Fes to Chefchaouen to Tangier: The Northern Loop, Route by Route
This route links three cities in the north by coach. The two legs use different operators, and the best choice changes between them. Fares and times were read on the CTM and Supratours booking sites for 2026-11-04 (1 adult), so treat them as “from” prices and check current price.
Fes to Chefchaouen
| Operator | Departures | Journey | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM | 08:00, 11:00, 12:45, 16:30 | 4 h 10 to 4 h 50 | 145 MAD flat |
| Supratours | 06:35, 16:35 | about 6 h 32 | 255 to 275 MAD |
CTM is clearly the better option on this leg: faster, cheaper and with four departures. Supratours takes much longer and costs almost twice as much, and seats were limited on both its departures. Take the 08:00 or 11:00 CTM so you reach Chefchaouen with the afternoon light left.
Chefchaouen to Tangier
| Operator | Departures | Journey | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM | 12:20, 15:30, 17:45, 18:45, 21:15 | 2 h 15 to 3 h 10 | 85 MAD flat |
| Supratours | 06:00, 16:00 | about 2 h 25 | 60 MAD flat |
Supratours is cheaper by 25 MAD but has two coaches a day. CTM has five, which matters if you want a late departure or if you are connecting to a ferry or train. The downside: the CTM journey time varies by more than 50 minutes, so do not book an onward train or ferry tight to the arrival time.
The Tangier to Chefchaouen direction is similar on CTM: five departures between 07:45 and 16:00, 2 h 15 to 2 h 35, 85 MAD.
Planning the legs
Fes to Chefchaouen plus Chefchaouen to Tangier is about 7 hours of travel with CTM, and about 9 hours with the Supratours Fes leg. A night in Chefchaouen splits it comfortably. If you only have one day for the blue city, take the 08:00 coach from Fes, walk the old town, and catch the 18:45 or 21:15 CTM to Tangier. That makes a long day with a late arrival, so book the Tangier hotel with night check-in.
What the whole route costs and takes
| Combination | Fes leg | Chefchaouen to Tangier | Total fares |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTM both legs | 145 MAD | 85 MAD | 230 MAD |
| CTM, then Supratours | 145 MAD | 60 MAD | 205 MAD |
| Supratours, then CTM | 255 to 275 MAD | 85 MAD | 340 to 360 MAD |
The cheapest pair is CTM then Supratours at 205 MAD, but that uses the two Supratours coaches (06:00 and 16:00) on the second leg, which only works if your day lines up with them. CTM both ways costs 25 MAD more and gives five evening options.
A one-day timeline with the 08:00 coach
Leave Fes at 08:00 and you arrive in Chefchaouen between 12:10 and 12:50 (4 h 10 to 4 h 50). The 18:45 CTM to Tangier then arrives between 21:00 and 21:55 (2 h 15 to 3 h 10), and the 21:15 arrives between 23:30 and 00:25. These are our sums from the published journey times, so book the Tangier hotel with a late check-in either way.
What to do in Chefchaouen
Ras el-Maa, a cascade near the northeastern gate, can be combined with the trail up to the Spanish Mosque. Sources give 20 to 45 minutes to walk up to the mosque, an abandoned building that is popular at sunset. The Kasbah Museum, in the main square, has a garden and a tower with views over the town. The official Ministry of Culture ticket price for the Kasbah was 80 MAD for foreign adults, checked 2026-10-23. Most exhibits are in Spanish, but an English-speaking guide is available.
For Akchour and God’s Bridge, plan a separate half day. Guides give a 30 to 45 minute drive from town and 2 to 4 hours of hiking depending on which sight you choose. It does not fit into a first afternoon.
Meknes on the way
Chefchaouen to Meknes has no direct CTM coach. Every option needs a change, takes 6 h 50 to 9 h 45 and costs 170 to 285 MAD. It is faster and cheaper to go back through Fes and take the train: Fes to Meknes is a direct train every 30 to 60 minutes, 34 to 39 minutes, 22 to 35 MAD (2nd class). That makes Meknes an easy half day before or after Fes.
Moving on from Tangier
Tangier Ibn Battouta airport has a fixed taxi fare from the train station of 120 MAD between 05:30 and 22:30 and 180 MAD at night, per ONDA’s tariff table, and ONDA lists no bus. For Spain, the Tarifa ferry is run by Balearia and the DFDS (formerly FRS) service goes from Algeciras to Tanger Med, see the Tangier to Spain guide.
From Tangier you can continue to Spain by ferry or to Casablanca and Rabat by train.
Booking tips
- Buy online or at the CTM and Supratours windows, bring ID.
- Fares are flat on these routes, so booking earlier mostly secures the seat.
- Bring a layer and a snack, coaches on this route stop rarely.
- Keep your valuables with you and tag the bag you put under the coach.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Fes to Chefchaouen?
CTM runs four coaches (08:00, 11:00, 12:45, 16:30), 4 h 10 to 4 h 50, 145 MAD. Supratours takes about 6 h 32 and costs 255 to 275 MAD.
How do I get from Chefchaouen to Tangier?
CTM: five coaches from 12:20 to 21:15, 85 MAD. Supratours: 06:00 and 16:00, about 2 h 25, 60 MAD.
How much does the whole route cost?
From 205 MAD (CTM then Supratours) to 360 MAD (Supratours then CTM) in fares, by our sum of the figures above.
Is there a train to Chefchaouen?
No. The route is by coach.
Can I stop in Meknes?
Go back through Fes and take the train: 34 to 39 minutes, 22 to 35 MAD, 2nd class.
How do I reach the Tangier airport?
ONDA lists a fixed taxi fare of 120 MAD from the train station between 05:30 and 22:30, and 180 MAD at night. It lists no bus.
Sources checked
Checked on 27 October 2026.
- CTM and Supratours booking sites, 1 adult, 4 November 2026 (checked 23 October 2026)
- Ministry of Culture ticket portal (Kasbah of Chefchaouen, 80 MAD for foreign adults)
- ONDA taxi tariff for Tangier Ibn Battouta airport
- Balearia and DFDS, ferries to Spain
- Totals and arrival times are our own sums of the published figures
