Dreaming of a motorcycle trip to distant climes? This section will help you to plan your trip, whether it's to the next state, country or all the way around the world! Start here!
The Achievable Dream 5-part series - the definitive video guide for planning your motorcycle adventure. Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
You could just get on a plane with your credit card and passport and buy or rent everything you need when you get there. That includes the bike, riding gear, etc. etc.
Gear Up! is a 2-DVD set, 6 hours! Which bike is right for me? How do I prepare the bike? What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers! "will save you a fortune!"See the trailer here!
So you've done it - got inspired, planned your trip, packed your stuff and you're on the road! This section is about staying healthy, happy and secure on your motorcycle adventure. And crossing borders, war zones or oceans!
On the Road! is 5.5 hours of the tips and advice you need to cross borders, break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Tire Changing!Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
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After the big trip - Was the trip the best - or worst - thing you ever did?
Resources and Links
Horizons Unlimited Presents!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
"It has me all fired up to go out on my own adventure!" See the trailer here!
Meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or across Asia! They will encourage you, share their experiences and advice on how to do it!
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Videos - Watch and Learn!
Horizons Unlimited presents!
Achievable Dream The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
"The series is 'free' because the tips and advice will save much more than you spend on buying the DVD's."
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Hi Dave, the guys went out for a recce and the road north to Ozt is cut 60km out near Gas Haven. This is the same as your 'road west to Agadir.'
The other back road to Ozt holds some hope - a marginal ford right now. Could be more further along the way. But if it was open you would know about it as that would lead to Agadir.
Then the big ford south towards the jct leading east past the mine to Agdz is the last option. And from Taz they say the road is open west, but how far?
Never seen a hotel this full in Mk.
If what you say is true then my groups' flights on Friday from Marra will need thinking about. But I am sure they will repair the key Tichka road asap.
The weather does seem to be clearing - until Thursday at least. It means people could shuffle about and get nearer or where they want to be.
It's a wash out to be sure, but like you say, better indoors with wifi and coffee than by the roadside.
We tried to drive from Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou today, but the police turned us back by Ait-Ourir. They indicated that it could take 2-3 days before the road is opened back up again. Since I don't speak French, I'm not sure quite how long he meant, but he seemed to say that tomorrow was definitely off the table, but who knows?
The forecast for tomorrow is promising a lot of rain in the Marrakech area and I don't know what that means for the roads going south or west.
Latest from Taz now puts our hope in the road north via Gas Haven - tomorrow inch allah. Makes sense to work on this one as it's a key road to the west. An expectant queue of vehicles at what now has revealed itself to be a bridge, not a ford. Tho I learned that Taliouine bridge was out or inundated so in fact Taz has been cut off in all directions.
Forecast shows three days of sunshine coming up for Zagora. The weather north of the Atlas is another matter, afaik
Next on the wish list is opening the Tichka road by Friday morning. That should be doable from what FV says.
Got some nice mini carpets from the ever chummy bloke at Tapis Berbere, as mentioned in the book.
Road west from Tazenakht is closed at Taliouine due to a bridge failure. It gives me no confidence that I rode over this a few weeks back after the last lot of flooding.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Sunny morning in Taz but the road is still closed north the Ozt. Surely today.
Last night we met some guys to came from Marrakech that day via the Test pass in a Renault. So Tali bridge must be open or somehow navigable? But they said they only just made it.
Oh joy. Just had some breaky were intending to head out of Ozt again to see if they had cleared the N10. As it happens it hasn't been raining here since yesterday afternoon.
Guy in our hotel has a mate that made it to Taz from Agadir (no further). Girlfriend speaks fluent French so we're as confident on the translation as we can be here
This morning: WiFi and orange juice. Fun times. I had better call my boss and tell him I'm not going to be back in the office for a few days!
Dozens of people dead, 6 national roads blocked, over 100 other blocked roads, hundreds of pisé houses destroyed—quick translations below:
16 people died and 10 others are missing following floods of the Oued Tamsourt, 6 km from the town of Bouizegrane [think this might be Bouizekarne].
Douar Ouled the Bouzid and Kartaoua where the flood destroyed 25 houses along the river.
Drowning of 15 members of a family returning from a wedding and two other people in Tinghir.
In the region of Agadir, another person is brought disappeared
Death of 19 people around Guelmime and disappearance of 11 others because of the floods.
In the province of Taroudant, douars [villages] are completely isolated.
Two bridges were destroyed despite the fact that they are of recent construction. The first level Taliouine cutting off the connection between Agadir and Ouarzazate. The second collapsed in the province of Tinghir.
At the Oued Taalmaardart, three taxis were engulfed by the waves causing the deaths of 13 people whose bodies have not been recovered.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
I was stranded in Ouarzazate a few years back when there was a national transport strike and no tankers making fuel deliveries. By the eighth day we really were running out of things to do...
I feel for you guys stuck in Tazenakht, but it could be worse, at least there's hotels, cafes and wifi. Any bëër ?
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Lord, that post with pics is chilling. You feel a bit isolated with crumby wifi and think it's only around you.
And it only rained hard, on and off, Thursday then Friday night.
Latest from the gendarme at the Shell bridge is the Gas Haven road to Ozt (N10) may be open in 2 hours, opening access to the west from Ozt.
But Tichka road still closed (as explained earlier). Hopefully will be open by Thursday when we try and make a dash for it before next rains.
And the road south and east from Taz - part unsealed - to Agdz (where we want to go) is open. Couple of guys out right now checking if that is true before we load up.
Oh, and the hotel ran out of hot chocolate last night. Some had to make do with warm milk.
As a biker myself I felt for a tour group of Polish GS riders with jeans and bags strapped round their boots yesterday...as we go back in our warm Pajero.
Gendarme has said the same to us (2-3hrs) at the top of the N10 each time we've visited over the last few days.
Booking.com keeps telling me off for missing hotel bookings, c'est la vie.
But Tichka road still closed (as explained earlier). Hopefully will be open by Thursday when we try and make a dash for it before next rains.
Er... I don't think the Tichka road will be open any day soon...
To get back to Marrakech I suspect the piste from Tichka west into the Zate valley (jokingly referred to as the P2016) will be too dangerous and in any case I think where it rejoins the N9 is still south of the flood damage.
One option might be to go over the Tichka then turn east at Touama taking the piste to Sidi Rahal. Use the following waypoints...
N31 32.013 W7 29.137
N31 34.666 W7 28.654
N31 38.753 W7 29.214
You could also turn east at Touama on the P2117 which according to Google Maps now has a link to Sidi Rahal. I haven't been that way for years but it certainly used to be partially piste, maybe it's tarmac now. And of course there might be flood damage everywhere. Waypoints
N31 32.006 W7 29.230
N31 33.895 W7 27.350
N31 35.513 W7 23.086 turn left (north) about here
N31 38.674 W7 27.506
The R210 near Sidi Rahal is currently flooded but no mention of permanent damage.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
The rainfall in Maroc has been covered by Al Jazeera today.
It is the rainy season of course, but Morocco has had about 4 times the monthly rainfall for November according to the Al Jaz english channel, which has shown the water courses in full spate.
The relevant weather system is now moving toward Algeria and Tunisia.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Virginia: April 24-27 Queensland is back! May 2-5 Ecuador June 13-15 Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 CanWest: July 10-13 Switzerland: Date TBC Ecuador: Date TBC Romania: Date TBC Austria: Sept. 11-14 California: September 18-21 France: September 19-21 Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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