How to Get to Merzouga Desert from Tangier

Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes are about 770 km (480 miles) south of Tangier – one of the longest trips to the desert in Morocco. The good news: the route passes some of the country’s best places, so it is easy to turn it into a great journey. Here are your options.

1. By private car or private tour (recommended)

The drive takes 11–12 hours without stops, so plan at least two days on the road. The classic route:

• Tangier → Chefchaouen – the famous blue town in the Rif Mountains, a perfect first stop or overnight.
• Fez – the old medina and its tanneries; many travellers spend a night here.
• Ifrane and the Azrou cedar forest – a neat mountain town and wild Barbary macaques.
• Midelt and the Ziz Gorges – High Atlas views and a dramatic canyon.
• Errachidia → Erfoud → Merzouga – arrive for sunset on the dunes.

From the desert you can continue to Marrakech or return north. See our tours from Tangier, from 3 to 8 days.

2. By train + bus

Take the train from Tangier to Fez (about 4.5–5 hours), then an overnight CTM or Supratours bus from Fez to Merzouga (about 9–11 hours). It is cheap, but it is a long trip with little to see at night.

3. By bus

There is no direct bus from Tangier to Merzouga. Travel by bus to Fez or Meknes first, then change for a bus to Rissani or Merzouga. Allow a full day and a night.

4. By plane

There are no direct flights from Tangier to Errachidia, the nearest airport to Merzouga; flights connect via Casablanca. From Errachidia, a private transfer takes about 2 hours.

Which option is best?

• Comfort and sightseeing: a private tour with nights in Chefchaouen or Fez on the way.
• Tight budget: train to Fez, then the overnight bus.
• Short on time: fly to Errachidia via Casablanca, then transfer.

Practical tips

• Don’t try to do Tangier–Merzouga in one day – it is tiring and you miss the best stops.
• Bring warm clothes from November to March for the Middle Atlas and desert nights.
• Carry some cash in dirhams for small towns along the way.

This is a private tour, so you travel only with your own group. Groups of friends, students and families get a discount – contact us on WhatsApp or by email for a quote.