Morocco in September 2015
 

Hey everyone

We are in need of some advise for our trip to Morocco this autumn :D
The plan is at the momenten to take the ferry from Genoua (closest for us from Switzerland) to Tanger-Med where we will arrive on a Monday aronund Noon. From there we would like to ride to Chefchaouen - Midelt - Imilchil - Boumalane - Alnif - Mhamid - Foum Zgouid - Ouarzazate - Aoulouz - Marrakesch - Fes - Tangier Med (ferry leaves around midnight).

We have 12 Nights in total, therefore we probably would spend two nights in Marrakesch or Fes.

We will try to ride as much offroad as possible between Midelt and Foum Zgouid.

Now our questions/problems:
1. Is this a realistic plan for two XT 660 R/Z?
2. Is the distance between Marrakesch and Fes ridable? Google Maps says over 7 hours which is quite a long day.
3. Any recommendations where to stay in Chefchouen, Fes an Marrakesch (hotel with possibility to park the bikes)?

Normaly we travel with our tents but because this is quite a demanding trip in a short time we think we would be better off with less weight and sleeping in accommodations. Any thoughts to that?

Thanks already for your feedbacks. We are glad for any recommendations bier
Xenia & Tinu :mchappy:

Good idea to dump the camping gear, hotels are really inexpensive.

No problem with the plan, but some of the days are long rides. You can't rely on Google Maps for timings—on straight roads you need to add 40-50%, on winding mountainous roads you need to add 80% or more.

For example Chefchaouen to Midelt is shown as 5 hours, I would place this as 8 hours with fuel and a couple of coffee stops. Add more for a lunch stop.

I would suggest 10 hours for Marrakech to Fez via the N8, however this is a busy and sometimes dangerous road. The A7/A3/A2 motorways via Casablanca would be quicker and safer though of course rather boring.

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Thanks for the reply Tim :thumbup1:
Why is the N8 dangerous? Becuase of traffic or otherwise? Do you think it would be better to do it in two days and have no days off then? Boring roads are...well boring haha therefore we were thinking about doing the N8 and not the highway.

Bad and mad drivers on the main roads. Country roads tend to have locals who don't have enough money to burn fuel by going fast, so I always prefer the 'R' and 'P' regional and provincial roads.

From Marrakech you could take the R210 to Demnate, visit the Imi n'Ifri natural bridge (walk through takes 40 minutes) then go on to Cascades Ouzoud and spend the night there. A lovely relaxing day.

If you start early enough, take the R306, R317 east (slow roads), then hop onto the N8 to Khenifra where you should head east on the P7306 then after ~25km turn north on the P7311, maybe visit Aguelmane Azigza, definitely visit Source Oum er Rbia, then carry on through the cedar forest and the lovely limestone karst scenery to Ain Leuh and on to Azrou. Maybe visit the wild monkeys. From Ifrane turn east after 8km to go via the lake district and cut across to the R503 and Sefrou, then on to Fez.

That sonds great thanks :) Do you have any advice on accommodation? Specially in the bigger cities like Chefchoue, Fes and Marrakesch? Is it possible to bring the bikes to the medina because we rather bring them in a hotel lobby for the night.

Have you tried reading the Morocco Forum?

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/morocco/

and in particular the sticky thread about accomodation

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ntribute-39077

So back from my holidays and the HUBB Meeting: Thanks so much for the link! I feel a bit stupid now haha. I've not seen this other forums before....well well :) Now I know.
Thanks again for your help guys!
Cheers Xenia