How to Get to Merzouga from Marrakech Like a Local – Overview: Marrakech to Merzouga
Contents
- Distance: ~560 km (via N9 → N10 → N13)
- Total Duration (Local Style): 10 to 12 hours
- Estimated Cost: 180–300 MAD
- Departure Advice: Leave before 7:00 AM to avoid being stranded
This is not a direct route unless you take a tourist bus. Locals typically go via Ouarzazate, then transfer through Tinghir, Erfoud, and Rissani before reaching Merzouga.
Step-by-Step Journey for Locals
✅ 1. Marrakech → Ouarzazate
- Mode: Grand Taxi or CTM/Supratours Bus
- Distance: ~200 km
- Time: 4–5 hours (across Tizi n’Tichka Pass)
- Fare:
- Taxi: 80–100 MAD
- Bus: 100–130 MAD
Tip: This part includes mountain roads — it’s scenic but slow.
✅ 2. Ouarzazate → Tinghir
- Mode: Grand Taxi
- Distance: ~170 km
- Time: 4 hours
- Fare: ~70 MAD
✅ 3. Tinghir → Erfoud
- Mode: Grand Taxi or Minibus
- Distance: ~135 km
- Time: 2 to 2.5 hours
- Fare: ~50–60 MAD
✅ 4. Erfoud → Rissani
- Mode: Shared Taxi
- Distance: ~17 km
- Time: ~30 minutes
- Fare: ~10–15 MAD
✅ 5. Rissani → Merzouga
- Mode: Shared Taxi or Pickup Truck
- Distance: ~40 km
- Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
- Fare: ~20–30 MAD
Cost Summary (One-Way Local Style)
| Route Segment | Mode | Time | Fare (MAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech → Ouarzazate | Bus/Taxi | 4–5 hrs | 80–130 |
| Ouarzazate → Tinghir | Taxi | 4 hrs | 70 |
| Tinghir → Erfoud | Taxi | 2–2.5 hrs | 50–60 |
| Erfoud → Rissani | Shared Taxi | 30 mins | 10–15 |
| Rissani → Merzouga | Shared Taxi | 1–1.5 hrs | 20–30 |
| Total | — | 10–12 hrs | 180–300 |
Important Travel Tips
- Early Start: Be at the Marrakech taxi station by 6:30 AM.
- No Guarantee on Taxi Time: They only leave when full.
- Bring Food & Water: Especially for Tinghir–Erfoud stretch.
- Pack Light: Grand taxis are tight — space is limited.
- Cash Only: Small change is essential for shared rides.
✅ Bonus: Direct Buses
If you’re not strictly traveling as a local, consider:
- Supratours Night Bus: Marrakech to Merzouga (via Erfoud and Rissani)
- Departure: ~8:30 PM
- Arrival: ~8:00 AM
- Fare: ~250–300 MAD
- Comfort: High (reserved seats, AC, fewer stops)
Traveling from Marrakech to Merzouga like a local is a rich cultural experience — and though long, it’s budget-friendly and memorable. Just be prepared for a full-day adventure.
Important places to visit in Morocco:
- Rabat’s Best Beaches & Coastal Adventures
- Unforgettable Day Trip to Ouarzazate
- Hiking & Nature in Chefchaouen
- Essaouira: The Windy City’s Coastal Charm & Historic Medina
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