Morocco experts! Your help is needed for some routes

[Tim Cullis]

I refer you to my earlier reply...

Originally Posted by Tim Cullis

The Midelt to Imilchil section is a long day in itself. It comprises 45km of red piste, then 40km of mixed tarmac/gravel road, then another 45km of red piste. And my 'red' classification is for good weather when there hasn't been recent rain. The first section of red (Cirque du Jaffar) has severe dropoffs, the second section has 60 river crossings.

Coming from Midelt there's the Auberge du Jaffar a few miles out of town just as the first piste starts (N32 38.672 W4 46.351).

Then comes the first 45km section of piste.

Then 40km of tar/gravel road of 40km with two gites about halfway, one being Ahdaoui.

Then in the second section of piste there's two more--Ouyide and Fazaz.

My personal preference for accommodation at Imilchil is the Tislite Bride (N32 11.802 W5 38.510) because of the beautiful setting. Some years it's warmer than others.


January 2007


January 2008

Tim

[Griffdowg]

Tislit bride, is that on the eastern side of Lac Tislit? we stayed at an Auberge on the east side "camping tislit" i think. roof tent out, only people there lovely setting. The women there told us all about the festival and the single people coming from all over morocco for the festival in the summer, end of August i think. I got some nice shots of the full moon illuminating the lake. But they are all RAW not jpeg sorry.

Nice bit of snow there Tim

G

[Peter Girling]

Yup, that's the one. Crazy boiler/woodstove but the most fabulous breakfast on the terrace overlooking the lake. Staggeringly beautiful but staggeringly cold! The festival is first week of September as I remember.

Jojo

[Griffdowg]

Yes! that is one industrial size burner! Nice old women there isnt she?! Our french was pretty rubbish, but we got by. She cooked up a mean Tagine the night we got there and a cracking soup for starters. It dropped to 5 degrees C overnight mid-October. Fine in our mountain equipment bags though

G

[Peter Girling]

Happy days! Back there next month.

Jojo

[Tim Cullis]

The photo with the snow is from Steve Attwood. It started snowing on the second stage of the piste and he decided to keep going (snow ploughs don't do pistes) and make the hotel where he was stuck for three days.

No TV (Sat dish down), no books, so Steve concentrated on improving Rachid's English.


Snow drifts over the road


Rachid on left with Steve and helper


The crazy wood stove

Tim

[Chris Scott]

chris, are you saying the all the way from midelt until 13km behind the auberge is tarmac in the meantime?

It's as Tim says, sections of tarmac, (very slowly joining up)

Ch

[Linzi]

About the Imilchil Festival. It used to be a genuine Amazight festival including singles coming to meet a future partner but today you'll go and be fed a "plastic" version. The music is Arabic from Marrakech, there are side acts and coach loads of brain deads with cameras. The Amazight girls hate being photographed to put it mildly. The hijaked festival has had to be moved after perhaps thousands of years to somewhere else. What is there now is not for Travellers but are you a Traveller or not I ask myself! Linzi. On second thoughts, you guys are only going to enjoy the country but please be aware that there are changes going on because we go there and not all are beneficial to the locals. I believe the King wants to promote tourism but in this case the result is a distortion of a local event that has upset the locals and feeds readers of tourist guide books a Disneyland type pile of false photos. Linzi.

[Huskynose]

That's as may be, but nonetheless we encountered a warm welcome at mentioned hotel, the one with the industrial crematorium heating the place!
And, one of the good improvements is the eco-friendly lighting Rachid has in his hotel, with solar panels and energy-saving lamps.
We enjoyed a VERY good meal and a warm nights rest there last year in the company of very good friends.
Definitely a place to re-visit !

[Linzi]

I agree, I was too reactionary. Change takes place and nothing'll stop it. It's just that I've worked in the tourist industry and hate the clogs, tulips etc pumped to tourists. In Scotland it's kilts. Everywhere it's false but in Imilchil's case I just see red when I read material from paid journalist spouting rubbish, when I can't get paid for material. It ain't fair. Linzi.

[Griffdowg]

Rachid - Top man

We spoke at length about the (then) upcoming US election and Obama.

Its good to see others photo's of places you have visited and people you have seen. Lovely memories.

Thanks for sharing Tim

G

[viatormundi]

Thank you very much for your detailed answers. We changed the route now. Since we don't have much time and need to make to Merzouga in a specified date, we will be driving from Midelt towards Merzouga on asphalt and before reaching Merzouga, take right to Tinerhir to see Todra Gorge at least the beginning part of it. I guess that can be done in one day if we leave early from Midelt.

Any suggestions on accomodation in Midelt?

Another question I have is about the road from Marrakech to Fes. We can leave Marrakech about 3 afternoon and will try to drive about 4-5 hrs max that day. We won't make it to Fes the same day, any suggestions on where to stop at the end of the day? Kasba Tadla, Khenifra, Beni Mellal? Any decent accomodation in those towns, I assume since they are on the main road from Marrakech to Fes, there should be some hotel/motels next to the road.

[airhead]

Originally Posted by viatormundi

Any suggestions on accomodation in Midelt?

we stayed at the hotel atlas, which is a nice private pension.
for a double room we payed 100DH. that included shower and a garage for 2 bikes.
coordinates are: N32° 40' 54.7 W4° 44' 39.5

let me add a general remark about finding a suitable place to stay in morocco.
it is very helpful and saves tons of price negotiating if you enter the
hotel or whatever with the lonely planet guide under your arm.
they ALL know the prices in that guide!
find out BEFORE you aggree, what is included and what is not. especially ask, if garage and breakfast are included. otherwise they will ask for extra money the morning you want to leave.

[Chris Scott]

General note:
Any recoms', please add then to this thread:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ntribute-39077

thanks

Ch

[airhead]

Originally Posted by Linzi

I agree, I was too reactionary. Change takes place and nothing'll stop it.
Linzi.

you are absolutely right, linzi, but adventure riders usually are the spearhead of tourism industry. morocco nowadays is hard to compare with when i was there first time about 40 years ago. so when we point with one finger to nowadays tourists, 4 fingers are pointing back to us.
what could be the consequence? we keep our hidden paradises for ourselves and stop answering questions like: how can i best do morocco in 5 days.