Marrakech to Merzouga by Train: Is Train Travel Possible? Complete Guide
There's no direct train to Merzouga, and the indirect train-plus-bus workaround via Fes takes longer and costs more than just driving there — here's why, honestly assessed.
Marrakech to Merzouga by Train: Is Train Travel Possible?
The short version: there's no direct train from Marrakech to Merzouga, and no train reaches Merzouga at all, from any direction. Morocco's rail network, run by ONCF, is built around connecting the country's major cities — Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, Tangier — and it simply doesn't extend into the Sahara region. The Tizi n'Tichka pass that a train would need to cross sits over 2,000 meters up, and there's never been a rail line built through it toward the desert.
The workaround, and why it's not worth it
You could technically combine trains and buses to get partway there: take the ONCF train from Marrakech to Fes — the Al Atlas service, which involves a change at Casablanca Voyageurs, typically runs 6-7.5 hours total (2nd class fares are around 200 MAD), so it's faster than people often assume — then a bus onward from Fes to Merzouga for another 7-8 hours. Add it up and you're looking at roughly 13-15 hours of travel across two legs, plus the hassle of timing the connection — if the train arrives mid-afternoon, you may find yourself waiting for the next bus departure or scrambling to make a same-day connection.
The problem isn't really the train part — it's genuinely comfortable, especially the sleeper cars — it's that Fes is northwest of Marrakech while Merzouga is southeast, so this route means traveling in the wrong direction first before doubling back. It ends up costing about the same as a direct bus or private transfer while taking noticeably longer and leaving you far more fatigued, with a real chance of arriving too late to catch that first evening's sunset camel trek into the dunes.
If you want to book the Marrakech-Fes train yourself, ONCF's own site (oncf.net.ma) is in French and Arabic and is known to reject foreign credit cards fairly often — we've written a separate guide to working around that if you go this route. Travel agencies in the Marrakech medina and most riads can also book it for you for a small fee.
Why people ask this in the first place
It's a reasonable assumption — Morocco does have a real, well-used national rail network, so it's natural to expect it reaches everywhere worth visiting. It doesn't. The train serves the northern and coastal cities well; south of the Atlas, including Ouarzazate, Merzouga, and the rest of the desert region, transport runs entirely on roads — buses, private drivers, and organized tours.
What actually makes sense instead
For most visitors, a multi-day private tour (2-4 days) is the best option by a wide margin: it bundles the transportation, the overnight stops, meals, and the desert camp into one booking, with a driver-guide handling the mountain crossing so you don't have to think about it. A private transfer or self-driven rental car covers the same ~560km/9-10 hour road distance more directly if you'd rather split accommodation and activities yourself. A direct bus (via CTM or Supratours to Erfoud or Rissani, then a short local taxi into Merzouga) is the cheapest option, if also the slowest and least comfortable.
If you do want to experience Moroccan train travel, save it for where the network actually shines — Marrakech-Casablanca-Fes-Tangier is a genuinely good loop — and treat the Merzouga leg as a separate, road-based trip.
Ready to book the road journey instead?
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.
