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Western Sahara coast road.....worth doing??? Western Sahara coast road.....worth doing???
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  #1  
Old 14 Sep 2013
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Western Sahara coast road.....worth doing???
Hi,
Off on a 2nd trip to Morocco in October with my husband, both riding F650GS's.
We have a few off and on road routes marked, but both like the idea of riding the coast road from Tan Tan to the Mauritanian border as well, we have almost 3 weeks when in Morocco.
Basically is it worth doing? Is it a boring straight road with not many varying views and scenery? Or is it stunning and worth the trip there and back? Or perhaps only worth going half way down?
Are there hidden deserted beaches?
Cheers
Laura
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Old 14 Sep 2013
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IMHO, for the time you have, you might want to stay and visit more of Morocco.
Go and have a romantic few days staying in the 'Petit Hotel' if you prefer modern or khaïmas if you fancy a taste of a nomadic bivouac.
Pierre's place (Fort Bou Jerif)
Ask him about the tides, check that you enjoy sand (!) and go and ride Plage Blanche always keeping an eye on the TIDE!
Try the very tasty 'Tagine de chameau aux pruneaux'
Do more, do less miles !
Plenty of (almost) deserted beaches but just when you think you are alone....
Last edited by Bertrand; 14 Sep 2013 at 19:52. Reason: keep an eye on the time and tide.
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Old 14 Sep 2013
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depends why you both like the idea of it. If you like the idea 'just because', then do it and enjoy it. You could always do a couple of days in NKT, 'just because'.

I've been up and down there a few times, and I wouldn't do it unless I was going through RIM. Past Dakhla you have the possibility of landmines (though I expect they're all cleared now, but you never know).

Dakhla is a day trip from the Canaries, so might not be full of the people you expect.

Personally, I'd take Tan Tan as the lowest end of the trip.

cheers
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Old 15 Sep 2013
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The coast road from Layounne south is about the most boring road imaginable. Long, straight, few towns, monotonous scenery. Enough scrubby plants/rocks to make it not unbroken sandy desert. It is usually a bit off the coast, often up on cliffs, so not even good views.

Personally, if I had three weeks I'd stay further north in Morocco and get out into the back blocks.
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Old 15 Sep 2013
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I did not like the 2000 km strait road through sahara. Had very strong side wind with sand so the paint of my bike was gone at the end but if you want to go to Burkina Faso its worth going:

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Old 15 Sep 2013
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Thanks for your comments guys, been going through Chris Scott's book and reckon we'll go as far down as Laayoune then head inland to Smara then Assa
Cheers
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Old 15 Sep 2013
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Originally Posted by Bonniebird View Post
Thanks for your comments guys, been going through Chris Scott's book and reckon we'll go as far down as Laayoune then head inland to Smara then Assa
Cheers
Very nice route, fantastic desert scenery from Smara to Assa IMO.
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Old 15 Sep 2013
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We'll be in the WS in about 4 weeks heading from Smara south before ending up in ~Boujdour off road then back north to Laayoune then off road across to Assa
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Old 16 Sep 2013
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We'll be in the WS in about 4 weeks heading from Smara south before ending up in ~Boujdour off road then back north to Laayoune then off road across to Assa
Our paths may cross, we will be there around the same time
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Old 16 Sep 2013
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We'll keep an eye out for you. We leave here on the 4th travel down the coast of Morocco to Plage Blanche getting off road on about the 9th October then dur south via Smara and across the WS before heading back uo north through the Anti Atlas and High Atlas.

We're in a black Landcruiser and a green Trooper
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Old 16 Sep 2013
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The old entry point into Plage Blanche is now sealed and a military post built on top. They like to turn you away...
Speak to Pierre at FBJ
Check the tides! If you get it wrong, there is no way out with a vehicle...
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Old 17 Sep 2013
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The old entry point into Plage Blanche is now sealed and a military post built on top. They like to turn you away...
Speak to Pierre at FBJ
Check the tides! If you get it wrong, there is no way out with a vehicle...
Planning on staying at FBJ to get tide info although we'll have an idea before we get there if the timings ok
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Old 17 Sep 2013
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as above, the road through WA is a means to an end, just a way to get somewhere. It's a thousand miles of xxxx all!!
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Old 18 Sep 2013
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Two ways to do the road. One is at 100-120kph where everything is a blur. The other is to slow down to 80kph and spend time looking at what you're passing, and then pulling in ever so often to check out the view from the cliffs. I've done the road four times and find it not so boring when travelling slower.

Some pics: S10 Carry on Dakar!

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Old 18 Sep 2013
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Thanks for the replies, will definately go as far as Laayoune then across to Smara and north to Assa.
Thanks for the link Tim, some brilliant pictures there
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