Track between Todra and Dades gorge

[Marieke]

Hi, can you tell me the condition of the connecting track between Todra and Dades gorges at this moment. We want to drive this route end of february by 4WD.
Thanks, Marieke

[kaspars]

tried to drive from Imilchil to Todra - the track over the mountain pass was not driven by anybody, and not passable at all. We had to return. This was in 30 December. Then, we tried going from Dades uphill - the road was swallowed by flood, but possible. So - try, and tell, what happened!
NB - we used 4x4s

[bmw.bec]

Hi

Road from Rich to Todra is tarmac except 1 short place and takes you through a much nicer gorge called Amellago.
Todra gorge to dades gorge was impassable for us in Novemeber due to heavy rainfall, floods and the road being washed away (the track). It was covered in large rocks that had broken away and we were advised to turn back by a couple of 4x4 - of course it may be better now so its always worth asking in the towns when you reach there.
The road to Imichil was easily done on a bike.

Hpe this helps

[moodybloo]

still impassable as at the 10th of jan,no one seem to know when it would reopen;

[Tim Cullis]

I haven't done that piste since last year, however it is well defined and not likely to be affected too much by water/snow. Adi from http://www.aubergelefestival.cjb.net/ might give you an update, his email is aubergelefestival@yahoo.fr and I recommend his place in the Todra for accommodation.

Personally I would go up the Dades, then across to the Todra, then down the Todra. The track is easier to find on the Dades side, and the views are better this way round. Even better, include the link from Kelaa M'Gouna to Ait Youl before you go up the Dades. Very pretty, it's called the Valley of the Roses.

I rode the Todra a couple of weeks ago and you will have no problem with the diversions. You can see some pics at http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97166 (within post 15 of that thread).

As kaspars reports, the piste from Agoudal north to Imilchil was closed, however the asphalt road from Rich to Imilchil was open. More pic on thread mentioned above.

Tim

[Milestogo]

Hi,

With a 4x4 you can get to Tamtattouch in de Torda valley. The asfaltroad has been washed away begin of februari. The road was just finished. Now you have to drive trough the water.

Due to the rain the track, piste, between the vallys was not duable! Lots of big rocks and washouts.

Maybe later; Good Luck!

www.milestogo.nl

Leon and Claire

[Tim Cullis]

The asphalt road past Tamtattouch to Ait Hani was finished more than a year ago. All the damage above was done last November, though the photos are from January this year.

Milestogo: Are you saying there was some more flooding in the last couple of weeks?

Tim

[FreeCaRveR]

if you go from tinerir over agoudal village this will be fine.
we got stuck at 2600m in 1.2meter snow on the piste little before Agoudal.

if you get stuck there,backtrack for a while and take the innerloop at N31 42.120 W5 30.783.This piste goes straight to the dades gorges at but at lower altitude.
The tracks might be quite muddy but you'll get through as locals do it with Mercedes vans and very old trucks.

Enjoy

[Marieke]

Dear all,

thanks for the information and pictures. We leave friday. After our return I will update you all.

Thanks,
Marieke

[Tim Cullis]

There's a multitude of tracks leading west over the Todra to Dades shortcut and the link posted by Freecarver is north of the first (at N31 40.125 W5 33.003) and south of the last (at N31 44.206 W5 29.719).

Whichever of these you choose, your NEXT waypoint going east-west should be the auberge at N31 44.166 W5 32.990.

But I reiterate my previous comment, the track is much easier west to east, both for navigation, and ease of riding--there are a number of rock steps that are difficult coming the other way with luggage. The track leaves the Dades piste at N31 43.052 W5 48.199. Oh, and it's not really 'low altitude', the high point is over 8700'.

Tim

[FreeCaRveR]

here some pics from the piste late december
below the berber village halfway,pretty flooded



the collapsed road in the gorge






the north-face of the mountain with the snow.





another flooded berber village

[Marieke]

Hi,
Just returned from Morocco. We wanted to drive from Todra to Dades gorge. Just passing Todra gorge you have the Auberge Le Festival. We spoke to the owner Abbi and he mentioned the track between Todra to Dades is still closed (see also waypoints of Tim at Tamtattouchte). He thinks it will take a while before it is open again. The government seems not to be interested in repairs in the next coming weeks.
He and the owners of the other hotels and restaurants between Todra and Tamtattouchte are setting up a kind of partnership so they can put on the pressure at the local government. They are all a bit desperate because because since the flooding the amount of visitors dropped increasingly and so there income.

Another update. The road to Imilchil is fine now.

Bye, Marieke

[reggwensie]

Today we travelled up the Todra Gorge, across the mountain piste and back down the Dades Gorge, so this piste is certainly now open.

The vehicles were standard Land Rover Discovery II, Classic Range Rover and Defender 110, all running road or all-terrain tyres.

All gorge roads and mountain piste were perfectly driveable, the track is washed out in many places, however the rivers are almost dry and can be used in many places instead.

We had a fantastic day, the driving and the scenery were fantastic.

The co-ordinates given by Tim were spot on.

[goodwoodweirdo]

Monday 12th March, completed the piste between the two gorges, 2 up with baggage on a rented XT660......

We did it, but jeeez it was hell, looking back on it great fun but at the time !!!

We had it all from snow, mud, sand and many water crossings...

Points to remember, the children still put stones on the track and tell you its a different way, rivercrossings where deep 50cm + and deep ruts inplaces...

Please let me know if you see a stuck white retal car still up there ..... someone forgot to tell the guy it wasnt 4wheel drive...