Getting around Morocco

A guide to Public transport in Morocco

Supratours bus Morocco

Tuesday, April 26, 2011


Supratours Morocco buses are a national network of long distance buses traveling on a timetable between Cities and towns in Morocco. 

But, Supratours buses have one major difference - they are a sister company to the Morocco train network, operate in parts of the country that the train network does not operate in and the Supratours bus timetables are scheduled to compliment the train timetables.

As an example, if you wanted to travel from Tanger to Agadir with the train, you would simply purchase your complete ticket at the train station. The ticket would enable you to take the train from Tanger to Marrakech and then, with a good connection, take the Supratours bus from Marrakech to Agadir. 

Supratours bus tickets are available to purchase at both the train stations and the Supratours bus stations.
Remember that you can purchase any Supratours bus ticket journey from any Supratours bus station or train stations.

Supratours bus stations are usually found located directly next to the train stations ( example, Marrakech Supratours bus station is located in the old Train station, directly next to the new Marrakech Train station).

Supratours bus prices are usually about the same as it's closest rival CTM bus Morocco and the quality of the two companies are usually about the same too.

For Supratours bus timetables and ticket prices online, you need to visit the ONCF website at http://www.oncf.ma 

The site is only offered in french. 
However, it is easy to understand and navigate.
The Supratours bus timetables are integrated directly into the train timetables search facility. 

For example, to search for a journey of Marrakech to Agadir, you need to just select "Marrakech Supratours" as your start point and "Agadir Supratours" as your destination. This is entered directly on the ONCF website home page. Select your dates and hit the button and you are rewarded with the full days schedule. 

To find the Supratours bus fares, you need to select the link "Billets Normaux" from the home page.
Or, if you are lazy, just follow this link: http://www.oncf.ma/Fr/Horraires2.aspx?md=201&rb=491
The result will display both the fares and the timetables for the journey that you select.

Air conditioning can be fierce on both Supratours and CTM, so you might like to take a jumper or sweater with you. It also doubles as a handy pillow for sleeping. 

Supratours issues tickets with a seat number on it.
Do ensure that you locate and sit in the correct seat number as most Moroccans are absolutely paranoid about ensuring they sit in the allocated seat number on their tickets. 

We can understand this if they have shotgun the front seats by buying their tickets early, but all in all  there is always seats for everyone.

Supratours bus tickets can only be purchased in Morocco and using Moroccan Dirham. 

Ensure that you allocate plenty of time to purchase your Supratours bus ticket as in large cities such as Marrakech, the ticket office is usually very busy and long queues can form. 

The Supratours national computer ticketing system is prone to breaking down quite often.
At some times, when this occurs you may happen upon chaos and jobs-worth ticket issuers who tell you that the computer is broke and they cannot sell you your ticket. Then, 10 minutes prior to the bus leaving they decide to operate a "Manual" paper ticket system. 
Our experience of this is to insist that you purchase your ticket at the time you want to purchase it and not accept their attitude of waiting till the last minute - unless you particularly like hanging around ticket offices for a few hours.

All in all, Supratours are an equal choice for Morocco bus travel alongside their main rival CTM bus Morocco.








 

CTM Bus Morocco timetables Marrakech Tanger

Monday, April 25, 2011
CTM BUS Morocco timetables from Tanger


 Destination Hours of departure from Tanger 
Agadir 05:30hrs / 11:15hrs / 14:45hrs / 16:30hrs / 23:55hrs With a change in Marrakech. 
Al Hoceima 20:00hrs 
B Mellal 11:15hrs 
Casablanca  05:30hrs / 11:15hrs / 14:45hrs / 16:30hrs / 23:55hrs 
Chefchaouen 10:00hrs / 12:15hrs / 15:15hrs/ 19:15hrs/ 21:15hrs 
Dakhla 23:55hrs
Errachidia 15:15hrs 
Fes 10:00hrs / 12:15hrs / 15:15hrs / 19:15hrs / 21:15hrs 
Laayoune 23:55hrs 
Nador 20:00hrs / 21:15hrs
Marrakech 05:30hrs / 11:15hrs / 14:45hrs / 16:30 hrs/ 23:59hrs change at Casa.
Meknes 11:15hrs / 19:15hrs / 21:15hrs 
Ouarzazate 11:15hrs / 14:45 hrs 
Ouazzane 10:00hrs / 12:15hrs 
Oujda 19:15hrs 
Rabat 05:30hrs / 11:15hrs / 14:45hrs / 16:30hrs / 23:55hrs
Tetouan 10:00hrs / 12:15hrs / 20:00hrs
Tiznit 16:30hrs 
The above timetables were correct at 26/04/11 and are of course subject to change without notice etc etc
You should always check directly with CTM prior to planning a journey based upon these timetables.

Buying tickets for CTM bus Morocco

Monday, April 25, 2011
Buying Tickets for CTM bus Morocco

Tanger to Marrakech

Tickets for the CTM bus in Morocco cannot be purchased from outside of the country.
The only exception to this is if you are travelling with Eurolines, from Spain to Marrakech, for example. 
So, the only option available is to purchase the ticket when you arrive in Tanger or whichever city is your first city to be visited in Morocco.

If you intend to take the CTM bus from Tanger, directly upon arriving in the country, you should remember to have some alternative plans to reach your destination. During some times of the year (Ramadan for instance), the buses may well be full. Without a back up transport plan (such as the train) you may have to wait, which may involve an overnight stop in Tanger.

If you are able to step straight off the ferry and onto a CTM bus (i have been lucky enough to do this....ferry arrived at 3pm in Tanger, bus departed to Marrakech at 4pm!), then you should ensure that you have some bottles of water or drink for the bus journey.

CTM buses do make stops for 30 minutes at a time around every 4 hours, depending upon driver Schedules. These stops are usually at locations with a Cafe.
The CTM buses can sometimes have very cold air conditioning, so it is advisable to take a sweater or a jacket with you, even in the middle of the summer.
Payment for the CTM bus is in cash (Dirham only) and the offices do not accept credit cards.
Once you have purchased your ticket, take your luggage to the luggage check in desk, ensure you get a sticker with a unique number on it, which is usually then affixed to the back of your luggage ticket, which you keep.
There is a small 5 to 10 DH charge per bag, depending upon the size and the mood of the ticket clerk at the time! Your luggage will then be stored in the luggage room and loaded onto your bus.

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