Intercity route — A7, A3 then N2
Marrakech to Chefchaouen570 km, 7 h 00on the A7, A3 then N2
Marrakech and Chefchaouen are 570 km apart on motorway A7, then A3, then national road N2. The drive takes 7 h 00 by car or private minibus, with no rail option at all.
No station serves Chefchaouen. The nearest ONCF stations are Tangier, 116 km away, and Fès, 194 km away: travellers always finish the trip by road.
Itinerary — A7, A3 then N2
Marrakech → Chefchaouen
570 km · 7 h 00 driving · toll 185 MAD
- Marrakech0 km · 466 m
- Rabat327 km · 55 m
- Ouazzane500 km · 340 m
- Chefchaouen570 km · 560 m
- 570 kmroad distance
- 7 h 00driving time
- A7, A3, N2road numbers
- 185 MADtoll
- 2fuel stations on the mountain section
- 600 mhighest point, in the Rif
Elevation profile, vertical scale exaggerated. Altitudes in metres above sea level.
What is the distance between Marrakech and Chefchaouen?
The road distance between Marrakech and Chefchaouen is 570 km, on motorway A7 to Casablanca, then the A3 towards Rabat and the N2 across the Rif. The final 100 km leave the motorway for a mountain road.
The three northern routes from Marrakech share a motorway backbone for 400 km, on the A7 then the A3, before each takes its road towards Fès, Tangier or the Rif.
The N2 branches off the A3 past Rabat and climbs towards Ouazzane, a Rif foothill town 500 km from Marrakech, the last stage before entering the Rif.
As the crow flies, Marrakech and Chefchaouen are 440 km apart. The extra 130 km comes from both the detour via Casablanca and Rabat and the bends of the N2 in the Rif.
How long does the Marrakech to Chefchaouen journey take?
The journey takes 7 h 00 by car or private minibus. The coach takes 9 h 30, the grand taxi forces a relay in Ouazzane. No train serves Chefchaouen: the road stays the only direct option.
The first 400 km, entirely on motorway, take 3 h 45. The remaining 170 km, on the N2, add 3 h 15 because of the terrain.
The N2 crosses the Rif on tight bends between Ouazzane and Chefchaouen, at an average speed of 45 km/h against 110 km/h on the motorway.
A departure before 06:00 clears the mountain section before nightfall in winter, when daylight fades from 18:00.
How do the Marrakech to Chefchaouen transport options compare?
No train serves Chefchaouen: it is the only one of the three northern links with no rail option. The private minibus alone crosses the Rif switchbacks door-to-door, with no change of vehicle. The grand taxi remains cheapest at 171 MAD despite its two relays, ahead of the coach at 210 MAD.
| Mode | Duration | Price | Frequency | Comfort | Luggage | Door-to-door |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private minibus | 7 h 00 | €335 – 590 | On demand | High | Unlimited | Yes |
| CTM coach | 9 h 45 | 210 MAD | 2 departures/day | Medium | 1 in the hold, 20 kg | No |
| Supratours coach | 9 h 30 | 220 MAD | 2 departures/day | Medium | 1 in the hold, 25 kg | No |
| Train | No line | — | — | — | — | No |
| Grand taxi | Relay in Ouazzane | 171 MAD in 2 legs | When full | Low | 1 small bag | No |
| Rental car | 7 h 00 | 460 MAD/day | On demand | High | Boot | Yes |
Coach fares sourced from CTM and Supratours. The ONCF network stops at Tangier and Fès, never reaching Chefchaouen.
How do you get from Marrakech to Chefchaouen?
CTM or Supratours coach, grand taxi in two legs, and private minibus cover this link, none of them rail. The nearest town served by ONCF, Tangier, stays 116 km away.
By CTM or Supratours coach
CTM runs two departures a day to Chefchaouen, at 210 MAD one way, for a 9 h 45 journey via Ouazzane.
Supratours runs two departures at 220 MAD, with a vehicle change in Tangier or Fès depending on the timetable.
By grand taxi
The grand taxi does not cover the 570 km in one run. It forces a relay in Ouazzane, 500 km from Marrakech.
The first leg costs 150 MAD a seat, the second towards Chefchaouen, over 70 km of mountain road, only 21 MAD.
By private minibus with a driver
The driver collects passengers at their riad and drops them at the exact address in Chefchaouen, at the foot of the blue medina.
Driving on the N2, through the Rif, is handled by a driver used to this mountain road, with no relay and no vehicle change.
How much does the Marrakech to Chefchaouen trip cost?
The coach costs 210 to 220 MAD per person, the grand taxi 171 MAD in two legs, the private transfer from €335 per vehicle. Once a group reaches seven, the minibus works out cheaper than the coach.
| Mode | Price in MAD | Price in EUR | Billing basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private 7-seater minibus | 3,685 MAD | €335 | per vehicle |
| Private 9-seater minibus | 4,400 MAD | €400 | per vehicle |
| Private 15-seater minibus | 6,490 MAD | €590 | per vehicle |
| Supratours coach | 220 MAD | €20 | per person |
| CTM coach | 210 MAD | €19.10 | per person |
| Grand taxi, two legs | 171 MAD | €15.50 | per person |
Converted at 11 MAD to €1. The private fare covers fuel, the toll and time spent waiting.
What is there to see on the road between Marrakech and Chefchaouen?
Two staging points punctuate the A3 then N2: Rabat at km 327 and Ouazzane at km 500, the last town before entering the Rif. The driver folds each stop into the private transfer at no extra charge.
The final 70 km, on the N2, climb through terraced olive groves up to the pass overlooking Chefchaouen at 600 metres.
The blue medina of Chefchaouen sits at 560 metres, in a valley of the Rif, unrelated to the argan forest or the plains crossed further south.
| Stop | km from Marrakech | What it is | Typical stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabat | 327 km | Seat of government and last big city before the road climbs into the Rif | 15 min, fuel stop |
| Ouazzane | 500 km | Town in the Rif foothills, gateway to the N2 towards Chefchaouen | 20 min, last fuel stop before the mountain |
How do you reach Chefchaouen from Marrakech Menara airport?
The direct transfer to Chefchaouen covers 576 km in 7 h 05 from Marrakech Menara airport, code RAK, 6 km from the city centre, before the Rif switchbacks. A name board awaits every passenger in the arrivals hall.
The airport exit joins the A7 directly towards Casablanca and Rabat, before the route turns onto the N2 towards the Rif.
Waiting is free for 60 minutes after the actual landing time, then billed at €8 an hour beyond that.
No coach leaves directly from Menara airport towards Chefchaouen. The CTM and Supratours coaches all leave from central Marrakech.
Our private Marrakech to Chefchaouen transfer
We run the Marrakech – Chefchaouen transfer by private minibus from €335, driver, fuel and tolls included. The price is firm and does not change with the number of passengers.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Bags | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito | 7 | 7 | €335 | €605 |
| Hyundai Staria | 9 | 9 | €400 | €725 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 12 | 14 | €510 | €925 |
| Mercedes Sprinter long | 15 | 18 | €590 | €1,070 |
A same-day return exceeds 14 hours of driving. A stopover in Ouazzane breaks up this mountain route better than a same-day dash.
- Licensed driver speaking English and French
- Fuel and tolls included
- Cold water on board
- Child seats on request
- A stop in Ouazzane on the way
- A driver used to the mountain road
Which pages continue from this route?
The Marrakech – Chefchaouen route leads to three related pages. The neighbouring link to Tangier and the northern Morocco tour join the two routes. The 7-seater van runs 5 transfers out of 10 to Chefchaouen.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train between Marrakech and Chefchaouen?
No, no station serves Chefchaouen. The nearest ONCF stations are Tangier, 116 km away, and Fès, 194 km away. Travellers who take the train always finish the trip by road or coach.
How much is a grand taxi from Marrakech to Chefchaouen?
The grand taxi does not cover the 570 km in one run. It forces a relay in Ouazzane, at 500 km: 150 MAD for the first leg, 21 MAD for the second on the mountain road.
What are the Marrakech to Chefchaouen coach timetables?
CTM departs at 07:30 and 20:00. Supratours departs at 08:00 and 21:30. Both companies recorded these times in March 2026, and both warn they shift during Ramadan and public holidays.
Can Marrakech to Chefchaouen be done as a day trip?
No, the round trip exceeds 14 hours of driving. Leaving at 06:00 allows barely 1 hour in the blue medina before the return drive starts. An overnight stay suits this distance and the mountain road on the return leg better.
Why does Marrakech to Chefchaouen take longer than Marrakech to Tangier?
The final 100 km leave the motorway for the N2, a two-lane mountain road in the Rif. Tangier, at 580 km, stays entirely on motorway. Chefchaouen, at 570 km, therefore takes 1 h 15 longer.
Is the Marrakech to Chefchaouen road passable in winter?
Yes, but fog cuts visibility between Ouazzane and Chefchaouen from November to February. Snow sometimes reaches the pass at 600 metres in January, without a prolonged closure of the N2.
Is there a toll between Marrakech and Chefchaouen?
Yes, the toll costs 185 MAD one way. It is charged on the motorway section, the A7 then A3, operated by ADM. The N2, a national road, carries no toll at all.
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