Intercity route — road N9, Tizi n’Tichka pass
Marrakech to Ouarzazate196 km, 4 h 00over the Tizi n’Tichka pass
Marrakech and Ouarzazate are 196 km apart on road N9, which crosses the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 m. The drive takes 4 h 00 by car or private minibus.
No railway line serves Ouarzazate. The ONCF network stops at Marrakech, 196 km north of the pass.
Itinerary — road N9, Tizi n’Tichka pass
Marrakech → Ouarzazate
196 km · 4 h 00 driving · no toll · pass at 2,260 m
- Marrakech0 km · 466 m
- Aït Ourir37 km · 720 m
- Taddert90 km · 1,850 m
- Tizi n’Tichka122 km · 2,260 m
- Amerzgane165 km · 1,400 m
- Ouarzazate196 km · 1,160 m
- 196 kmDistance
- 4 h 00Driving time
- N9Road number
- 0 MADToll
- 3Fuel stations on the route
- 2,260 mHighest point, Tizi n’Tichka pass
Elevation profile, vertical scale exaggerated. Altitudes in metres above sea level.
What is the distance between Marrakech and Ouarzazate?
The road distance between Marrakech and Ouarzazate is 196 kilometres on road N9. The route climbs over the Tizi n’Tichka pass at 2,260 metres before dropping towards the Drâa valley. The return leg covers the same distance.
The Tizi n’Tichka is a mountain pass at 2,260 metres on road N9, which links Marrakech to Ouarzazate across the High Atlas.
As the crow flies the two cities are only 165 kilometres apart. The extra 31 kilometres comes from the switchbacks that negotiate the pass.
No motorway serves Ouarzazate. The N9 remains the only direct route from Marrakech, maintained by the regional roads authority.
How long does the Marrakech to Ouarzazate journey take?
The journey takes 4 h 00 by car or private minibus on road N9. The CTM coach takes 4 h 45, the Supratours coach 4 h 30. The grand taxi covers the distance in 4 h 05.
The real average speed is 49 km/h. The N9 is limited to 100 km/h on the plain, dropping to 40 km/h on the switchbacks of the pass, between km 100 and km 140.
A lunch stop in Taddert adds 30 minutes. A photo stop at the top of the pass adds 10.
Leaving before 08:00 clears the pass before the late-morning cloud, common in autumn and spring.
The pass closes 2 to 5 days a year under snow, between December and February. The road reopens once the snowploughs have cleared it.
How do the Marrakech to Ouarzazate transport options compare?
Four modes link Marrakech to Ouarzazate; no train crosses the High Atlas. The private minibus is the only door-to-door option. The Supratours coach is the fastest public option, the grand taxi the cheapest.
| Mode | Duration | Price | Frequency | Comfort | Luggage | Door-to-door |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private minibus | 4 h 00 | €135 – 205 | On demand | High | Unlimited | Yes |
| CTM coach | 4 h 45 | 80 MAD | 3 departures/day | Medium | 1 in the hold, 20 kg | No |
| Supratours coach | 4 h 30 | 70 MAD | 4 departures/day | Medium | 1 in the hold, 25 kg | No |
| Grand taxi | 4 h 05 | 60 MAD / seat | When full | Low | 1 small bag | No |
| Rental car | 4 h 00 | 350 MAD / day | On demand | High | Boot | Yes |
| Train | No line | — | — | — | — | No |
Coach fares sourced from CTM and Supratours. The Tizi n’Tichka pass is covered in full on the dedicated guide.
How do you get from Marrakech to Ouarzazate?
Four modes run the link: CTM coach, Supratours coach, grand taxi and private minibus. All three collective services cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass and stop in Taddert along the way.
By Supratours coach
Supratours, the road subsidiary of ONCF, leaves from the terminal on avenue Hassan II in Marrakech. Four departures a day from 06:00 to 15:00, 70 MAD one way.
The driver stops for 20 minutes in Taddert, at the foot of the pass, before the climb through the switchbacks.
By CTM coach
CTM runs three departures a day to Ouarzazate from Guéliz, at 80 MAD one way for a 4 h 45 journey.
Hold luggage is capped at 20 kg and charged 5 MAD per extra kilo, as on every CTM line.
By grand taxi
The grand taxi Mercedes 240 leaves Bab Doukkala once its six seats are sold and crosses the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Ouarzazate, at 60 MAD a seat.
Buying all six seats for 360 MAD lets you leave straight away instead of waiting for the other passengers.
By private minibus with a driver
The driver knows the switchbacks of the pass and adjusts the pace for passengers prone to motion sickness.
A 10-minute stop in Taddert before the climb eases the symptoms for sensitive passengers.
How much does the Marrakech to Ouarzazate trip cost?
The coach costs 70 to 80 MAD per person, the grand taxi 60 MAD a seat, the private transfer from €135, or 1,485 MAD per vehicle. No toll applies, since road N9 stays entirely free.
| Mode | Price in MAD | Price in EUR | Billing basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private 7-seater minibus | 1,485 MAD | €135 | per vehicle |
| Private 9-seater minibus | 1,705 MAD | €155 | per vehicle |
| Private 12-seater minibus | 1,980 MAD | €180 | per vehicle |
| Private 15-seater minibus | 2,255 MAD | €205 | per vehicle |
| CTM coach | 80 MAD | €7.30 | per person |
| Supratours coach | 70 MAD | €6.35 | per person |
| Grand taxi, one seat | 60 MAD | €5.45 | per person |
| Grand taxi, whole vehicle | 360 MAD | €32.70 | per vehicle |
Converted at 11 MAD to €1. Private prices include fuel and the lunch stop in Taddert.
What is there to see on the road between Marrakech and Ouarzazate?
Five landmarks punctuate road N9: Aït Ourir at km 37, Taddert at km 90 and the Tizi n’Tichka pass at km 122. Amerzgane at km 165 and the Aït-Ben-Haddou exit at km 180 complete the itinerary. Our drivers pull in at each landmark without billing extra time.
The Aït-Ben-Haddou ksar is visited on a day trip from Marrakech, with time on site set aside for the ksar and the neighbouring Atlas Studios.
| Landmark | km from Marrakech | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Aït Ourir | 37 km | Farming town at the edge of the Haouz plain, the last fuel station before the climb |
| Taddert | 90 km | Mountain village at the foot of the pass, restaurants and a view over the Souss gorges |
| Tizi n’Tichka | 122 km | Mountain pass at 2,260 metres on road N9, which links Marrakech to Ouarzazate across the High Atlas |
| Amerzgane | 165 km | Village on the descent towards the Drâa valley, a date market on Saturdays |
| Aït-Ben-Haddou exit | 180 km | Exit towards the ksar listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 |
How do you reach Ouarzazate from Marrakech Menara airport?
The direct transfer to Ouarzazate covers 202 km in 4 h 05 from Marrakech Menara airport (RAK), 6 km from the city centre, on road N9. The driver tracks your flight in real time and waits at the terminal.
The airport exit joins road N9 via the ring road without crossing central Marrakech, which adds 6 km but saves 20 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 pick up their Ouarzazate passengers in central Marrakech rather than at the airport terminal.
Our private Marrakech to Ouarzazate transfer
We run the Marrakech – Ouarzazate transfer by private minibus from €135, driver, fuel and the Taddert stop included. The price is firm and does not change with the number of passengers carried.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Bags | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes Vito | 7 | 7 | €135 | €245 |
| Hyundai Staria | 9 | 9 | €155 | €280 |
| Mercedes Sprinter | 12 | 14 | €180 | €325 |
| Mercedes Sprinter long | 15 | 18 | €205 | €370 |
The same-day return includes up to 3 hours of waiting in Ouarzazate.
- Licensed driver used to the switchbacks of the pass
- Fuel and the lunch stop in Taddert
- Cold water on board
- Child seats and boosters on request
- Motion sickness bags on request
- Flight number tracking for airport departures
Which pages continue from this route?
The Marrakech – Ouarzazate route continues onward on two further pages, towards Merzouga and towards Zagora. The Tizi n’Tichka guide covers the pass in full detail. It also links to the fleet running this route and to the full routes hub.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a train between Marrakech and Ouarzazate?
No. No railway line crosses the High Atlas. The ONCF network stops at Marrakech. No Supratours connection is offered on this axis, unlike on the Atlantic coast, where Supratours runs from Marrakech.
Does the Tizi n’Tichka pass close in winter?
Yes, 2 to 5 days a year under snow, between December and February. The roads authority reopens the pass once the snowploughs have cleared it. Closures rarely exceed 48 consecutive hours.
Does the trip cause motion sickness?
Yes, for sensitive passengers. Road N9 carries more than 300 bends over the last 40 kilometres before the pass. A 10-minute stop in Taddert eases the symptoms before the climb.
How much is a taxi from Marrakech to Ouarzazate?
A grand taxi seat costs 60 MAD, or 360 MAD to book all six seats outright. The grand taxi leaves from the Bab Doukkala taxi station and reaches Ouarzazate in 4 h 05.
What are the Marrakech to Ouarzazate bus timetables?
Supratours departs at 06:00, 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00. CTM departs at 07:00, 12:00 and 17:00. Times recorded from both companies in March 2026 and subject to change in winter, especially near the pass.
Can Marrakech to Ouarzazate be done as a day trip?
Yes, but the margin stays tight. 4 h 00 each way leaves 2 hours on site for a 06:30 departure and a 20:30 return, tight enough to skip a stop at Aït-Ben-Haddou.
Is the Marrakech to Ouarzazate road in good condition?
Yes, the N9 was widened and secured between 2017 and 2022 across the switchbacks of the pass. It remains a two-lane mountain road with no central divider, unlike the A7 motorway.
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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)