Intercity route — N8 then R207
Marrakech to Essaouira176 km, 2 h 45on the N8 and R207
Marrakech and Essaouira are 176 km apart on national road N8 then regional road R207. The drive takes 2 h 45 by car or private minibus, 3 h by coach.
No railway line serves Essaouira. Supratours, the ONCF road subsidiary, replaces the train with a connecting coach.
Itinerary — N8 then R207
Marrakech → Essaouira
176 km · 2 h 45 driving · no toll
- Marrakech0 km · 466 m
- Chichaoua75 km · 340 m
- Ida Ou Gourd112 km · 585 m
- Essaouira176 km · 10 m
- 176 kmroad distance
- 2 h 45driving time
- N8 + R207road numbers
- 0 MADtoll
- 2fuel stations on the route
- 585 mhighest point
Elevation profile, vertical scale exaggerated. Altitudes in metres above sea level.
What is the distance between Marrakech and Essaouira?
The road distance between Marrakech and Essaouira is 176 km. The route follows national road N8 to Chichaoua for 75 km, then regional road R207 for 101 km. The return leg covers exactly the same distance.
The N8 is the national road linking Marrakech to Agadir through the interior. The R207 branches off it at Chichaoua and drops due west to the Atlantic through the argan forest.
As the crow flies the two cities are only 143 km apart. The extra 33 km comes from the detour via Chichaoua, forced by the relief of the western Jbilet hills.
There is no motorway between Marrakech and Essaouira. The A7 serves the Marrakech – Agadir axis, not the coast.
How long does the Marrakech to Essaouira journey take?
The journey takes 2 h 45 by car or private minibus. The Supratours coach takes 2 h 50, the CTM coach 3 h, the grand taxi 2 h 45. None of those times includes a stop.
The real average speed is 64 km/h. The N8 is limited to 100 km/h and the R207 to 80 km/h, with town crossings at 40 km/h in Chichaoua, Sidi Mokhtar and Ounagha.
A coffee stop in Chichaoua adds 20 minutes. A visit to an argan oil cooperative adds a further 30.
On Friday afternoons the crossing of Chichaoua adds 15 minutes as prayers finish.
How do the Marrakech to Essaouira transport options compare?
Five modes link Marrakech to Essaouira; no train serves Essaouira. The private minibus alone reaches the medina gate directly, with no walk from a bus or taxi stand. The grand taxi is both cheapest and fastest among shared modes, at 80 MAD a seat in 2 h 45.
| Mode | Duration | Price | Frequency | Comfort | Luggage | Door-to-door |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private minibus | 2 h 45 | €105 – 185 | On demand | High | Unlimited | Yes |
| CTM coach | 3 h 00 | 90 MAD | 4 departures/day | Medium | 1 in the hold, 20 kg | No |
| Supratours coach | 2 h 50 | 100 MAD | 6 departures/day | Medium | 1 in the hold, 25 kg | No |
| Grand taxi | 2 h 45 | 80 MAD / seat | When full | Low | 1 small bag | No |
| Rental car | 2 h 45 | 350 MAD / day | On demand | High | Boot | Yes |
| Train | No line | — | — | — | — | No |
Coach fares sourced from CTM and Supratours. The grand taxi price is the one charged from the Bab Doukkala taxi station in Marrakech.
How do you get from Marrakech to Essaouira?
CTM coach, Supratours coach, grand taxi and private vehicle cover this 176 km link. Both coach companies leave from the Guéliz district and arrive outside Bab Marrakech, the eastern gate of the Essaouira medina.
By Supratours coach
Supratours is the road subsidiary of ONCF, the Moroccan national railway operator. Its coaches leave from the Supratours terminal on avenue Hassan II, 200 m from Marrakech railway station.
Six departures a day from 06:15 to 18:30, 100 MAD one way. Book at the counter or on the ONCF website; in high season the morning departures sell out 48 hours ahead.
By CTM coach
CTM, the Compagnie de transports au Maroc, leaves from its station on rue Abou Bakr Seddik in Guéliz. Four departures a day, 90 MAD one way, 3 h journey time.
Hold luggage is capped at 20 kg and charged 5 MAD per extra kilo.
By grand taxi
The grand taxi Mercedes 240 parks at Bab Doukkala, a few streets from the medina, and leaves once all six seats are sold, at 80 MAD a seat.
You can buy all six seats for 480 MAD and leave immediately rather than wait for it to fill.
By private minibus with a driver
The driver collects you at your riad or hotel and drops you at the exact address in Essaouira. Inside the pedestrian medina, he walks you to the nearest gate.
Stops at the argan forest and in Chichaoua are included, with no extra time billed.
How much does the Marrakech to Essaouira trip cost?
The coach costs 90 to 100 MAD per person, the grand taxi 80 MAD a seat, the private transfer €105, or 1,155 MAD per vehicle. From seven passengers up, private is cheaper than the coach.
| Mode | Price in MAD | Price in EUR | Billing basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private 7-seater minibus | 1,155 MAD | €105 | per vehicle |
| Private 9-seater minibus | 1,375 MAD | €125 | per vehicle |
| Private 15-seater minibus | 2,035 MAD | €185 | per vehicle |
| Supratours coach | 100 MAD | €9.10 | per person |
| CTM coach | 90 MAD | €8.20 | per person |
| Grand taxi, one seat | 80 MAD | €7.30 | per person |
| Grand taxi, whole vehicle | 480 MAD | €43.60 | per vehicle |
Converted at 11 MAD to €1. The private fare bundles fuel, city parking and any waiting time together.
What is there to see on the road between Marrakech and Essaouira?
Four stops punctuate the R207: Chichaoua at km 75, the argan forest from km 95, the argan oil cooperatives at km 140 and Ounagha at km 152. The private transfer folds in a stop at each, at no extra charge.
The goats perched in argan trees between km 100 and km 150 are staged by herders who charge a photo fee. Our drivers do not stop there.
| Stop | km from Marrakech | What it is | Typical stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chichaoua | 75 km | Provincial capital on the N8, junction with the R207 towards Essaouira | 20 min, café and fuel station |
| Argan forest | 95 km | Forest of argan trees, a species endemic to south-west Morocco, a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1998 | 10 min, photo stop |
| Argan oil cooperatives | 140 km | Women’s cooperatives pressing culinary and cosmetic argan oil | 30 min, demonstration and shop |
| Ounagha | 152 km | Wine village on the Haha plain, home of the Val d’Argan estate | 45 min, tour and tasting |
How do you reach Essaouira from Marrakech Menara airport?
Marrakech Menara airport (code RAK) is 6 km from the city centre. The direct transfer to Essaouira covers 180 km in 2 h 50 without entering the city. We track your flight number.
The airport exit joins the N8 via the southern ring road without crossing Marrakech, which adds 4 km but saves 25 minutes of traffic.
Waiting is free for 60 minutes after the actual landing time, then billed at €8 an hour beyond that.
CTM and Supratours both board their Essaouira-bound passengers in central Marrakech; neither runs a direct airport shuttle.
Our private Marrakech to Essaouira transfer
We run the Marrakech – Essaouira transfer by private minibus from €105, driver, fuel and parking included. The price is firm and does not change with the number of passengers.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Bags | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito | 7 | 7 | €105 | €190 |
| Hyundai Staria | 9 | 9 | €125 | €225 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 12 | 14 | €160 | €290 |
| Mercedes Sprinter long | 15 | 18 | €185 | €335 |
The same-day return includes up to 6 hours of waiting in Essaouira.
- Licensed driver speaking English and French
- Fuel, parking and city taxes
- Cold water on board
- Child seats and boosters on request
- A stop in Chichaoua and at the argan forest
- Flight number tracking for airport departures
Which pages continue from this route?
The Marrakech – Essaouira route connects to three other pages: the coast road carrying on south and the motorway axis to Agadir. We also send the 9-seater capacity on 7 out of 10 transfers to Essaouira.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train between Marrakech and Essaouira?
No. No railway line serves Essaouira. The ONCF network stops at Marrakech. Supratours, ONCF’s road subsidiary, runs the connection by coach from Marrakech station, on a combined train-plus-coach ticket. Its terminal sits on avenue Hassan II, 200 m from Marrakech railway station.
How much is a taxi from Marrakech to Essaouira?
80 MAD a seat in a shared grand taxi, 480 MAD for all six seats. A city petit taxi may not leave the Marrakech perimeter: the intercity run belongs to the grand taxi.
What are the Marrakech to Essaouira bus timetables?
Supratours departs at 06:15, 08:30, 11:00, 14:00, 16:30 and 18:30. CTM departs at 08:00, 11:30, 15:30 and 19:00. Times recorded from both companies in March 2026 and subject to change during Ramadan.
Can Marrakech to Essaouira be done as a day trip?
Yes. 2 h 45 each way leaves 6 hours on site for an 08:00 departure and a 20:00 return. The same-day return costs €190 in a 7-seater van, driver and fuel included. Leaving before 08:00 clears the Marrakech ring road.
A day trip to Essaouira costs €190 in a 7-seater van, €225 in a 9-seater minibus and €335 in a 15-seater. The price covers the vehicle, the driver and up to 6 hours of waiting on site.
Six hours covers the UNESCO-listed medina, the Skala de la Ville rampart, the fishing port and lunch facing the Atlantic. Sidi Kaouki beach, 25 km south, needs one hour more.
The driver drops you at Bab Doukkala, the northern gate of the medina, then parks at the Bab Marrakech car park. He stays reachable for the whole visit.
Is the Marrakech to Essaouira road in good condition?
Yes, the N8 and R207 are surfaced and maintained across all 176 km. The R207 is a two-lane road with no central divider and crosses three towns. It has no mountain pass and no hairpin bends.
Is there a toll between Marrakech and Essaouira?
No, there is no toll. The N8 and R207 are free national and regional roads. The only tolls in the region are on the A7 motorway towards Agadir and Casablanca.
How long is the Marrakech to Essaouira bus journey?
3 h with CTM and 2 h 50 with Supratours, against 2 h 45 in a private vehicle. The gap comes from the two scheduled stops in Chichaoua and Sidi Mokhtar, compulsory on the regular services.
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- Phone
- +212 714 29 85 18
- Office
- Avenue Mohammed VI, Guéliz — 40000 Marrakech
- Hours
- Every day, 7:00 – 23:00 (GMT+1)