Morocco roads
 

Hello,
can anybody tell me if is it possible to go from FOUM ZGUID to TAZENAKHT with a normal car, or do I need a 4x4?? :helpsmilie:

Thanks in advance for your support.

Ciao

Giuseppe

Hi
If you drop a PM to Chris Scott, he should be able to give you the info you require.

Dazzer

have never been there, but am sitting here with my "Morocco Overland" book and Michelin map, so I took a look.

In both the book and the map, it looks like this route is a road rather than a piste, so I think you'd be OK in a normal car, but I guess someone who has been on the ground should confirm...

Yes, no probs in a normal car as MR has found and a fantastic drive it is too, esp going southwards.

Ch

I'd say: Yes!
 

Hi Fantic,

I've been to Morocco 4 times but never rode on that particular road.

Anyway I browsed it in Google Earth with Panoramio layer on and some photos show that it is a tarmac road.

Have a look yourself.

Best Regards,
Luís Cabrita

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/sahara-travel-forum/morocco-roads-48094-post274
 

No problems on that road. Small road but tarmac.
grts
Peter Penson

Thanks to all of you.

Ciao

Giuseppe :D

I'm planning on driving down to Morocco for a few months starting in August.
I will be taking the trusty Ford Fiesta.
I visited Marrakesh in 1992 on the train. I saw less than 10 tourists in 3 days, apparently it's changed a bit!

What is the most reliable way to ascertain if a road is tarmac?(Drivable without 4wd)
Is there a particularly good/reliable map I can get?

Also I'm looking at Ferry prices algeciras/cueta and traifa/tangir at around £300 for the car and two people return. Does that sound about right?
I don't seem to be able to book anywhere further forward than a few weeks though.

All help gladly received.

UPDATE:
Have now found lots of useful info on the "Morocco GS Knowledgebase" if you know of anything else I'm still interested

Hope you have air con in your Fiesta if you going in August :Beach:

Have a great trip

Dazzer

Is there a particularly good/reliable map I can get?...

I used 6 country maps for the Morocco book and review them and more here:
Morocco Overland ~ Morocco map reviews

tbh, none are perfect, not even the Mich as many think. All show a few pistes as roads and vice versa.

I settle on the Rough Guide (newest) and expect the unexpected when out there. Morocco is small enough that turning back is no drama. The main red roads are normally correct.

You will have great fun in the Fiesta but it wont be cold. In 2008 was it, a tourist tourist died of the heat in summer on MS6 (unusual, but it happens).

Ch

I went in August once in a soft top ex army land Rover - funnily, the soft tops seem to get hotter inside than hard tops, as our digital temp guage from maplins showed it reached 60 degrees C in the cab! That was in the salt flats in the south. I love getting me head baked though, and after 40 degres it all feels the same - got through some water though.
Funny story - a berber lady approached us in the middle of the salt pan, and put her thumb to her mouth repeatedly - not sure what she was doing, we thought she was hungry, so gave her a few packs of dried noodles. I didn't need to speak berber to translate what she said, though we werent sure why she was being so rude.. it clicked a few months later...

Plenty of roads in morocco, and a lot of the pistes are being paved, so you have to go out of your way now to find stuff thats fun for 4x4's, but doesn't detract from the experience. :thumbup1:

Cheers for Map info Chris
Last time I went it was in August and I do remember it being a tad on the hot side.
No Air con in the Fiesta..it's too old for that.
And its Black..ish
It was 40+ in some places we visited in Turkey last year you know its hot when it gets hotter the faster you go instead of creating a nice breeze:)

General consensus seems to be a car is fine for Morocco then.
If it didn't rain how far into Africa could I get before wishing I had 4wd??
Would the biggest problem be sand/mud or road surface/pot holes etc

Fiesta fun
 

You'll have no problem with your Fiesta, the buggers are laying tarmac everywhere! I'd agree with Chris, the Rough Guide map is fine. Red and green roads should be OK and like the Michelin maps green edging indicates a scenic route. Don't forget to ask around once you're there, there's no substitute for local knowledge.

Must dash, off for a cold beer in Tinerhir!

Happy trails,

Jojo