Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Morocco
Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



Like Tree1Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 14 Feb 2009
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,108
I refer you to my earlier reply...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
The Midelt to Imilchil section is a long day in itself. It comprises 45km of red piste, then 40km of mixed tarmac/gravel road, then another 45km of red piste. And my 'red' classification is for good weather when there hasn't been recent rain. The first section of red (Cirque du Jaffar) has severe dropoffs, the second section has 60 river crossings.
Coming from Midelt there's the Auberge du Jaffar a few miles out of town just as the first piste starts (N32 38.672 W4 46.351).

Then comes the first 45km section of piste.

Then 40km of tar/gravel road of 40km with two gites about halfway, one being Ahdaoui.

Then in the second section of piste there's two more--Ouyide and Fazaz.

My personal preference for accommodation at Imilchil is the Tislite Bride (N32 11.802 W5 38.510) because of the beautiful setting. Some years it's warmer than others.


January 2007


January 2008

Tim
__________________
"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)
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 14 Feb 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
Tislit bride, is that on the eastern side of Lac Tislit? we stayed at an Auberge on the east side "camping tislit" i think. roof tent out, only people there lovely setting. The women there told us all about the festival and the single people coming from all over morocco for the festival in the summer, end of August i think. I got some nice shots of the full moon illuminating the lake. But they are all RAW not jpeg sorry.

Nice bit of snow there Tim

G
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Contributing Vendor
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 556
Yup, that's the one. Crazy boiler/woodstove but the most fabulous breakfast on the terrace overlooking the lake. Staggeringly beautiful but staggeringly cold! The festival is first week of September as I remember.

Jojo
__________________
Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Iceland, Arctic Circle, Portugal, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
Yes! that is one industrial size burner! Nice old women there isnt she?! Our french was pretty rubbish, but we got by. She cooked up a mean Tagine the night we got there and a cracking soup for starters. It dropped to 5 degrees C overnight mid-October. Fine in our mountain equipment bags though

G
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Contributing Vendor
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Northumberland, UK
Posts: 556
Happy days! Back there next month.

Jojo
__________________
Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Iceland, Arctic Circle, Portugal, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,108
The photo with the snow is from Steve Attwood. It started snowing on the second stage of the piste and he decided to keep going (snow ploughs don't do pistes) and make the hotel where he was stuck for three days.

No TV (Sat dish down), no books, so Steve concentrated on improving Rachid's English.


Snow drifts over the road


Rachid on left with Steve and helper


The crazy wood stove

Tim
__________________
"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)
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,902
chris, are you saying the all the way from midelt until 13km behind the auberge is tarmac in the meantime?

It's as Tim says, sections of tarmac, (very slowly joining up)

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
Imilchil

About the Imilchil Festival. It used to be a genuine Amazight festival including singles coming to meet a future partner but today you'll go and be fed a "plastic" version. The music is Arabic from Marrakech, there are side acts and coach loads of brain deads with cameras. The Amazight girls hate being photographed to put it mildly. The hijaked festival has had to be moved after perhaps thousands of years to somewhere else. What is there now is not for Travellers but are you a Traveller or not I ask myself! Linzi. On second thoughts, you guys are only going to enjoy the country but please be aware that there are changes going on because we go there and not all are beneficial to the locals. I believe the King wants to promote tourism but in this case the result is a distortion of a local event that has upset the locals and feeds readers of tourist guide books a Disneyland type pile of false photos. Linzi.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 52
That's as may be, but nonetheless we encountered a warm welcome at mentioned hotel, the one with the industrial crematorium heating the place!
And, one of the good improvements is the eco-friendly lighting Rachid has in his hotel, with solar panels and energy-saving lamps.
We enjoyed a VERY good meal and a warm nights rest there last year in the company of very good friends.
Definitely a place to re-visit !
__________________
Landrover Discovery 2 Td5 with a Garmin 276c and a great co-driveress
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
Agreed

I agree, I was too reactionary. Change takes place and nothing'll stop it. It's just that I've worked in the tourist industry and hate the clogs, tulips etc pumped to tourists. In Scotland it's kilts. Everywhere it's false but in Imilchil's case I just see red when I read material from paid journalist spouting rubbish, when I can't get paid for material. It ain't fair. Linzi.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 15 Feb 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
Rachid - Top man

We spoke at length about the (then) upcoming US election and Obama.

Its good to see others photo's of places you have visited and people you have seen. Lovely memories.

Thanks for sharing Tim

G
__________________
Land Rover D90
www.Siroccoverland.com | Follow us on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 4 Mar 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Palma de Mallorca
Posts: 9
Thank you very much for your detailed answers. We changed the route now. Since we don't have much time and need to make to Merzouga in a specified date, we will be driving from Midelt towards Merzouga on asphalt and before reaching Merzouga, take right to Tinerhir to see Todra Gorge at least the beginning part of it. I guess that can be done in one day if we leave early from Midelt.

Any suggestions on accomodation in Midelt?

Another question I have is about the road from Marrakech to Fes. We can leave Marrakech about 3 afternoon and will try to drive about 4-5 hrs max that day. We won't make it to Fes the same day, any suggestions on where to stop at the end of the day? Kasba Tadla, Khenifra, Beni Mellal? Any decent accomodation in those towns, I assume since they are on the main road from Marrakech to Fes, there should be some hotel/motels next to the road.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 4 Mar 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: aachen/germany and valence/france
Posts: 95
Quote:
Originally Posted by viatormundi View Post
Any suggestions on accomodation in Midelt?
we stayed at the hotel atlas, which is a nice private pension.
for a double room we payed 100DH. that included shower and a garage for 2 bikes.
coordinates are: N32° 40' 54.7 W4° 44' 39.5

let me add a general remark about finding a suitable place to stay in morocco.
it is very helpful and saves tons of price negotiating if you enter the
hotel or whatever with the lonely planet guide under your arm.
they ALL know the prices in that guide!
find out BEFORE you aggree, what is included and what is not. especially ask, if garage and breakfast are included. otherwise they will ask for extra money the morning you want to leave.
__________________
regards...
-=airhead=-

http://www.euroheads.org
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 4 Mar 2009
Chris Scott's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,902
General note:
Any recoms', please add then to this thread:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ntribute-39077

thanks

Ch
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 4 Mar 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: aachen/germany and valence/france
Posts: 95
Quote:
Originally Posted by Linzi View Post
I agree, I was too reactionary. Change takes place and nothing'll stop it.
Linzi.
you are absolutely right, linzi, but adventure riders usually are the spearhead of tourism industry. morocco nowadays is hard to compare with when i was there first time about 40 years ago. so when we point with one finger to nowadays tourists, 4 fingers are pointing back to us.
what could be the consequence? we keep our hidden paradises for ourselves and stop answering questions like: how can i best do morocco in 5 days.
__________________
regards...
-=airhead=-

http://www.euroheads.org
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Best Routes through Morocco ?? BikerT North Africa 17 24 Dec 2009 00:16
First-timer in Morocco M1-M13 routes Michal44 North Africa 4 22 Mar 2009 13:42
Advice on possible shipping routes needed. PJ Trip Transport 3 25 Feb 2008 03:16
way points routes needed!! freddy Communications 1 8 Nov 2005 05:43
New routes in Morocco Chris Scott North Africa 12 1 Jul 2003 08:21

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

  • Virginia: April 24-27 2025
  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
  • Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • Switzerland: Date TBC
  • Ecuador: Date TBC
  • Romania: Date TBC
  • Austria: Sept. 11-15
  • California: September 18-21
  • France: September 19-21 2025
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
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...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

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.

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

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

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.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:06.