Short motorbike trip - Morocco or Tunisia?

[MLSP]

I'm hoping to ride to one of these countries from the UK sometime next year on a motorbike - maybe with firneds also on motorbikes. The trip would be 2-3 weeks in total.

I'm not sure which country would be the better to visit.

The Plymouth - Santander ferry (about £200 per person inc bike return) is about half the price of the Marseille to Tunis one (£400). So on that basis alone I'm thinking Morocco would be the better option.

Is that madness?

Are there any reasons Tunisia would be a better choice?


Many thanks!

PS - GREAT forum!

[Frank Warner]

Think you'll find you need a guide in Tunisia. And as you are on bike the guide will need a car .. you pay for the guide and his car.

If you have never been to Morocco .. go there .. see Tims Morocco FAQ over on UKGSer :::: For BMW GS Enthusiasts for things to do/routes etc ...

[Eric DN]

Hi

The most interesting in Tunisia is the south part, to ride dunes and eat sand, but since fews months a guide is mandatory and even some area are totaly forbiden and the prices are crasy, I've been in both countries, and without hesitation for a first trip in north africa i would choose Morocco.

[MLSP]

Ok, thanks guys - Morocco it is then.

[brend]

hello
if you have never been to morocco before, i would definetly choose for morocco. It has everything, nice mountains, beautiful city's, some desert, kind people and the coast and good roads for your motorcycle.
Have fun

brend

[tobyclark]

Morocco is great, was there for 10 days in March.

Good luck on the ferry (also portsmouth to bilbao route v similar) as its generally rough and not pleasant for 36 hours. Dont make the mistake of getting a cabin at the front of the boat as it is even more unpleasant!

The ride down through Spain can be done in a day and there are early ferries across from Algeciras so that you have a full day once arriving in Morocco - i went to Fez on day one after stopping for a great breakfast in chechaeouen. Worth riding down to Merzouga to the dunes and crossing back across the high Atlas.

You see a lot of old people now travelling in camper vans around the country. They all seem to go anti-clockwise for some reason so i was glad to be going the other way.

The police arent allowed to stop tourists riding now as the king stopped them after realising how the bribes they wanted were damaging tourism. Usually police have checkpoints either side of towns but all they can do is wave as you pass, unless perhaps you're speeding.

Most of the country is very safe and people v friendly - except in Tangiers where everyone looks at you like they want to steal your bike - some even try and flag you down. Fre kids throw stones at you here and there but its not too bad. Hope you enjoy.