Cheaper ways to travel in Morocco
From Saharan dunes to the peaks of the High Atlas, Morocco could have been tailor-made for travellers. Lyrical landscapes carpet this slice of North Africa like the richly coloured and patterned rugs you’ll lust after in local cooperatives.Morocco is a place to explore for but people always find its transportation expensive.
Don’t take the advice of the people advertising travel agencies. These packages are great if you’re nervous about travel and need a little extra peace of mind, but you’ll definitely pay for it.
There are tons of ways to get around in Morocco! I’ll list them from most convenient/expensive to least.
Grand Taxis
These are by far the most expensive, but allow you to hire a driver for a long trip or even for a day of sightseeing. Expect to pay upwards of 500 dirham (about 50 euros) to get anywhere significant. You can split these between 6–8 people usually, depending on how cozy you’re willing to get. You can tell the difference between these and local taxis because they are generally white sedans.
Trains
The train system in Morocco is both comfortable and reliable. It’ll run you about 200–250 dirham for a major trip from Rabat to Marrakech, for example, but it’s still much cheaper than a grand taxi, and you’ll usually be able to spread out and take your own compartment to sleep, eat, etc. The bathrooms aren’t always reliable, so be sure you go before you get on the train.
Tour Buses
These are the nicer brands of buses marketed toward foreigners, like the Supratours network. They run between most major cities and some areas where trains don’t run, like Chefchaouen and Essaouira. A trip from Rabat to Chefchaouen will run you about 120 dirham, to get an idea. They’re generally reliable and offer first class options with wifi and recliners for those who want to travel a bit more comfortably. You may have to spend some time waiting in a pretty miserable waiting area (first class passengers usually get their own more comfortable one) but in general, these journeys are pretty painless. Just be sure you pay close attention and get off at the right stop.
Local buses
These are much, much cheaper than the tour buses, with a trip from Rabat to Chefchaouen going for about 50 dirham. One major brand for these is Nejm Chamal. They’re also a bit less reliable though and generally only operate in Arabic, so if you have no experience traveling in Morocco, they might be a bit difficult to use.
Local Taxis
These are fairly cheap and only operate within the city they are from. They are usually blue or yellow depending on the city. In more rural areas, these may be large vans or buses that move people to and from markets for as little as 2 dirham. In general, a local taxi ride through a city center will go for about 20–30 dirham. Before your ride begins, always insist that they start the meter or negotiate a price in advance, or you’ll end up paying over 100 dirham for a 5 minute cab ride. These cars can take up to 3 passengers and will pick up/drop off throughout your ride if they have empty seats, so don’t be surprised if you end up sharing one with a stranger.
Places to stay usually depends on the city, but the cheapest by far will be youth hostels or small hotels. AirBnB also operates in Morocco and can provide some good deals.
