Marrakech → Ouarzazate (door of the desert)
Ouarzazate - 'the door of the desert' and Morocco's film capital - sits about 200 km from Marrakech over the spectacular Tizi n'Tichka pass (around 4 hours). Your private transfer can include a stop at the UNESCO ksar of Aït Benhaddou. Prefer a fully guided day? See our Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou tour.
Reviewed September 2026 by Ahlam Giyat, travel editor at Taxi Maroc Aéroport, Marrakech.
📖 Not sure whether to drive, train or take the bus? Read the full Morocco transport guide →
✈️ Arriving by air? Ouarzazate Airport to Marrakech →
What's included
- 200 km · ≈4 h
- Private vehicle - you never share
- Door-to-door: hotel or riad pickup
- Fixed all-inclusive price, no hidden fees
- Free cancellation up to 24 h
This page is the one-way private transfer over the pass. If you want the guided day - Aït Benhaddou, the studios and back to Marrakech the same evening - see the Ouarzazate & Aït Benhaddou day tour.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ouarzazate transfer price per person or per car?
How long is the drive from Marrakech to Ouarzazate?
Can I book one-way or return?
Can we stop at Aït Benhaddou on the way?
Other popular routes
How far is Ouarzazate from Marrakech?
About 200 km over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, roughly 4 hours by road. It is not a long distance but it is a slow one - 54 km of hairpins on National Route 9.
How much is a private transfer to Ouarzazate?
€120 per vehicle, not per person. Tolls, fuel and one stop included, price fixed at booking.
How do I get from Ouarzazate back to Marrakech?
The same road and the same €120. We collect from any hotel or riad in Ouarzazate, or from Aït Benhaddou if that is where you finished.
How high is the Tizi n'Tichka pass?
The sign at the summit says 2,260 m; a 2022 GPS survey measured about 2,205 m. It is the highest major mountain pass in North Africa, cut by the French military in 1936.
Is the road difficult?
The surface is good but it is genuinely winding - 54 km of switchbacks. If anyone in the car gets travel sick, take something before leaving rather than halfway up.
Can it snow on the pass?
Yes, from November to March there can be snow at the summit while Marrakech is in shirtsleeves. The pass rarely closes, but it happens. We check before setting out in winter.
How much is the bus to Ouarzazate?
Around 100 to 120 MAD with CTM or Supratours, taking about 4 hours. It is a real option and considerably cheaper for one or two people.
Should I take the bus or a car?
The bus is fine and cheap if you are one or two people going city to city. The car wins if you want to stop at Aït Benhaddou, which is 20 km before Ouarzazate and the main reason most people make this trip at all.
Can you continue to Merzouga or the Sahara?
Yes. Ouarzazate is on the road to Merzouga, so many passengers carry on rather than returning to Marrakech. Our 3-day Sahara tour follows exactly this route.
Can you take us to the Dades or Draa valleys?
Yes, both start near Ouarzazate. Tell us where you want to end up and we quote the direct run.
Sources & official information