Trains between cities, grands taxis beyond them, and the desert from Merzouga

ONCF trains link Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fez, and Marrakech cheaply; the Al Boraq high-speed line does Tangier–Casablanca in about two hours. Where trains stop, shared "grand taxis" and the CTM and Supratours buses take over; CTM is reliable and bookable online. For the Sahara, the real dunes are at Merzouga (Erg Chebbi), a long day's drive from Marrakech over the Atlas; two nights in the desert makes the trip worthwhile, one makes it a blur.