Getting Around Errachidia
Errachidia sits on the banks of the Ziz river in the Tafilalt region and serves as the capital of the Drâa-Tafilalet region. For visitors, it works best as a practical stopover and transport hub rather than a city you need an elaborate transit plan for. The city is small, and getting around is mostly a matter of walking, hopping into a petit taxi, or catching a bus or grand taxi onward to the next town.
Is There a Train, Metro or Tram?
No. Errachidia has no rail service, and there is no metro or tram network here. Morocco's national rail operator, ONCF, runs trains along the main corridor linking Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fes and Meknes, but the rail network does not reach the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara destinations such as Merzouga, or Errachidia itself. If you are arriving by train from elsewhere in Morocco, you will need to switch to a bus or grand taxi for the final leg into the Drâa-Tafilalet region.
Buses and Public Transport
Long-distance buses are the main public transport option for reaching and leaving Errachidia. CTM, the national bus company, runs services to the city, including a daily bus from Ouarzazate and a bus from Merzouga that runs every second day. These arrive at the Gare routière, the city's bus station, which is the point to aim for when you arrive or when you want to book onward travel.
- Buying tickets: CTM tickets can be booked online, though the website is not always reliable, so buying at the station counter a day or two ahead is a sensible fallback. Booking in advance matters most during peak seasons and on popular tourist routes.
- On board: CTM buses are air-conditioned with assigned seating. Expect to pay a small additional fee for luggage.
- Other operators: Local bus companies also exist, but their reliability varies, so treat them as a backup rather than a plan.
- Connections: Supratours, which is owned by ONCF, serves routes that connect with train stations and desert destinations such as Zagora and Ouarzazate, with schedules often coordinated with train arrivals.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Two kinds of taxi operate in Morocco, and Errachidia is no exception.
- Petit taxis are the small city taxis, colour-coded by city, and they operate only within city limits. They are supposed to run on the meter, but drivers often need a firm reminder — "compteur, s'il vous plaît" — or you can agree a fixed price before setting off. Fares are modest for short trips, with small surcharges at night or during peak times. Carry small dirham notes, since drivers rarely have change for large bills.
- Grand taxis are the shared intercity taxis — traditionally old Mercedes sedans — that run set routes between nearby towns. They wait at designated stations near bus terminals and depart only once all six seats are filled, so build in a buffer if you are on a schedule. You can pay extra to leave sooner or to buy out the remaining seats. Negotiating the fare is standard, and solo travellers may be quoted higher tourist prices. Grand taxis are especially useful for short hops where buses are infrequent, and on the southern route between Ouarzazate and Merzouga they are often the main alternative to the bus.
- Ride-hailing: Uber and Careem operate in Casablanca, Marrakech and Rabat, but availability is spotty elsewhere in the country and the apps sit in a legal grey area amid taxi union opposition. Do not count on ride-hailing in Errachidia; plan around taxis, buses and walking instead.
Walking
Errachidia is a compact city, and walking is a realistic way to cover short trips in the centre, including the stretch between the bus station and nearby accommodation. As with any Moroccan medina or market area, narrow streets may be closed to vehicles, leaving walking as the only option. In summer, remember that Errachidia has a hot desert climate — the highest temperature ever recorded here was 43.9 °C — so do your walking in the cooler parts of the day and carry water.
Getting From the Airport Into the City
Errachidia is served by Moulay Ali Cherif Airport (IATA code ERH), also known as Errachidia–Moulay Ali Chérif Airport, located just north of the city centre. Year-round flights arrive from Casablanca, with seasonal flights from Marrakech and Paris.
- Distance: The airport sits only a few kilometres north of the centre, so the transfer is short.
- By taxi: A petit or grand taxi is the straightforward way in. Agree the price before you get in, and have small dirham notes ready.
- By air: Domestic flights are a practical alternative to long overland journeys in Morocco — fares booked in advance are reasonable compared with many hours on a bus, and Casablanca–Errachidia is a served domestic route.
Practical Tips
- Cash in dirhams is essential for taxis, most buses and grand taxis. Carry small bills.
- Basic French and Arabic go a long way; offline translation apps and pointing at a map help bridge gaps.
- Trains elsewhere in Morocco are punctual, but grand taxis wait until full — always allow extra time.
- Buses charge extra for luggage; trains have overhead racks and luggage spaces.
- Errachidia is a convenient hub between Ouarzazate and Merzouga on the national road, which makes it a useful base for breaking up a longer desert itinerary.