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Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
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  #1  
Old 19 Apr 2015
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First Morcooco trip, need advice
3 weeks later we are off to Morocco from the Netherlands. We are riding two r1200 gsa. We dont have a lot of experience with off road.

We will ferry from Algeciras to Cueta. Can we gather all the needed documents in the ferry or we can also do it in algeciras or cueta?

We plan to stay in hotels in Rabat, Marrakech, Fez and we want to camp for the rest of the route. Which hotels would you recommend in total Morocco in terms of safety and comfort?

We plan to do this route in 6 or 7 days. Do you think this is doable in 6 days?

Thanks
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Old 19 Apr 2015
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Complete and print out your vehicle temporary import form before you leave home, see Import forms

When you buy your ferry ticket ask for the Moroccan police control paper for your personal entry.

The simplest crossing (and normally the cheapest) is Algeciras to Tanger Med in which case the passport and police control is done on the boat which saves time.

Unless you want to wild camp somewhere remote I just wouldn't bother with camping. It's more gear to carry, and loads of wasted time setting up camp, waiting for the dew to dry in the morning before taking it down again, plus you can't leave all your stuff unless you are on a campsite.

Your route is a lot of riding in just six days. Personally I would do less and see more. I'd suggest you get off the main roads as much as possible. With just six days I wouldn't go any further south than Midelt.

I wouldn't ride into any of the large cities unless I was going to spend a couple of nights there, otherwise you are spending time fighting the evening traffic only to fight the traffic again when you leave the next morning.

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Old 20 Apr 2015
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Hi Tim:

Thanks for that helpful reply above, and for the link to the import form.

Although I am not the original poster, I will be visiting Morocco in early May for the first time (well, first time on a moto - I have landed there and bought fuel quite a few times during my working career), and I have been watching the posts in this forum to learn what to expect.

I especially appreciate your advice to take the Algeciras to Tanger Med ferry for maximum simplicity.

One question for you: I have a ST 1100, and that is not a motorcycle that likes to be ridden on unpaved surfaces. I do plan to poke all around the country. Is it reasonable to expect that most of the secondary roads (i.e. next step down from the primary highways) will be paved?

Michael
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Old 20 Apr 2015
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There's four categories of roads in Morocco
A = autoroute (A1... A9)
RN = routes nationales (N1...N19)
RR = routes régionales (R101... R999)
RP = routes provinciales (P1001... P9999)

You can normally expect all of these to be tarmac with the exception of part of the N12 either side of Zagora.

I prefer to use the R and P roads where possible as the N roads in many places tend to be too busy for relaxed riding. Quite happy, though, to jump onto an autoroute (toll highway) to make progress.

Check out ferry prices at aferry.to. If you stick in Algeciras to Tanger Med it will come up with the alternative routes/prices as well. The cheapest tends to be Trasmediterranea/Acciona. Stay clear of Intershipping which has a terrible reputation.

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Old 20 Apr 2015
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Very helpful, useful information Tim. Especially the online D16 form and police checkpoint fiche docs will help a lot. We changed the ferry destination to Tanger Med as you suggested.

Regarding the route, I myself want to see the Erg Chebbi so we will have to go a bit furder down than Midelt. We will try to rework on the route and cut out some parts to achive the route in 6 days.

Any more recommendations are welcome..

Thanks.
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Old 20 Apr 2015
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Hi Tim:

Once again, thank you very much for so generously sharing your knowledge about Morocco.

Let me know (by private message) if you plan to be on the Granada Altiplano during the last week of April - first week of May... if so, I'd be delighted to invite you out and buy you dinner!

Michael
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Old 21 Apr 2015
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Unfortunately no, we won't be travelling out until a week or so later, but thanks for the kind offer.
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