Few days in Morocco April 2013 - trip plan

[Paulius79]

Hello everybody,

I'm new in this forum, I'm new in travelling to Morocco too.
Anyway this spring, early April I'm planning to travel from Lithuania to Morocco and back with my V-Strom.
I don't know if it's too brave or silly, but I'm going to do it alone...
European part is clear for me - ferry to Germany and the 3000km to Algeciras.
Then 6-7 days in Morocco and back to Spain.
And this part is not so clear for me. So I want to share my draft plan with you.
All corrections, opinions, offers welcome.
So, I'm planning 10th of April to arrive to Algeciras.
And next day take ferry to Tanger Med. Then plan goes like this:
11.04 Algeciras - Tanger - Azrou (or Fes, or Meknes)
12.04 Azrou (or Fes, or Meknes) - Merzouga
13.04 Merzuoga - Ouarzazate (through Dades gorge)
14.04 Ouarzazate - Marrakesh (less km to have more time in Marrakesh)
15.04 Marrakesh - Agadir - Essaoura
16.04 Essaoura - Rabat
17.04 Rabat - Tanger - Algeciras

What fo you think about that? Isn't too much for one lonely guy on dual motorcycle?
Looking forward to any comments of Morocco specialists
Thanks in advance.

--
Paulius79
Suzuki DL650A V-Strom '08

 

[Tim Cullis]

It depends whether you want a hard biking holiday with a bit of Moroccan scenery glimpsed through your visor from time to time, or whether you want to see Morocco and happen to be travelling on a bike.

You should plan on travelling at a maximum of 80 kph most of the time, and much less in the mountains. Personally I think you are attempting too much, especially after the massive ride down to southern Spain.

There's lots to see in northern Morocco in the Rif and Middle Atlas, leave the south for another (longer) trip, or one when you fly into Marrakech and hire a bike locally.

 

[Paulius79]

Hello Tim,

thank you very much for your remarks regarding my trip plan.
I will revise it and will change it.
As I don't want to exclude any parts of my trip, I think I'll add 2-3 additional nights in Morocco - this way I will have not so stressful schedule with more time to enjoy Morocco, not only my motorcycle

What are the "must see's" along my route? Please share this information briefly, as it will help me to make my stopovers for a night planing.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Shadwell]

For me the highlight of my morocco trip was either sitting at the top of todra gorge with no one else in sight or the dunes at merzuoga.

Although if pushed I'd say the only bit of my trip I did not enjoy to much was my 2 nights in Marrakech.

 

[Paulius79]

Hi Shadwell,

thanks for sharing your Moroccan experience.
I was planning to stay in Merzouga for a night.
And gorges of Todra and Dades to be taken in one day.
Next day short ride from Ouarzazate to Marrakesh with more time for it.

What do you think: maybe it's better to spend more time in gorges than saving time for Marrakesh? Is one day enough to drive from Merzouga to Ouarzazate and both gorges on the way?

 

[Corp.Clinger!]

IMO Fès is somewhat the same as Marrakech but less aggressive in the hard selling department for obvious Europeans.

Fès has the same type of narrow street markets (so no need to see the same thing in Marrakech?)and also has an interesting pottery to go and see if you're into that kind of thing. As you're over that way check out Volubilis,an old Roman town that not a lot of people know about.

If you've no interest in the Roman town and just check Fès out;pretend that it's Marrakech and with taking that line of thought you might 'win' an extra day on your overall plans.

If I were to win an extra day,and if you've never been there before,I'd spend it in Merzouga as the Erg Chebbi allows you to explore both the dunes and the lake. As an aside there's now a fuel station in Merzouga.

 

[Steptoe]

. As you're over that way check out Volubilis,an old Roman town that not a lot of people know about.

.

The last time i was there they were building a huge tourist centre.


The first time i went you could park your bike amongst the ruins, i even found a roman coin where i parked

Once the "heritage centre" is finished i expect everything will be sectioned off and they'll empty your wallet to gaze from behind a fence at the relics.

I don't think much of the old roman electrics.

And i really enjoy Marrakesh. Lots to see and do. Take a look at the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majorelle_Garden"]Majorelle gardens[/URL], also known as the Yves Saint laurent gardens.

 

[Steptoe]

Visit the casquades, which is a very short ride from marrakesh.
Stand on the very very edge of the waterfalls with no H&S rules. And have lunch at one of the restuarants the bottom.

 

[Steptoe]

And if you're visiting todra gorge, have lunch at the restuarant on the way to the top

Or stay at Didis.

Or the hotel further along the gorge, he'll let you park your bikes in the reception.

And have a breakfast with a view. A good start to any day (these pictures were taken in april)

 

[Tim Cullis]

And if you're visiting the DADES gorge, have lunch at the restuarant on the way to the top

Fixed it for you

 

[Steptoe]

Fixed it for you

Once you've seen one gorge you've seen them all

Thanks Tim

 

[Paulius79]

Thanks for additional information.
I'm bit messed up with my plan - lots of choices.
So much to see and not enough time...

I think it'll be last minute decisions on the spot - to go or not to go to some place.

Anyway thanks for all the ideas!

Paulius