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I've sent a mail to Loc and they've already sent a reply. Very quick, I must say. Leaning towards renting, and riding without a tour group...even if it brings me out of my comfort zone. Do I have to plan my stops at service stations well, or are they plenty around up in the Atlas and south of Marrakesh? |
Fuel stations are far more plentiful in Morocco than Europe.
I use them to break the 200dh notes from an ATM by asking for 120dh of fuel (mya w ashrin), then in return I get a 50dh and 20dh note plus a 10dh coin. A few hours later I do the same again. |
There is often a problem with change in maroc . so i try and keep about 6 /10 dirahams in my pocket .
Just returned after 6 weeks and some strange weather .... lots of snow ,very high winds and rain in sidi ifini , and cold Re petrol .......... i try and use Africa petrol stations as they seam to be the most popular and most have a cafe as well |
I recall saving small notes to use south of the Atlas due to difficulties with change 20 years ago.
It hasn’t been a problem for me in the last 15 years |
and .........if you have change. and know the cost of things , you just pay the " normal " rate........... I was in a ctm bus stop cafe and had chicken/ chips/salad, with a lot of tourist . I just payed 30 dr to him and he was just about to ask for more ...........Thats the price ( 25... 30 dr )
If you eat at local places you still eat good food for about 12 dr |
Also planning on driving Morocco in October
Hey Paulo
we are also looking to drive in Morocco in October 2023, but I don’t think we will have the coin to pay for a guided trip so we will make our own plan. If you, or anyone else, wants to make a little mini-safari group then we would be interested. Quote:
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I've been reading your book, Chris, and suggestions on here about when you ride where.
I know that most of us can't predict the weather, but what routes in the High Atlas, and mountains close to Marrakesh are likely to remain open early/mid November? ...and mid to late November. I see that plane tickets the last week of November are still fairly cheap |
I have ridden all of November for the last 10+ years and only once got cut off by bad floods in 2015 (much worse than last Feb). Every other time - reliably clear skies, not like spring.
November is too early for any route around the 2500-m mark to get heavily snowed over. If anything it's getting hotter. It was over 30°C in RAK at the end of November last year. Cheap tickets is another good reason to fly & ride in November - a low season. |
Cheers, Chris! I will need to get those plane tickets booked for november, berfore they get too expensive.
I'm reading your book Morocco Overland, and have been looking at routes you suggest south of Marrakesh. I must admit I find the amount of possible routes to take a bit overwhelming. Considering I'm not an off-road demon, and have maybe 4 or 5 days of proper riding to plan for, what routes from your book do you recommend I take a closer look at? MH4, MH6, MH11, MH12, MS6, MS10 are the ones I've noted down, so far. I'm looking at renting a GS 310 from Loc2roues |
MH10 from Iknioun to Alnif is an outstanding route, off-tar but not technical. Just be careful to concentrate on the road - the scenery is rather distracting!
You might find the eastern end of MS6 a bit tricky - deep bulldust around Remlia and a fair bit of sand elsewhere. It is a popular route so there should be passing traffic for help, but solo, as a sand newb, on a rental 310 I would be wary. From Tafroute west is more doable. MS10 is all tar, and a great traverse. You can cover a lot of distance in good time if you need to (after pootling around in the hills or desert longer than expected) Anywhere north east of Rissani is too far (and not so interesting) for your first trip, I would suggest. The number of routes is indeed overwhelming, and you will have to accept that 4 or 5 days is going to be a mere taster. You will have to return! Remember most towns have accommodation, and you don't often have to book ahead. Be flexible, and don't be too ambitious with your expected daily distances. For example, a moderate day's ride might be Marrakech to Skoura via Tichka pass and Ouarzazate, but if you take a lot of photos it might take 8 hours! Google will tell you it is 234km and less than 5 hours! Enjoy the planning, and remember the army saying: No plan survives first contact :-) |
Good summary by Mr Moss.
I would add:
https://sahara-overland.com/morocco-...s-corrections/ First ride in Mk will always be a bit of a blundering recce, but better done on a fly in rental. Next time round you will know what's what and use your time well. |
Thank you for the recommendations and advice!
Since I only have limited time on the bike (from the morning of 19th until the end of the working day on the 24th) I was wondering if it would be feasable to stop by Erg Chebbi and the Dadés gorge (and if the latter is worth while, or if you recommend other sites instead. If the MH4 is sealed, does that mean that vehicles aren't supposed to go that route? Would you recommend me going down to MS13 -> MS10 to Erg Chebbi, then doing some of the day trips L8 or L12, or would it be better to set up a route to/from the big dunes? |
Assuming you are starting from Marrakech on a 310 rental, six days is just about enough to get to Chebbi. If you've never seen dunes before it's probably worth the effort, but it will eat miles and hours.
I would spend 4 days exploring on the way there (you may change your mind midway), then blast back to RAK from Chebbi in 1.5 days (550km). Or cut out Chebbi and enjoy High Atlas and Saro pistes. MH4 is a normal road open to all and still a great ride. I would not eat up time winding around on MS13, nice though it is. And MS10 FZ to Zagora is a fairly boring straight road. More fun to go from OZT to Tazenacht, also all road now (MS14). Then Taz to Agdz, some great passes just right for a 310. L8 - I did MS9 a year ago first time in over a decade. Actually nicer than I remember but you will be all alone. MS14 is now sealed, as said, but a great ride so yes, L8 would still be a great day ride out of OZT. L12 is now an all road ride (MH4). As already suggested, much more fun to tackle MZ1 between Skoura and Nekob. https://sahara-overland.com/2021/10/...ghro-crossing/ As good if not better scenery. Your 310 will know the way ;-) |
By "sealed" we just mean tarmac/asphalt, not dirt/gravel.
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Oh! Thank you @mossproof!
Now, in hindsight, it is clear that it should mean tarmac... Otherwise why ride an offroad capable bike, right? I've been trying to make a plan for my week, based on all your input. I pick the bike up from Loc2 on Sun 19th and return it on Fri 24th, late. My only need is a decent Wifi/internet connection on Monday evening. So I'm thinking Marrakesh - Quarzazate day 1 Quar - Tazenacht - Agzd - Quar day 2 Quar - Boumalne - Tinerhir day 3 ? day 4 Nekob - Skoura day 5 Back to Marrakesh day 6 Is that a realistic and/or good basis for a week? Another question came up this week. I was recommended a place called Hotel Terranga, on Rue Capitaine Ben Ali Belhaj. It looked decent online and even had a bookable site in booking.com The odd thing was that it neither wanted a credit card for booking, nor have I recieved any email confirming my booking. Is this common? |
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