comments please

[_martin_]

I am planning a trip to Morocco early next year (March), two (wife and I) up on one bike. It will be tarmac roads only trip, mainly riding in the morning and sightseeing in the afternoon, if possible. I would like to hear from you what do you think about this itinerary, is it too ambitious?

Day 1: arrive in Ceuta and ride to Ouazzane
Day 2: continue to Fes
Day 3: Er Rachidia
Day 4: Merzouga
Day 5: trip to the desert from Merzouga
Day 6: Ouarzazarte
Day 7: Taroudant
Day 8: Marrakesh
Day 9: Ouarzazarte
Day 10: Er Rachidia
Day 11: Meknes
Day 12: Ceuta (via Rabat)

We will have two extra days time to stay or allow for “emergency” should we decide or need to stay somewhere for longer.

 

[Farmboy]

piece of cake if you stay on the tarmac.

I did a similar mileage offroad in that time so you will be fine

 

[Blue Sweeper]

You can ride from Ceuta to Fes in one day easy. Then I would recommend you stay in Fes for another day and do a sightseeing tour of the Medina. Fes to Erfoud can also be ridden in one day, it's a nice easy ride if a bit long. Then it will give you loads of time for the trip to Merzouga and the dunes. Erfoud to Ouarzazate is an easy days ride (even if you do the small detour to the Todra Gorge) and the trip over the Atlas to Marrakesh is another spectacular ride. But why return the way you came? I'd stay another day in Marrakesh for more sightseeing and then carry on from there to Meknes (a two day ride if sightseeing) via the spectacular water falls at Ouzoud, then Azilal, Bin el Ouidane and Beni Mellal. Meknes to Ceuta is an easy days ride and you also have time to stop at the Roman ruins at Volibulis for a couple of hours or so.

Rabat the capital of Morocco is not that spectacular as it's mainly commercial and avoid Cassablanca (it's a shite hole). Er Rachidia is a military town and there's not much to see, just ride on though to the desert. BTW, photography of anything deemed of miltary interest is forbidden.

I've done Morocco tours countless times as a tour leader and every time I go, I see something different! End of March is a great time to go, you'll enjoy it. Get the Michelin Map No. 742 which is probably the best one to get, use the red and yellow marked road routes if you want to stay on tarmac roads.

 

[_martin_]

Thank you guys - I'll rethink the plan. The bike is Fireblade, so no off road fun but it is reasonably fast on the road. R203 (Taroudant to Marrakesh) and N9 (Marrakesh to Ouarzazarte) are two roads I wish to ride hence the plan making impression to return on the same route (really only few roads overlap) but I'll try to modify the route based on Blue Sweeper ideas.

Anybody else please?

 

[_martin_]

I'll buy a printed map, have got Garmin with that free Morocco map, but I will perhaps also get this one: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=73686 - has anybody used it?

 

[Blue Sweeper]

Thank you guys - I'll rethink the plan. The bike is Fireblade, so no off road fun but it is reasonably fast on the road. R203 (Taroudant to Marrakesh) and N9 (Marrakesh to Ouarzazarte) are two roads I wish to ride hence the plan making impression to return on the same route (really only few roads overlap) but I'll try to modify the route based on Blue Sweeper ideas.

Anybody else please?

The R203 is in fairly poor condition as it's full of pot-holes and very narrow. It won't be fun on a Fireblade, on a GS, no problem.

You'll love the N9 but take it easy as armco on the hairpin bends with a 1000ft drop the other side are significant by their absence.

 

[Blue Sweeper]

I'll buy a printed map, have got Garmin with that free Morocco map, but I will perhaps also get this one: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=73686 - has anybody used it?

I've heard reports that the Garmin map is fairly basic and pretty useless. Best to get this excelent free one:

http://www.island-olaf.de/travel/marokko/gps.html

I use it and it's very accurate.

BTW, petrol or "sans plomb" is in plentyfull supply, if you are going to stick to the main routes. But take a tip and fill up little and often, as sometimes the next petrol station may be out.

Another tip, don't expect to be able to belt along. People, children, dogs, donkeys and camels WILL walk into the road without looking.

 

[_martin_]

The R203 is in fairly poor condition as it's full of pot-holes and very narrow. It won't be fun on a Fireblade, on a GS, no problem.

I know, I have ridden poor roads in Pyrenees, it is a different fun

You'll love the N9 but take it easy as armco on the hairpin bends with a 1000ft drop the other side are significant by their absence.

That's why I asked the original question - how fast can you tracel around the country?

 

[_martin_]

I've heard reports that the Garmin map is fairly basic and pretty useless. Best to get this excelent free one:

http://www.island-olaf.de/travel/marokko/gps.html

I use it and it's very accurate.

I have got it already, it seems fine but it has not got routing info hence you cannot plan a route with it, not a big issue but combination of the free map and garmin map might be good.

BTW, petrol or "sans plomb" is in plentyfull supply, if you are going to stick to the main routes. But take a tip and fill up little and often, as sometimes the next petrol station may be out.

I might even take a small petrol can with me, or a trailer (http://www.mono-trail.co.uk)

Another tip, don't expect to be able to belt along. People, children, dogs, donkeys and camels WILL walk into the road without looking.

I go to London every day, it's the same, isn't it? Have not seen a camel or donkey yet there ...

 

[Steptoe]

If you want an epic road try the ouarzazate to zagora road - 100 miles. Nice hotel in zagora overnight and then back again
Zagora - Dades gorge/tiniher 205 miles.

Plus there's a section of road only about 10 miles long about 25 miles out of fez that is astounding.

Some mileages for you to help calculate your days.
Ceuta - Fez 200 miles. Easy day (unless you take the zoumi detour just after chefchoun, maybe not such a good idea on a fireblade but they were upgrading the road the last time i was there).

Fez -Marrakesh. 300 miles. Lots of detours you could take on the way.

Marrakesh - Ouarzazate 120 miles. the tizi-tichka pass .
Marrakesh - Dades gorge/todra gorge/tiniher via Ouarzazate 264 miles.
A days ride as lots to see and do, tizi n tichka pass and stopping off at Ait-benhaddou ( scenes in gladiator).

Dades gorge to the todra gorge 35 miles.

Dades gorge - Meknes 347.

Meknes - Ceuta 190. Stopping off to have a look at volibulis.

The roads in morocco are superb. Don't speed near large towns, if you are caught and fined ask for reciept, which will lead to some bartering over the cost of the fine

 

[_martin_]

Thank you Steptoe.

 

[Steptoe]

Do visit the dades gorge.

The road carries on right over the top.

Having breakfast at one of the many hotels along the gorge, sod camping when it's so cheap in a hotel.

Todra gorge is road most of the way up the gorge. Ride it early in the morning about 6.30 and it'll be devoid of any traffic.