CTM vs Supratours: The Morocco Bus Guide

CTM (Compagnie de Transports au Maroc) is Morocco's largest intercity bus company, with a privately-managed network covering most cities and many smaller towns. Supratours is owned by ONCF, the national railway, and primarily serves routes that extend the rail network — especially Marrakech to Fes and connections to the Atlantic coast. Both offer allocated seating, air-conditioned coaches, and checked baggage allowances, but CTM has broader geographic coverage while Supratours integrates well with train travel. For Marrakech to Fes, either works; for deep south routes like Ouarzazate or Zagora, CTM is usually the only option.

Yes. CTM sells tickets through its website (ctm.ma) and a mobile app. You can pay by international credit card and receive a PDF ticket to show at the bus. Booking online is strongly recommended for busy routes (especially weekends and holiday periods) as popular departures fill up a day or two in advance. Supratours tickets are available through oncf.ma or supratours.ma and can be combined with train legs in a single booking. Both operators also have ticket windows at their bus stations, but queue times can be long in peak season.

Both CTM and Supratours allow approximately 30 kg of checked baggage stowed under the coach, plus carry-on hand luggage. In practice the limit is enforced loosely for local passengers, but an oversized or extremely heavy bag may attract a small surcharge at check-in (typically 10–20 MAD per extra piece, indicative). Large backpacks, wheeled suitcases and surfboard bags in protective covers are generally fine. Label your bag clearly — the driver loads and unloads luggage at every stop, and bags are occasionally misplaced in busy stations.

CTM is generally considered Morocco's safest and most reliable long-distance bus operator. Coaches are maintained to a higher standard than many private operators, drivers are professionally employed (not freelance), and departure times are usually respected within 15–20 minutes. The company has an established safety record and is widely used by Moroccan business travellers as well as tourists. Supratours operates at a comparable standard. The main risk on any Moroccan road journey is traffic rather than operator failure, and both companies use designated motorway routes wherever available.

Expect 8 to 9 hours for the direct Marrakech–Fes bus, including one or two rest stops of 20–30 minutes at roadside cafes. The distance is roughly 560 km, and the route runs north through Casablanca and Rabat before turning east to Fes (or sometimes via Beni Mellal, which is more scenic but slower). Supratours also offers a rail-bus combo: bus from Marrakech to Casablanca, train to Fes — which can be faster and more comfortable if the timings align. Night departures (leaving Marrakech around 22:00) are popular and arrive in Fes by early morning.

Air conditioning is standard on all CTM and Supratours intercity coaches — it is not optional. On long summer routes the AC can feel aggressive (bring a light layer even in July). Wi-Fi is advertised on some routes but coverage is unreliable in the mountains and the deep south; treat it as a bonus rather than a given. USB charging points are available on newer fleet vehicles on both networks. Power sockets are less common, so bring a power bank for longer journeys. Both operators have replaced a significant portion of their fleets with newer coaches since 2022.