N9 Marrakech to Tichka side route

[Chris Scott]

Nice 35-km traffic-free diversion (in red, map below) if you've done the N9 Marrakech to Tichka one time too many. Less well known than the longer Telouet diversion on the south side.
From the 1750-m col just west of Zerkten, you get an amazing view of Toubkal, 60km to the southwest.
It doesn't avoid the current N9 road-widening south of Zerkten for 17km, but for a while the strong aroma of freshly pressed olive oil sure beats the carcinogenic soot belting out of a truck grinding up the climb.
Longer version here.

[Tim Cullis]

Did the Zate Valley route nine years ago and marked the final eight km as a 'black run' as the piste had been washed away. Glad to see it's been opened up.

[tony johnston]

Have been doing this run for a couple of years now as a side trip out of marrakech.can be linked with back roads around Ourika valley as a nice bimble around
in the countryside.

[Tim Cullis]

Found a photo of the 'black run'. Until now the piste had been blasted rocks, but here it narrowed down to a bicycle track with a sharp right hand bend then narrowed further with an extremely dicey steep drop off! And yes, I did get through.

I was looking for dinosaur tracks in the Zate valley and then 'following my nose' to try to find a shortcut to the Tichka.

I never reported on this at the time as I didn't think anyone would thank me for the route. Glad to see it's been improved somewhat!

[IanC]

Just followed it on GE. I hope they've not improved it *too* much!

Will definitely use that next time I'm there, hopefully Feb