Need advice planing my 2012 Morocco holiday
 

Hello all

I'm going to visit Morocco on my Holidays, for 2 weeks, driving my land Rover series 3, and would like to do as much off-road as possible. The plan is to go slow (Couldn't go fast even if I wanted anyway :oops2: ) camping along the way, if possible in camping parks, but don't mind a couple of nights in the wild.

I've based myself on Chris Scott's book, and these are the tracks :

1) M01 Sid Ifni -> Plague Blanch -> Tan Tan
2)MW3 Tan Tan -> Assa
3)MA2 Assa - > Ait Herbil -> Tafraoute
4)MA3 Tafraoute -> Akka
5)MS8 Akka -> Tata -> Tagounite
6)MS6 Tagounite -> erg chebbi -> Rissani

What do you think ? Are these tracks a good choice or too difficult ?

My initial plan is to leave on the 21/4 should be nice and warm without being
baking hot.

I'm also looking to get another car to go together, if anyone wants to join me that would be good.

Tito

Morocco GS Knowledgebase - ::. UKGSer.com .:: is the place for morocco information

Thanks for the link, I'll check carefully.

Any thoughts about the tracks I mentioned ?

Looks like a nice tour. If you had time, you could run over Nekob to Tinerhir piste, in my mind one of the best in the country.

Beware the tide at the beach - but then you'll know that!

Beaware of possible aggressive touts at Rissani - the only place we experienced hassle in Maroc - just keep smiling!

The run up the Algerian border gives you a great prespective on remoter parts of the Sahara farther east in Algeria and Libya and may whet your appetite for another tour!

I've done

MO1, very nice driving along the beach, recommended. Very nice place to camp is N28 32.759 W10 59.583 Ksar Tafnidilt, not expensive.

MA3, stunning route well worth doing, all the routes I have done in the Anti Atlas are nice and far less touristy than the a lot of Morocco.

MS8, quieter and more remote feeling than MS6, you maybe able to travel along the piste from Migourdane if you're lucky, more chance travelling East to West though as there is (was when I was there) an Army check point around Migourdane who may stop you.

MS6, fantastic, must be done route in my opinion.

Overall, I think you have chosen a very nice part of Morocco to explore. I will be there around that time so we may bump into each other.

Have fun bier

I have some pictures Here of some of those routes if you're interested.

Thank you all for your input, I've read about the tide beach, does the beach disappear completely with high tide ? or do we have some margin for error ?

Reggwensie you are talking about mh4 route ? I'm going to give these part of Morocco a miss this time, but if all goes well I'll be back many times , and this route , together with the todra gorge will be definitely on my list.

Twenty4seven, I've seen your pics, really nice, makes me want to go right now! what time of the year did you went ?

MA3 is it very rocky/bumpy ?

About MS8 I'll try my luck in going west to east. Does this track cross the Iriki lake ? I also want to visit Erg Chegaga, and possibly camp there for 1 night. Judging by your pic you camped in the wild, any problems ?

These routes, would they be suitable for a single vehicle ? ie, if something goes really bad, I can expect a car to pass in a few days (3 to 5 ) ? Because at the moment I don't have any company.

Tito

Morocco in April
 

Hi Tito,

The pistes will have been well driven at the start of April (Semana Santa - Holy Week) with loads of French and Spanish 4x4's so it should be easy to find your way.

If it's been dry, you'll find a well-defined piste across Lac Iriki to Erg Chegagga and if it's wet you need to stick to the rocky piste to the north. It's bumpy as hell and you'll feel every one in a Series 111. You DO NOT want to get stuck in the Lake if you're travelling solo!

There's an easy track to follow through the dunes, just drop tyres to 1bar. Camping in the dunes is fine, just make sure you're well off the piste if you don't want company.

There's usually frequent traffic on the main piste, but I'd not want to be hanging around for 3-5 days waiting for help. I've known it reach 47deg C here in April.

Happy trails,

Jojo

Hello Tito

I never stayed on the beach long enough to see the high tide, but it looked to me as though there was plenty of sand above the high water mark, although it also looked very soft.

That trip was between mid April to mid May and it has very hot in the desert, so much so that a trip to the Anti Atlas for a few days was almost needed. I like going late March / April now if I can.

MA3, I cannot remember MA3 as a bumpy or rocky piste.

MS8, yes it does cross the Lac Iriki at a couple of points, it was not a problem, although on my trips it's always been dry.

I have never driven into or very close even to Erg Chegaga, it's something I would like to do as well, there seems to be a few tracks shown on Olaf map.

I cannot imagine having any problems wild camping on your routes, also I cannot imagine you will be far away from a local if you had a problem needing help.

My rough route is Here for info. (zoomable)

Thanks for your help, it all looks good except maybe the dates ?

47ºC is too much for me, I'm used to 30s during the summer here in Portugal, that's not a problem, but 40s :(.

Should I advance a couple of weeks ? I'm not very keen on going during Easter, but if need be.

Your thoughts ?

Tito

Desert in April
 

Hi Tito,

We did get 47degC hauling two heavy 1150GS's through the sand of the Oued Rheris on one trip in 2005. Most of the time it's mid 30s but you need to be prepared for extremes. I've known snow at Imilchil in the Atlas in May and 25degC in March.

Happy trails,

Jojo

Ah, that's better, you got me worried there, I've looked on this website weather forecast Morocco - Overview - WeatherOnline , and comparing the history for a few years it looked to me that the average is around low 30s, which I'm used to and I know the car can handle ok ( August in Alentejo ( our own little desert ) can reach low 40s ) .

I'll take plenty of water and nice awning for shade during stops.

Tito

Careful entry and exit of Plage Blanche
 

The Streams have had a lot of water over the past 2 years, I did Plage Blanche 3 years ago and it was easy to get in and out, entrance near Sidi Ifni a little narrow but fine, I just spoke to a local French guy in Mirleft, he said do not attempt that now (I'm on a Toyota Hiace 4x4) cause the Streams washed away a lot of soil, the entrance and exit have become real difficult, changing with every tide. May the entrance is easy, but impossible to get out... so you have to make it back to the other end of the beach before the tide comes in. Be aware of that. Ask directions for Dan the quad guy in Mirleft and get his advice. He knows that part of Morocco by heart and my have some options for you.

Safe travels!

Samy

Samyonboard, thank you for you advise, i'm sad to read that the beach is difficult, I'm (was) really looking to do it, but since I'm travelling solo I cannot take so much risk.

What entrance do you say is still possible, the north one closer to Sid-ifni or the one closer to Tan-Tan ?

What you think about getting a local guide with their own 4x4 ?

Tito

Samy , do you have any sort of contact for the French expert ? It would be nice to have some sort of plan before I arrive.

Hello to all

the big adventure ( for me ) is getting close, about the beach I'm taking a ground anchor with me, I will keep moving no matter what, even if I've to drag the land rover 30 mt at a time :eek3:

Now I'm having difficulty in finding a place to stay in Assa and Tata, tried to e-mail the Nidorass Hotel, but so far no reply, and the reply I got from Dar Infiane in Tata was expensive, about € 130 half-pension.

Any advices ?

Tito

Hello Tito

Just in case you did not know, there is a campsite at Tata

Camping Municipal N29 44.826 W7 58.425 I have never stayed there so cannot comment on the place.

I really liked Assa, it has a nice feel to the place and there are plenty of wild camping opportunities around the area which maybe an option. :)

Hi

Thanks for the tip, I have the "Camping Morocco" book from VicarousBooks, and it doens't mention nothing in Tata. That sorts Tata then , Assa I've read that the Nicorass Hotel was the only one in 100km radius, if I don't get a reply from them then wild camping will be my option

Tito

Wildcamped near Assa last year and there's loads of options, or if you really want a bed and creature comforts then Guelimim is only a couple of hours drive further on and has several options

Tata
 

We were at Tata about three weeks ago, the municipal campsite was full to overflowing with french motorhomes. We camped at the hotel next to the petrol station, relaise de sable ( I think) there you have access to toilets and a water supply, 50 dr per night, we also pitched up one night on a car park opposite the municipal campground and a further 100 meters or so further up the road,it had a securty guy who expected 10dr for his services, but he did stay there all night,so fair play. I also noted with interest that there were a fair few series landies still earning there keep in southern morocco and old J series Bedford trucks.Have a good trip.....Marty

There seems to be zillions of motorhomes this year. Looking down from the BelleView Hotel in Sidi Ifni we estimated we could see 200 motorhomes, and there was another park with getting on for 100 in the other direction.

book in advance or not ?
 

Thanks for the input, a question for all you experience Morocco travellers, do you book in advance your stay, or do just search whats available when you arrive at a city ?

with the exception of the ibis hotel I've not been able to book any hotel.

Tito

Auberg in lake Iriki ?
 

Could this building be some sort of Auberg or Gite ?

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/2250/61164338.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Location N29 55.727 W 6 25.699

This is right in lake Iriki. I thought there was no houses there.

Tito

I stopped at a small cluster of empty rooms about 1 km east of this building and a man cycled over to ask us to visit the cafe / restaurant there, so I guess it is. Didnt stop there though. The empty rooms looked like they might be used to overnight tourist parties. Both sets of buildings looked a little out of place - no planning permission required.

I have stayed at Camping Municipal in Tata twice. This year in Februray it is was packed with motor homes. We arrived at around 8.00pm and the owner squeezed us in for one night - much to the dismay of the motor homers - they didnt like the look of my dirty land cruiser and made it very obvious that we were in there way. The campsite is basically a large concreted yard overlooking the river bed. The shower block is fine and there is a small supermarket just ouside the campsite. Tata is a nice little town where you dont get hassled to buy stuff and if you venture into shops, the prices are reasonable.

I always just show up and see what (campsites) are available. If I dont find then I look for somewhere to wild camp. I prefer wild camping anyway - and it has never been a problem to do so in Morocco.

Hi Reinhard Lenicker, thanks for the info, I would like to do some wild camping as well, when you do its by yourself or as part of a group ?

Tito

I have never travelled as part of a group in Morocco, only single vehicle. Three years ago I used a ground tent. This year I just slept in the back of my landcruiser. Where possible I tried to find discrete sites away from the piste but sometimes stopped just off the piste. I always stopped away from villages and used to park up late and set off early. I was never bothered by anyone.

Hi Reinhard Lenicker

Just finished reading your travel report on the land cruiser forum, really inspiring, this is going to be my first time solo, but now more than ever I'm convinced to go.

My planned route follows part of what you have done, could you send me your tracks for my reference ?

my e-mail : clubman_x@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks

Tito

Does anyone know the correct location for the blue rocks near Trafaoute ?

Tito

PS : Reinhard Lenicker, thanks you for the tracks you send!

Head south out of Tafraoute for the Napolean's Hat rock outcrop and take the paved road to the right of the tarmac road as shown in this photo. When you get to a little square exit over to the right, then keep going. You should stumble across the rocks.

As what Tim says.

it also depends if you plan to walk or drive.....

They are spread over quite an area, around here: N29 39.748 W8 58.161

We drove through in a Mog, but I've met folks who walked, and one person who explored the whole area in an electric wheelchair.

I'm off
 

Hello

That's it , I'm leaving my house now heading to Morocco :D.

thank you all for your input and if you want, you can follow my adventure here Clubman's blog

Tito

Hi

In case you didn't read on the travel reports, we returned to Portugal safe and sound, already planning the next trip back :thumbup1:

about what to take, well books have been writen on this subject , 2 I strongly recommend is "Sahara overland" from our own moderator Chris Scott, and the other is "Vehicle dependent expedition guide" from Tom Sheppard.

Best advice I can give is to try and take the minimum possible, I know is difficult , but try to avoid the "this might be usefull" syndrome.

In my particular case I took 2 boxes with spares for the car, the only thing I used was a new set of spark plugs that I always carry with me anyway, but then again I was travelling just with my wife, if I had another car travelling with me probably I wouln't had taken so much.

The only thing I really miss was lip balm, when we arrived at Merzouga after week in the pistes our lips where really dry and painfull.

Have a good journey

Tito

I popped into a chemist in a town (can't remember the name but it was full of old Transit vans) and bought some vaseline in a tube for my lips.

They didn't understand my charades for lip balm but they did understand vaseline.

I always stick some sun block on my nose, then wipe the remainder over my lips. Achieves two in one.

My hands get chapped and I get split finger tip skin with the dry air, so carrying some fairly thick cream is helpful.

My medical kit is extremely comprehensive, mainly filled with tubes of things that are three-quarters empty so they take less space.