We're just back from three weeks in Morocco with a group of Land Rovers and we had an amazing time. If you do the routes in Sahara Overland, the descriptions are so good that you probably could get by without a GPS, but it was nice to have one for security.

We soon learned to camp well off the pistes to get a bit of privacy, but the locals are generally friendly anyway - except in Rissani which is a tourist trap and therefore full of touts and "guides", and Larache on the way home which turned out to be a bit of a drug den!

We found the auberges so cheap and so friendly that we didn't bother camping as much as we'd planned to. They were cheaper than the hotels, and surprisingly, generally of a better standard.

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Fraser

Hi
I don't understand why you have to buy insurance. British insurance are not available in Morocco.
I'm french, I have been twice in Morocco and no problem with my french bike insurance.
Morocco is safe, you can go every where. If you still ride on tarmac a GPS is not Mandatory, if you want to ride off road it's more confortable to have one. Nine years ago we did without GPS but we lost time looking for the good track, but it can be a good experience.
I've got a lot of data for morocco, if you want I can share.
Eric
Some information there ( in french )
Deux 400XR au MAROC
In english
Two 400 XR in Morocco - ADVrider

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Eric
http://two400xrinmorocco.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CJbEWCb_wk

I am just back from 3 superb weeks in Morrocco. I was there with a british guy and he just bought an insurance at the border. It was about 90 EUR if I remember well. No injections, no carnet needed.
Wild camping is no problem in the South but in the North/Rif area I would not recommend it. People are pretty pushy over there and will not leave you alone. Even if you think no one's near, all of a sudden they pop up from everywhere.
Hotels can be pretty cheap and most of the time you're able to find a decent place to stay for no money. But be prepared for remote towns with one single lousy hotel, no tourists and no way back: they will rip you off. Same for petrol by the way. We only used our tent once and it wasn't even necessary. Next time I will just take a themarest and a sleeping bag, which I used mostly indoors when auberges weren't that clean. Also if you're in very non tourist rural areas, auberges can be cheap but quality and hygiene standards are near zero...
Food quality varies a lot and is very monotoneous. If you don't like Tajine, you will have a hard time over there. I didn't have any intestinal problems though but I was so happy with that McArabia in Marrakech ;-)
Does your girlfriend go pillion? If yes, I don't think you will be doing any pistes then.

Have fun!

T

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Husqvarna 701 Enduro on a round the world trip MotoMorgana

This is an excellent starting place if your researching for a trip to Morocco:

Morocco GS Knowledgebase - ::. UKGS'er.com .::

You only need insurance if your usual policy doesn't cover Morocco. GPS is useful if you're venturing off road, otherwise it's just a nice luxury.
If you're travelling with a pillion then it's probably not worth taking camping kit - there always seems to be somewhere to stay, so it's really not worth carrying the extra weight. Just take a lightweight sleeping bag for use in aubgerges, hostels, etc.

I'm glad we weren't eh only ones that hated Rissani, unfortunately ended up there for half a day a few weeks ago trying to sort various things and got non stop hassle - even ended up with one shop keeper leading our friend's 7 year old daughter off to his shop in the market.

As for the rest of Morocco, great place, be careful with the guide books, many are out of date and show old phone numbers etc (many have codes have changed recently). If you are planning on camping, get a copy of the Gandini camping guide that provides a good up to date review of campsites in main traveling areas.

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Cheers,

Julian Voelcker
Overland Cruisers - Specialising in Land Cruiser preparation and servicing.

thanks to everyone for your information .think i'll stay away from the rif area! my ex-girlfriend will be riding pillion so i'll be staying mainly on the roads. eric- that was a wonderful link and i enjoyed reading it, thank you. i believe that your in the nimes area (dept 31)? and if so maybe we could meet up for a chat so i can pick your brains a little more. any idea's on tyre choice there? will normal road tyre's be ok? once again thank you everyone for your advice and happy travels .

Hi
I'm in Toulouse ( Nimes is in dept 30 around 300km from Toulouse) my email is edn400(at)free.fr

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Eric
http://two400xrinmorocco.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CJbEWCb_wk

Hi Kevin
My wife and I are planning a similiar trip to your's in October. We're crossing to Santander and riding down thru Spain. Our first trip to Morocco as well.
Maybe our paths will cross at some point.
All the best.
Paul

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If you think you are too small to make a difference you have never spent the night with a mosquito.

hopefully they will. will be riding back to uk for the winter when i finished. maybe we can arrange ameet closer to the date.