Privétransfer van Ouarzazate naar ChefchaouenLuxury Travel

Plan on about 7h35 for the 620 km between Ouarzazate and Chefchaouen, following the N10 'Road of a Thousand Kasbahs', the N10 / R702, the N13 through the Ziz gorges, the N8 / N13 through the Middle Atlas and finally the N13 via Ouazzane. Ouarzazate is the gateway town to the Moroccan south — home to the Taourirt kasbah, the Atlas film studios and the Noor solar plant, at 1,100 m on a stony plateau.

Who makes the Ouarzazate to Chefchaouen trip

Why this trip? Ouarzazate is a staging post, so departures lead to the Dades and Todra gorges, the Draa valley or back over the Atlas. As for Chefchaouen, visitors come for photographs in the blue lanes, hikes to the Spanish Mosque and Akchour's waterfalls, and a slower mountain pace. Few people make this 620 km crossing in one go, and we would rather say so plainly: it is booked by travellers who have a fixed flight or hotel at the far end and would rather cover the distance in one private day than stitch together buses and grand taxis.

The road from Ouarzazate to Chefchaouen

East of Ouarzazate the N10 — the 'Road of a Thousand Kasbahs' — passes the Skoura palmery, the rose town of Kelaat M'Gouna and the mouth of the Dades gorge at Boumalne before reaching Tinghir and the Todra gorge. East of Tinghir the road crosses the pre-Saharan plain through the oasis of Tinejdad and past lines of khettara irrigation wells to Erfoud. North of Erfoud the N13 follows the Ziz palm valley to Errachidia and climbs through the Ziz gorges and over the Tizi n'Talghemt to Midelt. North of Midelt the road crosses high plateaus to the cedar forests of Azrou, where Barbary macaques gather by the road, and Ifrane, then descends to Fes. North of Fes the N13 crosses rolling wheat and olive country to the pilgrimage town of Ouazzane, then climbs into the Rif on a winding mountain road to Chefchaouen. Good places to break the drive: the Todra gorge (short detour), the Ziz gorges viewpoint and Errachidia.

Arriving in Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is the blue-washed mountain town of the Rif, its medina of indigo lanes climbing the slope below two peaks, with a kasbah and a spring-fed river at the top. Cars cannot enter the medina. Drop-off is at Plaza Outa el-Hammam's lower gate, Bab el-Ain, or near the hotel district on the ring road; lanes are steep, so pack light or let the riad send help.

Should you split the journey?

At 7h35 this is a full day in the car. We run it in one day for anyone who wants that — with breaks every two hours or so — but many travellers prefer to split it. The natural halfway point is Midelt: Midelt, below the snow-capped Ayachi, is the traditional halfway stop between Fes and the desert. Book two one-way legs and the driver meets you again the next morning.

Before you go

Once you are in Chefchaouen, the Akchour waterfalls and God's Bridge are 45 minutes into the Talassemtane park. Cold and wet in winter at 600 m altitude; spring wildflowers and autumn light are the best times. The return leg, Chefchaouen to Ouarzazate, has its own page and the same per-vehicle pricing.