9 Day road trip by car- Looking for ideas

[Baz]

I am flying out to Marrakech at the end of next month to do a bit of a fly drive with the Wife & daughter (21). Wife & I have been twice before on the bike.

Just trying to put together a 9 day route starting and ending in Marrakech. My Daughter wants to head down see the Todra Gorge & Erg Chebbi.

Rough idea will be to pick up the car & head to Ouarzazate for the first night.
Follow the road through the Dades Valley to Tinerhir/ Todra Gorge.
Head down to Erg Chebbi for a night.
N12 through the Draa valley & back up to Ouarzazate.
I haven’t ventured any further west than this so was looking for ideas? Paradise Valley & the Cascades at Immouzer or head up to the coast?

I was toying with heading up to the Cascades d’ Ouzoud on the first night but then it’s a long old drag by car to get to Erg Chebbi from there. I am hoping that the cascades at Immouzer ar almost as impressive.


Any thoughts on a route appreciated

 

[Tim Cullis]

The river at Imouzzer (Berber for waterfall) was diverted for irrigation many years ago and the falls are only 'switched on' for special occasions.

What about Marrakech - Imi n'Ifri - Cascades d'Ouzoud (overnight stop) - Bin el Ouidane - Imilchil - Agoudal (stop) - Todra - Merzouga (stop) - Dades - el Kelaa M'Gouna (stop) - Ouarzazate - Ait Benhaddou (stop) - Telouet - Marrakech.

 

[Baz]

Thanks Tim

I'll have a look at your suggestions when I get a bit of time

 

[Tim Cullis]

Happy to make accommodation suggestions for above route. Looklex is a good resource for checking places out.

 

[Tonibe63]

Happy to make accommodation suggestions for above route. Looklex is a good resource for checking places out.

Hi Tim.
pm sent re the above

 

[Tim Cullis]

How many days/nights on the road? Do you have any places in mind you'd like to see?

In Marrakech I normally stay at Hotel Ali which would be around 350 dh/night for double room and bfast. Room 207 is nice with balcony overlooking the street and you're 50m from Djemaa el Fna. Bike parking with guardian along with the mopeds 20m to the left should cost you 10dh/night.

 

[Tonibe63]

What about Marrakech - Imi n'Ifri - Cascades d'Ouzoud (overnight stop) - Bin el Ouidane - Imilchil - Agoudal (stop) - Todra - Merzouga (stop) - Dades - el Kelaa M'Gouna (stop) - Ouarzazate - Ait Benhaddou (stop) - Telouet - Marrakech.

Thanks Tim
The above route looks to cover most of the places I have on the list.
10 day trip, 2 days Marrakech then 7 days on the road and a final day in Marrakech.
Don't want to book too much as we prefer to go with the flow but a list of potential accomodation is always useful.

 

[Tim Cullis]

There's a number of places in Ouzoud, some you will pass as you approach from the south, others near the waterfalls. I've not used it but have heard good things about Zebra Camping, run by a Dutch couple.

No shortage of places in Imilchil, including the Auberge by the lake, but I suggested Agoudal as it's more remote. Auberge Ibrahim is inexpensive and the food was good.

There's about 70 hotels and other places near Merzouga, some with swimming pools, some also with a bar.

My favourite place near the Valley of the Roses is the Itran Kasbah near El Kelaa. Turn up the only big northerly heading street in El Kelaa and carry on for about 8km, it's on a cliff overlooking the river. http://www.kasbahitran.com/ Normally there's some evening singsongs/music.

Bikershome.net is a good place in Ouarzazate, run by Peter and his wife. Otherwise no shortage of hotels at Ait Benhaddou.

 

[Baz]

The river at Imouzzer (Berber for waterfall) was diverted for irrigation many years ago and the falls are only 'switched on' for special occasions.

What about Marrakech - Imi n'Ifri - Cascades d'Ouzoud (overnight stop) - Bin el Ouidane - Imilchil - Agoudal (stop) - Todra - Merzouga (stop) - Dades - el Kelaa M'Gouna (stop) - Ouarzazate - Ait Benhaddou (stop) - Telouet - Marrakech.

Tim

Managed to get tome to look at your suggestion.

is the route from Imilchil - Agoudal - Todra passable using a normal 2 wheel drive car?

ta

Baz

 

[MrIFan]

Agoudal-Todra will be ok so long as there is no rain. It was all tarmac at one point but constant washouts/repairs mean it changes constantly. It is constantly maintained so bits with no tarmac should be well graded and easily passable baring flash floods (hence the rain comment). If the weather is bad then there is the longer, but tarmaced, alternative East via Rich and then the main road via Errachidia. Easily doable in a day and, taking in the Gorges du Ziz, is just as nice a run in it's own right.
The route from Agoudal down to the Dades Gorge is piste for quite a way and could be quite tricky in a 2wd car with low ground clearance (see pic below for one of the river crossings on this route from approx 10 days ago and another from near the top of the pass) although there was at least one local on the route in a Merc 190

 

[Baz]

Thanks for teh info

 

[Tim Cullis]

The ford crossing above isn't on the Imilchil - Agoudal - Todra route. It's used by motorhomes, so yes a 2WD vehicle will be fine.

Photos: http://www.morocco-knowledgebase.net/forum/showthread.php?t=217

 

[Tonibe63]

Don't wish to highjack Baz's thread but thanks for the updated info MrIfan and Tim .