Things to do · Fes
Fes and Marrakech are about 530 km apart by road. The train is the usual budget choice and takes around seven hours; a private car takes about six and a half hours on the toll motorways and lets you stop on the way; buses are cheaper still but slower. Here is how each option works, and how to choose.
Your options
Morocco's national railway, ONCF, runs services between Fes and Marrakech via Meknes, Rabat and Casablanca. The journey takes around seven hours, and some departures need a change of train. Check current times and fares and buy tickets on oncf-voyages.ma or at the station, and book ahead around holidays.
Not on this route. Al Boraq, the high-speed line, runs between Tangier and Casablanca, while Fes and Marrakech are served by conventional trains. A high-speed extension towards Marrakech is under construction.
CTM and Supratours run long-distance coaches between the two cities. They are usually the cheapest option but slower than the train, so they suit travellers on a tight budget rather than a tight schedule.
Flights between Fes (FEZ) and Marrakech (RAK) are limited and often connect through Casablanca. Once you add airport transfers and check-in, they rarely save much time over the train, so check current schedules before planning around one.
A private transfer covers about 530 km on the toll motorways via Rabat and Casablanca in roughly six and a half hours, door to door from your riad. It costs more than the train, but you can stop for lunch or a short visit on the way. Fares are fixed per vehicle and listed under Transfers on this site.
With your own car, Meknes and the Roman ruins of Volubilis are a short detour at the start, and Rabat's Kasbah of the Udayas and Hassan Tower sit roughly halfway. Each stop adds time, so allow a full day.
The inland route by Ifrane, Azrou and Beni Mellal crosses cedar forest and Berber country instead of motorway. It is slower and best done as a private trip with a driver who knows the road.
Many travellers go from Fes to Marrakech the long way, through the Middle Atlas to the Merzouga dunes and back west along the kasbah route. Our 3-day desert tour from Fes can be arranged one way, ending in Marrakech; ask when you enquire.
Travelling solo or on a budget: take the train. A family or small group with luggage: a private car costs more but runs door to door, with stops wherever you like. Have three days to spare: go via the desert.
Around seven hours. Trains run via Meknes, Rabat and Casablanca, and some departures need a change. Check the current timetable on oncf-voyages.ma.
About 530 km by road on the toll motorways via Rabat and Casablanca, roughly six and a half hours by car.
No. Al Boraq runs between Tangier and Casablanca. Fes and Marrakech are on the conventional network, and a high-speed extension towards Marrakech is under construction.
A CTM or Supratours coach is usually cheapest, followed by a second-class train ticket. Both are much cheaper than a private car for one or two people.
Yes. We run private transfers with a driver, with fixed per-vehicle fares listed under Transfers on this site. A 30% deposit confirms your booking; cancellation and refunds follow Serenity Morocco Tours' booking terms.
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