All I've read on this site about Morocco is true. It was a fantastic experience and for a country on Europe's doorstep, it still felt medieval, distant and a haven for adventure. People were friendly and welcoming, scenery was stunning, offroad riding was right up there with utopia.
I can strongly recommend Moto Aventures http://www.motoaventures.com/splash-en.html run by husband and wife, John and Sue and their son Jens who led the rides. There is a major focus on safety and briefings are thorough and complete. Eighteen riders on KTM 450EXCs in perfect nick supported by Sue in a Land Rover, John in a Unimog and Abdul the mechanic. If you want to fly and ride off road, I wouldn't bother looking elsewhere. We stayed in a mixture of 3-4 star hotels and ate in all manner of inns and restaurants.
I'm sitting back at home tonight with a weeks worth of beard, sand still dripping out of my ears, having enjoyed an action packed week. If you compare say the typical 3wk ride to Morocco and back on your GS to a cappuccino ie its filling, normally luke warm, bit of froth, with plenty to keep you going, then the Moto Aventures Dakar trip is an hourly triple espresso with a vodka redbull shot taken intraveneously through the jugular. It's intense, eye bulgingly fast with a big kick.
I left Heathrow last Saturday to catch the 8am flight to Marrakech. From there it was a 4/5hr transit to their base in Ouarzazate. We left Sunday morning and from here on I'll let the pictures tell the story. The route was as follows:
06th Jan – Ouarzazate to Tineghir off-road.
07th Jan – Tineghir via Todra gorge to Erfoud.
08th Jan – 9th Dunes, dunes and more dunes. Night in Merzouga.
10th Jan – Merzouga across the desert to Zagora. This was a Dakar stage!!!
11th Jan – Zagora back to Ouarzazate.
The route of 1,000miles:
Day 1: 06th Jan – Ouarzazate to Tineghir off-road.
Leaving the hotel in Ouarzazate and collecting the mint bikes:
The fabulous Unimog, a sensible family car
Day 2: 07th Jan – Tineghir via Todra gorge to Erfoud
We arrive in the sand on the afternoon of the second day:
The strange celestial staircase house designed by a German as a second home:
The first of the disappointed Dakar riders at the hotel that night, Brit Richard Hyams:
Day 3 & 4: Sand and Swede Annie Seels bike:
Another Swede, Henrik, who sold his flat to take part in the race:
Why we all came!:
Plenty of 4x4s specced up for the race:
The hotel:
The Dunes at Erg Chebbi:
The new Bowler:
The new model Unimog:
Can you see the riders at the top?
Our highly capable ride leader, medic, motivator, instructor, Jens:
Day 5: 10th Jan – Merzouga across the desert to Zagora. This was a Dakar stage!!!
Stuck in the dreaded fesh fesh, similar to talcum powder:
It didn't trouble the Bowler thought:
Arriving in Zagora:
We met Ben Oliver and Chippy Woods from Bike Magazine who were testing a new 1200GS and Transalp. Two top lads:
I really need one of these:
Beer, the professional adventurers cure for excessive dust intake:
Day 6: 11th Jan – Zagora back to Ouarzazate.
Lunch, it tasted like chicken but I'm not sure it was:
The final stretch back to Ouarzazate:
One dusty Irishman looking nothing like a private banker:
We fellow traveller and room mate from Denmark, Martin Andersen:
So apart from my argument with a large piece of camel grass that resulted in my Superman impression, this was a cracking trip with a bunch of like minded souls. It exceeded all my expectations and I will be using Moto Aventures in future. Oh, and I've seen one of these on eBay yikes!
Now where's the map for the next trip...........
Best wishes
Jeremy
I can strongly recommend Moto Aventures http://www.motoaventures.com/splash-en.html run by husband and wife, John and Sue and their son Jens who led the rides. There is a major focus on safety and briefings are thorough and complete. Eighteen riders on KTM 450EXCs in perfect nick supported by Sue in a Land Rover, John in a Unimog and Abdul the mechanic. If you want to fly and ride off road, I wouldn't bother looking elsewhere. We stayed in a mixture of 3-4 star hotels and ate in all manner of inns and restaurants.
I'm sitting back at home tonight with a weeks worth of beard, sand still dripping out of my ears, having enjoyed an action packed week. If you compare say the typical 3wk ride to Morocco and back on your GS to a cappuccino ie its filling, normally luke warm, bit of froth, with plenty to keep you going, then the Moto Aventures Dakar trip is an hourly triple espresso with a vodka redbull shot taken intraveneously through the jugular. It's intense, eye bulgingly fast with a big kick.
I left Heathrow last Saturday to catch the 8am flight to Marrakech. From there it was a 4/5hr transit to their base in Ouarzazate. We left Sunday morning and from here on I'll let the pictures tell the story. The route was as follows:
06th Jan – Ouarzazate to Tineghir off-road.
07th Jan – Tineghir via Todra gorge to Erfoud.
08th Jan – 9th Dunes, dunes and more dunes. Night in Merzouga.
10th Jan – Merzouga across the desert to Zagora. This was a Dakar stage!!!
11th Jan – Zagora back to Ouarzazate.
The route of 1,000miles:
Day 1: 06th Jan – Ouarzazate to Tineghir off-road.
Leaving the hotel in Ouarzazate and collecting the mint bikes:
The fabulous Unimog, a sensible family car
Day 2: 07th Jan – Tineghir via Todra gorge to Erfoud
We arrive in the sand on the afternoon of the second day:
The strange celestial staircase house designed by a German as a second home:
The first of the disappointed Dakar riders at the hotel that night, Brit Richard Hyams:
Day 3 & 4: Sand and Swede Annie Seels bike:
Another Swede, Henrik, who sold his flat to take part in the race:
Why we all came!:
Plenty of 4x4s specced up for the race:
The hotel:
The Dunes at Erg Chebbi:
The new Bowler:
The new model Unimog:
Can you see the riders at the top?
Our highly capable ride leader, medic, motivator, instructor, Jens:
Day 5: 10th Jan – Merzouga across the desert to Zagora. This was a Dakar stage!!!
Stuck in the dreaded fesh fesh, similar to talcum powder:
It didn't trouble the Bowler thought:
Arriving in Zagora:
We met Ben Oliver and Chippy Woods from Bike Magazine who were testing a new 1200GS and Transalp. Two top lads:
I really need one of these:
Beer, the professional adventurers cure for excessive dust intake:
Day 6: 11th Jan – Zagora back to Ouarzazate.
Lunch, it tasted like chicken but I'm not sure it was:
The final stretch back to Ouarzazate:
One dusty Irishman looking nothing like a private banker:
We fellow traveller and room mate from Denmark, Martin Andersen:
So apart from my argument with a large piece of camel grass that resulted in my Superman impression, this was a cracking trip with a bunch of like minded souls. It exceeded all my expectations and I will be using Moto Aventures in future. Oh, and I've seen one of these on eBay yikes!
Now where's the map for the next trip...........
Best wishes
Jeremy
