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Morocco from the US in April/May 2012 Morocco from the US in April/May 2012
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Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 19 Feb 2012
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Definitely rent locally and save the need to get back to Spain at the end of your trip. Some other day you'll fly to Spain and enjoy some of the finest riding anywhere, but this is a Morocco trip.

Definitely rent a lighter bike if you're planning to get off the pavement.

I'd suggest you'll be happier if you can learn some bits of French before going, for all the usual reasons. Of course you'll manage without, but things are easier, friendlier and more fun with the basics. Put some effort into it.

I'd also suggest that 3 weeks isn't long enough. It's a bigger country than it appears, and it contains a lot of variety in landscape and people. Of course, you make do with what you've got available, but you're going to have to pare somewhat or you'll spend all your time riding....which is not the idea. Unless, of course, it is.

In case it's not already clear, don't use a credit card to withdraw money: use a debit card, and carry two just in case. Check with your cell provider before using international roaming; cheap sim cards are available if you've got the phone to suit, and cheap phones if you don't.

Great country on a bike!

Mark

Edit to add: Oh, and have a look here: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=818831
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  #2  
Old 19 Feb 2012
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
I'd suggest you'll be happier if you can learn some bits of French before going, for all the usual reasons. Of course you'll manage without, but things are easier, friendlier and more fun with the basics. Put some effort into it.
If you going to learn any language for Morocco learn arabic you'll get a much better response from the locals than speking french
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  #3  
Old 19 Feb 2012
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Oh, and have a look here...
Tim C now has his own Mk forum:
Morocco Knowledgebase

Never heard of Palm Road but this US guy liked them recently.
I've never used Loc either, but know people who have with no probs.
Like any rental, be sure they know what you plan to do - and that you know what you're getting re: condition of tyres and chain and equipment like elementary tools, tyre repair/inflation and any equipment. Or BYO to be sure.

I have never reserved lodgings in Mk. Down south there are more places to stay than people to fill them and the cheap places I stay are usually empty. Most tour groups go to blinged-out 'kasbahs'.
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  #4  
Old 19 Feb 2012
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Thanks Mark, TW, and Chris for advice on language, time, and rental referral thread info. I'm certainly not the blinged-out kasbah type...

I happened upon Tim C's thread earlier, so I've signed onto UKGSer and will be reading in full (and to contact the US guy that recently rented at Palm-Road).

Trip is still tentative, but I'm starting to pull together costs and logistics which will help make the decision clearer!

Thanks again, and if you think of anything else I should know, I'm all ears...

Mike
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  #5  
Old 19 Feb 2012
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Hana and David at Motoadventours have R1200GS bikes to rent and also offer accompanied tours both in Spain and Morocco. There's something to be said about entering Africa by ferry. Algeciras to Tanger Med (post #5 on this thread is the best route).

Reda at Palm Road is a colleague of Tim Skilton at LocoForMotos and both are based in Marrakech. I understand they have F800GS and perhaps R1200GS. Tim was also talking about Husqvarnas the last time we met.

I've used Loc2Roues (hire two wheels) several times and am flying in to Marrakech on Tuesday and renting a couple of Noureddine's G650GS single bikes. He and Celine also have F650GS twin and R1200GS options plus lighter weight alternatives.

Peter Buitelaar at BikersHome in Ouarzazate (bus ride from Marrakech over the Atlas Mountains) has several Yamaha TT600 bikes. BikersHome is a great place to head for anyway and Zineb (Peter's wife) is a great cook.

All of these people are reliable and trustworthy and I fully recommend them.

Tim

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Old 19 Feb 2012
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If you decide to rent from Marrakech, try to avoid flying Royal Air Maroc into Casablanca, instead fly from the US into one of EasyJet's hub airports (such as Madrid) and from there fly directly into Marrakech. Should be better service, cheaper and maybe faster.

Morocco is a veritable Tower of Babel when it comes to languages, a lot of Spanish in the north, in the south you'll get by with English + mime.

Wild camping is fine and I normally carry a bivi bag even when not planning to camp just in case, but in the mountains (where it can be cold at night) I prefer to stay in basic gites d'etape (pictures here) where evening meal, bed and breakfast (sometimes also a hammam) is typically 120-160dh (under $20).

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  #7  
Old 20 Feb 2012
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Thank you Tim!

Excellent information and great resource that you put together on UKGSer! I actually stumbled onto it via some other threads here and promptly bookmarked it.

Have a good trip this week!

Thanks to all for the feedback - loving the HUBB website as a resource for planning such a trip...

Mike
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