Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Morocco
Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Like Tree4Likes
  • 3 Post By amilk
  • 1 Post By John A

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10 Jan 2016
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Hungary
Posts: 31
Rookie to Morocco

Dear Travel Mates,

I will be rookie in Morocco beginning of March and would like to share my plan as I’m open for any suggestion and have some questions. My bike will be a Transalp 650 with onroad tyre + I will be alone so no offrad plan. I checked a forum here , bought Chris Scott’s book, checked Morocco knowledgebase (thanks for it). I will have 10 days from and back to Malaga where my bike parking. I try to use R and P roads as much as possible but have to compromise due to tight timing.

Day1 Malaga – Asilah (Ferry to Tanger Med )
Day2 Asilah – Marrakesh (highway 530 km, evening city tour Marrakesh)
Day3 – Marrakesh – Tizi’n Test - Taliouine ( 242km)
Day4 Taliouine – Ait ben Hanou – Quarzazate (209km) (maybe up and down Tizi N’Tichka if have time)
Day5 – Quarzazate – Dara Valley – Tazzarine (270km) – or other city instead overnight in the region?
Day6 Tazzarine – Merzouga – (200km) – is the road N12 all tarmac between them?
Day7 –Merzouga – Azrou 370km (a bit long)
Day8 Azrou – Asilah (mostly highway 382km)
Day 9 Asilah – Malaga

My route a bit touristy I know and still miss Dades Gorge, Fes, Chefchauen etc – but most probably I will come back later again.
Question: The plan above only 9 days and has one spare day still in it. Do you have recommendation where to spend + 1 day and to do a round tour around (I’m thinking on Quarzazate) or to split day 7 and 8 to three days? Any other recommendation welcome. Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10 Jan 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1,469
From Merzouga I would head to Tinerhir then up the Todra Gorge to Imichil then Midelt
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10 Jan 2016
davebetty's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 219
Sounds perfectly do-able. 300-400-500kms is easily done in a day on the roads in Maroc, but you won't get the chance to stop and look much. Your plan for 200 odd kms will allow that.

Roads are very good in general. you will get forced off them every now and again where there are roadworks, but you should have no serious problems. People will help out if there is a problem.

N12 was just being finished just east of Tazzarine when I was there in April last year, so it should be finished. Even if it is not paved, is is well used very easy gravel, so again no problem.

You may find it cold up in the mountains. I was there in April and it was about 10 degrees in the high atlas, a lot of snow on the ground above 2000m but all roads open. in Mezouga it was 35 degrees +, so be prepared for differing landscapes, but that is part of the fun.

As for your day off, Mezouga or Efroud are places with lots of tourist potential. I spend a day in Azrou which I really loved, going up to the cedar forests. hanging out with tortoises and monkeys, looking around the market. Wherever you stop, it certainly won't be like Europe.

Have a great trip
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10 Jan 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1,469
The N12 has been tarmac from the junction with the N9 and Merzouga for years?

Oops sorry forgot the last bit to the N9 is the R108 and the N12 goes south down to Zagora
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11 Jan 2016
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,078
In early March, Marrakech sunrise will be around 0700, sunset 1830.

Day 2: is about 6 hours with fuel stops so if you hit the road by 9am you'll be there by 3pm or so.

Day 4: getting to the top of the Tichka will be about an hour from the N10/N9 junction. Once there you could take the scenic route back via Telouet which will take maybe 1.5+ hours. Or just chill out in Ouarzazate.

Day 5: There's no hotels in Tazzarine that I'm aware of. There's a few at Alnif but do NOT stay at La Gazelle. For a first time visit to Morocco I'd suggest the more northerly route via Boumalne du Dades (bottom of Dades Gorge) and Tinerhir (bottom of Todra Gorge). There's lots of hotel opportunities in both gorges.

Day 6: the N12 east of Tazzarine is tarmac.

March is likely to still be cold in the north, so personally I'd spend the spare day in Merzouga—it's supposed to be a holiday! Then you are relaxed for the longish day from Merzouga to Azrou. But Warden's suggestion is also good.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live,"
Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11 Jan 2016
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Hungary
Posts: 31
Thanks to all of you for the good advices I will take them in to account
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 28 Jan 2016
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Marrakech / Morocco
Posts: 17
Hi,
I agree with Tim regarding accommodation in Tazzarine.
For your spare day either opt for Merzouga and enjoy a camel ride, bivouac in the dunes and check out the sunset and sunrise or Ouarzazate where you can then surely ride the Tichka and visit the Fint oasis and studios or take a day enduro ride with one of the operators there. Weather will be fine by then.
Although this year winter is mild and there has been no snow in the mountains, I just rode Fes-Merzouga and return via Ouarzazate-Marrakech in December and morning temps are chilly. In March it will be better but dress for extremes. Morning in the mountains can vary between 0 to 6 degrees in March while daytime it will be around 25-28. Merzouga the same with cold nights and temp rising quickly. In March you can already reach 30s. On New year's eve we had 28 during the day and -3 at night.
Anyways, if you need weather or road update or help with the accommodation, let me know.
Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 28 Jan 2016
Arma's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Lake Constance, Germany
Posts: 149
The route down looks good, for the route back I would suggest that you try and go via Todra or Dades gorge. Really gorgeous ride, but beware - on my way North from Tinghir last August all the bridges were gone, all washed away - rivers were passable though. I just waddled the bike through. If you go that way I highly recommend Auberge le Festival, Todra Gorge. Lovely guys there and their Masaka is a nice change from dammed tagine!

For your night in Merzouga its worth going out into one of the desert camps, by camel if your ass can stand the pain, they are not comfy. It's as touristy as it comes but worth it.

Respect to you doing it that quick, I did a similar route (quite a few more stops) and took three times as long! All looks a bit rushed, Marrakesh really needs two days to explore rather than one night, but if that's what you've got then it's not a bad plan. Good luck, Morocco was my first trip out of the European comfort zone, was really good to me.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
__________________
[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 24 Mar 2016
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Hungary
Posts: 31
Arrived back

Hello
The rookie arrived back from his first Morocco trip, first because for sure it was not the last one. The route was mainly as planned with a bit different split between the days. Enjoyed very much and again thanks for the community for the infos available here.
My RR is here :Newcomer to Morocco | Adventure Rider

I can just propose to all who was not there to visit Morocco.

I will contribute the accomondation topic of Morocco with my experiencies soon.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 25 Mar 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: the MK riviera
Posts: 162
Thanks for sharing your ride report Amilk, it made great reading and the photos are brilliant; I'm really looking forward to my trip next month!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 25 Mar 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: East Sussex UK
Posts: 119
I enjoyed your report & photos & look forward to more, well done!
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 23 Oct 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 101
Quote:
Originally Posted by amilk View Post
Hi, planning my first visit to Morocco and your RR was a great read. How many hours riding did it take to get from near to Tangier to Marrakesh please? Your map on the RR goes to Meknes I think.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 23 Oct 2016
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Hungary
Posts: 31
Quote:
Originally Posted by John A View Post
Hi, planning my first visit to Morocco and your RR was a great read. How many hours riding did it take to get from near to Tangier to Marrakesh please? Your map on the RR goes to Meknes I think.
OK I see what you mean. I attached wrong picture for this day. The road from Ashilah towards Marrakesh was just highway and at Rabat I turned towards Marrakesh. Like this it was 6hours ride with minimal stop time just to fuel up. Sorry again the map not good there. That route was backwards.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 24 Oct 2016
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 101
Quote:
Originally Posted by amilk View Post
OK I see what you mean. I attached wrong picture for this day. The road from Ashilah towards Marrakesh was just highway and at Rabat I turned towards Marrakesh. Like this it was 6hours ride with minimal stop time just to fuel up. Sorry again the map not good there. That route was backwards.
No problem and thanks for that information.

I'm thinking of getting the early ferry to Tangier Med and then heading south quickly as like you I have a restricted timescale. And while I can see the area to the north of the Atlas mountains has its beauty, I'd like to see the dry arid part first on this trip. I don't mind cruising at 120 kph on the motorway if it gets me to where I want to be, and, at least on the motorways the use of the road will not be too different for a European, and so will also help the transition (I hope).
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Morocco: slave labour camps, fossils and wild desert flowers Tim Cullis Morocco 28 22 Apr 2015 11:44
UK - Morocco adventure tour anyone? Flyboy1 Travellers Seeking Travellers 9 19 Aug 2014 12:48
Route / tyre advice for novice rider's first trip to Morocco str3tch Morocco 8 19 Feb 2014 11:31
Which bike to bring to Morocco 3-4K budget Thomas Kissane Which Bike? 11 7 Feb 2014 16:48
morocco, morocco, morocco !! freddy Morocco 0 22 Feb 2012 19:32

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:21.