Easy off road routes in Morocco

[drs]

Off to Morocco in a couple of weeks & wanted to know some easish off road routes. I was thinking Alnif to Tinerhir &/or Tinerhir to Nekob using Chris Scott's route guide. Has anybody done these routes or know any other good ones in or around Erfoud/Ouarzazate ?

I want something esay to follow as its my first time off piste...

Appreciate any advice.

Ta - Dave.

 

[John Armstrong]

The second thread might help, the first is yours

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/search.php?searchid=322047

 

[Tim Cullis]

I want something esay to follow as its my first time off piste...

A piste is a track, so what you will be doing is ON piste, not off.

Neither of the pistes are really suitable for a first time off road as they are remote and lonely so I would recommend you practice elsewhere before trying these.

Also, what's easy on a nice sunny day can turn out to be a nightmare when conditions aren't so good, so check weather forecasts and keep an eye on the skies. It's cold at altitude and both the routes you mention are unlikely to have any traffic this time of year, so don't do them unaccompanied. And wear boots with good ankle protection.

I haven't done M4 (Alnif to Tinerhir) but I understand it's straightforward and will take a couple of hours.

M5 piste

M5 descent

M5 is longer (110 km), climbs higher and will take 5-6 hours plus stops. On the first section from Tinerhir head slightly right towards village you can see in distance. The first half is fairly good surface, the descent on the second half much rockier, but nowhere is it technical. There's a cafe stop in a village about a third of the way, and another cafe stop at the top of the Tizi.

Tim

 

[drs]

Thanks Tim.

Great pics. Have been down to Mauritana before so its not entirely new to me. I will watch the weather.

All the best - D.

 

[MikeB]

I'd agree with the comments above. M4 relatively straight forward.

I did quite a few of the routes in 4 weeks during november and december. Also my first time On piste, so i hope my opinion will help you. However i found that the book didn't neccessarily give an accurate picture of the routes. Some where far harder or easier than suggested and the definition of "sealed piste" is subjective. especially when you consider some routes are written with 4x4 in mind. tennis ball size rocks don't upset land cruisers but are very tiring on a bike.

The thing that caught me out most was the change in weather at altitude. I got stuck trying to cross from the todra gorge to the dades gorge. it was very wet and sticky mud at the top pass at 2800m. Only saved by a goat herd! for that reason i missed route M5 out as it also crosses a high pass and i wasn't sure of the surface. the comments above should mean its ok.

Quick sumary of other routes if you want.

M1 - very easy intro. half the route sealed then hard pack gravel. No tourists at all.

M2 easy up to half way then Chris talks about turning south. I carried on but route got sandy. Warm and fun but hard work. Wouldn't do alone again.

M3. Nice short route. easy. if following the books sugesstion about looping round to the R601 and doing teh Col de Belkassem, may be think again. Very seroius on a fully loaded bike. He suggests it would be an easy loop but there is no way it could be done in a 2 wheel drive car. some of the rocky drop offs are around 12". do-able but i was a bit nervous to say the least.

M4 see above

M8 Warm flat sandy run. no traffic. only problems of the sand!

M12- horrible. hundreds and hundreds of kms of tennis ball size rocks. just uncomfortble and horrible. one of the few routes i realy didn't enjoy. No traffic no petrol, on your own

i did with no GPS and had few navigation problems.

email me if you want any more novice opinions!