Marrakech to Merzouga: every way to do it
It is 10 to 12 hours by road across the High Atlas. How to do it, what is worth seeing on the way, and how we pick you up when you arrive.
How long does Marrakech to Merzouga take
It is around 560 kilometres, but the distance is misleading: the road crosses the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass and bends the whole way. Count on 10 to 12 hours including stops.
That is why many travellers split it over two days, sleeping in Ouarzazate or the Dades valley, and actually see something instead of spending the day in a seat.
If you only have a day or two from Marrakech, the stone desert of Agafay, an hour away, may suit you better: we compare them in Agafay or Merzouga.
Ways to make the journey
By bus
Supratours and CTM run the route. There are daytime departures that leave in the morning and arrive at night, and overnight ones that get in at dawn. What runs changes by season: check the timetable the same month you travel and book ahead in spring and autumn.
If you are driving
The route is Marrakech, Tizi n’Tichka, Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Erfoud, Merzouga, paved all the way. You do not need a 4x4: we drive the final sandy stretch.
By private transfer
The easiest option with a group: door to door, stopping wherever you like. Message us and we will help you arrange it.
By plane to Errachidia
If you would rather skip the drive, there are domestic flights to Errachidia, about two hours from Merzouga.
The bus, and what to know before you buy
Supratours is the most direct option: it leaves from their Marrakech terminal, right behind the railway station, and runs through to Merzouga. The full journey is around twelve hours counting the rest and meal stops, and the ticket usually falls between €25 and €30. Those are rough figures: the company sets the timetable and the fares and they change with the season, so confirm them in the month you travel.
With CTM there is one detail worth checking before you pay: a good share of their services on this route terminate in Rissani, about 35 kilometres short of Merzouga, with that last leg covered by shared grand taxi. It is not a problem, but it is one more change than you were expecting if you arrive at night without knowing.
In spring and autumn it is worth buying a day or two ahead. And buy at the official counter or on the company’s website, not from someone on the street.
Whichever company you come with: tell us your arrival time and we will pick you up in Merzouga. The last stretch to the camp is on us.
Worth stopping for
If you split the drive over two days, these stops pay off:
- Tizi n’Tichka passAt 2,260 metres, the crossing of the High Atlas. The best views of the whole drive.
- Ait Ben HaddouThe adobe ksar listed as a World Heritage Site. It has appeared in half a dozen films.
- OuarzazateThe gateway to the desert and its film studios, where Gladiator and Game of Thrones were shot.
- Todra gorgesWalls 300 metres high on either side of a river. You walk along the bottom.
- Dades valleyThe road of tight hairpins between mud kasbahs and strange rock formations.
- Tinghir palm groveKilometres of palms following the river, with the oases on the way to Erfoud.
Arriving in Merzouga
We are in Erg Znaigui, 20 minutes from the centre of Merzouga on the N13 towards Taouz. Message us when you arrive and we come and get you: the last 10 minutes, already over sand, are done by 4x4.
The transfer both ways is included in your stay. If you arrive after dark, message us beforehand so we are waiting for you.
Shared taxis, the option nobody explains
Grands taxis are how people here actually get around, and they cost far less than a private transfer. There is no direct one from Marrakech: you do it in legs, usually Marrakech to Ouarzazate, Ouarzazate to Erfoud or Rissani, and from there to Merzouga.
They run without a timetable: they leave when they fill up, six seats. You can pay for one seat or for the whole car if you would rather not wait. It is the cheapest option and the slowest, so leave yourself margin if you travel this way.
If you reach Rissani or Erfoud and cannot find a connection on to Merzouga, message us: it is a short leg and we can help.
Questions about the journey from Marrakech
Does the CTM bus go all the way to Merzouga?
It depends on the service: many terminate in Rissani, about 35 km short, and from there you carry on by shared grand taxi. Supratours usually runs through to Merzouga. Check how far your ticket goes before buying, especially if you are travelling overnight.
How much is the bus from Marrakech to Merzouga?
Around €25 to €30 each way, roughly. The company sets the fare and it changes with the season. Buy at the official counter or on their website, never from an intermediary in the street.
Should I book the bus in advance?
In spring and autumn, yes: a day or two is enough. In low season you can usually find a seat the same day.
How many hours is Marrakech to Merzouga?
Between 10 and 12 hours by road, about 560 kilometres. The distance is misleading because you cross the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, which is one bend after another. An overnight bus takes a little longer.
Is it better to do it in one day or two?
Two, if you can. The road passes Ait Ben Haddou, the Todra gorges and the Dades valley, which are among the best things in Morocco. Doing it in one go means a whole day in a car and arriving at night having seen none of it.
Is there a direct bus from Marrakech to Merzouga?
Yes. Supratours and CTM both cover the route, with daytime and overnight departures depending on the season. The full journey is around 12 hours. Timetables change by season, so check them the same month you travel and book ahead in spring and autumn.
Do I need a 4x4 to get there?
No. The road is tarmac the whole way to Merzouga. The only stretch over sand is the last few minutes to the camp, and we do that in a 4x4, included both ways.
Is it better to fly to Errachidia?
If what you want is to avoid the drive, yes: from Errachidia it is about two hours to Merzouga. You lose all the Atlas scenery but gain a whole day of travel. If you fly in, we arrange the private transfer to the camp.
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Keep reading
- How to get to Merzouga and to our camp We are in Erg Znaigui, 20 minutes from the centre of Merzouga on the N13 towards Taouz. You do not have to drive: we come and get you, and the last stretch is done by 4x4.
- Luxury tents in the Merzouga desert Ten private tents in our luxury tented camp in Morocco, from €100 to €425 a night depending on occupancy. All with their own bathroom, a hot shower and air conditioning and heating.
- Book your stay at the camp From €100 per tent per night. WhatsApp is the fastest way: you write, we reply, it is done. If you would rather take your time, use the form.