6 day trip to Morocco 12-18 Nov 22
 

Firstly, want to say how helpful this site has been in terms of info on touring in Morocco. We are planning 6 days later this month, with the following route. It is our first time in Africa:
Tangier Ville - chefchaouen - fes - errachidia - ouarzazate - marrakesh - rabat - Tangier ville.

Does this sound reasonable and any suggestions would be appreciated. Want to keep on tarmac and under 250 miiles per day if possible.

Many thanks

That's about a 1200 mile loop. Doable at 250 miles a day but when we did it the other way round many years ago we took two weeks over it. Even then it felt somewhat rushed. If you've not been to Morocco before there's a lot more to see / do than just ride 250 miles a day.

Many thanks. Yes it is very rushed and should probably stay in the north but one of the guys want to see Marrakesh. The bikes are parked up in Mijas so we can probably have another trip early next year and stay longer. I am assuming that the loop is all tarmac?

Yes, all tarmac. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice ride and I've done a number of bits of it since we did the loop but you're going to be riding past a lot of stuff just to keep to schedule. If you're going to stop at Marrakesh that'll take a day out of your six. Fingers crossed you get good weather :thumbup1:

morocco in 6 days .... you really need at least 14 !
but ... the weather in the north can be wet that time of the year ( fez etc ) so i may pay you to go south ,and try essaouira , very nice costal place .

Many thanks and fingers crossed about the weather. It would be ironic to come all the way from Ireland to be rained on for 6 days. May as well stayed at home

I guess you're flying into Malaga (?), picking up the bikes and riding down to Algeciras for the ferry - is that the idea? Fingers crossed on the weather but at least it won't be the 42C we had there back in August.



https://i.postimg.cc/j5Xv93pF/Maroc1.jpg

Yes fly down to Malaga, then down to Tarifa for crossing to Tangier Ville. Booked on the FRS ferry. I see lots of comments on where the insurance office is in Tangier Med but not so sure about Ville. I assume we will find it when we get off the ferry.
I am not sure which is worse, 42c or rain. Still, better than working

essaouira sounds like a good place to visit. If it is wet in the north, we may just blast down the atlantic coast and tour around there

its a lovely relax place, best going to marakesh first the 3 hours to essy !

Sure, it's do-able, but you're going to be spending a lot of time riding every day, and won't have the opportunity to stop and stay for a few days in one place, explore, poke around, and learn about the culture and the people.

Riding along a road is the same anywhere in the world - you get to see the back of the vehicle in front of you, and the painted stripes on the road.

If you only have 6 days, my suggestion is that you shorten the total trip length up a bit. I think that would give you a more enjoyable holiday. You can always return again in future years to see other areas of the country further afield.

I've done a number of Morocco trips in the past. Typically I spend about 2 weeks, and during that two weeks, ride about 1,000 to 1,500 miles. That's less than half of the distance-per-day that you are thinking of.

Michael

I would say not in 6 days, especially 1st time.
400km/day in Morocco off the autoroute is a tall order.
Today coming down the Tizi n Test road we saw an excavator tumble from the hillside onto the road. Driving into Marrakech medina is scooter rollerball.
It's not like touring in Europe.

I would not complicate things by going to Tarifa if Algeciras to Tan Med is nearer and with many more frequent crossings.
Then, with 5 hours of daylight left (and knowing exactly where you are going to stay) bomb down the motorway to tick off Marrakech.
Right now the widening roadworks on the N9 to Ouarzazate are quite bad, even if you take the side diversions.
And what is there to see in Ouarzazate (or errachidia or rabat)?
From Ozt a night in Taroudant would be more interesting. Especially via the desert (400k/d possible down here). Then head for Essaouria as people do, and enjoy a day off.
Then up to Chef, and ferry next day. That may leave a day to spare.

Chris, many thanks. I purchased a copy of your book which I am reading at the moment. Very helpful. We need to use Tarifa for logistical reasons but am tempted to get south quickly and check out Taroudant. BTW, Do you know if insurance is easy to get in Tangier Ville?

I have not been to Tan ville for years and iirc had my own insurance at the time.
It was hours getting out of there; I assume that has improved.
Are you sure you cannot get green card extension for MK on your Irish insurance (assume you are not NI)?
I know in UK it’s rarely given to bikes now; maybe IRL is more like Europe.

You will like Taroudant - old city just the right size to get in and stay in a riad without getting into a muddle.

I know you have to have start with some sort of a plan but in a vehicle imo the best of Morocco is not in the cities but the places in between. Especially the deserted roads down south.
Too late now but for six says I would have flow in and rented bikes out of Marrakech.

Weather wise, done November south of Marrakech for last 10 year or more. It's invariably sunny days and a nice 25C, maybe freezing mornings up high towards the end of the month. But rain and floods happen.

From NI so no luck on the green card front. I have the co-ordinates for an insurance broker in Ville that covers bikes so should be ok. We dont really have a plan, just want to get out and ride a bit. More interested in the countryside than cities but we are booking first and last night, and work out everything else on the fly.