Newbie in Morocco 11 days on XR250
 

Hi all,
been following this forum for quite a while and it is really great information.

It will be my first time in Morocco and I will rent a 250 Tornado in Marrakesch.

Will have the moto for 11 days, so I would love to do some exploring of the mountains, desert and dirt trecks.

Rough Route would be to Merzouga, over the atlas to ride the Tizi n Tet Pass down to Tafraoute, Zargora, Oarzazarte and turning point would be Merzouga. From there some way back over the Atlas.

Is this a feasible route or can you guys recommend any changes or better ways to do it.

Is cirque de Jaffar worth going or can you find similar tracks within the Atlas, just by exploring?

https://goo.gl/maps/GKJzT5mbjjS2

Any Advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Caspar

You will enjoy your XR Caspar; hope to be riding one myself next week.

Dont know the roads/tracks you show after Taroudant to Tafraoute, but just after Tazalaght mine take a R, over the Tizkit plateau and follow the haul road S all the way to the road at a hairpin (MA14).
There you might take a L down past the mine and rejoin the R109 as you planned to Tata, but I've not done that one.
Even better, go R over the pass and up the Tizerkine gorge then down the Ait Mansour gorge - both brilliant rides.
There's a nice quiet gite in Igmir nearby (access just about all sealed now; off the map below).

Or from Tazalaght mine turning, after 6km at a block turn E for Tizkit (on G maps) and follow your nose down into the amazing gorge (see pic; MA8).
Also brings you out onto the R109 below Issafn, and easy if you're not too loaded.

More pics: https://adventure-motorcycling.com/2...t-in-morocco-2

From Tata get off the N12 and go up via Akka Ighern, do a R and take the P1800 which comes in N of Foum Zguid - an easy corrugated desert piste. Make sure you turn R here. Straight on beyond Agmour gets a bit sandy and vague, but joins up.

At Zagora I'd leave Aït Ben to the coach parties and take the N12 (nearly all sealed) to Tazzerine, then W along the R108 to Nekob for the classic Sarhro piste over to Tinehir.
From there make your visit to Chebbi. Heading back over the Atlas, others will have suggestions. Lots of great options.

Hi Chris, that sounds really nice. Looking at your WR I'm a little concerned about my tires, as the rental probably wont have knobbies on it...

I will try to travel super light, just a backpack and small bag on the rack. I will read through your blog later, thanks for sharing!

Are you returning the bike to Marrakech, maybe with limited time available? Then the N10 is the likely choice of return route.
Maybe consider a few alternative sections on the outward journey to Merzouga to avoid retracing your route. For example

1) As Chris says the Jebel Sahro pass is great. Nekob - Ikniouen - Boulmalne Dades. Well worth including.
2) N12 via Tazzarine, Alnif
OR even..
Zagora - Oumjrane-Fezzou-Taghroute (N12). Flat piste but I think some of it near Fezzou is sealed now. Not as spectacular as Sahro\Nekob.

Can you give me some insight into this piece?

Would that be Piste 1521 in open street maps?

thanks!

On my OSM 1521 is the bit north of iknioun to tinerhir.
The good bit is south of there over tizi n tazazert pass to nekob.
Popular piste and deservedly so.
Cirque, IMO, not so special.

Also, a new way over the Atlas (or most of it).
https://sahara-overland.com/2017/07/...tlas-crossing/

The new route over the atlas Chris linked is fantastic, easy navigation and good piste.

A long day got me from Dades to the Cascades d'Ouzoud in a 4x4, if you stuck to the tarmac after Tabant it'd knock a couple of hours off the day.

thanks guys my route is getting more complete every day. Will see if it is rideable in reality...

Do you think Merzouga and Erg Chebbi is worth the big detour? It will cost me at least 2 days to make it there and back to exploring the other crossing of the Atlas.

Thanks again.

Caspar

I think it is worth seeing once if you have never seen dunes and would like to.
Some people have problems with getting hassled there as it is the terminus of the tourist highway from Marrakech. Go anywhere in Morocco off the TH and I find you have a much more agreeable time meeting normal, genuine locals, not annoying touts and fake Tuaregs.
You can make the most of Chebbi area by riding some of the desert around there or right around the erg. But there is plenty of good riding all over the south of Morocco, as your OSM shows.

ok great I think I will decide, when I have ridden a few days, as the getting there seems kind of boring.

thanks will try to do that too!

Extension
 

It has been really awesome so far and I extended to 19days:oops2: any good posted from midelt towards ouzazoud falls? I will take Cirque Jaffa from Michelle to midelt today. Thanks guys!

Will post some pics when I'm home.

Good choice of bike, I have rented the xr250s from Loc2 roues, they have done many many miles, so you need to keep an eye on oil levels, but super easy to ride on interesting surfaces.

Due to be replaced by 310 GSs I understand

Can't see the 310s being as good as what the Tornados are best at, but time will tell. One XR in our group turned 100k this week.

Fyi: still-drying, but all asphalt up to Iknioun now from Tinerhir. Jebel Sarhro southside heading the same way.