Morocco trip - April 2002 (F650 Dakar)
 

I am planning a trip (my first with the Dakar) to Morocco in April. Entering via Cetua and mooching around for 7 - 10 days. Any tips on what to see, where to go. I have CS book and may do some of the routes. I will be travelling/camping alone.
What spares should i take and what would the experienced amoung you out there recommend re luggage systems (soft or ali panniers?)
Help!!

I haven't been to Marocco on a bike. But planning to go to Marocco in May for a month.
For a start make sure you get the right maps. The IGN map of Marocco and the Michelin 959 seems to the right maps.
Besides CS book I would also advise to get the Lonely Planet guide. I have used it while backpacking in Marocco and the info was amazingly correct.
I have a list of what I will take in an exell-doc. I'll send it to your email adres.

Things to see.... don't really know still have to go with my bike. But if you want to go to a city I would recommend Marrakesh. Have been there while backpacking in the High Atlas. I know a really great hotel in the Medina. Cheap, decent rooms, great roof terace to sleep on. And the owner told me that if I came back with my bike I could park it in the hotel.
For more info on the hotel and other nice places to go in the Toubkal Region check these links:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000024.html

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000025.html

Feel free to email me with any questions.

Have fun prepping for the trip!

Fireboomer.


[This message has been edited by fireboomer (edited 20 February 2002).]

Will travel down Morocco in April too. Expect to be at Ceuta around 3rd of May and travelling around the eastern side of the atlas down to Mauritania. Care to meet?

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Travelling from the Netherlands to Maroc / Mauritania / Senegal start of april 2002.

Off course. I'll mail you directly and we'll see what we can work out.

Morocco is well worth a look, we spent 6 weeks there in the summer of 2000 and are going back ASAP. CS book is good for the desert routes, the Michelin map is topographically poor but OK for road routes, we were split between preferring Lonely Planet or Rough Guides and in the end took both. Tangier is fun but hassly, we headed on to Meknes, a fine place, good food, friendly people, then spent time in the various Atlas ranges (your navigation needs to be good here, some of the roads mentioned in the guide books were washed away by flash floods and havent been rebuilt yet - lots of river beds to be driven along! lots of lovely wild places and very few 'beaten tracks'), the Todra Gorge is worth seeing but be prepared for a saddening sight when you get to the southern end - hotels, Arabic grafitti and mess. The desert of course is wonderful but just be a little careful - we had a run in with Algerian gun-runners near the village of Tafraout and a guy who had followed us with his vehicle got serious heatstroke - go prepared! (That was high summer mind you). Marrakech is worth seeing - totally mad. I hear Essaouria is a fairly 'local' seaside resort, not been there. Casablanca is apparently quite industrial, again, not been. The Rif mountains in the north are lovely but watch who you talk to!
Super place. Enjoy http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

Don´t know about what to see etc or spares. Any bike I had in Africa I put metal boxes on as there is less chance you crush your leg if you fall off (as I usually do).

If you are anywhere near Casablanca and happen to eat at a restaurant...and happen to order a hamburger....BEWARE OF ANY OFFER OF 'HOT MUSTARD'....tread lightly...sneak up on it....whew. I still can taset it and it was years ago.
You have been warned..lol.
claude