Algeciras / Ceuta just turn up and buy a ticket, Boats seem to arrive and depart all day and only a couple of hours apart. Watch out for the 'friendy helpers' as you approach the Spain/Moroccain customs as you exit Ceuta, just ignore them. Found the customs and police most hepful at the border on both sides, checked through to Morocco very quickly, and the same upon return (2004)

lol... 'friendy helpers' i think this was part of the issue that i was advised not to go through Algeciras / Ceuta as a first time trip (remember this is first for me and the poeple on the trip probably)

The rally starts on African soil from Nador so it seamed logical to do the same, this year the route looks like....
Stage 3: Nador to Er Rachida (Morocco) 672 km
Stage 4: Er Rachidia to Quarazate (Morocco) 639 km
Stage 5: Quarzazate to Tan tan (Morocco) 819 km

at this point it could make sense to head to Dakar and pick up the last two days from there giving the group a chance to rest and play if they want..
Stage 6: Tan Tan to Zouerat ( Mauritania) 792 km
Stage7:Zouerat to Atar (Mauritania) 521 km
Stage 8: Atar to Nouakchott (mauritania) 568 km
..rally rest day..
Stage 9: Nouakchott to Kiffa (Mali) 874 km
Stage 10: Kiffa to Kayes (Mali) 333 km
Stage 11: Kayes to Bamako (Mali) 705 km
Stage 12: Bamako to Labe (Guinea) 872 km
Stage 13: Labe to Tambacounda (Senegal) 567 km
Stage 14: Tambacounda to Dakar (Senegal) 634 km
Stage 15 Dakar

Its also a posibility i guess that you could follow the route as far as Nouakchott and then run down to Dakar via the coast road? thus chopping out those monster kms in later stages, and making it an easy ride back home up the tarmac.

Hi Chris ( my hero) think the Acciona Transmediterranea Ferries were called Mediterrian something not so long ago?

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the hassles you will get from the 'friendly helpers' at the border will be no worse than all the other 'friendly helpers' you will find in most large Moroccain towns, and can seem a little intimidating at first, but always be friendly when you decline their offers, there a quiet a few posts on this site which deal with the over enthusiastic locals all round the world. Try a search on this site.
You must be prepared for these encounters if you intend to travel in Morocco, and they can be quite entertaining for all concerned but you must keep your cool if you all want to enjoy your trip.
Bill

thanks Bill will spend the day going over HUBB archive.

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Jenna

The rally block books the entire ferry for the competitors and support vehicles, so it's unlikely you will be able to take the same boat. This means you either need to travel in advance/behind the rally, or take a different route. We followed the rally in January this year and crossed Tarifa to Tanger on the first boat of New Year's Day, then cut across country to intercept the rally near Er Rachidia.

Ceuta is a pain in the ass; my recent experience is that Tanger is much smoother and passport control is carried out on board ship before docking, so it's only a matter of sorting the temporary import document and insurance.

Tim

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Hi tim, thanks for the comments...

I know that the ferry is totally booked up with the rally trafic, but after a conversation with contacts at ASO i should be able to get a small group on one of the ferries with the surport trucks. If this fails(ASO will be obviously more concerened with rally traffic than us on the day) i need a backup route.

Can you do the land run between Ceuta/Tanger to Nador in the 6 hour difference of the two ferry times?(plus the night if needed) Ferrimaroc run on the same Malaga/Nador route nearly so i had thought of that as a backup?.. luckly this years event runs a week later so doing the crossing is not going to be over new years day which should help.

I would be interested to know how far down you followed the route as this is really very much an unknown at the minute.

many thanks for your input, I would be interested to pick your brains if thats ok so please contact me via Raidxtreame.

PS. I use to live in Sunny Eastbourne.. Latimer Road down by the RNLI station.. its a small world!

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Hi,

I find all the companies the same (8 crossings in the last 5 years). Just take the next boat.

I prefer Tanger. The procedure is much more faster.

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