Morocco Time Limits
 

It's possible I may have two weeks spare in late September and fancied travelling to Morocco.
Firstly,if I rode down from either Bilbao or Santander in Northern Spain and then ferried across to Tangier or Ceuta would I have time to maybe get down to Agadir and back again?
I'm currently reading through the 'Rough Guide' to Morocco,hoping to pick out some routes (not off-road).
Can anyone help or give me some guidance?
Anything appreciated.

Satander to Gib is possible in a day and half, Ceuta to Marrakesh 2 days. It can be done, search on Morocco, there are several postings where people have done 2 week trips.

Hi NickG

Yes it can easily be done in 2 weeks - I road back from Tafraoute (SE of Agadir) on a heavily loaded R100 GS in five days - via Caen, France. It took 72 hours to get from Cueta to Derby, UK. I rode dawn till dust and it was good fun. The way down was much more interesting though via Chefchaouen, Fez, Midelt, Tinerhir, Taliouine, etc - but I'm not sure how quick it would be to get to Agadir via this route.

My advice (for what it's worth) - is aim for a place, but don't get too bothered about getting their - enjoy the journey. There are plenty of interesting places in the Middle and High Atlas to enjoy. If you're in too much of a rush you miss a lot as you spend all your time on the road, and not much time with the locals... and after 2200 miles in 5 days I was pretty tired, so perhaps you will need a couple of days off, if you decide to do mega miles to get to Agadir.

I hope this helps.

Enjoy Morocco - it's a fantastic place!

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Fuzzy Duck
(I'm quackers about bikes)

Hey Nick

I am also planning a trip to morocco around this time. I was planning the following route:
- cueta
- chef
- erg chebbi
- zagora
- draa valley
- marrakesh
- taroudant
- essouara or agadir
- then shoot up the west coast on motorways to cueta (I plan on doing this in one day)

I was planning on the Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry rather than Plymouth-Santander. The Santander ferry can be cheaper if you just book a seat, but I much prefer an easy couple of hours to Portsmouth than a 4.5 hour slog to Plymouth, especially given I'm planning on shooting (there's that word again) across Spain in a day. Also a cabin and proper bed will be very welcome just before and after a couple of long riding days.

I was planning on the Sept 11 departure from Portsmouth at 20:00 - it will be much cheaper if we were to share a cabin. What do you think? Was planning on returning on Thurs 30th sailing at 12:30.



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Barry
3AJ Tenere

hello,

i have been doing two two week (16 days, in fact) trips to morocco in 2003 from south germany, which is 2100km down to algeciras. in morocco i travelled most of the southern part between erfoud, chebbi, zagora, tissint, taliouine.

it's enough time in morocco (especially if you have no choice), the hard thing is to get there and back which is not up to everyone's taste, i guess...

i know a lot of people who would never do this and think i'm crazy. but i would do it again all the time. just a question of how strong your desire is.

good luck

I'm planning a similar trip in Spring 2005. Morocco in 2 weeks is entirely possible, but don't fix a firm target of reaching Agadir. You might do it, but you may miss a lot of good stuff on the way. And if you don't reach it you might feel the journey was a "failure". Think of Tangier as a victory and everything else as a bonus!

Hi, I am also planning to get to morocco in the spring of 2005, probably for 3 weeks around easter time but am flexible as to exact dates. Plan to avoid the main centres & keep off the tarmac as much as possible. Do you have any plans as to date or routes?

Cheers
Gibbo

What's the plan guys?
The 2004 trip (thanks to work commitments)has been postponed until 2005.
Maybe I could tag along for part/all of the trip?

Any info would be welcome.

Cheers guys,
Nick

No plan as yet. I have brought guide books & maps but thats all so far. Wont do any serious planning untill after this summers trip (Pyranees / alps). Also my pillion has not yet decided weather she will come or not so that will dictate the proposed route to some extent.

You should get Chris Scott's 'Sahara Overland' book, new version out soon.

Also, you'd be better off posting this on the 'Sahara' part of this forum. Post it again, and you'll see what I mean!!

Sam.

He Barry,

Still planning to leave for Maroc around 11/9?
I am planning the same sort of trip around that time. Maybe we can meet up and ride some days together. I will be at the HU meeting in Ripley!

Later