Buses in Morocco: CTM and Supratours

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

Buses are the backbone of getting around Morocco outside the growing rail network, reaching the Atlas foothills, the desert gateways and coastal towns that trains simply don't serve. The choice usually comes down to two big national operators — CTM and Supratours — versus a much larger tier of local and regional companies that are cheaper but less predictable. Knowing which is which makes a real difference to comfort and reliability on longer hauls.

CTM: the national standard

CTM (Compagnie de Transports Marocains) is Morocco's largest and most established coach operator, running a dense network linking almost every city and many smaller towns with modern, air-conditioned coaches. It has the most professional booking system of any Moroccan operator — tickets can be bought online in advance through CTM's own website, with assigned seating, which removes a lot of the uncertainty that comes with turning up at a station and hoping for space. CTM terminals are usually separate from the general bus station (the gare routière) and tend to be calmer and easier to navigate, particularly useful in larger cities where the main gare routière can be chaotic.

Supratours: built for Marrakech and the south

Supratours is owned by the national rail operator ONCF and is specifically designed to extend the rail network by coach into places trains don't reach, most usefully the routes south from Marrakech toward Essaouira, the desert gateway towns near the Sahara, and up into parts of the Atlas Mountains. Supratours tickets can often be booked together with an ONCF train ticket as a single combined journey, which is genuinely convenient if you're arriving by rail from Casablanca or Rabat and continuing on by coach — see our seat reservations explained guide for how combined rail-and-coach tickets tend to work more generally. Supratours coaches are comparable in comfort and reliability to CTM, and the two are generally considered Morocco's two safest, most consistent options for tourists.

Local and regional operators

Below CTM and Supratours sits a much larger and less standardised layer of local companies, often simply called the "local bus" by travellers, serving routes and stops that the two national operators don't cover, usually at a noticeably lower price. These buses vary enormously in age and comfort — some are perfectly fine, others are older and slower, with more stops and less certainty about departure times. They're a realistic option for short hops between smaller towns or where CTM and Supratours don't run, but for a first visit to Morocco, or for any longer journey, most travellers find the modest extra cost of CTM or Supratours worthwhile for the added reliability and comfort.

Booking and boarding

CTM and Supratours tickets can be bought online in advance or in person at their own terminals; local operators are typically cash-only, bought at the gare routière shortly before departure, with seats sometimes unassigned and boarding closer to first-come-first-served. Luggage is placed in the hold, usually for a small additional fee on local buses that's often not charged, or charged only informally, so keep some small notes handy. Arrive at the terminal in reasonable time, particularly in Marrakech and Casablanca, where the main gare routière is large and can take a while to navigate.

How buses compare with Morocco's trains

ONCF's rail network covers the country's main axis well — Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech and Fez are all linked by comfortable, fairly fast trains — but a great deal of Morocco lies off that line entirely. Essaouira, Chefchaouen, the Atlas valleys and the desert gateway towns near Merzouga all require a bus for at least part of the journey, which is exactly the gap Supratours in particular was built to fill. Where both train and bus are options, the train is typically the more comfortable choice; where the train doesn't go, CTM or Supratours is the sensible default.

Practical tips

• Overnight coaches run on some of the longer routes, such as into the far south, and are a reasonable way to save a night's accommodation on CTM or Supratours.
• Keep your ticket and luggage tag until you've collected your bag at the destination — some operators check them against each other.
• Fares are generally low by European standards across all tiers, but CTM and Supratours cost somewhat more than local operators for the added comfort and reliability.
• Terminals are often on the edge of town, so budget time and a small taxi fare to reach your accommodation once you arrive.

If Morocco is one stop on a wider North Africa or Europe trip, our bus vs train guide and the broader bus travel hub cover how coach travel compares across other countries and regions.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between CTM and Supratours?

Both are Morocco's two most reliable national coach operators with similar comfort and pricing. CTM has the widest standalone network, while Supratours is owned by the rail operator ONCF and is particularly useful for routes that extend from the train network, such as Marrakech to Essaouira or toward the desert gateway towns.

Should I book Moroccan bus tickets in advance?

For CTM and Supratours on popular routes, booking a day or two ahead online is sensible, especially in peak season. Local operator tickets are usually bought in person shortly before departure and rarely need advance booking.

Are local Moroccan buses safe for tourists?

Generally yes for short, straightforward routes, though they're less predictable in timing and comfort than CTM or Supratours. For longer journeys or a first visit, most travellers find the modest extra cost of a national operator worthwhile.

Can I combine a Supratours bus with an ONCF train ticket?

Yes — Supratours is designed to connect with ONCF rail services, and combined train-and-coach tickets covering routes like Marrakech onward to Essaouira are commonly available.