Morocco April to May 2017
 

Hi, I put a thread on before, saying I was going to go to Morocco this August and September, however, I can't see the original thread and I've had to cancel due to illness in the family.

So I've started a new thread, with my new dates, and I'm basically planning on doing the same trip, which will be leaving the UK from Plymouth on 9th April, arriving in Santander on the 10th, returning to the UK via France early June, this I'm flexible on.

I'll be traveling on a Yamaha WR250R, and would like to do as much wild camping and piste as possible. Happy to go literally anywhere in Morocco, so, if you'd like to meet up, do a bit of off road riding, please let me know!

Cheers,

Byron

morocco
 

just read your thread.
I too have a wr 250r, and have been to maroc a few times on big trailie bikes.
So a trip on a smaller bike would make a change !
keith ( badou ):clap:

Hey Byron. I'm also planning a Morocco trip this spring and hopefully, time permitting, a jaunt into Mauritania too. Im aiming to leave around March as I think the weather would be more agreeable. No set dates yet as I'm pretty flexible.

I'll be watching this thread untill then.

Regards,

Been to Morocco twice too, first time on a GS650 for three weeks, had a great time. Second time went two up with my partner on a GSA 1200, a bit of a bounce down and back as she was working in a school at the time and only had 10 days on the bike to get there and back. Again great time, but my skill level isn't good enough to go solo on the rough stuff. Hence why I'm going on the 250.

I must admit, I am a little concerned about the heat too, and was thinking of going earlier, but when we went down one April with my partner, Sahara was okay, but Spain was colder coming back than going down, every item of clothing I had I was wearing. My thoughts are to head south ASAP, hoping get near Mauritainian boarder around 15th to 18th April. If weather okay do some tracks, if to hot, head towards the Atlas Mountains. Hopefully all the snow will have gone and all routes open. Then slowly keep heading North as it warms up. Just an outline plan.

Hello
Just read your message ( i wrote another one before ) :D
the dates are not a problem for me . the place also except santader but it is :thumbup1:not too far .
many pistes OK
but as I had tested 200 k is a max for me on it
route can change
dates also
My very first matter is the weight so a 250 is OK if you can make 300 one or two times :palm:
regards

I'd also be interested in possibly joining you all as I have wanted to visit Morocco for the last fifteen years or so and not getting any younger. Flexible on dates and time away as semi retired and self employed!

Would need to get another bike though as current VFR800 not really suitable.

hi guys
still on the run !
my point is to ride minimum 50% of pistes and not more than 200 k a day
for the rest , all is flexible bier

Hi all,

There's a few threads, put on by a few of us, but basically saying the same thing.

Ex-xt, I'm on the same page as you,i don't want to do 200km of piste in a day, my 300 miles was only for traveling through Spain, and I'm flexible on that.

My thing is, I have loads of time, but not loads of money, I'm happy taking my time through Spain,mand in fact would love to explore it more, but I'm fearful of spending a substantial amount of my budget in Spain, where Morocco is as cheap as chips.

Hi Videomam! Where are you from? Yep, I think you'd need a different bike if you intend to do some off road, but there are some great roads you could do on your bike, and I don't have an issue with going off with others and meeting up later, even days later. So if you'd like to do sone great roads on your current bike, and I want to do some pistes we can always meet up later.

To be honest, I wouldn't like to think that we have to spend the whole month in Morroco in each other's pockets, but it would be great to meet up, have a chat and do some routes with other likeminded people n

I would definitely buy a more suitable bike as the VRF was purchased a couple of years ago as it was at the right price. Would be interested in travelling with some like minded people and time is not really an issue for myself either.

Keep in touch, looks like there maybe a few of us going down to Morocco on or around the same time!

I'll be on a 2008 250 trail/enduro bike, not the newest, not the fastest, but a bike I know and have faith in!

Well guys, a bit of an update, I'll no longer be doing the trip on a 250, it was stolen From my garage a week ago, along with another bike! They couldn't gain access via the garage door and side door, so went through the roof. Absolutely gutted. It's been a week, so not holding my breath on getting either of them back. Not sure what bike till be going on now.

That's really bad news especially after you know the bike so well but at least you've still got time to sort another bike if yours is not found.:(

Filth & scum. Hopefully you get sorted, and they get their just desserts !!

shit !!!
 

Sorry for you, ROn. this happened to me when i lived in Paris.
Hope you will get another bike .
ride still going on :scooter::freezing:

Just to update. I got the whole month of april off.

If youre still sticking to your plan AND got a new bike, we'll probably cross paths some where.

Hi, my plan has not changed, only the bike. I'll now be traveling on 690.

To recap, I'm catching the ferry from Plymouth on the 9th April landing in Santandair on the 10th, and catching the ferry back from Bilbo on the 24th May, but I'll be visiting some family friends in Southern France on the way back, probably 22-23rd May.

Looks like I'll be teaming up with Badou24, whom I currently believe with be staying in hotels, and light off road. I'll be also bring along camping gear as I fancy doing some of the more involved pistes. If you fancy this too, please let me know? Would still be good to meet up whether we do the pistes or not

Best of luck,

Byron

Plan is to leave Denmark on the 1st of april. Im planning on being in Madrid, Spain around the 5-6th april, where ill spend a couple of days with my sister.

Ill probably throw on some knobby tires while im there too.

I dont have a rigid plan yet, but im planning to cross into Morocco around the 10th. No fixed route set in stone, but ive never been to Morocco, so i have some sights on my list...Todra, Dades, Merzouga, Mhamid, etc. Ill be spending the winter months planning a more specific route.

I also want to do some of the pistes, especially south of the Atlas Mountains.

I ride a TT600R, and ill be bringing camping equipment too. Desert camping is high on my list.

Looks like your wish list is very similar to mine, and I have no firm plan, except the arrival and departure dates due to tickets already bought.

I would however, like to head south as early as possible and work my way north into the Atlas as the temperature starts to go up.

Due to departing the U.K. On the 9th, arriving in Northern Spain on the 10th, I don't think I'll be in Morocco until the 12th or 13th, and probably not getting to the Mhamid area till around the 16th at best. If this fits in with your general plan, please let me know, and we can arrange to me up some place?

Sounds great :thumbup:

Ill be back in touch a couple of weeks before departure, and ill send you my contact details. Im sure we can figure something out for the more demanding pistes.

Looks like me, you, badou24 and ex-xt will be in Morocco in that period.

Next time maybe.
 

Blimey you must be travelling with a rucksack only as I have a WR450 and my tool bag pretty much takes up the rear!

Would love to do Morocco again but am planning Russia and Bulgaria from Bournemouth in May on a KTM1190R (so gravel roads only at worst) but will discuss and plan a 2018 Polish or similar off road no thrills expedition.

desert places
 

Maybe I will be around m'hamid, mostly ZAG first around the 10 Th , Bot sure really doh, depends off the other projects , like portugal end April and other riders for morocco.
QUESTION
Do you intend to make some biv' or only hotels ?
see you guys :innocent:

Turby, not quite get your point, tooth brush and a change of underpants, that's all you needs! Lol.

Ex-et, I'm looking at a combination of hotels and bivouacs. I'll also be bringing cooking stuff, albeit, I only used it once the last time I went.

I'm pretty flexible in what I do, and would not wish to be in the situation of not being able to do something because I didn't bring it. Hope that helps ex-xt?

april
 

For the moment i dont know if i am coming or not, dates and so .... :oops2:
let you know guys

No worries ex-xt, thanks for letting me know, it's much appreciated!

I'm still making the adventure, so if things change, or you can only make a bit of the time, please feel to come along.

Hope to see you out there,

Byron

I'm looking to go in May, riding from the UK, W650. Likely route via Ferry from Barcelona, or may get the Ferry to Santander and ride down through Portugal and across the Straights.


I have some friends working in Rabat at the Embassy there so guaranteed a cold beer when I get there. Otherwise an open itinery. Mainly road and track, no offroad on the Dub.

yep i'll be there, be good to catch up for a brew with like minded folk , leaveing SW France (Cahors) 10th ....is May for 5 weeks, heading down Portugal off road Transportugal trail , hope to get into Maroc by 20th ....DR 650 with an old fool on it :wheelchair: :palm::clap:

Flying to Spain to pick up the 690 then expecting to cross Almería to Nador on 8 March. From there heading south to Debdou then east on pistes to Ain Beni Mathar, more pistes heading south to Bouarfa, then heading west towards Boudenib and onwards to Merzouga.

Main interests apart from pistes are French Foreign Legion remains, rock engravings and the like. Will have basic camping gear for when I can't find a hotel. Expect to return to Spain on 1 April.

may
 

hi guys .
As i can see now, my only possible period would be begenning of April but I had not solved some other issue yet I
anyway have a nice ride guys.
Think i will be mostly on Spain tracks .

@ron.rainbow

I sent you a email.

Hi , if you have temporarily aborted your trip and have any contacts for people wishing to go down to Morocco this year but on bigger bikes , please ask them to contact me , there are 2 of us going down there , I have just come back and my friend has been there 17 times .

Hi guys
no morocco for me this spring.... matter of other rides .
Maybe in november again :palm:
ride safe

Hey guys,

I know is kind of last minute but I will try anyway. I will be travelling a couple of weeks from 8th April on in Morocco. Mainly offroad with a f800gs travelling from nord to south first and from east to west second following the border with algeria. I'm flexible with the route though.

If anyone would like to travel some km toguether with me I will be glad to join some company!

This is a happy tour for me to read on this post. After reading the whole post, we can get solutions to deal with the trouble quickly and safely. Thanks for your nice sharing.