2016-May Morocco Atlas

[aluguer]

Hi there i lost my older account so i created a new one.
Start the plans for next year Morocco trip i will have 8 days in Morroco enter in tanger.
I want to explore the Atlas on big trail bikes (BMW, AT, and Tenere)
my last time in morroco was in January 2009 and on the south i did the pist from merzouga to zagora.

my plan is to go ffrom tanger to midelt (tarmac) and then enter in midelt in to the cirque du jaffar .
From my research and some old tracks done by 4wd i go to this route from midelt to ilmichil

but my question how much of this route is tar now ?
and what is this other track north

[Peter Girling]

This route is mostly tar now or well-graded piste. The track marked north east of Anefgou is the old route that goes through the gorge which had many stream crossings. The new road south is a fine piece of civil engineering and provides a more reliable route for kcal traffic. The old route isn't maintained so is impassable for vehicles. Don't know if you'd get through with a big bike.
If you have a go, let us know! Either way, it's still great roué.

Happy trails,

Peter

[Tim Cullis]

+1 for what Peter has written. The dark yellow routes on the map above are now all tarmac, the red sections are piste. I haven't been in that area for a couple of years but the last time I tried the piste with the question mark for a few km and it was rough but doable—some trucks were doing gravel extraction. If there's a group of you it's worth an explore, you can always turn back if it gets silly.

There's a load of gites on this route which make excellent overnight stopping places, typically you're looking at 150 dh for dinner, bed and breakfast.

A fun route is what I term the 'Jaws of Jaffar' which is the red route coming into the bottom of the cirque from the north on the map above, see video below.



I had an 'incident' in this area some years back. Hopefully the low life has since shuffled off this mortal coil, but have a read so you are prepared...

Some pics of the easy route once you are past the cirque (pistes have been tarmaced since).

[fcaeiro]

Thanks for the quick answers .
So Tim you think coming to cirque by that route north instead of turning left after midelt will be more fun ?
I was thinking on a day from midelt to Ichimil and then another day to do circular ilchimil-dades-todra-ilchimil.

But if roads are tar it's doable in one day reach dades ?

How about pists north of Ichimil ? I would like to go by anergui Ait-Ben-Haddou col du tichika
But any suggestions (piste are welcome )
I just want to hit the road In Marrakech highway to tanger .

Thanks
Tim: I can't register on you site



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[Peter Girling]

Midelt to Dades Gorge is possible in a day, especially on a big bike. You could do Midelt-Dades on one day and overnight at one of the auberges/campsites near the neck of the gorge. The following day, back-track to Msemir and do the gorge to gorge piste to Tamtattouchte. then a road move to Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou.
The piste north of Ait Benhaddou to Telouet is now wide and graded. From Telouet to the Tizi-n-Tichka it's asphalt but was in poor condition when I was there in March.

Peter

[aluguer]

hi there another question does any know this piste ?
opinions doable on big trails ?
thanks

[Barrie Dunbar]

As Tim above, , starts around 04.45

[Tim Cullis]

Originally Posted by aluguer

hi there another question does any know this piste ?
opinions doable on big trails ?

I have it tracklogged as a blue (no off-tarmac training required). At N31 16.970 W6 34.500 you could look for the Tazouda Atlasaurus.

The piste continues further west than you've shown and you can ride most the way to Ouarzazate off tarmac.

If you feel adventurous, Peter Buitelaar of Bikershome has a place in the mountains near N31 24.631 W6 29.270 and you could do a loop north through that area (the pistes are shown on your map).

[aluguer]

Thanks Tim, so if i got it right both the points and the complete route is this one ?


thanks