Marrakech to Merzouga Bus Timetable: Schedule and Routes 2026

Marrakech to Merzouga Bus Timetable: Schedule and Routes

Worth saying plainly before anything else: only two national operators run long-distance service on this corridor, CTM and Supratours, and neither runs a bus that terminates in Merzouga itself — both get you to Erfoud or Rissani, with the final short stretch covered by local grand taxi. Anything claiming a fixed, direct "Marrakech to Merzouga" timetable down to the minute is describing something that doesn't quite match reality, since schedules on this route shift by season and are genuinely best confirmed at the station or through the operators' own counters rather than relied on secondhand.

Supratours and CTM, honestly compared

Supratours, affiliated with the national rail operator ONCF, tends to run newer coaches with air conditioning, onboard toilets, and more consistent timekeeping — it's the more comfortable of the two, generally at a modest price premium. CTM is Morocco's older, more extensive network and usually the cheaper option, with service quality that varies more by specific bus and route than Supratours' does. Both companies run a mix of day and overnight departures on the legs toward Ouarzazate and onward southeast; night services in particular are popular since they let you sleep through a chunk of the journey and arrive with a full day ahead of you.

Beyond these two, smaller regional operators cover parts of the route at lower prices, but service quality and reliability vary a lot — worth asking locally which ones currently have a decent reputation rather than booking on a stranger's recommendation online.

What the journey actually breaks into

The trip splits naturally into two legs. The first, Marrakech to Ouarzazate, crosses the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass and takes around 4-5 hours — a genuinely scenic ride, with the road winding enough that motion-sickness medication is worth having if you're prone to it. From Ouarzazate, the second leg continues southeast through Erfoud toward Rissani, typically another 6-7 hours, after which a short grand-taxi ride (30-45 minutes) covers the final distance into Merzouga itself. Add it up and you're looking at roughly 12-15 hours of total travel time including the connection, sometimes more if the timing between legs doesn't line up cleanly.

Because of that connection risk, plenty of travelers break the journey with an overnight stop in Ouarzazate rather than pushing straight through — it costs a bit more but avoids an anxious wait for a same-day onward bus and means arriving in Merzouga with daylight to spare.

Pricing, roughly

Expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 150-300 MAD (roughly €15-30) per leg depending on operator and comfort tier, with the full Marrakech-to-Merzouga journey landing somewhere around €40-60 all in in once you add the final taxi transfer. Prices climb somewhat in peak season (broadly October through April) and for last-minute bookings — booking a few days ahead, or at least arriving at the station with a buffer before your preferred departure, gets you more options.

Booking

The most reliable way to book is in person at the station or through the operators' own counters, since both CTM and Supratours run their own ticketing and the schedules you'll find there are the ones that are actually current — a same-day or day-ahead purchase is normal practice for most travelers on this route. Supratours does have an online booking site, though it's French/Arabic-only and not the smoothest experience if you're booking from abroad; your riad or hotel can often arrange tickets for a small fee if you'd rather skip the station visit entirely.

Making the ride more comfortable

Bring a layer for onboard air conditioning that runs colder than expected, something to support your neck for the long overnight option, and snacks and water for stretches between rest stops. If motion sickness is a concern, sitting toward the front and away from the back of the bus helps on the mountain-pass sections.

Is the bus the right call?

It's the cheapest way to make this trip by a clear margin, and a genuinely more local experience than being driven privately — the tradeoff is a longer, less comfortable journey with no one to explain what you're passing along the way (Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades Valley, the kasbah towns). If your budget stretches even a little, a private transfer or multi-day tour covers the same route in around 9-10 hours with someone else handling the logistics end to end.

Want help planning around actual current bus timing, or would rather skip the connection altogether?

WhatsApp: +212675203319 / +212668534981 Email: hello@merzougaway.com

Last updated: August 2026.