Hi all. I am planning a solo 12 day moto tour around Morocco in October. I've been doing a lot of research the last few weeks and have put together two different plans that I'd like some feedback on. Thanks!

The primary differences in plans are: do I stop in Fes and spend an extra day there, at the expense of missing the Tizi n' Test and seeing the Moroccan coast? I'm also open to any other recommendations and changes. I also thought about trying to attend the Pizzas on the Pistes overlander event; however, I'll be on loaded F800GS and didn't plan on bringing any camp gear.

Plan 1:
Day 1: Gibraltar to Chefchaouen via Tanger Med.
Day 2: Chefchaouen to Azrou. Stopping at Volubilis.
Day 3: Azrou to Merzouga. Understand this could be a long day (430km).
Day 4: Day off in Merzouga doing touristy things.
Day 5: Merzouga to Agoudal. Stopping at Gara Medouar and the Todra Gorge.
Day 6: Agoudal to Aït Benhaddou (or Ouarzazate) via the R704. Stopping at Dades Gorge.
Day 7: Aït Benhaddou to Marrakesh via the P1506 and Tizi n'Tichka.
Day 8: Day off in Marrakesh doing touristy things.
Day 9: Marrakesh to Taroudant via the Tizi n' Test.
Day 10: Taroudant to Essaouira via coast road.
Day 11: Essaouira to El Jadida via coast road.
Day 12: El Jadida to Cueta via toll roads. Another potential long day (500km).





Plan 2:
Day 1: Gibraltar to Chefchaouen via Tanger Med.
Day 2: Chefchaouen to Fes. Stopping at Volubilis.
Day 3: Day off in Fes doing touristy things.
Day 4: Fes to Midelt via P7306. Stopping to see monkeys outside Azrou.
Day 5: Midelt to Merzouga with a few stops along the way (Legion ruins, Jorf Khettaras, etc).
Day 6: Day off in Merzouga doing touristy things.
Day 7: Merzouga to Agoudal. Stopping at Gara Medouar and the Todra Gorge.
Day 8: Agoudal to Aït Benhaddou (or Ouarzazate) via the R704. Stopping at Dades Gorge.
Day 9: Aït Benhaddou to Marrakesh via the P1506 and Tizi n'Tichka.
Day 10: Day off in Marrakesh doing touristy things.
Day 11: Marrakesh to Rabat via R/P roads.
Day 12: Rabat to Cueta via toll roads.

The first option seems much more interesting to me because of the following, broadly speaking:
- more varied,
- if you stop in Meknes I like it much more than Fes, and it is quieter,
- and it also includes Anti Atlas and the coast.

- I would avoid Ceuta for sure; best by Tanger Med.

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Carpe Diem

Thanks for the feedback. The first route does see a lot more but at the expense of being on the road more often. I plan on entering into Morocco via Tanger Med but wanted to depart via Ceuta. Part of me actually wants to see Ceuta, even if only for a night. Is entering into Ceuta difficult?

Ceuta (Sebta)'s not difficult at all, and I found the colonial/post colonial aspects to be of interest. On the other hand, you might not find issues like this as interesting as I did.

Note that since I've never used Tangier or Tangier Med (I left my printed guidebook in a Ceuta/Sebta hostel on my way south, therefore exited that way to pick it up heading north), I don't really have a point of comparison.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

The problem in Ceuta is the long lines both to enter and leave, hours and hours of waiting, unless you cross the border late at night or very early in the morning.

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Carpe Diem

From my research notes that I saved, someone who crossed into Cueta said the following: "Just mind when entering and leaving do not sit in the queue's with cars etc......there is a dedicated motorcycle/scooter lane for us so go in there and be a lot quicker.....we didn't realise ourselves until a kind local stopped and let us know.....just stick to the right and on your exit watch as there is a bit that is quite tight where we nearly missed the lane"

Is anyone able to confirm there's a motorcycle lane into Cueta that cuts down on the wait?

There is a motorcycle lane since Nov 2022.

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Carpe Diem