Is There a Train From Marrakech to Merzouga? Complete Answer
No — not directly, and not at all. Morocco's rail network doesn't reach Merzouga from any direction, and here's why, plus what to book instead.
Is There a Train From Marrakech to Merzouga? Complete Answer
No, and it's worth being unambiguous about it: there is no direct train from Marrakech to Merzouga, and no train reaches Merzouga at all, from any city or any direction. ONCF, Morocco's national rail operator, connects the country's major cities — Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Tangier — but the network stops well short of the Sahara. South of the Atlas Mountains, there's no rail infrastructure at all; everything runs on roads.
Why the network doesn't extend south
The Tizi n'Tichka pass that separates Marrakech from the desert region climbs well over 2,000 meters, and building a rail line through that kind of terrain is a genuinely different engineering undertaking than the relatively flat routes ONCF's existing network covers. Add in that Merzouga itself is a small desert town whose tourism boom is fairly recent, and the economics of a rail investment there simply haven't stacked up the way they have for connecting Morocco's larger northern and coastal cities. There's occasional public discussion of expanding Morocco's rail network further south over the coming years, but nothing concrete currently serves this route, and nothing on the table would reach Merzouga specifically even if it did materialize — treat any specific timeline you see elsewhere as speculation rather than fact.
The train-plus-bus workaround, and why it doesn't actually help
You could take the ONCF train from Marrakech north to Fes, then a bus back southeast to Merzouga — but this means traveling in the wrong direction first, since Fes sits northwest of Marrakech while Merzouga is southeast. ONCF runs 2-3 trains a day on that leg, taking around 6.5 hours and costing roughly 220-420 MAD depending on class. Add the bus leg back down to Merzouga (around 8 hours) and the connection time between them, and you're looking at close to two full days of travel for a route that a direct bus or private transfer covers in roughly 10-15 hours. It's not a shortcut; it's a detour that happens to include a train.
What actually works
Everything south of the Atlas — Ouarzazate, Merzouga, the whole desert region — runs on roads: buses (CTM and Supratours are the two established national operators, running to Erfoud/Rissani with a short taxi transfer onward), private transfers, self-driven rental cars, or multi-day organized tours that bundle the whole journey together. For the ~560km/9-10 hour road distance between Marrakech and Merzouga, a private tour or transfer is the most comfortable option, a rental car the most flexible, and a direct bus the cheapest if you don't mind the longest and least comfortable ride.
If train travel is something you specifically want out of your Morocco trip, it's genuinely worth doing — just treat it as a separate leg. The Marrakech-Casablanca-Fes-Tangier network is well run, comfortable, and scenic in its own right; save it for that part of your itinerary and handle the Merzouga leg by road.
The short version
Stop looking for a train option to Merzouga — none exists, and none is coming soon. A multi-day private tour is the best all-around choice for most visitors, a private transfer or rental car the right call if you'd rather handle accommodation yourself, and a direct bus the budget option if time and comfort matter less to you than cost.
Ready to book the road journey?
WhatsApp: +212675203319 / +212668534981 Email: hello@merzougaway.com
Last updated: August 2026.
MerzougaWay Team
We are a passionate team of local guides dedicated to sharing the beauty and culture of our home, Morocco. Our journey began with a simple desire to offer authentic, memorable experiences that go beyond the typical tourist trails.
