| Option | Duration | Guide price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONCF train | 6 h 30 to 7 h 30 | 195 to 235 dh in 2nd class | Most travellers |
| Coach (Supratours, CTM) | 8 to 9 h | Check at the ticket desk | Tight budget, no suitable train |
| Private transfer | 7 to 8 h by road | Price of the vehicle, to be asked | Groups, families, luggage |
| 3-day tour via Merzouga | 3 days | Depends on the offer, compare | Seeing the desert on the way |
The train: the simplest
The train leaves from Marrakech station, in Gueliz, and heads north to Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes and then Fez. Depending on the timetable, the journey is direct or involves a change at Casablanca. The Al Boraq high-speed train serves neither Marrakech nor Fez. Book on the ONCF website or app, or at the ticket desk; 1st class costs a little more and is worth it over seven hours. The day before Eid and at the end of school holidays, book several days ahead. All departures from Marrakech are covered in train and bus from Marrakech. A morning departure gets you to Fez late in the day: plan to sleep there.
For the three-day desert route, see the Marrakech to Fes tour via Merzouga.
Private transfer: for a group
A driver collects you at your riad and drops you in Fez without changes, with stops possible. Allow 7 to 8 hours on the road, not counting breaks. There is no official fare: prices depend on the vehicle, the number of passengers and the season. Ask for a fixed written price, the luggage allowed and whether tolls are included. For a single traveller it is rarely worth it compared with the train. If you want a driver by the day rather than for one trip, read private driver in Marrakech by the day; to drive yourself, car rental in Marrakech.
The desert tour: three days
This turns the journey into a stage of the trip: a 3-day tour leaves Marrakech, crosses the High Atlas, passes the Dades or Todra valley, sleeps in Merzouga, then reaches Fez through the Middle Atlas instead of returning to Marrakech. To compare offers, see Merzouga in 3 days from Marrakech and Merzouga desert from Marrakech. Before paying, check that the listing says "drop-off in Fez" and not a return to Marrakech. It is a lot of road for one night in the desert, but the trip to Fez is included in the price.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Middlemen outside stations: buy at the ticket desk or online.
- Durations: always allow more than the displayed time, especially by coach and car.
- Late arrival in Fez: book the riad in advance and tell them your arrival time.
- Transfer prices without paperwork: ask for a written quote.
Which option to choose?
- One traveller or a couple: the train, in 1st class if possible.
- Family with luggage: the private transfer.
- You want the desert: the 3-day tour with drop-off in Fez.
- You are continuing north: also see Fez and Chefchaouen tour from Marrakech.
ONCF timetables and fares: confirm them on the ONCF website on the day of travel.
