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Hi Tony,
Thanks for the updates. Keep 'em coming, folks. Happy trails, Peter |
Like Peter says.
Thanks Tony |
m7 &m6
Just completed M6 & M7.
M6 dune filled oued rheris no surface water now but lots of mud hidden under sand thats been blown across.very sticky and a slow recovery.local farmer making a good living at moment towing tourists out with his tractor. M7 most of the route still stoney & slow,lake iriqui still very wet best to drive around in anti clockwise direction( as per sahara handbook). Moodybloo |
We've been 2,5 weeks for the change of the year in Morocco. As we had not "the" book with us, I can't follow the numbers.
We went over Tichka/Telouet to Ouarzazate. Msemrir/Tamtattouchte no problem for a push-bike but some pushing necessary on the western side, where only local motorbikes left traces and 4wd turned back in the oued with lot of blocks. Other side ok, ridiculous good road after some km. Tinghir-Nekob no probs, very good and smooth ascent, downhill a bit rocky. Taouz-Tagounite: Oued Rheris was no problem, we took the northern crossing at Rhemlia, locals wanted to send us further 10 km to the north, but our crossing was fine, after crossing you get near a mine. Rest was fine, although very rocky after Hassi Zguilma, 3 checkpoints (Zguilma, 5 km after Zguilma, 5 km before tarmac) Mhamid- Foum Zguid: When we were on Ikiki, we had no water or mud on the main piste. Last 15 km rocky, but fun on the single tracks formed by lokal motor bikes MA7: only piste we got infos out of "the" book by chance in Foum Zguid. road to Amtazguine in very good condition (broad, almost two lane), then very rocky (btw, the "perfectly cleared area" besides the road turned out to be a football field), great camping place on a balconry at the 1635 pass. Description not clear afterwards, the tarmac doesn't start in Issil but later, there are two tarmac roads leading to N10. |
Route conditions update
Hi,
Here are some updates on routes taken in december and january, slowly with à 7.5t unimog. MS6 Bouarfa Figuig With the new reservoir, much bigger than drawn on the page 104 map, the southern part of the track is not so fun and finding the way not so easy, especially going north-west South-east. ME4, betweeen Mengoug and Beni Tagite Slow track due to the numerous small oued crossing in bad condition. Very desolated and a wonderful atmosphere. ME7,Beni Tagite to Tazouguerte Also slow and rough from Beni Tagite to Col de Belkassem. Then,also rough and slow for a while but more interesting. The main reason to take this piste is to spend a night at the Col de Belkassem. MS 11 Aoufous Merzouga No problems, highly recommended. Always better to arrive in a touristic destination by the quiet back door and to sleep a night on the North East side of the dunes driving around the dunes and arriving in Merzouga by the South East. MH11-MH13 The loop from Goulmina, Amellago, Ait Hani, Tinerhir is all Tarmac. An easy introduction toHigh Atlas driving. Tomuch snow on MH3. MH4, Tinerhir - Nkob A wonderful track. The first part to Iknioun has been renovated and is now very easy with more traffic. The second part is wonderfull, especially driving North-West Sout-East. Not so difficult with a small truck although some hairpins need some "back and forth" A few nice places to camp after the 2 auberges. MS8, Mhammid to Mrimina Lake Iriki seemed all dry in mid January. We have crossed it . May be stillwet in the north-west corner. MA7 FoumZguid to Issil Was very tight for a Unimog but doable, definitively not possible for anything bigger. Was slow and scary, but wonderful. MH9 Nekob to km 59 not much tarmac but a nice track to see the people living in villages. Track to Zagmouzere narrow and slow but nice. MH8 and MH6 Some snow and ice between Askaoun and Sour so took the improved MH7 track to join the MH6 which was all tarmac to Aguim. The small road from Sour to N9 near Amerzgane was a slow track. While the road from Ait Ben Haddou to Telouet is Tarmac and spectacular. After Tizin Tichka, a small Tarmac road to Arba Talatast is a nice alternative to busy N9 to go to Marrakech. We are slowly heading South for 2 more months. Photos and comments in French and German on Pierre, Ursul (Unimog) & Theresa - UrsulNatour Pierre |
Feedback needed for MS2, MS5, MS7, MS9
Dear HUBBers,
Planning a trip to Morocco in March I would like to have you feedback/ pics/ recommendations on the following MS routes. We’ll be riding an Africa Twin and a GSA 1200, I dare to say we have moderate off-road experience (MS6, MH1, MH2, MH10, etc). MS2 – I assume this route to be easily doable with the above bikes MS5 – is this route all sealed? MS7 – is this route doable with the above (loaded) bikes? Any recommendation? MS9 – same as MS2, I assume this route to be easily doable Thanks! Luis |
MS2 - I hear is sealed - or at least the 1st part out of Zagora up to Km41. Look at Google maps.
MS5 - I also heard the FZ end had short unfinished patches (maybe completed?) but I'm sure you'll get through. MS7 - Riders often get in trouble on this route, I suppose because they veer south from the rough track (by the book) in search of smoother or more open riding but get stuck in sand or lost. Stick it out on the track and the only hard bit is the dunelettes at the Mhamid end. Or - if heading east - split northeast at KM111 for the gap in Jebel Bani to avoid dunes. Never done it but looks fun. MS9 - Some moments on my Tenere I recall, but north half may be sealed - part of the 'P1507' backroad from Ozt to Tazenakht which may all be sealed. Another one to try for next time. bonne route |
Hi Luis,
MS7 is a slow rocky track. You'd be better further south crossing Lac Iriki itself. Begin by heading south out of Foum Zguid and taking the second of the two tracks on the left signposted to Lac Iriki. There's a small military checkpoint about half a km down the track. If you've not already checked in town, you can ask the guys here if the lake is dry. If it is, carry on SSW following the oued and the track will begin to swing E around 29.52.500N 6.44.578W. Continue heading E from here and you should pick up the major piste across the lake. Continue for a few km and it becomes smooth and heads ENE across the lake - you'll be able to pick up a lot of speed here. At around 29.57.030N 6.21.500W the stack swings right towards towards Erg Chegaga and there's a very well defined track through the small dunes. In March, the sand should be firm. If you leave FZ about 9am, you'll be here by 1130, before the midday heat - if there is any. The track will lead you towards the big dunes but then swings left to rejoin MS7 at the Oasis Sacree auberge. If you think it's going to be too heavy going for the GSA, forget this bit and continue heading ENE and you'll pick up the rocky MS7. Here you can continue to Mhamid - bear in mind the small dune field near the end. There are thousands of tracks here but they all lead to Mhamid. As Chris says, you can turn off at Km111 for Tagounite. we did this in 2011 when the outskirts of Mhamid are flooded. It's a nice easy and well defined track and will bring you out halfway down the main drag in the middle of town. As ever in this area, keep an eye on the weather. thunderstorms in the mountains can bring flash floods near the lake later. http://i1012.photobucket.com/albums/...g/DSC_0976.gif Crossing Lac Iriki at speed. MS5 was sealed all the way from Zag to FZ last November but we left just before the major floods. It should be repaired by now and even if it hasn't you'll easily pick your way through. On a good day you can do it in about 2 1/2 hours. Happy trails, Peter |
Chris,
Peter, Thanks for the advices. Planning this trip made me go through the pics and videos of MS6, again! :thumbup1: Two small videos, first is the crucial Oued Rheris crossing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEI5A-Y9mzk Second one filmed somewhere on the Kem Kem Beds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq8JooaM-0A And pictures, going and coming: https://www.flickr.com/photos/148874...57675142849550 Regards, Luis |
MW3
Completed the MS6 last week from Touz to Tagounite. The desert was amazing, incredible green, full of violet flowers. A lot of water in oued Gheris after Ramlia, so we had to follow the north route option. It's not so easy to found the way before and after the oued. The ford wasn't a problem. I share the map with gpx data. I'm sure it will be usefull to all will have to take the north ford.
Pista Ramlia - Tagoumit | Galileo Offline Maps |
Hi all, am currently in morocco taking a couple of friends to show them around this beautiful country. We are traveling with rented car, not 4x4 and u would like to know if someone has latest updates of road conditions of the following:
Tata-tafraoute through igherm Zagora - foum zguid (n12) Taroudant - marrakesh through tizin test Rissani - nkob (n12) I know there has been a lot of posts regarding these routes but just wanted to make a check again. Needless to say, we want to drive on sealed roads only Thanx in advance |
To confirm what Peter was saying above, MS5 is sealed all the way from Zagora to Foum. Zguid, drove it today in a camper van and it was in very good condition. That makes the trip between the two towns very quick if you're heading up or down The Desert Highway N12
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May be a tad late to help, but will reply in case it's of use to others. We're travelling on a trike with a small trailer, so sticking mostly to tarmac with the odd bits of gravel road and piste.
Zagora - foum zguid (n12) - we took a different route from Foum Zguid - N'kob: R111 then right onto R108 to Agdz. About 35km from Alougoum north were gravel but being worked on (early April). The rest is all clear other than the odd bridge that's still out or gravelled up, but there were always easily navigable detours. N'kob - Rissani: all clear except for the odd bits as above. The road through Rissani was one of the worst we've encountered! As an aside, main bridge through Sidi Ifni still down but a diversion takes you round and out to Guelmim or south. Guelmim road all good, with the same gravelly bridges and odd diversions. Lots of bits of broken roads to see en route. Same true of the Assa-Foum-el-Hassan roads, then the N12 all the way through to Foum Zguid. Hope that helps. |
Zeid - Imichil - Tinerhir
Anyone any idea about the condition of the roads from Zeid - Imichil - Tinerhir? We're looking at taking the road from Zeid via Boumia, Agoudim and Anefgou to Imichil, then south through Todrha.
The only info I've been able to find is going back to last November when there were chunks of road out at a few places on this route (Agoudim to Anefgou being one, along with half of the rest of the country!), but hoping that they're clear by now. We're on a trike with a small trailer - fun, but not much in the way of off-road capabilities! Thanks. |
Hi, I done the section from Imilchil to Todra about a week ago, two up on a Super Tenere with a load of luggage. The condition of the road is OK but not great, there are sections where the tarmac has been eroded but nothing to worry about. The only potential problem you could face is the water levels on the numerous river crossings, we only had to deal with about 6-8 inches of water but the issue for me was the loose shingle on the river beds which made my front wheel dance all over the place, but I guess your trike will be fine.
In 2 weeks of riding in Morocco, that route was my favourite, it really is a fantastic ride! |
That's fab - exactly what we needed to know - thank you! We'll give it a go :mchappy:
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The journey from near Midelt to Imilchil turned into our most challenging day ever! There are lots of washed out bits of the road, but where it got really interesting was a few kilometers after Tounfit, not long after the piste from the Cirque de Jaffar joined our "road". I think this is part of MH1. We came into a river valley where a lot of the road had been washed away, but were going well until we ran out of road/track completely and had to go through the river bed. About 1km in an an hour, and 3 very hairy river crossings later things got better, but we did spend some time in there debating whether we'd be able to go on or have to turn back - the challenge is not knowing what it's like further on. River must've been over 40cm deep in places as the water went over the top of Tony's bike boots, with some even deeper potholes to watch out for. The trike was OK, but the trailer has small wheels and nothing like as much ground clearance - we think it may have been floating at one point.
The upside was absolutely stunning scenery and some entertaining encounters with locals on horses and donkeys. At one point we had a couple of lovely Berber ladies on horses laughing away at the sight of us emptying water out of our boots and wringing socks out. We did only meet people on foot or horseback for a fair stretch, which should have given us some clues in hindsight! Wet feet at 2,600m was not ideal... 4WD would have no probs getting through. Decent off-road bikes would be fine but fun. Road bikes or cars would most probably not make it. We always travel a lot slower on the trike than on bikes, but even so it took us about 7 hours from start to finish. That did include stopping in Boumia for fuel, water, and a treat of our first ice creams since leaving the coast for the desert a month ago though! We later discovered that we had taken the ancient road, which is not maintained. Locals in vehicles use an alternative route which is more navigable, but I'm not sure where that is - apparently we should have taken a different fork in the road at some point. This is the route we took and where the road first ran out: |
In the last couple of days we have completed MS5,7,&6, in that order, ( in a defender) all are clear and open. End of ms7 at m'hamid some deep loose sand, and again crossing the river bed just before ramil on ms6. Just a little note for those that are interested, whilst having a shock absorber bush sorted in merzouga, over heard conversation between garage owner and couple of local dirt bike riders that there is an apparent shortage of petrol locally today. Later in Erfoud we had no problems getting diesel, and saw no signs to suggest any problems with petrol here.
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A few eastern updates
Just to give a bit of info on a few pistes.
ME2 Boudenib to Efoud. about 5kms along this piste after the first large oued a very deep ditch has been dug (may be filled in now) but a crossing has been made about 300m to North West of the old piste. The Morrocco Overland book takes you on a fairly worn piste, unfortunatly I straayed a little too far to the West and ended in a Sandy Oued that I couldn't get of for quite some time. Would be fine in a 4x4 but not a laiden motorcycle. There are a few sandy oued crossings but none that last any more than 100 metres. Would suggest following the presecribed route and not veering too far! Also, The 50 km road over this corner of the Rekkam plateau heading south from Missour is most definately a piste and now errs to a considerable degree to the east of the OSM shown route after about 5 km. I would stick with the new route as the piste is nice and easy and has been well travelled, therefore easy to navigate. after about 15-20km it rejoins the OSM. It si quite a nice piste, not massively interesting appart from the odd camel and nomad's camp but it is great to see the mountains in the far distance come into view and as you get to them you get back on the tarmac. Would be a good first piste, It was for me! |
Cirque du Jaffar/ No Petrol in Midelt
Hi there,
I'm new to HUBB and this is actually my first contribution. I used the platform a lot for travel preparations so I thought I might as well share some experiences. Hope it helps. I'm currently on Cris Scott's MH1 in Imilchil. I did the Cirque du Jaffar with my Honda XRV650 and luggage yesterday and overall found the Piste to be in good condition. Nevertheless, for those doing it the first time, it is in places fairly technical and can be dangerous. When I went the Cirque was dry, which I guess is essential - I wouldn't recommend going there in bad weather as there are some deep drops and in places the track gets quite narrow. The big rocks that have previously been reported must've been moved - at least I didn't see them. Definitely no obstruction at all. The gradient I didn't find too dramatic - I didn't have the impression it got to up to 20° or even more. But then I was on a bike and thinks might seem a bit easier then. Most importantly though: The hairpins and narrow bends are not due to any strong gradients. I approached the Cirque from the SW (Midelt) and found the descent into the Cirque a bit more dangerous than the following sections. The riverbeds are the main obstacle for bikers - keep some momentum and try to find a relatively straight line and you'll be OK though. Also watch out for barbed wire - as reported previously - and for dogs. They really didn't seem to be cool in the area. Got chased by dogs twice. As a general comment on Cris Scott's grading of the route, I don't think one can negotiate the Cirque with anything less than a 4X4, but I've seen worse Pistes as well. I found Tim Cullis' rating as a red Piste most accurate - so one can tackle it alone on a fully loaded bike, but it gets technical at bits. Again, much depends on the weather. But also, if one is offroading in Morocco, one should probably be aware of the fact that this is fairly dangerous. So if you wanna have a nice and relaxed time with loved ones you might consider either getting a driver or staying on tarmac. Another practical advise: At the moment (as of yesterday) there seems to be a shortage of unleaded petrol in the Midelt area. I had to ride back on the N13 for about 30kms till I found some. |
Flood Damage on MH1 Between Agoudal and Dades
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There have been some lightening storms in the Dades area today. Along the Gorge du Dades (I think) some places are only passable on 4x4's or Enduro bikes. More precisely, from the point were the Piste ends at the first river crossing/ bridge there were a few miles of heavy mud slides and one tricky river crossing (the first one - briefly impassable). As more rain seems likely the situation might stay like this. So if you wanna go there, expect some waiting times or an overnight stay. Otherwise take the route via Tinghir. Getting to the Cascades is no problem.
Also the piste itself I find quite dangerous in a bid of bad weather. Although not too technical, the drops are quite impressive and mud easily adds some more risk to it. Attachment 15984 Attachment 15985 |
I rode along ME6 yesterday from Bouarfa to Figuig. The piste is generally in good contion however there are two washed out parts past the halfway point, nearer Figuig (don't know how long they've been there, just thought I'd mention it). There are stones layed out to warn drivers and there are ways around the washed out sections.
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Sahara Pistes
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Rode through the Sahara pistes now. That is MS6 and MS7 (Merzouga - Tagounite - Foum Ziguid). The pistes (apart from the dry lakes) are generally technically quite demanding. There can be rain related trouble (although desert; mud/ quicksand). The sand is very soft, so keep your bikes light, and at other parts the terrain gets incredibly rocky. Adding to this there is the navigational risk and remoteness that can easily be underestimated by inexperienced desert riders. So don't go alone! There is no mobile signal, so help can be days away! I hired a guide and a 4x4, which over here isn't increadibly excessive. Took us 3 days, meaning there was some wild camping involved. Its well worth it! Increadible scenery!
Road conditions: MS6: Owing to some rain Oued Rheris is a bit of a mud party. By mud I mean some very soapy mud... so quite a bit of work for a few miles. The detour further south doesn't work as you'll be stopped by the military (too close to the Algerian border). At Tafaroute there is a river crossing that was not passable. Just turn right in front of the crossing and through the palmerie for about 1km till the water level is flat enough. Was a piece of cake then. The last bit towards Tagounite was not passable due to the river crossings. So we detoured via Zagora. Quite scenic piste though. MS7: The most tricky bit is right at the beginning shortly after Mhamid (did the southern piste through Erg Chegaga). The sand of the Erg was extremely powdery and negotiating the dunes on heavy bikes will be quite a challenge. Along the dunes there is some powdery sand that is almost indistinguishable from the rocky ground. Watch out for that! It's good for some nasty surprises. The following rock desert is fairly easy for bikes apart from one dried out river bed (you'll recognise it when you're there): Don't speed through. Tried that, almost threw me off. Lac Iriki is dry and good fun. Good to camp in the dunes east of Lac Ikiri! Oued Rheris: Attachment 16046 Video I made (unfortunately not of the first day): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFCd4FTH26g |
Route Conditions - send in your updates
Piste between Tata and Foum Zguid is very firmly closed. Can't remember the route number atm so will update later.
In fact the whole desert south of the N12 between Tata and Foum Zguid is currently off limits to anyone. News is it was open last month. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
Must be MS8. Can you provide more information why it is closed - political reason or weather etc? Also do you know if the routes between Foum Zguid and Taconite (MS7) are still open (Soutt East from Foum Zguid)?
Are you currently in the region? if yes any update on other routes? |
Route Conditions - send in your updates
Sounds about right. Closed for security. We've just spent a few day travelling from Tantan to Erfoud. Ms 7 Foum Zguid to Mhamid is open as are the pistes east to Erfoud.
A friend who was in the region at the end of September reported the area was open when he was there Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
Sorry the point we were blocked wasn't ms8 however I was turned back on Ms8 last year.
The point we got turned back was further west. I'll dig out the coords when we get a break from crossing the atlas Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
A Few Notes On Routes Old and New?
All done in LR Defender.All map ref are Reise 1:1,000,000.All route refs are to Chris Scott's bibl....er,handbook:thumbup1:
Tafroute to Taraoudant. There is a good sealed road dropping down from Ait Abdullah approx 20km East of Tafraoute on the R106.It arrives at the new N10 approx 6km West of Taraoudant. On the Reisemap this only shows as a series of unconnected tracks at best. It is approx 120km and took about 3 hrs.Views over Sous Valley are tremendous. This means that it is possible to do a loop run Tafraoute-Taraoudant-Igherm-Tafraoute in a long day or,use the T's as bases and explore other tracks in the area. MS2 Zagora-Tazzarine. Road sealed 50% coming from Tazzarine so,will probably be totally sealed by next year. MA7 Taliouine - Tazenacht Very beautiful and quiet run but the middle third runs thro an wild Oued and the sealed road is shot to pieces at all crossings.Local light bikes and Berlingos getting through on some quite rough repairs but expect delays after rain while the shovels get out and repair the repairs. Agdz-Tasla-Bleida-Zagora Follow R108 out of Agdz towards tazenacht. After Tasla there is a LH turn signposted Bleida.This is a high plateau route through a mining area on a sealed road in poor condition up to the main mine at Bleida(no signs but the road ends there anyway).From here the road on the Reisemap does not exist but if you wend your way around the tailings dam on the South side of the mine you end up in a fabulous wadi run that takes you down to the N12 at Bou Rbia. Great escarpment rim run aswell. This wadi run may need a reverse for others in places but I would say was doable on big bikes unless after rain. MH1-MH11 Goulmima-Dades Loop Oued Gheris was in spate after rain so this run was fabulously beautiful especially with the Berber busy with harvest. All the concrete oued fords were in good nick except for one(which is breaking up) where I waited while a minibus crossed in case he needed help.I heard from a Swiss biker in camp that evening that he had turned back there two up on a big BMW.The water was up to his front hub. The run up to Dades was stunning as was the white knuckle down the gorge itself. Probably the best run of the trip for us. MH4-5 Tinehir-Iknioun-Tinehir A nice loop run.Road sealed as far as Iknioun then a good graded piste back to Tinehir. Generally We arrived at Taouz for the MS6 run at the end of Sept during heavy rains. The road from Erfoud through Rissani and Merzouga was heavily flooded and when we reached taouz we were advised by the locals that the route across Oued Rheris was unpassable. We spent a nice hour with The Pidgeons du Sable and went on through El Jorf. Arrived at Mhamid and were told Lac Iriki was dry but we travel on our own so did not do it this time. Hope this helps.Happy trails.bier |
Fuel and Lodging
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Recently I rode along MH7 (from Askaoun to Anezal). The piste is quite heavily eroded in at least two spots near the top. There are ways to get around, but not easily (very steep and narrow). In it's current state it would not be passable by a 2WD and some 4WDs may struggle. I was just about able to get past on my F650GS, but I wouldn't want to do it on anything heavier. Lighter bikes should manage fine.
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Hi all
Just to let you guys know, finished this week routes MS4,MS12,MS11 ,all without any problem.Got lovely weather, so no complains. About the route MS11, going from Merzouga to Aufuss, there a climb to be negotiated, I don't think a truck could fit in the narrow parts or hairpins. Also found this route hard after the climb, with lots of stones, forcing me to drive really slow ( 8~10 kph ) . that's the end of my travel this year, if any of you want to see some pictures please visit my blog. Tito |
MH1 status
Just got this:
" … about two weeks ago I was biking the MH1 route through the High Atlas in Morocco as described in your guidebook. A few km before reaching the gite in Tagoudit at km 91.5 the road was washed away for about half a kilometer. So we biked the riverbed and crossed the stream a couple of times... |
MW3 Assa to Draa bridge
Just heard that MW3 - 230km is all sealed but still a great route.
Look forward to doing that later. https://saharaoverland.files.wordpre...14/12/mw3g.jpg |
MW3 Sealed!
Wow! Thats a big suprise.I did this route in February and other than the already sealed road from Taglite to El Borg there was no sign of construction.
A great route and if sealed then another fast rout to the coastbier |
MH1 Nov2015 update
Over the last two days we made made MH1 with 2 heavy bikes (GSA1200 and KTM 1290 SA). From Midelt to Imichil no problem despite a part between 80 an 60 km before Imilchil. Street is washed away from river and route goes across river. Very challenging and not tecommendable. There is an easy detour which is not market but all cars takethis route. After Agoudal fantastic and easy trip over 2900m above sealevel peaks. Doablewith any kind of bike.
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Road out
West of Midelt about 60 K the road is washed out, not passable at this time. Made it around four bad spots with the bike and then came to one I am not sure a goat could make. Trying to figure out road number of my map but not sure if it is #9 or 11-4
R704 from Tilmi to Agoudal was a great ride this morning with stunning views and up to 2850 M. That's what makes an adventure, the unknown, unexpected Bob:scooter: |
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MA7 the interesting jebel section from KM48 north of the oases to the pass at KM78 is doable despite last year's rains. The inter-village section is rough, loose and steep at times. Fyi we did it southbound - i.e. mostly downhill - and therefor easier.
Pic below: MA7~KM76 MA12 - Sealed from KM93 to KM124 just before Aguinan, bar some easy diversions here through the oued as the new road's already got ripped out and seems unlikely to be rebuilt soon. MH4 - Jebel Sarhro south - business as usual MS5 - All sealed but seemingly deserted. Road north of Foum Zguid to Tazenacht also in a state following last year's floods (i.e.: might not be much fun on a road bike) but now sealed through 'pipeline canyon' just before Tazenacht and north of the Agdz turn off. The road from Tazenacht to Agdz has finally been sealed through the pass at the west end. Tichka pass - much major widening going on just on the north side of the pass. In places adds up to a thin wet slimy mud residue on tarmac which is very slippery. Tizi n Test road. New fuel at the village 100km south of Marrakech. Southside road: same mixture of new two lane tar and crumbling single track and small rockfalls. |
Excellent 2 weeks in Morocco late November. Thanks Chris Scott for the Overland book - it was a great help!
- ME1 South of Missour. We followed piste out of the east end of town which didn't match any of our maps or the OSM Garmin GPS but was great riding and arrived in the right place! - ME7 Col de Belkassem. Easy out of Beni-Tajitte as there's a big road building project heading west for 10km. Fast, graded track. The Col seemed rocky and quite hard on big bikes (GSA1200+Africa Twin) Easiest East-West. Getting down the west side was feet-down for 200m, then great. - ME2. Brilliant apart from a trying 150m of sand. Someone else mentioned getting slightly too East here - I think we did the same. - MS3(?) (Tazzarine-Zagora) is all tarmac except for 20km over the col, but we rode most of the way up there on old piste which was fun. Excellent campsite near Timganine www.camp-serdrar.com - MS5 is all tarmac - MS7 was excellent. We took the north trail from Tagounite which was good riding with no sand. Very rocky trail getting out to Foum Zguid! - MA9 is tarmac for 10km from Alougoum, then graded piste with several missing bridges. Good riding - MA3/1 day loop was great. Hard on a big bike up the shingle river bed! - MH8 tarmac Taliouine to Askaoun. We turned right over Tizi-n-Melloul. Stunning, but hard going on big bikes. Several washed out river crossings to get over T-n-M. Great trail from Tachochte down East - MH4 Stunning! Heading North from Nekob, great riding once you find the track. Great camp at the top. Tarmac from Iknioun-Dades - Tinerhir-Todra- Imilchil-El-Ksiba. Brilliant. A few easy river crossings Todra end, then good road. Tizi-Tirherhouzine is new tarmac. Quite a big new road going in Tizi-Alt Ouirra end, with miles of dusty gravel, but it will soon be tarmac. Thanks again, we'll be going back next year! |
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Thanks for the updates and glad you had a good time, Frost. You got a lot done and probably need a holiday. Weather's been amazing, even here in the High Atlas, still. Been out bagging new pistes today. It can't last much longer.
Are you sure MS3 is sealed all the way to Merzouga? That will be the end of the famous MS6 then. Or could it be MH3 - also a former classic - but it has a col. Next time try MS12 and MH14 - both brilliant full-day routes (doable on a F650 twin). |
Hi Chris, yes, weather was perfect except for 1 day in 14, so we rode every day. I think I mean MS3 but don't have the book to hand. Tazzarine-Tarhbalt-Tizi-n-Tafilalet-Zagora? It's not yet sealed over the col but the rest is. Nowhere near Merzouga so it looks like I've messed up...
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New motorway to Dakhla...
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Crossing ramlia
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We crossed Ramlia in early October 2015 going from Taouz to Zagora. We did it after a few days of heavy rain. The river was flowing and it was a muddy affair.
We paid £10/bike for the locals in Ramlia to cross our 1200GS's to the other side. They crossed one motorcycle and then the other. This meant that we did not have to turn back and go round. Morocans are very resourceful! Attachment 17073 Attachment 17074 |
Snow in the mountains Feb 16
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For those of you who are planning a trip or travelling in Morocco just now. In recent days we had (finally, although a bit late) some precipitation in the North and East of the country, including the Rif and Atlas.
This is picture from today morning in Ifrane. Some roads are now closed but this should not last for long. Attachment 17128 |
Hi All,
Tuesday, gorge south of Tounfite closed due to erosion of road by river. Driving in riverbed not possible as current too strong. Wednesday, Agoudal - Dades closed by snow. Just passable South North as snow in downhill sections so much digging etc necessary. In the other direction no go as mud and snow prevent uphill driving/riding. Should be clear soon. Thursday, 35C in Zagora, more to come. Off to the desert tomorrow. Happy trails, Peter |
Hi All,
Zagora-Foum Zguid now tar all through. Old piste getting badly beaten up in places through lack of use. FZ-Mhamid fine across Lac Iriki. All dry and relatively smooth. Pistes now generally quiet following the usual chaos of Semana Santa. Tourist numbers down following Paris/Brussels incidents. Very few French tourists. Zagora-Taghbalte now all tar and about to open soon. Oued Rheris very dry yesterday with lots of feche-feche. Probably more difficult tomorrow as it's been quite windy and ruts now filled with soft sand. Could be tricky for solo travellers. Now at Erg Chebbi, temp down to upper 20s following last week's mid/upper 30s. As an aside, Fes tanneries have been completely renovated, now awaiting opening by the king. Happy trails, Peter |
I went down the Todgha-Dades off-road piste on a KTM 1190 2 days ago without actually realising what it is, or how tough it was, I just saw it there and decided to take it. It wasn't too bad on the big bike until the last approximately 3-4km by GPS. I had spent approximately 30-40 minutes in nasty dry riverbed, I got to a point where the tracks disappeared in the riverbed and I was trying to bash my own way through. I was alone, it was getting late in the day and had only 1/2 a liter of water left so I decided to turn back, I met 3 Dutch guys in 3 Land Rover discovery 4x4's about half way through the crossing on my return and I camped with them. They had Chris Scotts Moroccan handbook and showed me details about the route. It had said strictly 4x4, trail bikes and MTB, though some big BMWs had been known to get through. In the morning I decided to keep heading back to where I had entered, as I had no idea how difficult it was actually going to get. The Dutch guys offered to help me and do it as a team but I really didn't want to get stuck and have to turn back anyway even further down.
It was more or less like this when I decided to turn back http://i66.tinypic.com/15x39qr.jpg And where I was on the GPS http://i65.tinypic.com/i4l6yt.jpg I am really curious as to what lay in that last section, if I could have just muscled it through or made a good decision turning back. Highly recommend it though, was a great ride until the riverbed |
Beause of heavy rainfall in the Smara region friday and saturday the bridge north of Laayoune on the N1 and in Foum el Oued has been washed away. Wednesday it was still not possible to pass.
The road 15 km. north of Smara was also flooded, and is now under reconstruction. Today it was possible to pass with 3 hours delay, because of road work. So right now the only route south is Tan-Tan - Smara - Laayoune |
What are the options? Trying to think how to by pass that bridge ...
Any updates appreciated as always! Thanks |
bypass via Smara
I just did bypass via Smara, about 150km extra, tarmac all the way but not very even surface, somehow managed to loose my plates, so as police suggested getting one made tonight @ laayoune :)))
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Thanks, any rumours about when the bridge might be fixed?
The road via Smara must be horrific with all that traffic on it ... that's not going to make life easy! Good luck with your plates!!! |
Road is still closed apparently. I didn't know sadly! I'm at the Bedouin Camp Maroc just south.
I don't fancy the drive back to Tan Tan if i can help it for the diversion via Smara. There appears on my GPS and Google a road that follows the coast and doest use the bridge to get south of Laayoune. Just called 'Route Tarfaya - Foum El Oued' Anyone know about this? Dirt road I'm guessing Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk |
Short version to my above question: The road i mention is fine for all vehicles
Medium version: The last few km the road is poor, but fine for all vehicles. 95% of the road is old tarmac Long version: Speaking to the police. You could follow the N1. Then before Layaane there is a 20km diversion onto the road i mention above. That 20km is iff piste though. On the road i mention i did 70mph for most of it and that was safe. Few potholes here and there but no worse than the rest of Morocco. Speed trap setup, i was warned and ok. Recommend this road over the official diversion. I suspect they want to encourage people to avoid it as traffic would be horrific in the town. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk |
Came over the bridge today , all ok . Petrol available all the way to Dahkla . Crossing into Mauritania tomorrow , fingers crossed will be hassle free!
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Morocco Overland route updates March 2017
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I don’t know if anyone has tried MH1 lately.
Tried it NE-bound today (opposite of book r/d). High Atlas crossing in great shape: Dirt section to Agoudal in little over an hour. Following the tar eastwards, around KM 91 just out of Agoudim village the road is gone for at least 2-3 km. I turned back after a walk, but bikes have been working their way along the stream and rubble on foot-wide ledges - was not clear to me how and where a 4x4 could manage it, but probably could too. Actually, looking later at the Garmin North Africa Topo on a laptop, perhaps a road goes round the gorge to the east? See map below. MH7 west of Asskaoun - that part through the narrow gorge a few km out of town is also a stream now, but a 4x4 could crawl over it in low 1st. Clearly not used much anymore. MH7 back in the other direction down to the dam is now tarmac - nice ride on a warm spring afternoon. I was also told MH6 down from Aguim on the Tichka road is also sealed. MH12 still great road crossing of the HA. No traffic, dirt sections. Came past MH14 KM46 jct with Olaf yesterday. No tracks - looks very little used. I was up from Agdz on the Olaf (not in book) - gnarly climbing. IMO both these routes (and Jebel Sarhro MH4 classic are best enjoyed southbound: you can enjoy the views as your vehicle generally rolls down the track. MA2 easy wide dirt road from Ait Herbil to Igmir. Misses out the village oases, less fun. Wwill be sealed soon to Igmir from where it's tar up the steep pass to the main road. MA3 and MA8 Sealed to Imitek; in the gorge at KM98 keep straight, not left for Ait Alha village (track no longer used). Up on the plateau a new haul road has made the RD confusing - but it all works out. This also affects MA8 coming down. Turn left @ KM49 block for the gorge. New edition will explain. MA4 is now the ’N12’ according to RK-H map. Nice road through the jebels. MA6 - as mentioned a couple of years ago - is now gnarly and washed out in many places. Will be worse now. MW3 sealed up to Aouainat Igoumane - from here a piste seems to go towards Guelmim? Rest of MW3 as the book. MW6 - as mentioned elsewhere, easier to start it off the Zag road further south. Fast and corrugated to Labouriat. Later, the track may not all be all there along the oued from KM231. Cut the last oued bend by driving over the hill. New edition out in August. |
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You reminded me I didn't post any updates from my trip last year doh
Just got into Morocco in the rain, going to head south fast :) Anyway MH1 - last November, Cirque Jaffar closed at KM28.5 for repairs, work underway at the time so I guess its open again now and, er yes, the section on from Agoudim is shocking, I got through in November but it took a while. Sorry for not posting last year! MH7 - I turned back at KM95.7 track wasn't wide enough to pass in a 4x4 safely and I'd already got into trouble trying silly things earlier in the week!. Turn north at KM95 towards Ammasine and keep on the main track until you reach tarmac about 5km after the turn. MH6 definitely tar the whole route. What else did I find... Great piste from the R109 south of Igherm at N30 00.914 W8 27.132 running east to the Tata road is most definitely not usable by anyone on anything more than a mountain bike. If you ignore the 3 warning signs like I did you'll find the track completely gone at N29 55.294 W8 20.659 leaving you with a long reverse on a narrow track with a shear drop. New dodgy coppers just past the toll gate as you turn off the motorway on the way to Essaouira N31 28.734 W8 41.386 I've attached a .gpx with some route info I've gathered over various trips, easier than trying to explain where they are |
I wonder if anyone has taken that eastern arc that joins in at the junction east of Tounfite?
It is odd that they don't say 'road closed beyond Ag' early on, as no Merc village transporters could get through that oued. In Ag village a bloke did point right (for Tagoudit?) - but I assumed he meant 'come to my shop, I have a superb array of minerals and cheches in every colour under the sun. Could be a road on Google aerial, but hard to tell. Wifi is glacial and so is the temp in reception. I am actually starting to shiver. |
Route Conditions - send in your updates
I've bought my 2 season sleeping bag after you said it was hot! Enjoying the delight of Hotel Dreamland in Fnideq ATM.
When I did MH1 last year 2 campers left Timnay the same morning as me. I met them again at the junction at Tagoudit and we all ended up in Imichil that night. I remembering wondering where they had been between Timnay and there. Looking at my maps there's no way east to Midelt you I can only assume they took the loop you mention Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
Thanks. Would have gone back again today, but it's all show and icy and freezing winds now. Don't fancy the 450-m climb to get back over there from here.
Yesterday I'm sure I also saw a couple of bikes resting by the roadside (one bike like mine), and they didn't have the aura or splattered dirt of having just bashed along that oued. Back at Agoudim I did zoom out the Garmin to see if anything else was doing, but looked in the wrong area. I assumed the side road to Tagoudit was just a village access track. They may even have been a crude sign. And back at Imilchil servo last night, they all insisted it's tout gourdronee to Tounfite. Funny how the clues all slot in place afterwards. Hasty assumptions: the nemesis of good nav! Two season bag will be fine - as long as one of the seasons is 'winter' ;-) Hard to believe it was 35°C in Assa 2 weeks ago. |
MH1
Hi Chris/Mark,
I drove MH1 east-west in October. We got to the start of the gorge and the track was completely gone following a huge landslide. No even a moto would have got through. We took the eastern arc that rejoins at the river crossing near Tagoudit as you described. It's a good track and only cost us an extra 20 mins. The westerly route over Jebel Sahro had been badly hit in places. Large cubes of sharp basalt had slid onto the track. Took my eye of the ball for a second and got my first ever BFG puncture - slice through the sidewall... Happy trails, Peter |
I did make a habit last autumn of ignoring every possible sign there was trouble ahead a plowing on regardless.
Just arrived in Essaouira, the north has had god almight rain today and fresh snow around Tetouan by the looks of it. Felt sorry for the bikes on the motorway heading into it. If your south don't rush north just yet :) Anyone tried MH5 recently? I looked at the end last year and decided against it, but something makes me want to try again |
Thanks for the clarification Peter. Did the eastern arc - all sealed and straightforward.
Coming from the north, 3.4km after Jaffar T junction, turn SW off the light coloured road onto darker tarmac. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@32.48.../data=!3m1!1e3 No signs (yet?). Deepish ford soon (same rogue river), then over the hills. Met another poor soul on a heavily loaded bike who blundered into the gorge from hell from the south end like me. Luckily some Berber kids put him right (and helped pick up his bike) before he got too far. MH5 - "it'll be rude" as they told us once in the Yukon ;-) Going to come up with a new name or better clarification for these locally unused and abandoned stages between the last village on one side, and the next on the other. Good to know the diff as lack of regular use/maintenance makes things much harder. As we found on Jebel Timouka above issil the other year. |
ME7 is now graded from Beni Tajite to roughly Km21. 60kmh almost the whole way to the Col. very dusty though.
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Atlantic route to Dakar upd
Recent account of Atlantic route to Dakar (on pushbike).
Soliloquy of a Wandering Pilgrim |
MA2 Izerbi -> Igmir and MA3 Akka -> Imitek: Both road sections mentioned have been graded and covered with black sticky stuff (tar?) as well as tons of fine gravel. Especially the MA2 section pretty much sucks at the moment on a motorcycle (like riding on marbles). Both roads do not really resemble a piste any more and look like this:
https://abload.de/img/img_4241ngon4.jpg In other news: The pretty rough oued sections at the beginning of MA2 (in one of the villages before Igmir) can now be skipped via a large new piste that has been built. Naturally, I discovered this after plowing the big GS through the oueds. The new road is not yet on OSM. |
R101 Et Al
I have deliberately left this post in the Landmines thread because of its relevance in terms of access.However,the moderators may decide to move it as it otherwise has nothing to do with the mines.
The R101 has/is being upgraded and is tarmac all the way from Tan Tan to Smara. About 6k South of Abteh a tarmac road comes in from the west and this runs to the coast North of Akhfenir. There are six fuel stations at this junction but I think the three old ones will close as the new ones are commissioned!!!There is no fuel on the Akhfenir road and nothing else of interest either.However,it is a fast route to the coast if you need it. We crossed from Khawi Nam to this road on a miriad of gravel pistes that could be done on bikes but some of the washouts may prevent 2wd and big road bikes. The terrain is usually flat gravel plain interspersed with sand hummocks.Apart from camel watching we found it not very interesting but hey,another track/munro done:mchappy: |
MS7 Mhamid Foum Zguid update
Rode MS7 (among other pistes) end of April.
We actually started off road at 29.899268, -5.619037 to avoid the dunes just West of Mhamid. We then faced the expected sand, dried lakes and stones - stones are really the benchmark of this piste. If your suspension endures and your bones stand up, I'd say that you can consider yourself fit for Morocco. Tarmac we only found again at 30.060358, -6.869388, after the passport control just before entering Foum Zguid https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4175/3...84542099_n.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4177/3...cc885f2d_n.jpg A couple of pictures can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/148874658@N08/albums/ |
Route updates early October 2017
Early October 2017 - a few light bikes and a 4x4.
MA7 Southbound, it gets quite rocky and washed out for about 10km between the last hamlet at the northern end and Amtezguine [KM56] from where it's now tarmac to Tlite and FZ. 'MH19' In good shape - see this or this. MH4 Northbound, gets rough near the summit, as usual, but also now also a bit washed out of the northbound descent to the road. this was the only damage we saw following recent rains. Also, they are working or a new road out of Nekob - can get confusing. Hard to know if it's going to the last villages (Bab n Ali, Tazlout?) or all the way over the top to Iknioun. MA13 I'm told they will be sealing the middle section between Assaragh and Agadir Melloul, but I imagine that may take a while. |
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Just got home yesterday after 10 days in Morocco, on my own this time so less adventurous off-road. Thanks again for the book Chris!
- 3 hours to get out of Tanger Med port. No hassle, just very, very slow! - Tizi-n-Tichka. Huge roadworks Marrakesh side. Soon to be all 3 lanes? Some long delays but on a bike this means you can get to the front of the queue. - Big road-building on the Telouet road from the col down to Ait Ben Haddou. Easy, but dusty! - MH6 seemed to be completely tarmac, so I turned round and rode MH 8 to Askaoun then Aoulouz, which was brilliant. Clearly signposted "Askaoun" from the tarmac south of Sour. The "washed out track" km61.5(71.5) is washed out but fine. The "precipitous section" is recently graded and easy. - MH4 is soon to be tarmac all the way. Massive construction out of Nekob. You can ride the new graded track at first but then get forced onto the old track, which has been pounded by trucks. Big works in the villages of Bab-n-Ali, big new cutting across the hill by the waterfalls. Line of new pylons. The old trail seemed washed-out and rockier than I remember from 2015. Strangely there's no sign of work yet on the Iknioun side. - I was told in Dades that the exit North to Agoudal was difficult. Instead, I rode to Tinghir,Ait-Hani, Amellago,Rich (MH13) All tarmac but a beautiful ride. |
Glad the book was useful. Sounds like you used an old edition.
I will do the first update to the new edition in a couple of days, noting some of the things you said. 3 hrs to get out of Tan Med sounds like a disaster, especially on a bike. Good to hear MH8 is in good shape - not done that for years. I have been up and down MH4 a few times in recent weeks - definitely on the rough side at the moment; the last group were not impressed. They say it's for pylons coming down from Nour solar plant near Ozt, but if they are going to make 2 lanes north of Bab-n-Ali right over the Tazazert Pass to the Iknioun road, they have a whole lot of rock-blasting to do. Just rode on to on the Santander ferry myself after 6 weeks away. TFF heated clothing and grips! |
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Hi Chris, I have the 2nd edition - June 2013? I'll buy the third if you're updating!
I spoke to the Auberge owner about MH4. He said tarmac all the way, but there was no sign of work on the Iknioun side. Were you out in the rain on Wednesday in north Morocco? I rode Genoa to Sion, Switzerland yesterday - 7.5 hours of snow and I don't think it got above freezing! Here's a pic of MH8 |
Cold snap and snowfall in parts of Morocco
Temperatures as low as minus 5ºC and some snowfall is forecast for tonight and tomorrow for the Middle Atlas and High Atlas area bounded by Azilal, Beni Mellal, Khénifra, Azrou, Ifrane, Sefrou, Boulemane, and Midelt. This weather pattern is not unusual, the Middle Atlas area is invariably the hardest hit by snow and Ifrane holds the record low temperature for Morocco of minus 27ºC. Official forecast: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/201...therf-morocco/ The forecast above might be a bit OTT, the local forecasts I normally use (weather.com) show Azrou is forecast with overnight low at minus 4ºC, Imlil at minus 8ºC, Chefchaouen and Ouarzazate hovering around freezing, Midelt at minus 2ºC, Khenifra at minus 1ºC, Ifrane at minus 5ºC. And of course wind chill will make the temperatures seem even lower. Snow is forecast in some places but nowhere near as deep as the original National Meteorological Directorate forecast of half a metre. But who knows? These are only forecasts. If you are planning to drive on the main N8 road from Fez to Marrakech or the main N13 road from Meknes to Midelt you will be passing through the area most affected. The Col du Zad on the N13 is likely to be quite bad. It seems there's snow likely also on the Tizi n'Tichka pass on the main N9 road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. This is from the forecast for the 2500m altitude in the locality, "A moderate fall of snow [12cm], heaviest on Mon afternoon. Freeze-thaw conditions (maximum 4°C on Mon morning, minimum minus 5°C on Mon night)." Most main roads that are subject to snow have snow barriers which will be lowered to prevent traffic if the conditions are dangerous. Snow ploughs are strategically located at the barriers so they can be quickly deployed, and you should normally expect roads to be open again within 24 hours of the snow stopping. The Moroccan authorities are normally good at laying grit on the roads, but still take care. |
There is good snow on Toubkal at the moment. As of Saturday night (9th Dec) Imichil, Agoudal area is free from snow and all roads clear, including Tizi N Ouano. I had a further confirmation tonight at 19:00 that there was no snow
I was in Ouirgane last night and whilst it was cold it was warmer than Ouarazazate the night before. Today there has been torrential rain from Marrakech across to Essaouira, whilst the forecast I saw doesn't give particularly low temperatures, there could well be fresh snow around. More rain and strong winds forecast tomorrow. I'm now in a comfy hotel in Essaouira as it's got too cold for camping for me. The road behind the esplanade was closed due to flooding at 18:00 and a lot of side roads are flooded as well. |
Tried MA3 again a couple of weeks ago and its still blocked at around KM95, looking at it it may e passable with a bit of effort. I saw tyre tracks east of the blockage and some rubber marks on the rocks. Also some evidence of attempts to repair the track here.
On my own I didn't risk it, nice detour at KM93 though, turn right up the river following the wheel ruts (fairly well defined). Olafs maps show a track here but the latest OSM show the track starting a few KM up the river. When you hit the mine piste at the top turn left at N29 41.531 W8 41.398. 2km down the road is KM103. The detour is actually a pretty nice route |
Don't have the new book on me but I'm pretty sure it identifies the MA3 detour as the new route up to the haul road via Ifesfas.
Strayed onto the old route in March (from both ends) and had the feeling a 4x4 could have managed it, but maybe not anymore. Last week we also 4x4'd the link route between MA14 and MA15 (mentioned in the book but not logged). Amazing west Sarhro scenery and easy enough from a GS1200 down. Good way of dodging the 2nd quarter of MA14 which Peter Girling said has gone to the dogs. We also tried the east end of MH7 (Jebel Sirwa) - me having tried the west end in March. Turn off on a switchback easy to miss and looked even less used than the Askaoun end. It was getting late and looking stormy so we gave up on that. Did 'MH19' trans Atlas southbound too, and this time took the narrow gorge exit route. This is actually the way most of the local traffic goes when it's not flooded/blocked. Another amazing drive. Full update here. |
I'm still using my battered first edition Chris ;) so probably missing some later updates.
With a spotter I probably could have got through on MA3's old route but on my own I didn't fancy fighting through only to find further difficult sections further east. Tried the east end of MH7 last Novemeber but backed out just past the switchback junction. Clearly not a regular route anymore with most of the traffic seeming to carry on to Amassine and then pick up the road just north. Did MA14 last week heading north, seemed to have been freshly graded from KM55 - KM93. |
https://www.facebook.com/CNEWSoffici...5995900951977/
Looks like 0.5m of snow around Ifrane Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
R704 Agoudal to Dades currently closed due to snow ☃️
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Just got some pics from my friends who crossed the tiz en ticka in a couple of camper vans, snow and the road is seriously knackered, apparently closed at night too. This was within the last couple of days. I barely recognised the road. They came across from sidi ifni and as they got nearer ourzazate the roads got slowly worse :rain:
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snowed in Zagora yesterday, only a little. Half a meter of fresh snow in Agoudal area
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Tizi n Tichka closed due to a rock slide. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...65c21b1236.jpg
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Imilchil...Agoudal snow
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It’s looking pretty bad around Imilchil and Agoudal area...... people snowed in and running out of food and firewood to keep warm.....asking for helicopter assistance on Facebook.
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So much for global warming, this has been one of the worst years for snow and disruption in Morocco with many roads blocked around the usual suspects (Rif, Middle Atlas, High Atlas).
The report below is from a couple of days ago, so some roads *might* now be navigable but many of the more remote ones won't be. https://www.bladi.net/IMG/pdf/maroc-route-coupes.pdf |
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.
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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 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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
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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 |
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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.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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.
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