Ouarzazate Transportation

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Renting a car in Ouarzazate is not hard, many agencies offer this service and you can actually get pretty good deals to rent a car in Ouarzazate. You can get a city car Dacia Logan starting 35 Euros per day A/C, and a 4x4 Land Cruiser starting 120 Euros per day depending on the amount of days of your rental period.

CTM has 1 bus departing for Casablanca.

Journey time is 8 hours 30mins.

Tickets are about 135 dirhams plus 5 dirhams for luggage.

Please you the prices as a rough guide only.

The CTM bus station is near the post office on BLVD Mohammed V in the center of town.

This bus trip over the Atlas Mountains is very scenic.

CTM has 3 buses departing for Marrakesh.

Journey time is 5 hours.

Tickets are about 70 dirhams plus 5 dirhams for luggage.

Please you the prices as a rough guide only.

The CTM bus station is near the post office on BLVD Mohammed V in the center of town.

This bus trip is very scenic and wil take you over the Atlas mountains.

I didn't pre-book a ticket, I just turned up at the bus station, preparing for a long wait. Before I knew it, I was sitting on a bus, bound for Ouarzazate

I'd like to say that this had just involved me walking to a ticket office, asking the price, handing over the money, being given my ticket, taking a seat, and setting off

Well, being Marrakech, it wasn't quite like this!!

Exit the taxi, try to pay driver- he's hailing a man over. Driver asks for my ticket I explain I haven't got one- he relays this to the man who takes my bag, Pay the taxi driver (plus tip)

Catch up with man with my bag, who's shouting "Ouarzazate?" at each ticket office. We stop at one - I'm told price 70dh, give 100dh - wait for change (30dh) ticket office man says "for Me!" and pockets 20dh (Yes, its only 20dh-but!!!) No time to argue, my bag is disappearing!

Catch up again as we arrive at a bus, another transaction between the 'bag man' and the bus boy, where my bag is put into the hold as I am led by the arm onto the bus and placed on a seat.

I'd just got myself settled (after paying more baksheesh to bag man!!) when the bus boy decided he was going to move me to another seat, and then another!

He was eventually satisfied, and left me alone - Not before the outstretched hand appeared to relieve me of my remaining small change!

Now I don't mind giving a small tip for these services, (It was great to have my heavy bag carried, and a ticket found so quickly and easily- even if I did feel that I'd been caught up in a whirlwind!!) it's just that I prefer to offer first, without it being 'demanded'.

Well the stunning scenery en route made up for any discomfort, as we headed up the winding P31 road, climbing higher until we reached the summit of the Tizzi n Tichka Pass, then descending into the lunar like Anti Atlas range.

This Journey took 4 hours- but it was full of interesting scenery, and the halfway stop at Taddert was interesting too!

I'm very pleased that I experienced this journey!

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This was most probably one of my favourite days out during my trip to Morocco.

I'd hired Hossaine as my guide following a recommendation, after which we met to decide on the places that I wanted to visit.

I tentatively suggested the Dades Valley and Valley of a Thousand kasbahs as I wasn't too sure of distance/ time to allow.

Hossaine agreed with this, and recommended some places in the area that I might also like to see.

I was collected from my hotel by Hossaine in a smart looking air-conditioned 4x4, and we were soon leaving Ouarzazate in an easterly direction.

I had a full day of sightseeing, and was more than satisfied.

Hossaine was very informative, pointing out things on the way, answering questions, chosing a great restaurant for lunch, and was a very safe driver- especially when we encountered a thunderstorm/ torrential downpour in the Dades gorge, where the road was very slippery and his car started to skid - a lesser driver, or a different vehicle, and it could have been quite nasty!

I felt quite comfortable, as he was courteous, friendly and very professional in his job. (As a solo female traveller, it can sometimes be a problem/concern knowing whether it's safe to get into a car with a male stranger, but I had no problems)

We visited a few kasbahs, and then passed through Skoura, Kelaat M'Gouna,and Boumalne, before arriving at the Dades Gorge.

From 0900 til about 1900hrs, I'd enjoyed a fascinating day exploring this area of Morocco.

During our trip, Hossaine had played a few Cd's of Moroccan music which I'd enjoyed, and I'd asked who they were by (Najat Aatabou and Souad Tounarouz).

Later that evening, Hossaine called at my hotel (as I had had to exchange some money to pay for my trip) and he had bought me the Cd's as a surprise gift!!

I prefer Najat's voice, and was surprised to read that she is one of Morocco's most popular singers, and was the first Moroccan female to issue a CD!

Link to Najat Aatabou website

I'd recommend Hossain as a guide - Although he mainly guides around Ouarzazate (Dades/Draa Valley etc) he also travels to other areas of Morocco.

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As we were looking for transport from Ait Ben Haddou to Ouarzazate, we coincidentially met Abdelaziz (Aziz) Boukhch from Defat Tour.
He had a luxuary Toyota Landcruiser and transports people in Ouarzazate and around.
We did the traject Ait Ben Haddou-Todra Gorge with him, and later on Ouarzazate-Marrakech.
We payed 600 dirhams for each traject, which is slightly more expensive than the CTM bus, bus much more comfortable.
Aziz speaks french, and some words english, and he's a very pleasant person.
You can book any tour around Ouarzazate with him, just mail or call for information.
We were very satisfied with this type of transport, and would recommend Aziz to anyone going this direction.

In Ouarzazate you can rent good bikes (made in Holland) in the small travel agency Daya Travels. The owner is a Dutch Morrocan called Abdel.
You can cycle to a kasbah (Ait Ben Haddou or Skoura) and take a taxi back to Ouarzazate. Bikes will go on top of the taxi.

To go from Marrakesh to Ouarzazate you have to cross the Atlas mountains. It's a narrow paved road with many mountain passes. It takes more than 4 hours for 200 kms, and it gets worse when there are many trucks.
It's a bit shocking to find snow just 2 hours away from Marrakesh...