Getting from Meknes to Volubilis can be a complex task, so you must be well prepared. We say it from our experience! It was very difficult for us to find a Petit Taxi willing to make this journey. Both cities are barely 30 kilometers apart. Don’t let it become a nightmare! We have prepared this post with the 3 best options to go from Meknes to Volubilis so you can choose the one that suits you best. It all depends on the budget, time and patience you have.
Contents of this article
HOW TO GO FROM MEKNES TO VOLUBILIS IN 2024
1. Grand Taxi, the most economical option
⏱ Journey time: 40 minutes
💰 Trip price: from €1.50 one way
Ir from Meknes to Volubilis and saving a few euros is possible if you go by grand taxi. Although we must warn you that you should prepare to have a bad time. It is clear that this is the cheapest option and by farbut as the saying goes, cheap is expensive… Before giving you details how to get from Meknes to Volubilis by taxiit is very important that you first know the difference between Grand Taxi and Petit Taxi.
Taxis in Morocco
In Morocco there are two types of taxis: the Grand Taxi and the Petit Taxi. The main difference is basically that one is bigger than the other, although there are other things you should know.
Grand Taxi: They are long and large cars. The most common model is the old Mercedes Benz 200 series. The disadvantage of this vehicle is that He’s not going to come out until he’s filled up the car.. Normally they fit 6 people, although they usually transport up to 7, it can be quite uncomfortable to travel like this. Also, they do not have a taximeter and you must negotiate the price before getting on.
Little Taxi: They are smaller cars and basically cover intercity routes. Fortunately, and unlike the Grand Taxi, most do have a meter, although you must be careful to turn it on. If he refuses, get out of the taxi and find another one. You must be very careful with this!
Now, if you have decided to go by Grand Taxi, You have to arrive in front of the French Institute, where the stop for these cars is located. Then, to leave you will have to wait for it to fill up, although first thing in the morning it is a fairly quick process. Probably, when you take a walk through the historic area of Meknes you will find someone who will offer it to you.
Route and prices
These vehicles do not usually make a direct trip from Meknes to Volubilis. In fact, the first stop is Moulay Idriss. The transfer to the holy city costs 10 dirhams (1€). You can take the opportunity to get to know this place and after visiting the ruins, for that you will have to take another Grand Taxi to Volubilis.
The journey from Moulay Idriss to Volubilis is super short, it is just 5 minutes by carYou can even walk to the complex. This transfer should not cost you more than 5 dirhams (0,50€), although everything will depend on whether the taxi is full or not. For example, if you go in low season, it will cost more and to avoid wasting time you may have to pay for the entire taxi. Then You can choose to walk from Moulay Idriss to Volubilis.
To return to Meknes you have to do the same. 5 more dirhams to Moulay Idriss and then 10 dirhams to Meknes. In total, if everything goes well for you, You can go from Meknes to Volubilis for about 30 dirhams (approximately €3). Although to achieve that you will need exceptional luck. It’s quite complicated for everything to turn out so well for you. If you pay the round trip for less than 60 dirhams, be more than satisfied.
Is it worth going from Meknes to Volubilis by Grand Taxi?
It is an experience that requires a lot of patience because, as you can see, it can be very overwhelming.. Not only because there are 7 people in the car, but because you have to continually search for Grand Taxis and negotiate the price. You will waste a lot of time! Although it is a super cheap option compared to the others, we discarded it immediately.
You should also consider that normally you do not spend more than one day in Meknes. So time is limited enough to go looking for and negotiating taxis. We do not think it is the best option to visit Volubilis from Meknes.
When is the best time to travel to Morocco?
2. Go by Petit Taxi, a rare alternative
⏱ Journey time: 40 minutes
💰 Precio: from €40 for 3 or 4 hours of service
This type of vehicle is used to making interurban trips. So there is less chance that someone will agree to take you. We spent half an hour stopping several petit taxis to see if we could agree on a fixed price to go to Volubilis and Moulay Idriss. The effort was in vain! Nobody wanted to go there. They even tried to scam us twice, saying they were giving us rides, when in reality they were offering a Grand Taxi service. Be very careful with that!
We asked at a Petit Taxi stop and they told us that we had to go to the New city or on the outskirts of the city, since in the Medina it would cost a lot. But if you decide to go with the petit taxi you should consider that The approximate price for 3 or 4 hours of service is usually around 400 dirhams. In this option you pay for the car in full, you will not have to wait to find more passengers. This little guide will help you negotiate with them! Definitely, a very expensive way to get from Meknes to Volubilis.
3. Private excursion hired at the hotel, our option to go from Meknes to Volubilis
⏱ Journey time: 40 minutes
💰 Excursion price: 50€
After all our failed attempts, spending a lot of time in the heat, tired of being scammed, we opted to Call the hotel to hire a private driver. For us this is the best alternative! We had little time, so it was our only way not to miss the opportunity to go to Volubilis from Meknes.
This option is the most expensive by far. They charged us 500 dirhams (approximately €50), Although the price changes, you must also consider the amenities as well. And a lot. You forget to haggle. They pick you up and leave you at the hotel door, so you save possible taxis. You go in a comfortable car, just for you and you have as much time as you want since the driver is waiting for you at the door. The price will already be agreed and you won’t have to worry about anything.
When taking a taxi in Morocco, the price is the least important thing. The drivers are usually very mischievous and try to sneak it in at the slightest mistake. So you can save yourself a few headaches with the private tour to Volubilis.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH IS THE BEST OPTION TO GO FROM MEKNES TO VOLUBILIS IN 2024
Now we solve some frequently asked questions about how to get from Meknes to Volubilis. If you have any other questions, write us a comment.
What is the cheapest option to get from Meknes to Volubilis?
Definitely The cheapest alternative to get from Meknes to Voubilis is the grand taxi, as long as you manage to fill all the spaces in the car. But in this case the saying “cheap is expensive” makes sense because You will waste a lot of time looking for a grand taxi willing to go, then negotiating a price and waiting for more passengers.
We cannot deny that the grand taxi is the cheapest option, but it is also the one that will give you the most headaches. And you will have to live a similar odyssey to return to Meknes. So it is an option with advantages and disadvantages, but it is not the best.
What is the fastest option to get from Meknes to Volubilis?
The duration of the journey is the same in any of the three options. What you should consider is that It will take longer to get a grand or petit taxi. Rather, we could say that it is a complex and dedicated mission for those who have a lot of time and patience. But If you prefer to cut corners, find a quick solution, no matter what it costs, then you can opt for the hotel’s private tour. You’ll have it all figured out in no time!
The price will already be agreed upon and the driver will wait for you at the place for as long as it takes. Something that will not happen easily with the petit or the grand taxi. We got so tired of being scammed and looking for taxis and passengers in the heat of Morocco. So we didn’t want to waste any more of our time.
What option do we recommend to get to Volubilis from Meknes?
The best option to get from Meknes to Volubilis depends on your budget, time and patience. Yes, those three factors are what you should analyze! For example, if you don’t care Invest a good amount of money in order to have everything figured out, you should go with a private excursion. This will cost you around €50, but you will have an assigned driver who will wait for you while you visit. In addition, the price will already be agreed upon and you will not have to negotiate or haggle.
On the other hand, If you have plenty of time and want to save money, then you have to prepare to go from Meknes to Volubilis by grand taxi. It’s quite a task! When you find someone willing to take the trip, you should negotiate a decent price so you don’t get ripped off for being a tourist. Then you have to wait for the grand taxi to fill up or look for travelers who want to make this journey. Yes indeed, The vehicle will not leave if at least 6 or all 7 seats are not full. It can be a headache, although it will be a relief for your pocketbook!
How many kilometers are there between Meknes and Volubilis?
Meknes and Volubilis are nearby towns so it is worth making the trip and visiting these famous ruins. The journey is relatively short by car, They usually last about 40 minutes because they are 32 kilometers away. Almost nothing! So although Finding a way to get from Meknes to Volubilis can be a bit tediousis a site that cannot be missing from your list.
Source: https://lostraveleros.com/como-ir-de-meknes-a-volubilis/
