Spain is Europe's second most mountainous country after Switzerland and riding through Spain can be a challenge with the cold at that time of year. In winter time I always take an electrically-heated jacket plus hand muffs, and sometimes gauchos. The afternoons can be pleasant but it takes hours in the mornings to heat up from the often minus temperatures overnight.

If there's any chance of snow in Morocco, odds on it would be in the Ifrane (pronounced ee'fran) in the Middle Atlas south of Fez. Cheaper hotels often lack efficient heating and if you have room, stick in a fleece-covered hot water bottle.

There's tons of great off-tarmac riding, but spare some time for exploring as well.

My four favourite places in Morocco are (1) Tafraoute in the Anti Atlas, surrounded by pink quartzite peaks, with marvellous walks, scrambles and gorges. Coupled with more than 80 fascinating medieval granaries (agadirs) to explore, perched in the most inaccessible spots. The town is renowned for its slippers (babouche) manufacture and it's a hub for almond, argan oil and amlou (almond and argan mix) production. The local speciality is beef tagine with prunes and almonds. These two videos were both taken in February, which as you can see can be with balmy days with a deep blue sky.





(2) Sidi Ifni, a Spanish art deco-styled town on the Atlantic coast to the west of Tafraoute. I once went planning to spend two nights and stayed eleven. Great sea food.

(3) Essaouira on the Atlantic coast further north, a rather Bohemian fishing port town with lots of history and again, great sea food.

(4) But the one I fell in love with first is Azrou in the Middle Atlas. On motorbike trips a couple of decades back I found I was going through Azrou twice on each trip as it's set at a crossroads. One road (N13) leads from Meknes via Azrou to the desert around Merzouga, the other road (N8) leads from Fez via Azrou to Marrakech. Azrou is a one day ride from the ports of Tanger and Ceuta and many years ago I seriously considered buying some land and building a motorbiking base there. I spent six weeks investigating and negotiating before deciding I didn't want to be in charge of a building project, so ended up buying a cave in Spain instead.

It's a fabulous area with cedar forests, wild monkeys, lakes, springs, waterfalls, limestone karst scenery and even volcanos, the caldera of one now used as a ski resort. More information

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Can you carry my luggage then ??

No plan is always a great plan. I like to have destinations and a rough guide of places I should head to though. As always, a mix of both is perfect.

Thanks Tim. I know you are one of the best people to ask about Morocco.

I know it will be a cold ride down so I will pack appropriately.

Videos look great. Great camping I bet.

Any advice regarding which port to head for ? customs procedures etc ?

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Tanger Ville and Tanger Med have the easiest entry as you land directly in Morocco and passport control is done on board the ferry, so the only formality is temporary vehicle import at customs which they do for you. Ceuta is cheaper as it's subsidised but then you might be jumping through hoops at the border with Morocco.

Generally use http://www.aferry.to to check out prices, stick in for example Tarifa to Tanger Ville and it will give you prices for all three crossing options and all the companies. But then book direct with the companies as then you can have an open return. I think 'Carlos Gutierrez' is still in operation, his office is close to Lidl and Carrefour in Algeciras (come off the E15 at junction 112), but check the official ferry prices first. Website: https://www.viajesnormandie.net/quienes-somos/

Hotels are so inexpensive that I don't recommend camping, especially in February. Sunrise and sunset for mid February will be 0815 and 1915, so that's 13 hours of darkness in a tent. Most campsites are designed for 'camping cars' which is French for motorhomes, so hardstanding.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Thanks so much. Great info

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

If we cross paths I don't mind carrying ur bags for a few days before we say ta ta . Not sure what rental I'll have last time was a pale blue 206 with white trim everywhere but it did do nearly 70 to a gallon after I blew the air filter out.........ur bike will b alot easier to spot . All Moroccan cars flashing their headlites at you are not necessarily trying to sell u cherries or weed

Ferry prices from Carlos today, 18 August 2022:
Algeciras-Ceuta €225.00
Algeciras-TangerMed €250.00

Open return, Car plus 2Pax.

Thinking of trying Ceuta again as it's a fast ferry and you enter Morocco on the corniche just a few km from the motorway/Tetouan/Rif.
Anybody done Ceuta since the new border facilities opened? Any hassle? Insurance booth at the border?

Happy trails,

Peter

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Atlas Overland - Specialist adventure tour company providing off-road holidays for 4x4 enthusiasts in Europe and North Africa.
Tours to Morocco, Iceland, Arctic Circle, Portugal, Alps, Pyrenees, Eastern Europe, Corsica, and UK weekend tours.

Hi Pete,

Reports of long delays at Ceuta but it's still Operation Marhaba so extra traffic. It should calm down after the 15th September

Prices from Carlos seem more favourable than the beginning of the Summer, people were reporting over 300euro return.