Travel Advisory

[Kruzzin5]

I just read Canadian travel advisory to Morocco and it is listed as "using high degree of caution, avoid all border regions of Western Sahara" They specifically mention the Atlas mountains and Border regions within 30km west of the Berm, in Western Sahara, and between the Berm and neighbouring countries on the Eastern side.

I am reading on the forum of people traveling through these parts. I would like to tour through Zagora and Merzouga, among other areas, but, am re-thinking now.

Would anyone be able to comment on their most recent experiences if traveling through these areas?

Thank you.

[Tomkat]

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...d-advice-97691

[TheWarden]

You’ll be fine on the Merzouga Zagora piste. It’s a very busy tourist route and the army will stop you if you get too close to the border


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[Kruzzin5]

Thanks for everyone for the replies!

[PanEuropean]

Al:

The Canadian government advice about avoiding the berm areas is reasonable, but needs to be read and understood in context.

The berm runs for hundreds of miles. In the "Southern Provinces" (the politically correct way to refer to the former Western Sahara), you want to stay away from the berm, this due to military presence, mines, stuff like that, but there's nothing much to see or do anywhere near the berm - especially for a first-time visitor to Morocco - so it's no inconvenience to stay away from the berm. In fact, it would take a heck of a lot of work to get anywhere near the berm down there, you would be turned away by police or military before you get near it.

In February this year, I rode all the way south to Dakhla and back again - with no security concerns of any kind. The area is 'well policed'.

Up in the middle and the north of Morocco, you don't need to be concerned about the '30 km from the berm' recommendation as long as you remain in heavily populated areas that are frequented by tourists... and the Zagora & Mergouza areas are heavily frequented by tourists.

Way, way up in the north-east, on the N2 highway between Oujda and Berkane, you can't help but ride along the national highway less than 500 feet from the berm (which is parallel to the highway for quite a long distance), but there is absolutely no reason to be concerned for security in that area, even though you could hit the berm with a rock thrown from the pavement of the N2 highway.

It's all contextual. The security concerns about the berm area - which are very valid - apply down in the Southern provinces. In the middle and the north of the country, as long as you stay in populated areas and don't head off down dirt roads trying to 'visit the berm', you should have no concerns.

Michael

[Chris Scott]

between Oujda and Berkane, you can't help but ride along the national highway less than 500 feet from the berm...

This is just the regular Algerian border running all the way to Tindouf, same as in any two countries.
The Moroccan Berm specifically divides Morocco 'WS' from the PFZ.
See map below. As you say, not an issue with normal tourists and mentioning it in travel advice merely causes confusion.

As it happens, the Algerians have been doing a bit of berming of their own: https://sahara-overland.com/2016/08/...algerian-berm/

[Kruzzin5]

Michael:
You have a great way of wordsmithing and calming one's (ME) concerns (FEARS)!!! lol Thank you!

Chris:
Awesome map! I was looking for a drawing of the Berm so I could avoid getting anywhere near it but, found nothing even close to yours. Thank you!

I booked my ticket am now awaiting until I can book my bike with Air Canada...May 1.

[Kruzzin5]

Originally Posted by TheWarden

You’ll be fine on the Merzouga Zagora piste. It’s a very busy tourist route and the army will stop you if you get too close to the border


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Good to know! When I looked on Google maps, Merzouga appears to be "within 30km of the border of Western Sahara", so just wanted to be sure.

Thank you.

[TheWarden]

Great route, watch out for some of locals around Tafroute Sidi Ali trying to give you advice on the route being bad though. Regular scam.

A copy of Chris’ Morocco Overland book is a good reference for route finding.

Anywhere close to the border has a good military presence who will stop you gettingvto close

PS. Officially the former WS is referred to as the Moroccan Sahara now


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[Chris Scott]

to be "within 30km of the border of Western Sahara"...

Actually it's the border of Algeria - a regular country.
See this for an explanation of what people and many maps confusingly call WS and why.

On many routes in Morocco you will get within sight or a couple of kms of Alg. The N10 desert Highway even goes into Alg, if you believe Google.
It's not a problem - as said, they will be watching you and will turn you back if you get too close.

No one ever gets near the Berm dividing WS.

[PanEuropean]

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

As it happens, the Algerians have been doing a bit of berming of their own...

Let's hope nobody tells Donald Trump about that, otherwise, he's going to want his own berm, just so he can tell everyone that his berm is bigger than their berm.

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

No one ever gets near the Berm dividing WS.

Al -

Chris's comment above is very true, but he didn't tell you the reasons why no-one ever get close to the berm down in the former Western Sahara. Here's why:

1) There are no roads leading to the berm, only (at best) very rough trails.

2) Your motorcycle or car doesn't have a big enough fuel tank to drive from the coast to the berm and back. 99% of the land along the berm and 99% of the land east of the coastal highway is unpopulated. Think of the Northwest Territories in Canada (or Nunavut, or whatever the hell they call it now), the population density and absolute lack of any kind of services is the same.

3) The military has a very strong presence all along the berm, and on the western side of the berm, one would be stopped and turned away before getting close to the berm.

4) There is absolutely nothing - I mean nothing - worth seeing along that berm. In the late 1980s, during the conflict in WS, I was based there flying an aircraft for the Red Cross. I can assure you there is nothing of interest inland from the coast in WS. The topography from the coastal highway inland to the berm and further east to the border with Algeria is not unique, you can see the full range of topography from any of the paved national roads that are far, far away from that berm.

Michael

[Chris Scott]

These days there are good roads leading to the berm, at least to Gueltat Zemmour (N5) and Aoussard (N3) and down behind the berm to Tichla, with more links being put in.
Makes sense - they need to re-supply these bases.
You can certainly drive to Aoussard, fwiw. Gueltat - very unlikely.

We'll be there in a week or two.
Agreed, we're not expecting Tassili N'Ajjer.