2 Americans to Morocco - mid to late March 2010

[Jellybird3]

Hi all:

This is my first post on the UKGSer Forum - like many others, I have lurked for a while but never bothered to post or even register until recently. A friend and I have been in the planning stages of a Morocco trip for some time now, and many thanks are due to all of you (especially the Tims) for the help provided through your own ride reports.

We arrive in Malaga, Spain on the 16th of March and will be renting 1200GSA's from GS Heaven. Our tentative plan is as follows:
Day 1: Malaga to Chefchaouen
Day 2: Chef to Fes (via Volubilis)
Day 3: Fes to Erfoud
Day 4: Erfoud to Merzouga to Erfoud
Day 5: Erfoud to Zagora
Day 6: Zagora to Ouarzazate
Day 7: Ouarzazate to Marrakech
Day 8: Rest day
Day 9: Marrakech to Rabat
Day 10: Rabat to Ceuta
Day 11: Ceuta to Malaga

Unfortunately, we Americans get very little vacation. Otherwise, we would be planning a much longer stay.

Please feel free to comment or advise us about the proposed route. We are quite flexible with the plan and would love to get some feedback before we solidify it.


Thank you!

Raja

 

[de crowe]

have a safe trip

there are many many more experienced travelers of morocco on this site than I, for what my opinion is worth, you have given yourself a nice gentle route for your trip, which i have no doubt you will greatly enjoy. . Can i recommend Peter at Bikershome.net in Ouzzazzate. great room and board. very helpful guy and he recommended some outstanding routes on our last trip. (site sponsor here). no doubt tim will be along soon!!

safe riding and enjoy

 

[Jellybird3]

thank you!

Thanks for that. I'm glad that you noted the route to be "gentle." In reading all of the Moroccan RRs & Mr. Cullis' database, it's has still be a little difficult to gauge distances between each overnight destination.

When planning this, I wanted to be sure to have sufficient time to enjoy the sights along the way as well as the overnight destinations. It would be the pits to fly so far and miss out on the real experiences, like chatting it up with the locals.

 

[de crowe]

if you wanted to give yourself more time elsewhere, my own view would be that on the way back you give rabat a miss. but perhaps that is just me.

 

[Jellybird3]

update

Due to medical complications, my friend won't be able to make the trip unfortunately. I'm currently exploring my options as to what I should or want to do.

I'd hate to completely scrap this trip, especially since Orbitz won't refund or even give a credit. San Francisco to Malaga is not a cheap flight too.

I'd love to know how people feel about doing a trip like this solo. Anyone ever done it by bike & solo? Thanks guys!

 

[Blue Sweeper]

Due to medical complications, my friend won't be able to make the trip unfortunately. I'm currently exploring my options as to what I should or want to do.

I'd hate to completely scrap this trip, especially since Orbitz won't refund or even give a credit. San Francisco to Malaga is not a cheap flight too.

I'd love to know how people feel about doing a trip like this solo. Anyone ever done it by bike & solo? Thanks guys!

With the route you've chosen you should have a good time, all the major routes (and most minor ones) are well signposted, but you'll have fun trying to navigate large towns and cities where the routes aren't well signposted. The Police are your friend, ask if you want directions and it helps if you can speak French, but a lot will speak a bit of English. You'll spend more time being able to stop whenever you like, without wondering if your travelling companion also wants to stop. The only reservation I would have is doing the piste from Merzouga to Zagora on your own, I'd stick to the road route on the N12 via Alnif.

Also, why do you want to go via Cassablanca and Rabat? Fine if you just want to stick to the motorway in order to high tail it back to Spain, but the route back up from Marrakesh to Ceuta via Demnate, Bin el Ouidane, Beni Mellal, Khenifra, Azrou etc. is much more pleasant.

The only other problem you'll have is at the border where you'll have to keep the eyes well open watching the bike and the stuff on it. Also when you stop, no matter if you think there is nobody about, kids will pop up out of the ground asking for sweets or money, watch your stuff.

Have a good trip!

 

[de crowe]

dont worry too much about being on your own

as long as you have an ounce of sense you will be fine. i have been in and out three times on my own with out problem, touch wood. you will always meet other riders and as easter approaches a lot of people head for morroco. read the info threads on this site and heed the advice and use the info, you will be fine

 

[SkyGod]

Hi Jelly, I`m off there on the 7th for 2 weeks. I`m on a HP2 with a bunch of other guys.
Will keep an eye out for you.

 

[de crowe]

hp2e

Hi Jelly, I`m off there on the 7th for 2 weeks. I`m on a HP2 with a bunch of other guys.
Will keep an eye out for you.

hi skygod any pictures of your hp2e kitted out. what have you done for extra range? still working on mine.
sorry i know i am off topic