Morocco, Chefchauen to Ketama?
 

Planning to drive my old motor around Maroc again later this year. Anyone know the state of the road between Chef and Ketama? Asphalt, gravel or worse? Had a look on Google earth and it seems to be OK.

Don't want to shake the old girl up too much!

Thanks,

Jojo

Paved and in good shape the whole way, with slick mud on the surface in some town centers following rains. Don't believe all the cautionary posts about the Rif unless terminally unsure, unstable or unadventurous. OTOH, may not wish to stop for gesticulating sellers of illicit substances, chicken-playing teenage boys on pushbikes, etc.

Above applies to main roads (at least) Chef to Katama to cities south as of last year this time.

enjoy,

Mark

Immediate edit to add: oh yeh, chilly early and late in the day, with potential for snow at elevation. Watch the weather and time your journey with sufficient care. You don't want to be stuck after dark in bad visibility.

Youtube
 

Try good old youtube. Put in Rif for instance.. It's a great insight, very useful. Linzi.

I broke down on the R509 three miles south of Ketama and had to spend the night sleeping besides the bike in the open. Several friendly but heavily stoned and/or drunk locals stopped and offered me a bed but I felt the bike was safer if I remained with it. Then it started to rain and the wind got up...

Anyway, a really nice alternative to the main N2 is to turn south on the R419 just after Bab Taza heading for Ourtzarh and passing through Beni Ahmed (really friendly), Tabouda and Maalouma. There aren't any drug dealers or sellers of fake fossils and minerals, so you can chill and just admire the scenery. The roads are probably better surfaced than the N2, and there's three petrol stations on the way, so it's not as remote as the Michelin map would have you believe.

http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/rif.jpg

Tim

Hi,
I would echo Marks comments. You will have guys in Mercs etc trying to get you to stop, but in my experience, they give up pretty quick and we never once felt threatened. Had a really good laugh and the sceenary is great.
Some terrible sections of tarmac in the towns (pot holed and broken up), but nothing to worry about.

Sam

A couple of pot holes in towns but nothing beyond the reach of a sportsbike - used mine together with three friends in 2005 with no problems. Just be a little patient with the locals, they might insist a lot to sell their products...

It reaches 1600m meters high so snow or at least quite cold can be experienced. My advice: go for it, it's a route not very used by travellers and another insight of wonderful Morocco.

Luís CaBRita

great place, go for it! and stop in Bab Berred, for frehs sardines or a hair cut ;)

http://www.stefan-rohner.net/blog/wp...-bab-baret.jpg


read this thread, dont worry about the "rif"
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...um/maroc-16266

enjoy your trip. regards S.

morocco