After discovering the Tangiers to Marrakesh train possibility I then proceeded to promote - or rather blab - to everyone I knew in Marbella that this was a possibility. Met with equal enthusiasm everyone wants to do the journey - so I thought I better find out a bit more - from the travel man himself - Mark at The Man in Seat Sixty One. I emailed him directly and it so happens he's just returned from the Guardian/Observer travel awards held in Fez last week. You can read all his travel information at www.seat61.com/Morocco or just use http://www.oncf.ma/ for train times and fares.For a general guide to prices the ferry is approximately 40 euros each way, a taxi from the port to the new train station in Tangier 2 euros and the most expensive train ticket around 420 Morrocan Dirhams - which works out about 40 euros! It also appears a new railway station opened in Marrakesh on 8th October 2008.
So why travel by train and not get the plane? Well you can get the plane if really getting there immediately is your plan. But how exciting to go by car, boat, taxi, train and on foot - its about adventure really and I think real travel. You'll either love it or hate it!
It's true, I love a good train journey, sitting and watching the world go by from the comfort of my train seat. With autumn and winter's cooler seasons I'm planning a few trips around Spain, from a starting point in Marbella. Sevilla and Madrid from Malaga sounds appealing (although quite easy to drive to Sevilla from Marbella), but whilst researching I've also found out its possible to take an air conditioned train from Tangiers to Marrakesh from Tangier Ville train station. Here are a few links from my research which make interesting reading:
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