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Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
Photo by Giovanni Lamonica, Aralsk, Kazakhstan.

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Photo by Giovanni Lamonica,
Aralsk, Kazakhstan.



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  #1  
Old 15 Aug 2022
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Col de Bekassem
Hi. Someone has crossed in recent months by the Col de Belkassem, Morocco? We are organizing a route for the last week of September, in one of the sections we pass through there on the way to Merzouga. We will ride a 1200GS, F650GS and a KTM. I know that, a few years ago, it was in bad condition. We don't have recent information. Thanks in advance.

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Old 16 Aug 2022
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I've checked my tracklog collection for that area and although I've been all around, I've never actually ridden tbe R601 from Ksar Tazougart to Beni Tajjite. I've ridden from Ksar Tazougart to Atchana (famous battle site of Foreign Legion) which is the P7109.

Normally in Morocco there's a hierarchy of roads from Autoroutes (A), National roads (N), Regional roads (R) and then Provincial roads (P), so one would normally expect the R601 to be wider and better maintained than the P7109.

But hey, this is Morocco and it's not unusual to have to divert for floods, broken bridges, whatever.
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Old 16 Aug 2022
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Thanks for yours comments. As you say, this is Morocco.
However, in recent years, in general, improvements have been seen.

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Old 16 Aug 2022
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I haven't been over the Col for a good few years. In 2017 the piste was graded from the north to the start of the ascent and the descent was as bad as ever.

The latest sat images don't give a clearer picture. Drop Francois at Rekkam Camping a message, he should know the latest info
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Old 16 Aug 2022
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Thanks for your info. Also, I take note of the camping, I didn, t know this.

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Old 16 Aug 2022
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Best campsite in Morocco, Francois is a great host, has a bar and does good food.

Just watch out for the donkey.
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Old 4 Oct 2022
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I confirm you, Francoise and his camp continue same. About the Col, I dont recomend to use this route. The descend (sud side) is in a very bad condition (one week ago)

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Old 5 Oct 2022
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We found ourselves on this route the day we arrived in Morocco at approximately 10pm at night due to inexperience of the country and choice decisions.

In a 4x4 it's ok, on bikes i'd imagine it's an awful lot more difficult as you don't have the weight and stability of the 4x4 to get you down.

We found an oil slick and puddle from someone losing their diff lock halfway down which must've upset their day.

It was passed by a group on KTM's the day before we did it, but they also did it in daylight and were travelling light with a support vehicle carrying all their gear on another route.

Recommend it? 4x4 yes but on a bike i'd only consider it if i was riding light on a nimble bike with a matched skill set.
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