Morocco experts! Your help is needed for some routes
 

Hi all,
we plan to have a trip in Morocco starting end of March for two weeks.
We will be 3 bikes (1150GSA, F650GS and my KTM 990). The beemers will be loaded with passengers. We are all leaving from Mallorca, Spain and will take 2 ferries to get to Morocco.

My question is about the following route. In our second day, we were thinking of doing the following route: Midelt, Imilchil, Gorges du Todrá, Tinerhir, Erfoud and finally Merzouga.

How is the road condition on these route and its difficulty level? We will have knobbies tyres on but still good to know. Do you think this route can be done in one day without getting stressed? Our F650GS rider is not as experienced as the rest of the group plus has a passanger. Would you recommend this route?

Thanks in advance for your comments. I am sure I will have more questions as the route planning process continues.

Hi,

Firstly i would like to point out that I did most of this route back in October in a 4x4 so i cannot comment on the suitability of the bikes. However i can say that the Todra gorge should be easily passable by experienced riders (the Dades was a little trickier in a 4x4). Midelt - Imilchil is mostly piste driving which i have not done, Imilchil - Todra is 50/50 piste/tar i think if memory serves me right. It is then tar all the way from there. The piste to nekob has now been sealed mostly. the southern section is still gravel hardpacked (oct 08).

The main reason for my reply is that i dont think you will manage that entire trip in a day. I may be wrong as i am a lot slower in a 4x4. But we came up from Erg chebbi and made it to Tinehir. camped the night there (on the western side of town) and then did the gorge to Imilchil and camped there (great place up by the lake) So that was 2 days for a start. And they were full days. Why push yourself? I think you may be more likely to fall off if your racing to get somewhere.

Its a popular area which i am sure has been covered many times on 2 wheels. someone will be along shortly to put me straight.

G

Hi
I would strongly suggest not trying the Midelt-Imilchil on the bikes/with the loads you describe. Lots of dirt, particularly clay, and serious offroad in parts, which when wet on a big/loaded bike will be a nightmare. Particularly for the chap with less experience.

Rode I to M in early 2007 on light weight dirtbikes and it was doable. Had there been any more rain, it would have become an epic. Also, we found the people on this stretch to be class-A sh*ts.

Up/down the Todra and the rest should be fine though. Also great people, generally.

Enjoy.
cheers
Chris

And in the afternoon??

Seriously guys, this is far too ambitious. This needs at least two days and preferably three.

I have a system of evaluating pistes (tracks) according to their difficulty--green is absolute novice, blue is reasonably easy, red requires offroad skills and black shouldn't be done as a solo bike or with luggage.

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.

I have thousands of km experience piste riding in Morocco and was on a 1200GSA. Inexperienced riders, two-up, will lead to disaster.

Imilchil to Agoudal is tarmac, then it's a 30-km rocky piste from Agoudal to near Ait Hani, then tarmac from there to Tinerhir. But sometimes the Todra Gorge floods... YouTube - Crossing the Todra, Oct 2008

Tim

Just re-read the original post. All of that in a day?! Impossible. As Tim said, 2 or 3 days is better.
cheers
Chris

Take your time!
 

We'll be doing the same route around the same time.

Having driven it numerous times, I strongly agree with all that's been said. Morocco has again experienced continual torrential rain this winter. Add to that the snowmelt in March and you can expect lots of washouts and river crossings in the Atlas.

What you're proposing is too much, particularly if you're carrying passengers.

Midelt to Imilchil is doable in a day, ie 9am from Midelt. Tinerhir is possible if the weather gods are on your side.

From Tinerhir to Erfoud is possible in any easy day on tarmac.

Good luck!

Jojo

Via, you must send us some of your Mallorcan coffee!

As has been said, in the High Atlas much depends on recent weather and indeed the season - as it does for riding in the desert, but for other reasons. Some maps show what months the high mtn routes are closed - it varies of course but you can add at least another month either side unless you like a challenge.

We drove it early last May and the only stream crossing I recall was in the Cirque plus the 'rail' bridge at KM63. It could have been done in a 2CV and it would have been a blast on a GS12 with knobblies, though maybe not with a passenger and a load. Unless you don't mind falling over occasionally, few pistes in Mk are. What people we met were fine too.

... The piste to nekob has now been sealed mostly....
IMO it would be more correct to say there is now tar from Dades to Iknioun to serve the villages along that valley eastwards. I don't think sealing from Tinerhir to Ik, and especially over the pass south to Nekob (another classic route) will happen any time soon.

Ch

There was no tarmac between Nekob and Iknioun last March when I was there (March '08). Temperature was a touch chilli in late March in the passes, but not unbearable

See links below for pics of that particular piste

" + title + "

" + title + "

Just remembered
Videos around Cirque du Jaffar and on way there can be found here:
Morocco TBSdotCom Click on videos Easter 2007 D and F

cheers
Chris

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/sahara-travel-forum/morocco-experts-your-help-n
 

Hello,

I think that the time your going is a bit to soon. In the atlas is there still snow, or if it's not, it will be verry could. I always go in april or mai and somethimes around agoudal it's freesing.
I'm leaving for Marocco-pistes last week of april.
grts
Peter Penson
belgium
loos to the pictures on
Travelmaniacs - Home
Marokko 2007 Peter Penson (suzuki dr big)
Marokko 2006 Peter Penson ( ktm lc4 adventure 640)
Marokko 2004 Peter penson (bmw r1150gs)

Sorry Chris, I meant Alnif NOT Nekob i got the piste's mixed up in my head and did not check the map :oops2: sorry. The route from the N10 to Alnif on the N12 is mostly tar now with the exception to ~16km of gravel heading north from Alnif.

I also did the Nekob piste after coming down the Dades gorge and that is a great one, thoroughly recommended. Sorry for the mix-up, Im pretty new to all this :(

G

if i understood you right, you take part in the 'morocco in one week' race. maybe this will be possible in 10 years, when the last tracks have been paved for tourist needs.
seriously...track conditions change from year to year. what has been possible this year, could even be impossible the next. so you cannot even trust last year's reports.

we did the midelt->imilchil part for example in may 2005. i had this track on my gps. without it would have been hard to find.
what had been a 4X4 track the year before, was in parts a single trail with big rocks on it or even washed away.
it was quite a fight, and were are not unexperienced riders.

what you can expect as well is that kids point you into dead ends, when you are looking for a detour of a washed away bridge.

it is only 150km, but it took us almost one day to get from midelt to imilchil and i would not recommend to try much more (except you are on that race, of course...;)

there is a nice auberge about half way (Auberge Ahdaoui, N32 21.562 W5 11.042). i hope it still exists..;)
for imilichil i would recommend the kasbah adrar (N32 09.929 W5 37.781).

for more tracks and pics you might look here:
Picasa-Webalben - airhead - 'escape to mo...

http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/cirque-part2.jpg

The photos on this thread Morocco for a mini LWD. - ::. UKGSer.com .:: are mainly of that route.

Tim

what you can expect as well is that kids point you into dead ends....

This was common in Tamtatoucht once (and may still be elsewhere like the bottom of the Cirque) but honestly, in 2008 there was no ambiguity for us apart from a new dam access track just before the 'rail' bridge. Here some engineers kindly put us right after a km or 2. This route continues to be improved and is clear. (Or perhaps all the kids were away on a day trip...)

... a nice auberge about half way ... i hope it still exists.

Yes it does, but it's called Oudadn Auberge now (KM97). Simple but nice location and run by a lovely guy. Last May the tarmac ended 13km later, and if it's been wet then I suspect this is where the difficulties may begin.

G - Alnif it is. There are some great routes in Sarhro ;-)

Ch

(sorry, no pix)

chris, are you saying the all the way from midelt until 13km behind the auberge is tarmac in the meantime?

I refer you to my earlier reply...
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.

http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/IMG_2955e.jpg
January 2007

http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/IMG_0069e.jpg
January 2008

Tim

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 :thumbdown: sorry.

Nice bit of snow there Tim :thumbup1:

G

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

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 :thumbup1:

G

Happy days! Back there next month.

Jojo

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.

http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/IMG_0055e.jpg
Snow drifts over the road

http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/IMG_0060e.jpg
Rachid on left with Steve and helper

http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/IMG_0042e.jpg
The crazy wood stove

Tim

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

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.

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 !

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.

Rachid - Top man :thumbup1:

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

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.

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.

General note:
Any recoms', please add then to this thread:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ntribute-39077

thanks

Ch

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.

Hi again,
I was planning to book one night in Ibis Hotel in Fes but it is fully booked:(

Any accomodation suggestion in Fes which is biker friendly. I guess we should avoid the really center of the city or the old part.

Hotel Batha (pronounced Bat-ha) at N34 03.621 W4 58.916 is located very close to Bab Boujouloud which is one of the entrances to the medina. Part of the building used to be the British Consulate. Tel +212 55 74 10 77 but beware of double booking, so get confirmation by email.

Tim

Explanation
 

Regards my criticism: I saw an entry on youtube about the Imilchil festival. it showed Amazigh girls being forced to pretend to do a ceremony and have an SLR pushed close to their faces inside a small tent. I have then seen footage of similar girls fleeing, face covered from a village visitor with a camera. This traumatises them and it is this which made me angry, not anything any HUBBER said or does. Apologies, Linzi.

Thx for the tip. I will check it. How is the parking the bikes situation in Fes? Is it safe to park on the street? Or do these hotels have some parking suggestions nearby?

I noticed Hotel Splendid in the new part of Fes, with decent reviews. Anybody stayed there? I thought the new part of the city might be better for parking the bikes etc.

You park in the street alongside the Batha Hotel where there are all-night parking guardians. The normal rate for a motorbike is 5-10 dirhams (I tend to give 5 if they have lots of vehicles to watch over, or 10 if business is slack).

If you keep in mind that daily wages for labourers is 80-120 dh you quickly get an idea of what's the right amount.

Tim

Hotel Batha is booked. Thx for the tip.

Another question. Is international driving license required in Morocco? We are Spanish and Swedish citizens. I though no but I would like to double check.

just read this thread with interest.
The "piste" from Midelt to Agoudal is really beautiful.
But it's a tad difficult, yes.
Did it on my first offroad trip...... Fear meter at the max.
I even manage to break the fork of the bike....
So I think it's a wise decision to avoid it.... for now.
Because when you'll return to Morocco, you'll have to do it.
It's fantastic.
But with some offroad experience and with nearly no luggage.
Have fun !
/thierry

We’re planning to visit Morocco next August and will focus on the south. We’re considering to include Midelt – Imilchil in our itinerary.
I would welcome any advice on whether the piste is easy enough for a 4x4 (Defender 110) considering the narrowness of the track or otherwise.
We’ll also want to include Merzouga – Mhamid (although will be hot around that time of year!). Can we expect a lot of traffic around that time/any other advice?

Thanks,
Olaf

I dont think there is a 4x4 track in Mk that cannot be done in a 110!

I can't really relate to kktos' experience (first time on a bike is often a freak out). We did it last May in a car. It was dry. No problems. 4WD not needed. Tarmac from KM73-110 (last May) then at 163, just south of Imilchil. It's a great High Atlas Route and I imagine will be a bit cooler than down south in August.

Ch

Thanks Chris, that's reassuring. We'll make sure to include this stretch before heading more south.

Olaf

Hi everybody,
thank you very much for all answers and tips. Our preliminary route is the following.

http://viatormundi.smugmug.com/photo...69_PwHtq-L.jpg

Let's hope it will be an exciting adventure. I will try to post some daily comments and pictures with my mobile phone to my blog Adventures of ViatorMundi. I plan to write a detailed travel report and post it here after wards.

Just a quick comment on the Zagora - Foum Zguid piste. I did this back in October, Exc piste. There seems to be some road building going on to the west at:

N30 03.608 W6 30.312

This is where i hit it from my track log anyway. Think from memory its 80ish Km in. The piste is meant to be ~130Km. The piste ramps up onto a 2 lane (sized) embankment rolled/compacted... time to drop the hammer :thumbup1:

You really do pick up on time, we got all the way to Tata that day from Zagora. Just letting you know, incase you can fit more in/travel further.

Ps, that was in a LR 90 not on 2 wheels.

G

Thx Griffdowg.

is this morocco map compatible with a GPS like the garmin nuvi 255? ill be on a motorbike mounting this GPS in a see through case on handlebars). this nuvi works with mapsource.



how does it work, i download this map on to a memory card and load it up in the GPS? once the map's on the gps, all the usual functionalities are available?

what about these way points people mention, can you just punch them in to the gps and then tell it to "drive me there"?

ive been using tomtom car gps's for years, just have no experience with these off road maps, nor with mapsource or garmin.

thanks guys
stef

You can download the map using Mapsource, see nuvi 550...does it work with MapSource??? - ::. UKGSer.com .::

Maroc Topo is a fine mapset, however see the comments in my knowledgebase, "The Marokko Topo map segments don't take up much storage space as they don't include routing information. Consequently, when you come to plan a route using roads, you'll find the GPS will only use the original basemap roads. Which leads to the second point, that GPS navigation in Morocco is best done as 'off-road' straight lines between known waypoints."

There's a series of Mapsource tutorials at Mapsource Software & Maps - Questions and Tips - ::. UKGSer.com .::

Tim

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