Trip Planning
Marrakech to Fes: Train, Road, Flight or Through the Sahara
Published November 4, 2026 by Morocco Amazing Tours
The short answer: the direct ways from Marrakech to Fes take most of a day: about 7 hours by train via Casablanca and Rabat, 7 to 8 hours by road over the Middle Atlas, or a flight that usually connects in Casablanca. If you have three or four days, the best way is through the Sahara: Ait Ben Haddou, the gorges, a night in the Merzouga dunes, then north through the Middle Atlas to Fes.
The five options
| Option | Time | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Train (ONCF) | About 7 hours | Comfort on a budget; read, nap, watch the countryside |
| Private driver via the Middle Atlas | 7 to 8 hours, more with stops | A scenic day with stops at Ouzoud or Ifrane |
| Coach (CTM, Supratours) | 8 to 9 hours | The cheapest option |
| Flight | Usually via Casablanca, half a day door to door | Rarely faster than the train once airports are counted |
| Desert crossing via Merzouga | 3 or 4 days | Seeing the Sahara without going back on yourself |
By train
Trains leave Marrakech station in Gueliz for Fes several times a day, some direct, some with a change in Casablanca. First class is worth the small difference on such a long ride. In Fes, the station is in the new town, about 15 minutes by petit taxi from the medina gates.
By road through the Middle Atlas
The road north-east runs via Beni Mellal and Khenifra, or Azrou and Ifrane, through olive groves, lakes and cedar forest. With a private driver you can break the journey at the Ouzoud Waterfalls or in Ifrane and the cedar forest, which turns a long transfer into a full day of sightseeing.
Through the Sahara
This is how most of our guests travel between the two cities: Marrakech, the Tizi n'Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades and Todra gorges, a sunset camel trek and a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, then the Ziz Valley, Midelt and Ifrane to Fes. Choose the 3 day or the 4 day version with two desert nights, and compare all routes on Marrakech to Fes desert tours.
Which first, Marrakech or Fes?
It depends on your flights and the rhythm you prefer; we explain the pros and cons in Marrakech vs Fes: which first. The reverse journey, Fes to the desert, is covered in Fes to Merzouga.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Marrakech to Fes?
About 7 hours, via Casablanca and Rabat, with several departures a day.
How far is Fes from Marrakech by road?
About 530 km on the direct route through the Middle Atlas, roughly 7 to 8 hours of driving.
Is there a direct flight from Marrakech to Fes?
Direct flights are rare; most connect through Casablanca, so the train is usually as fast door to door.
What is the best way to travel from Marrakech to Fes?
With time, a 3 or 4 day desert crossing via Merzouga. Without it, the train is the simplest option.
See it with a private driver
Planning a trip around this? These private, driver-guided itineraries cover it — every route can be adjusted to your dates.
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