Is hitchhiking safe in the Rif mountains?

Hitchhiking in the Rif mountains is not recommended, and it’s the one part of Morocco where we’d actively steer you towards shared taxis or buses instead. The Rif is the country’s cannabis-growing region, and lifts there can involve drivers connected to that trade, plus isolated roads where you have little control if a situation turns uncomfortable — a particular concern for solo travellers and women.

The good news is you don’t need to hitch: grand taxis run set routes between towns like Chefchaouen, Ouazzane and Tetouan for a few dirhams a seat, and they leave when full. CTM and Supratours buses cover the main links comfortably and cheaply.

If you want the freedom of your own schedule, hire a car or a private driver. It costs more than a lift but removes the real uncertainty of getting into a stranger’s vehicle in an area with a sensitive local economy.