Thanks for posting the update. I'm finally popping my Morocco cherry and should be getting there around the 21st. Hope it's not too bad.

Zat Valley and Imlil
 

If you are in Marrakech and can't get over the Test or Tchika try a couple of A to A routes:

1) Zat Vallet up through Tighounite,home of the oldest LR Defenders you will see in Maroc,which loops back around to the N9 at Zerkten and Ait Ourika.Was open last week with snow line at approx 1600m.

2)Out of Asni on the road that turns around the back of the souk and over a wadi.It's now a sealed road that runs up the other side of the same gorge as Imlil on the South side.Snow at about 1700m.

I did this in a Nissan Qashqai 2wd.You can get good photos of Toubkal from the top of this if the weather is clear.

Happy trails.

Thunder heavy rain and flooding in Merzouga yesterday.

Fortunately I left before it arrived


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The north access to Imilchil in High Atlas (R317) continues to be in works with some stretches in poor condition, but there should not be many problems with a big trail and some caution

Off road stuff in the north?
 

Hi, looking to have a week long trip around the north of Morocco in late February - i say north as we only really have a week after we land there after ferry from a friends place near Malaga.

Question - where are some (moderately ) technical routes for riders on WR450s and should we be trying to get further south?

I have your latest book Chris, but (most) of the routes mention the off road routes as being fairly good going...

Don't know the north but sounds like you're looking for mule tracks.
The hills east of Chefchaouen look pretty gnarly. Try and find a base and explore from there. Might be pretty miserable and wet in Feb.
Get an Olaf or OSM map and follow your nose (or maybe don't, if you wander too deep into the Rif).
With only a week, better to bang around there and see what you find than waste days and tyres getting south.

MH7 and 8 by mountain bike
 

September/October 2018
Mountain biking / Bikepacking





Spent the last 12 days on dirt in Morocco and rode a bit of MH8, northern piste bit to Askaoun: Stunning overnighter, fantastic views and peace and quiet (without any traffic what-so-ever). A little water in the creeks due to recent heavy rains


MH7 from Askaoun to Anzal (beautiful landscapes and mule caravans): gnarly and probably impossible for you motos unless you've got a really light bike, loose big rock in the beginning of the gorge. Tarmac starts as with update in previous statements.


Thursday is Askaoun market day



I'm going back in the spring of 2019 and riding a lot more MO routes.
I'll update you when I can

N9 Tichka northside, muddier and more construction than ever as widening work moves down the mountain.
MH15 KM42-69 has got much sandier as it leaves the valley and further on, the climbs are pretty washed-out now.

Longer version and other small updates: https://wp.me/P3AByF-1Td

There is a weather warning note sent by the local authorities
Basically saying cold temperatures expected alert level: Orange


see document with temperatures and names see if anything affects your trip.

The N1 highway between Laayoune and Dakhla has been completely rebuilt and repaved, except for a 50 km section between about 100 km to 150 km south of Laayoune.

The new road is remarkable, very wide, smooth as a baby's butt, extremely well constructed (it is on par with Swiss or German highways), very good sightlines everywhere.

My guess is that the last 50 km of construction will probably be finished before the summer of 2019.

Michael

Roadworks on Tizi n Tichka
 

Hi Guys,

Anyone been through in the last couple of weeks?Are the delays serious or,is it just slow progress?

Also,are there any roadworks on the Telouet-Ait Benhaddou route(which could be worse!).

I will be going South through there next week.:cool4:

Still a lot of work on the Tichka when I drive up late November. Telouet to Ait Benhaddou had some work as you turn off the Tichka before Telouet but nothing the rest of the way.


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Ikinouen to Nekob
 

Still roadworks from summit South.Had to reverse the Landy twice on tight hairpins,which always gets the juices flowing and a bollocking from the Navo:D
Road gangs pleased to move over while you go through.

Main Road from AGDES TO Zagora and Draa Palmeries
 

The. Roadworks are completely finished and this is now a fast, easy run bypassing a lot of the village bottlenecks.
Also,between the Nekob turn off and South side of the Draa in Zagora,extensive sealed town roads are either built or,under construction on the East side of the Palmeries.This means there is a great half day trip available criss crossing the oasis on mostly sealed roads through the villages.
Enjoy!:scooter:

All ferries cancelled due to wind
 

Hi, am in Tangier, all ferries here and Tangier med cancelled last night's due to wind. May be better later today, but still crazy out.