Imagine this, you are on holiday in Morocco and wish to travel from Fez to Chefchaouen on the CTM Maroc bus. You might be wondering exactly how to get there. Believe me, I understand, as I went through the same thing on my recent visit.
Aside from renting a car or hiring a private driver, the bus is your best option. Morocco is priced well; however, private transportation adds up quickly. So, here is everything you need to know about taking the bus from Fez to Chefchaouen.
A few days before taking the bus from Fez to Chefchaouen.
You need to physically go to the CTM Maroc bus station before your trip. If you show up and there is a seat open, then you can book that. However, Chefchaouen is a popular route from Fez, and doing this last minute is a bad plan. It’s best to schedule your excursion a few days ahead of time.
Double check your driver understands you are going to the bus terminal.
My journey from Fez to Chefchaouen started out rather inauspiciously. After walking outside of the medina, an attendant from my riad spoke with a driver of a petit taxi. Unfortunately, miscommunication ensued, and I was taken to the train station (that’s what you see pictured below), not the CTM Maroc bus terminal. I leisurely strolled around while snapping pictures, because I assumed the buses were out back. I was wrong.
Upon the horror of realizing my mistake, I had to sprint back to the taxi stand which took a surprisingly short amount of time (adrenaline will do that for you). I managed to flag down a red taxi (petit taxi) to the CTM Maroc bus terminal rather quickly. And, I was shocked that the bus was still there.
The actual bus ride from Fez to Chefchaouen.
Upon arriving at CTM Maroc, your luggage will be weighed. You have to pay a small fee for heavier luggage, but it shouldn’t be more than 10 dirhams ($1).
Once you are onboard, keep your ticket with you, because you need to show documentation to retrieve your luggage.
A few things to know…
- First off, the bus is air conditioned, and since the temperature hovered around 100° when I was in Morocco, this was a huge win.
- Pay attention to your ticket, as seating is assigned. If you arrive early to the CTM terminal (I did not), request a seat that is not directly behind the driver. That’s where I ended up, and the space was limited.
- During your trip, you will see tons of stray animals and really skinny dogs. I wanted to jump out and adopt all of them.
Upon arrival.
Once in Fez, flash your CTM Maroc ticket to retrieve your luggage. The staff always checks, so don’t lose it. I noticed a few people fishing around for their tickets, and the staff wasn’t eager to hand over the luggage without proof of ownership. Add language barriers on top of that, and this situation could become frustrating quickly. So, I stress keeping your ticket with you.
If you are staying at a riad in Old Town, a porter will need to meet you outside of the city. Cars are not allowed inside of Chefchaouen, and the streets get confusing quickly. Most of the places prefer to meet you at the Paradour parking lot. So, you will need to take a red taxi, to this destination. This short journey should only cost you around 20 dirhams ($2) from the bus drop off.
Pro Tip: If you do not have international calling, have your driver contact your riad. Just make sure you have the phone number ready to go. That’s what I did, and things worked out perfectly.
Overall
The bus ride from Fez to Chefchaouen takes around 4 hours, and you will definitely see interesting sites along the side of the road. This is easily the most cost effective way to travel around Morocco, but the biggest takeaway should be getting your ticket ahead of time. If you are not a local, you are not permitted to purchase tickets from the CTM website. Happy travels!
I was going to book a car for this trip but it’s way too expensive. I’m traveling by myself, is this bus really easy or too dangerous?
Hi Elizabeth, Thanks for your question! The CTM bus is inexpensive and safe. It is a bit of an adventure, and I think it gives you taste of what Morocco is actually like. Make sure you buy your bus ticket at the station a few days before you need to leave. These buses book up quickly. Have fun and please let me know if you have additional questions!
[…] to Fes, or the wonderfully blue Chefchaouen – or maybe even both! There’s a reliable bus service between Fes and Chefchaouen, as described by Pink Luggage Abroad. However, the usual restrictions of annual leave meant those would have to wait for another trip. […]
Yes, this bus service is inexpensive and efficient. Just be sure to book several days in advance 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s always good to read about what to expect before a trip.
I appreciate your feedback!!!
i’ve literally been looking for this information for eons! travelling through a country stresses me out so badly so i’m thankful you’re listing everything out in detail. my nerves are definitely calmer after this!
I’m so glad this was helpful to you! I know what you mean. Sometimes it’s really difficult finding what mode of transportion you should take when you are in the country. Just be sure to get your ticket in person ahead of time and don’t lose your luggage stub 🙂
Sounds like a great way to travel… live more like a local 😆 thank you for sharing your experience, very helpful
That first part of your trip gave me anxiety! Haha. But glad that the bus was still there when you arrived. Thank you for these useful tips, especially the one about making sure you keep your ticket for luggage collection.
My pleasure. And, yes, it’s so important to hang on to your luggage stub if you take CTM. I am notorious for not hanging on to these type of things, and it’s a small miracle that I did not misplace mine!
This looks like a fun and cheap travel option to travel around Morocco.
Fez and Chefchaouen are two of my favourite cities in Morocco but we hired a driver to take us on a two-day adventure. It was easier, but way more money than the bus. However, we had a similar experience when we left Fez to move on in the country, being driving to the airport rather than the train station.
Haha … okay, there is definitely the opportunity for being accidentally taken to the incorrect location in Morocco. But, it certainly is a stunning country to visit!!
I made this same bus trip a couple years ago, and I must say it went smoothly! I really enjoyed looking out the window as the landscape changed (going up into the mountains). Great tips!
Thanks for sharing how to get there — definitely helpful to know to keep your ticket with you too! Glad it’s a cheaper way to get over there to explore! 🙂
It’s great to know all of these things before you hop on the bus! Thanks for sharing all of your tips.
Thanks for sharing this journey information! I always get so anxious travelling around foreign countries on public transport…I’m convinced I’m going to end up in the wrong place! Thanks so much for sharing this info, hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to visit one day!
Thanks for the tips, I would have had no idea where to start! I love to budget travel and may have been put off if it was not for this guide. Glad you found the right place – that has happened to me a couple of times and I have actually missed the bus/train before! This is so useful for anyone wanting to discover Morocco themselves!
My biggest regret when going to morro Co is not visiting here! I’m gutted! But hopefully I’ll go again! Thank you for such a useful post!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Jamie. Public bus is always a cheap way to travel within countries.
Thank you for sharing your experience. Love the tips and suggestIons.
Amazing tips! Will definitely save this for when I go to Morocco. Thank you.
Great tips for taking the bus. Always great to read about other people’s experiences!
This is such a detailed guide. I love that you walked us through everything even the missteps you made so it can be a flawless experience for other travelers. I would totally take the bus for a taste of local transportation and I love looking out the windows to see all the sights. I hope I can make this adventure someday.
I am so glad you found this guide helpful. Yes, I had quite a few misadventures that still make me laugh. I sincerely hope you visit. Morocco is quite the wonderland of exotic beauty.
sounds like quite an adventure! I am dying to go to the blue city & i’ll definitely re-consult your guide when i finally make it to morocco 🇲🇦 thanks for all the tips on what to expect.
My pleasure. Chefchaouen is quite visually stunning. It’s become a little bit crowded, but it’s definitely worth a visit!
I’m headed to Morocco later on this year and found this really useful. I’m going to Fez as well as Marrakech. Great tip to keep the luggage tag.
I’ve never been to Morocco but your photos are sorely tempting me to head there soon. I’ll be sure to keep an eye on more from you.
Thank you for these practical tips. Your mention of the air-conditioned bus reminded me of my Marrakech to Tangier ride and how much I appreciated my pashmina. Otherwise, it would have been most uncomfortable.
This is super interesting! We traveled through Morocco by car, but it’s fantastic to know that there are cheaper options that are also easy(ish) and safe!
It’s so good to know that you need to pre-book in person for the bus. I’d be one of those people who would just show up on the day expecting to be able to just buy a ticket and hop on a bus. And that moment of horror when you realised that the train station didn’t have a bus station out the back must have been awful!
Hahaha …. I know what you mean. I have found myself in all kinds of crazy situations when I travel like a local. Worse case scenario, you could always charter a private car, but if you are traveling for a while, that can get pricey. The CTM bus is so inexpensive, but you definitely need to have your ducks in a row. And, oh my gosh, my heart literally fell on the ground when I realized the first driver took me to the wrong station. I still can’t believe I made that bus!
Glad you were able to still make that bus! Sounds like it was an adventure! Sounds like a great way to get around Morocco too.
This is such a useful post! I love travelling by bus and would really love to explore Morocco one day!
I’m glad to read the bus is a feasible option. I typically travel alone and on a budget, so that’s usually the best option. P. S. love the hint of the pink luggage in the top photo 🙂
Great tips. I plan to go to Morrocco and specifically to Fez and Chefchaoen. It actually looks like fun to travel by bus. Great tip in emphasizing the need to retain the ticket stub to retrieve luggage. Thanks.
Yes, hold on to your luggage ticket!!
That dress you’re wearing in the last picture is gorgeousssss. Great post, but also, great style 😉
Awww, that’s incredibly thoughtful. Thank you, my friend 🙂
Wow! Thanks for sharing your experience. I travel on a budget and usually using public transport. If I happen to travel to Morocco, I will keep your tips in mind 🙂
Awesome guide and tips, I always get so nervous when taking transportation like this when I’m abroad because I’m so clueless. This is super useful!
Very detailed post for navigating what would sound pretty confusing otherwise!
It’s always good to know everything from a person’s true experience and point of view. Thanks for sharing, I love everything in detail here.
Such a detailed guide! I’m so glad you made it to the bus in time
This is an awesome guide on how yo take the bust from Fez to Chefchaouen. I always like to know exactly what to expect when taking mass transportation especially in other countries so this is very helpful!
Argh what a nightmare when they took you to the train station to start with! You must have been sooooo glad when you made it in the end!
It is a bit strange that only locals can book online, so it is good to know that. Plus that you need to keep your ticket stub. It would be sooo annoying if you didn’t know that in advance. Thanks for the tips!
It’s so useful to get this information first hand. I remember looking for buses near Beijing’s train station and walking around in circles. They were hidden in plain sight!
Hello, this is really useful thank you.
My question is why can you not book the CTM ticket via their website? Why do you suggest to do it in person a few days in advance?
Hi! So nice of you helping us with your friendly info! One more question: how is the road through the Rif on the bus, does it feel safe, does it pass next to precipices?
Hello, thank you for useful informations in article! Please, can I ask how much you have paid for single ticket without luggage? 🙂