Marrakech to Essaouira by Bus: Journey, Tips, and Booking Secrets
We ditched the rental car for the CTM bus to Essaouira and saved a fortune. For 9dh baggage fees and a smooth ride, it’s the best way to travel. This guide covers the station location, why you need to book ahead, and the snack stop at Sidi Mokhtar (clean toilets included!).
The first part of our Morocco trip was all about taking public transport. We have done it plenty of times in Southeast Asia, and it looks doable also in Morocco. So we took the public bus from Essaouira to Marrakech, which was the most reliable, affordable and comfortable.
In this guide, we will help you book the tickets and make the best of the journey. Within our Marrakech to Essaouira bus guide, you will get a comparison between CTM and Supratour. Also, direct links to purchase tickets without queueing and rushing, giving more time to explore Marrakech.
👋Toti & Ale here
London couple, 45+ countries, 300+ guides. We are full-time content creators, travelling as slowmads, spending quality time in places we love the most. We run this and several other blogs from the best places in the world. This guide is all about our stress-free bus journey. We handed over our backpacks at the CTM office, grabbed the front seats, and enjoyed the AC while watching the landscape change to argan trees. It was cheaper than gas and safer than driving.
January 16, 2026 This update reflects the current ticket prices, the exact location of the CTM station vs Supratours, and the luggage check-in process. Non Less the “Sidi Mokhtar” rest stop review. No AI; all miles traveled.
Quick-Glance: Marrakech to Essaouira Bus Guide
Bus Companies: Supratours (most popular), CTM, plus a handful of local lines.
Journey Time: Typically 3 hours (3.5 with a pit stop and the odd chicken crossing the road).
One-Way Cost: 100–120 MAD (£8); book early, buses do sell out. Check prices here.
Boarding Point: Supratours Station next to Marrakech Train Station (10-15min by taxi from Jemaa el-Fnaa).
Arrival Point: Supratours drops you right outside Essaouira’s medina. CTM is further out—awkward if you’re lugging a surfboard or, you know, actual luggage.
Booking Online? Yep, save yourself a headache— Pre-book your bus online here (No difference with price at the station!)
Comfort Level: Air-con, assigned seats, and yes, a toilet break en route.
Our Honest CTM Essaouira to Marrakech Experience
That’s how we did the Essaouira to Marrakech leg with CTM:
We reserved our tickets online for peace of mind, but you can buy them at the CTM office if you’re feeling confident. Prices don’t change, but they sell very fast. People were turned away from the bus station as the bus was full. If you carry luggage, expect to pay about 5 MAD to store it beneath. You can’t take it with you.
The CTM station in Essaouira is very conveniently located, instead the one in Marrakech is quite far away from the Medina.
Our bus was very clean, and surprisingly, the AC was working fine. I slept for a couple of hours, and the seats were so comfy. No wifi or power plugs, so offline entertainment is key. Half full on our ride, which made for extra elbow room.
This post includes affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no cost to you. You can also buy us a coffee to support the site directly. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.
☕ Buy us a coffee!
Our travel guides are free and made with love to help you explore more, spend less, and travel better. If you’ve found them useful, you can buy us a coffee to keep the adventures going and support more content like this. Cheers!! ☕🌍
Bus journey break
Midway into the trip, we stopped at Sidi Mokhtar for bathroom breaks and overpriced snacks. Serviced areas in Morocco are well organised with AC rooms, and also have ice cream. We advise packing your own treats, though.
Arrive in Marrakech
CTM drops you at the local bus station, which is out of town in the Hivernage District, not so far from the Royal Theatre. It is a 45-minute walk to the Medina (where our hotel was).
As it was late in the afternoon, we decided to have dinner first, so we walked to the Gueliz Area. This is one of the most polished ones, and avoids getting hefty taxi prices from Marrakech CTM station to Medina.
To be fair, the hassles outside the CTM station were minimal, so we had just to say a couple of no, before heading to the main road.
MORE ABOUT MARRAKECH | Guide to Marrakech Spices Souk
Marrakech to Essaouira Supratours Bus: What to Expect
Here’s the scoop from Marrakech going to Essaouira with Supratour. The buses leave from their station, next to Marrakech’s main train station. It’s about 40 minutes walking from Medina, and a taxi will charge you about 30 to 50 Dhirams from Jemaa El-Fnaa.
We suggest booking online (This is the best service), as this is the most popular bus company for travellers and digital nomads. The queue at the counter is very long, especially in the high season.
Your ticket will have an allocated seat, and you must pay 5 to 10 dirhams for your luggage. The bus ride takes exactly the same time as CTM, with one break in the middle.
Get some snacks and entertainment, because wi-fi is what people complain about the most. Arriving in Essaouira, you are right in the Medina, a few steps away from Bab El Mechouar.
Marrakech to Essaouira bus with CTM
The CTM bus from Marrakech to Essaouira is the most popular and cheapest. The bus departs from the main station, which is about 45 minutes walking away from the entrance of the Medina in Marrakech, and about 20 minutes from the Essaouira one. In comparison, Supratour bus stops are more central.
The price is slightly cheaper, but comfort and journey are pretty much the same.
CTM is a local company that offers bus journeys all around Morocco. You can also get the route from Agadir to Essaouira, or Agadir to Marrakech.
You can book the tickets in advance on the official website, but prices don’t change much whether you book in person or through a third party.
READ ALSO | How to get from Agadir to Tamraght
Our Step-by-Step guide to get from Marrakech to Essaouira
- Book your tickets ahead of time
- Where is the Supratour and CTM bus station
- Baggage allowance and fees
- Onboard amenities
- Arriving in Essaouira
Step 1: Book Your Tickets (You can do it online!)
We tried to get a ticket for the CTM bus on the spot from Taghazout to Essaouira, and we ended up getting a premium service instead. Don’t be like us and book in advance.
Both CTM and Supratous are very popular, and due to limited runs, tickets sell fast. Go for online booking with 12Go if you aren’t obsessed with spontaneous chaos. It worked, confirmation came instantly, and you skipped the in-person grumpiness.
If you fail to get the tickets, opt for an AC shared van. Speedier, a tad more expensive, but you get more legroom and fewer surprise smells: Book here for the AC Shared Van (done in two hours, central to central).
READ ALSO | Unique things to do in Marrakech
Step 2: Getting to the Supratours Station
Supratours leaves from its own station right next to the main train station. This is the exact location to reach the Supratour station in Marrakech, and this is the location for the CTM Coach Station.
If you’re coming from the medina (old city), grab a petit taxi. Haggle, but don’t pay more than 30–50 MAD. (They’ll try for 100. Stand your ground.)
Step 3: Boarding and Baggage
Arrive 20–30min before departure. Supratours staff will check your ticket, match it to your name, and tag your luggage. Same exact for CTM.
For big bags stored in the luggage compartment, there’s a small fee (usually 5–10 MAD), paid directly at the counter. They will give you a receipt and tag your bag. Ignore anyone trying to “help” for money—they’re not staff. Your ticket has a seat assigned.
Tip: Wear your seat belt. There are several checkpoints between the two cities, and the Moroccan Police are well known for fining tourists for not wearing seat belts. While very difficult, they can stop the bus for a check.
Step 4: What to Expect
The seats on our bus were so comfortable that I was able to catch some sleep. Air Conditioning works just fine, and the bus is clean enough. Don’t expect WiFi; we tried, but it didn’t work the whole trip. Luckily, we had a reliable eSIM.
The whole journey takes 3 to 3.5 hours, depending on traffic. There is only one highway that goes from Marrakech to Essaouira, and the speed limit for buses is 90. Be patient. There is a rest stop halfway. Board with snacks, stuff is overpriced in the service station.
Step 5: Rolling into Essaouira
Supratours drops you 2min from the medina. CTM instead is further away. We stayed in Welkham Co-working before boarding our bus to Marrakech, because it was closer. Prepare for a 15-min walk or quick cab ride to the medina, if you get your riad there.
READ ALSO | Our amazing stay at Riad Baladin Essaouira
Alternative: Shared Van & Private Transfers
Want faster transfers? Try these:
- Supratours – Most Popular
- AC Shared Van – Hotel to Hotel
- Shared Van Essaouira to Marrakech
- Private Transfer (Top-rated)
AC Shared Van: Fastest, only 2 hours, hotel-to-hotel. Check the latest prices & book. Great if you want to spend more time in Essaouira’s wind instead of waiting.
Private Transfer: Want luxury (or severe crowd aversion?)—doors to doors, “we’ll pick you up, just don’t expect a butler.” Top-rated, all five-star reviews: Private Transfer to Essaouira.
Taxi: Only if you’re in a rush or desperate (haggle hard, or you’ll pay 800–1,000 MAD or more).
