Hy,

I'm thinking of doing Marrocco in the beginning of April 2018
I'm now in the south of spain (Malaga). Fully equipped and ready to go.
(R1200gsa - camping gear - cooking gear - camelbak - passport and papers - ...)

I tought some compagny couldn't hurt in this country
I would be my first time over there.

Grtz
F.

- Belgium dude -

Hi. There’s no problem traveling alone in Marrocos, just be careful in the cities. We (me and 4 other guys) are going in the end of April, for 10 days. If I can suggest something, avoid the cities (exception made regarding Fés, Chefchaouen and Uarzazate (or Ouarzazate)). Focus your trip on the Atlas Mountains and the Desert (Erg Chebbi - Merzouga - Zagora - Tata). It’s a pity because would be glad if you joined us (we are going with a off-road tendency attitude...).


Enviado do meu iPhone usando o Tapatalk Pro

I take it that you will be traveling with Mark Moon and the other guys off the Gsuser forum, if you are going for 10 days and leaving beginning April.

No. We are going in the end of April and returning the 1th of may. (In fact it’s 11 days...). Hopefully we will cross paths somewhere in MA. We are going in two old school (though prepared for a RTW trip) Xt600e, 1 xt660r, 1 S10 and a GSA.


Enviado do meu iPad usando o Tapatalk

Pardal,

Thank you for giving me more confidence!
I've also been told I should focus in the middle and the atlas, like you said.
I would love to join you guys but i can't be restless until the end of april :-D

I'll meet some guys on the boat too I guess.
Still, if anyone wants to join, don't hesitate

Keeping this threath alive!

F.

April will be magnificent with loads of greenery everywhere and wild flowers after all the rain this winter.

Personally I'd dump the camping gear unless you are planning to wild camp. Most camping sites in Morocco are called that because they cater for camping cars (the French term for motorhomes).

Speed limits are sensible so keep to them. Especially as there's hundreds of handheld radar guns in use by the police!

Yes, agree avoid big cities especially Fez and Marrakech unless you are going to spend a minimum of two nights there—fighting the evening trafffic just so you can fight the morning traffic going out the next day doesn't make sense.

Where possible try to use 'R' regional and 'P' provincial roads rather than 'N' national. The smaller roads are less busy, the riding will be more relaxed, often the roads are more interesting. Avoid the coastal plain unless you are blatting back home on the excellent motorways. Instead keep to the Middle Atlas, High Atlas, Anti Atlas and the desert regions.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

And...:
Be careful with anyone driving/riding anything, specially in the cities, but also in N roads. Drivers are crazy and disregard any rules and what every westerner consider normal road conduct. I’ve watched bus drivers overtake in the middle of a turn, guys driving two lanes off the wrong side of the road, etc. just be very vigilant. One more thing: some R roads (R704 is an example) are not paved and very different from a R European road. But all of this are enriching factors that make us go there repeatedly...so just be carefully and enjoy the magnificent landscapes of the Atlas and the beautiful sunset in the desert.


Enviado do meu iPhone usando o Tapatalk Pro

@Tim,
I can't dump my camping gear, so i was thinking off accentually using it .
I know hostels are cheap but yeah, adventure is in my mind.

And yeah, citys are most of the time a hassle anyways so it's idd beter to avoid them all together. Good tip on the P and R roads and to avoid the coastle planes.

@Pardal,
They do the same in Poland and Romania. They even create lanes where their aren't any, absolut bonkers from time to time
They call motorcycles, organ doners. Well, i'm glad I can help

Can't waith to see the wild flowers planes

Thx for the replies!
F.

Allreadie guys! It is an absolute marvelous country!
The Atlas mountains are just incredible! I also liked the dunes but I must say I'm more of a montain guy. The national park of Midelt is just my thing. Didn't really do any cities so I can't comment on that.

Most Morroccians were suprised I was traveling alone and we're absolute friendly and nice to me. With some of them I had tea and discussions over several matters. I had to take some stomac pills because of the tea d'oh, i'm still not immune to the water.

The food is ok but not very variated, or you have a sandwich or the tangine.
I didn't try fish, but i seamed ok. I liked the couscous.

What I really liked and what I shared with many marroccian people on the way was the flat bread, olive oil in a scale with 'La vache qui rit' cheese in it. You just dip the bread into the cheese and olive oil. It's not haute cuisine but sitting around a small table, with other Marroccians, eating in a group is a very nice experience.

What I notticed, and what I find is a bit disrespecfull of us travellers, is how intimidating a group of foreigners with their big 4x4 or new BMW GS'ers passing by at high speed can be. Their cars, motorcyclette, horses and donkeys are not high speeding or so grotesque. When i was drinking tea or having the dipped bread somewhere on the road, and such a group passed by, it really feels like a War Invasion. I would serve us good to be a little more aware of that when we're passing a small village or a group of villagers. A small knot or wave can make a big difference. Just saying...

All by all, great country, lovely people, good variantion in roads (pist, gravel, afsfalt, putholes, mud,.. :-)) I even ended up with buying new carpets for my appartement

Thx for the tips and giving me de convidence to cross the sea to Africa. I have a taste for more!

Grtz
F.

What you have just found explains very well why I like travelling solo—you get to meet the locals, whereas if there were two or more of you this wouldn't happen. I have often been invited to share someone's lunch, or a cup of tea (the signal I've seen for tea is a raised thumb then turned upside down in a repetitive stabbing motion).

And yes, I also dislike the Star Wars Stormtroopers who tend to be the ones complaining about kids throwing stones at them. I deliberately wear either an open face helmet or one that can be lifted and when I reach any town/village I lift the visor, ride slowly, acknowledging the elder men and women with a nod or little wave. And if there's a group of kids you can always stop and engage with them. It helps that I speak some Arabic but Morocco is a country where mime goes a long way.

I love the Moroccan food but admit I travel with two small spice jars, one with white pepper, the other with chilli flakes, then I can spice up the tagines.

__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Star Wars Stormtroopers
I did the same thing when I enter a village, helps a lot!

Spice it up a bit is also a good tip! I wonderd if I didn't discover enough dishes becauze I didn't really do restaurants. Just more the snacky things...

I will be in Tanger on 28 april for a week Marocco. Also to Middelt and Atlas mauntain.