My copy of Morocco Overland (2nd ed.) arrived through the letterbox, in plenty of time for our departure on Sunday. Well done Amazon! Flicking through it like mad and already its proving its worth. I'm hoping that its already saved me some time and miles. Specifically it shows on MS9 a road (we'll be sticking to tarmac) all the way from Ourzazate to Tazenacht, which does not appear on Michelin 742. This looks like it makes a short cut on our journey from Dades to Taliouine. Is this the case?
Thasnks in advance
Dave

I did MS9 November 2011 and the first half or so was prepared for sealing but the second half didn't look like it would get sealed. Obviously Chris has updated the book more recently but the website says tarmac upto KM25.

Regardless of this the road between Ouarazate and Tazenackht is good and and easy drive with the added bonus of a stop at the Gas Haven film set

are there many new routes to the previous edition or is basically an update?

Hi Dave,
I see now a key or legend to the route maps in the book is missing which may cause confusion, although the format broadly follows the conventional Michelin style.

A. Major sealed roads have solid borders/edges (like N10, below).

B. Minor sealed roads are the same but thinner (some examples below).

All pistes ('at the time of writing') have dashed borders but might get sealed in time.

C. Routes described in the book (tar or piste) and which are covered by the title of a given route map are dashed along the middle and are identified with a big route code - like 'MS9' or 'MH9' below.

D. Other routes described in the book but not listed in a given map title have a smaller route code (like MA6, MH12. Desert Highway below) to aid orientation.

E. There are scores more pistes in southern Morocco than are covered by the book of course, but for MO2 I added several established or interesting ones to the route maps to suggest alternatives to more adventurous types who are prepared to wing it without a mile-by-mile description. The piste branching off MS9 south to Tazenacht is one of these. Often they are Olafed or appear on paper maps (with various levels of accuracy). With a bit of experience and weather and season permitting, the good thing with Morocco is it's small enough to set off along an unknown piste and just see what pans out.

As warden says, the regular N10 highway to Tazenacht is a great ride, especially after Anezel and on down to Foum Zquid where it's set to hit 40°C by the weekend. Up around Taliouine will be cooler. Once there I'd recommend a scoot up to Askaoun and back (bendy, sealed, couple of hours) and then MA11 round to Igherm (p199, 266km) which can become a clockwise loop back to Taliouine (add 101km). Doable in a day and even in the heat once on the desert floor is one of the best road rides out there, I reckon.

The book has been updated, condensed and now has 56 routes (plus several E suggestions). Full details here.

My analysis of Morocco mapping is here.
I will be adding .gpx for the new routes in the near future.

If you want to buy the book get it via HUBB so they get a cut as Grant is getting low in cigars ;-) The links to amazon are currently to the old, out of print edition, but once there there's a link onward to edition 2 so hopefully HU registers a hit. Grant will update it soon.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

Im trying to get a copy of the 2nd edition and Amazon is saying it won't be available till october.

I need to get this book ordered for a trip. ASAP

Any idea where I can get a copy now?

I assume you mean the amazons in North America? It will be earlier than October but is usually a month or two after the UK.

Buy it from Trailblazer - post free rtw and currently same price as amazon uk

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

I went to trailblazer and it shows the first edition available. Kinda looking for the 2nd edition.