Whether for ecological or economic reasons, or out of fear of flying, air travel offers many advantages. And many countries can be reached by other means of transport. In this article, we'll help you find out how to get to Morocco without flying.
How do I get to Morocco via Spain?
If you're looking for a way to get to Morocco without flying, there are two ferry ports in Spain: Tarifa and Algeciras, both in the far south, just off Gibraltar. Allow 14 hours' drive from Montpellier, and 18 hours from Paris!
By train, opt for the Paris-Barcelona route, which takes around 7 h, or the train from Montpellier, which takes just over 3 h. From Barcelona, continue on to Algeciras with a stopover in Madrid, for an 8 h 30 journey.
Once in Tarifa or Algeciras, take the ferry to Tangier. The journey takes between 1 h 30 and 2 h 30.
How do I get to Morocco from France?
The port of Sète, in the Occitanie region of France, offers a ferry service to Morocco. It's a ferry operated by the Italian company GNV (Gran Navi Veloci). Sète is easy to reach from other French regions, either by car or by train. By car, allow 7 h from Paris, 3 h 20 from Lyon or 4 h 20 from Bordeaux. By train, TGVs from Paris take less than 4 h, trains from Lyon take 2 h 30 or from Bordeaux 4 h.
Once in Sète, take the ferry for a 42 h trip. Admittedly, the boat trip is much longer than from Spain, but it's more comfortable than driving.
The article to read: What to do in Morocco? The 15 most beautiful places to see and visit and Top 11 destinations for sunbathing without flying!
Budget for flying to Morocco
If you're looking for ways to get to Morocco without flying, here's the budget you'll need, depending on which option you choose:
- Via Spain: expect to pay between €300 and €500 for a return train ticket, depending on your departure station. By car, the price of fuel will depend above all on your departure city and your vehicle, but you can roughly estimate between €300 and €500 for the return trip, and around €80 for tolls. Add between €200 and €300 for the round-trip ferry. Count also around €20 per meal on the road, and around €80 per night in a hotel. This brings the total round-trip cost to between €1,200 and €1,500.
- Via France: the cost of fuel will depend on your vehicle and your departure destination. For example, you can expect to pay an average of €200 for a return trip from Paris to Sete. The same applies to tolls, which cost around €60 from Paris. Train fares also depend on the time of year and departure station, but you should expect to pay between €25 and €150 on average. Ferry crossings without a vehicle cost around €100. Tickets with car range from €250 to €1,000. You'll need to add around €30 per meal on board. Overall, you should expect to pay between €400 and €800 without a vehicle for the full round trip, and between €1,000 and €3,000 for the full round trip with a vehicle.
To save money on your trip, it's best to travel without your vehicle. Booking your ferry tickets here, and your train tickets well in advance, can also drastically reduce your budget. If you're making the journey via Spain, remember to fill up your tank locally, where fuel is cheaper than in France, and use the free Spanish freeways.
How do I get to Morocco without flying?
In short, the route via Spain is the cheaper of the two, especially if you're traveling with your own car. On the other hand, it's far less comfortable, and will involve a very long drive. The route via France is much simpler, but more costly if you want to make the crossing with a vehicle. So it may be better to do it without your car, even if it means renting one on the spot, which is often cheaper.
