Midelt to Imilchil - Morocco
 

Hi all,
I'm just getting the last few bits together for a trip to Morocco. I should reach Ceuta around the 13th Oct. The plan is to head for Midelt to pick up the track to Imilchil, then to head south to link up with the Todra Gorge and on to Nekob (M5 Sahara Overland). I'll then most likely head for Zagora, Tagounite and across to Erg Chebbi.
The second half of the route is well documented in Sahara Overland, but I was wondering if anyone had any way points for the Midelt - Imilchil - Tinerhir stretch? I've been looking/reading around, I've seen Eric DN's site Two 400XR in Morocco
A lot of good info and some great pics, he has also kindly posted his way points, unfortunately I don't have any mapping software and my old Garmin Etrex wouldn't be compatible anyway. If anyone has any way points written down that they wouldn't mind sharing that would be great, particularly for the start point which i'm imagining could be tricky to be sure of.
From other posts on here it looks like there will be a lot of us out there around the same time so i look forward to hopefully meeting up with some of you. I'll be in a lightly loaded HJ60 (grey/blue with white rear windows and UK plates) so if i can be of any use to any bikers heading the same way, feel free to chuck any gear in the back.

Happy travels
Sam

no need for GPS
 

Hi Sam, fyi we did it last April with just paper maps and managed fine. Once you're out of Midelt you're on the way.
Imichil is actually a short diversion north; we overnighted in Agoudal and were in Dades by lunch next day.
It's a great drive; enjoy your trip.

Ch

Circuit de Jaffar
 

Hi Sam,

Be careful with that stretch! This time of year there are frequent rains in the area and that road can be flushed away. We did that route in October 2005 and it was truly the most horrific trip of my life! Stretches were completely washed away, parts were so narrow and hanging towards the valley that I was truly afraid that we would drop over the edge. My partner couldn't stay in the car, she was at the valley side! It was too scary. When we arrived in Agoudal, we learned that we were the first car to come through for almost 2 months. Later we met a group of motor bikers who turned back on that stretch! We couldn't turn back because it was to narrow. And the bloody locals in Midelt who we asked about the route said it was fine! I am still suffering from 'post traumatic stress' when I am in the mountains with the Cruiser!

I am not saying you shouldn't do it because it is really beautiful but check very careful with several sources if the route is ok! Preferably with Europeans who have done it very recently.

ps; when you get to Agoudal, Ouberge de Ibrahim is a nice place to stay, and pretty much the only place.

Cheers,

Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl

Sam, I have just had news that the Todra Gorge is closed due to landslides, but hopefully it should be ok by the time you are down that way.

We’ve visited Morocco in August in an expedition conducted by Landlousã (www.landlousa.com). So I send you part of the track in gpx format that I believe you are interested.
(P.S. In order to be accepted I've changed the file extension to .txt. Please change it again- I Hope I 'm not doing anything wrong. If so, sorry)
Regards.
João Carlos

Thanks a lot guys, much appreciated.

Chris - Thanks, i've been looking on the 742, IGN Maroc and the IGN 1:1M, i assumed once on the track it should be fairly obvious, will ask around in Midelt to help with the start. I should have plenty of pics when i get back, so if you're still in need i'll send you the link once they're up on Flickr.

Noel - Thanks for the warning, i'll be carefull. It sounds like there may have been a bit of work gone on since then, so fingers crossed. Even so, i know things can change overnight, so i'll be sure to find out what i can before i start.

Paul - Thanks for the heads up.

Does anyone have any more info on the Todra gorge link? Would be easy to divert down the Dades instead but any more recent info greatfully received

Joao Carlos,
Sorry to leave you out, you must have posted whilst i was writing the last reply. Unfortunately i can't view any gpx files, my gps doesn't support it so i don't have any of the software. Thanks all the same

Sorry to bother you, but I think you can. I believe you have a garmin, so go to www.gpsbabel.org and download the software. It converts gpx formats to other formats, like garmin (gdb I presume).

Regards,

Joao Carlos

These should be enough for Midelt to Imilchil

N32 40.939 W4 44.932 road heading southwest from Midelt
N32 32.574 W4 53.224 start of the Jaffar Circus difficult section
N32 32.302 W4 53.777 bottom of the Circus
N32 31.005 W5 05.038 end of first difficult section
N32 29.997 W5 10.578 junction head south
N32 19.498 W5 16.082 start of second difficult section
N32 08.979 W5 34.556 turn north for Imilchil
N32 11.802 W5 38.510 Hotel Tislite Bride (on the lake)

Be prepared for maybe 60 river crossings (actually the same river, 60 times) during the second difficult section.

Todra Gorge has had severe flooding again--a week or so ago--but it's likely that by mid October you'll be able to get through.

Tim

Sorry, maybe my mistake. Thanks for the link, i'll have a look. My garmin doesn't have any mapping capability (its getting on a bit now!) so i assumed none of the downloadable files would be of any use to me. I'll check it out though.

Thanks a lot Tim, much appreciated. I know its all dependant on recent weather, but we're not talking raised air intake territory for the crossings are we??

We are planning to do the Midelt - Cirque de Jaffar - Todra Gorge - Tinerhir route in July.
Travelling with our kids in a LR 110, a LR130 camper conversion and our Toyo KDJ-120.

Is this route doable with a rather large LR camper?
Can it be done in one day or is a bivac(?) at Agoudal or near the lake at Ilmchil a better option?
What is scenically the nicest route: from Ilmchil/Agoudal the loop to Boumalne de Dades and Tinerhir, or the route through the Todra Gorge?

We are plannning two days on Camping le Soleil near Tinerhir for the kids to relax anyway.
We do have allmost 4 weeks to spend in Morocco so time is on our side.

Thanks for your help and kind regards,

Daan

PS. I do have the Sahara Overland Bible and pre-ordered Morocco Overland, hopefully it will arrive before we leave. :-)

Further to Cyclops, I am also planning to do a similar route very soon. Has anyone been through by 4x4 since the September floods? Is the route passable? Are the multiple river crossings running high?

thanks

Reinhard

Hi , did most of that route last 2 weeks.
The roads are fine, with some wash-out damage due to rain.
Even the Todra gorge is open, with a well surfaced road.
There's still a lot of snow in the High Atlas, but roads are well cleared.
Joey

Latest from Morocco
 

Hi all,

The weather´s been terrible but at least the rain has stopped. Imilchil was cut off by heavy snow in the Atlas. (2 metres of snow this year in the cedar forests too.)

Zagora was devastated by floods and the water was a metre over the bridge by the hotel Asmaa. Oued Rheris is still unpassable and Lac Maider should be bypassed. Lac Iriki was pretty soogy too (dont ask how I found that out!)

Hi Joey, glad you´re home safe - talk soon,

Jojo

Hi Joey and Jojo,

Would love to see pictures of your trip. We still have 3 months ahead of us before departure.:(

Can you please comment on:

Is the route Midelt - Cirque de Jaffar - Todra Gorge - Tinerhir doable with a LR 130 camper?
Can it be done in one day or is a bivac(?) at Agoudal or near the lake at Ilmchil a better option?
What is scenically the nicest route: from Ilmchil/Agoudal the loop to Boumalne de Dades and Tinerhir, or the route through the Todra Gorge?

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Kind regards,

Daan

Hi Daan,

the route is absolutely feasible in a LR130.
As for the timing, it all depends on what you want to do and see on the way.
Sticking to tarmac roads, it's easily done in one day.
Taking some more scenic routes, and stopping often for pics and mint-tea, I'd allow for an overnight camp.

For pics and gps routes and maps, drop me a pm.

Hi Jojo,

good to read you've made it through.....got the mud out of your ears yet? ;)

Greetz,
Joey

Atlas and map
 

Hi Sam and others, no criticism here but I have decided to try taking a road bike through the Atlas. I'll need tarmac or good tracks obviously but have decided to have an exploratory adventure. Getting way points etc makes it all too civilized for me so I'm taking maps, copied and enlarged. Prismatic compass, protractor, binoculars and altimeter. Navigation as I enjoy it. I might make many failed attempts to getting through but it should be rewarding. Too much planning leads me to wonder if it doesn't take more out of the trip than add to it. No mobile phone, back-up etc just a bit of adventure. Horizons unsupported maybe? Linzi.

Joey,

Sticking to tarmac isn't our idea of a fun trip trough Morocco.
To much tarmac here in the Netherlands as you will know.:thumbdown:
A picture of the Red Camel Camper of our friends:

http://www.verhaar.nu/images/Marokko-2008-414.jpg

I will drop you a PM.

Kind regards,

Daan

OK to do Solo?
 

This looks a superb route and I have previously done some of it. From the descriptions here the easy bits though.

Would the ones who have done the full route suggest it was OK to do solo? Vehicle being a Mercedes G Wagen (well serviced and std/not messed with) End of June maybe


Thanks,
Russ

Midelt to Imilchil piste
 

Tried this piste twice but no luck. Lots of snow in the high Atlas this year.

The second half of the old piste drops down to the gorges following the river bed. Unfortunately this wasnt possible due to very high water levels and a massive rockfall which has yet to be cleared. Theres a new road under constuction to bypass this area. Its very muddy due to the construction work and ultimately we were beaten by 1.5m of snow near the end.

Arrived in Imilchil yesterday from the north - lovely piste near Arabela.

Jebel Sahro again tomorrow then off to the south again. Will have yet another go at Oued Rheris near Remlia!

Happy trails,

Jojo

In a 130
 

Hi Daan,

You could also try Midelt - Rich - Agoudal. From Rich its tarmac but very pretty from Agoudal youve got the great gravel track over the Tizi and then the fanastic run south to Tamtetouche and down the Todra Gorge which uis largely unscathed follwing the recent terrible weather in Morocco.

In Tinerhir today, hot, sunny and a bit breezy.

Jojo

Jojo,

Thanks for your advice and the weather report. :Beach:
Found another alternative on Voyages 4x4: Midelt - Ait Labbes - Ait Hani - Tinerhir.
So many options, so little time.

We like to go for the Cirque de Jaffar route however, including a bivac near one of the lakes at Ilmikchil (is this a nice option?) and the 2nd day continuing Agoudal - Msemrir - Boumalne - Tinerhir.

Kind regards,

Daan

Yes,good idea. Its very cold at the lake, though, due to the altitude.

We will give it a try. Since we will be there in July the temperature should be fine I guess.:cool4:

77 days to go....