actually want

If price is the only thing that matters, CTM's cheaper fares make sense, and the smaller regional operators cheaper still if you've verified one locally. If comfort matters more than saving the difference, Supratours' newer fleet is worth the modest premium. If you'd rather not deal with a fixed schedule, a taxi transfer at the end, and 10+ hours in a bus seat at all, that's really the case for a private multi-day tour instead — which covers the same road but turns it into an actual itinerary with stops at Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Gorge, rather than a straight transit.

Booking

Book CTM and Supratours directly through their own websites (ctm.co.ma and supratours.ma), in French, Arabic, or English, or in person at their Marrakech terminals if you'd rather confirm details with staff — worth doing specifically to double-check the Erfoud/Rissani transfer arrangement for your date. Bring your passport, since it's checked at booking and boarding. Book a few days ahead in peak season (spring and autumn), since popular departures do sell out.

A note on price and what's actually included

Expect CTM and Supratours fares in the rough range of 150-350 MAD depending on service and season, with meals at stops paid separately rather than included in the ticket — check each operator's own site for current pricing rather than a number quoted elsewhere. Luggage is generally handled without a strict weight check on this route, though bring only what you can carry the short taxi transfer at the other end. Solo travelers, including women traveling alone, and families with children all use these buses routinely without issue; children typically travel at a reduced fare, and it's worth packing something to keep them occupied across what remains, regardless of operator, a genuinely long day.

Contact Us

Not sure which operator fits your trip, or whether a private tour makes more sense for your dates? Reach out and we'll walk you through the honest trade-offs.

WhatsApp: +212 675 203 319 / +212 668 534 981 Email: hello@merzougaway.com

Last updated: August 2026.