I need your advise about a Morocco-trip

[Beemer-Biker]

Hello all Morocco-riders,

This seems to be a fantastic source of knowledge about Morocco. I’m in the very early phase of planning a two week trip to Morocco for myself and another 10-12 Swedish GS-riders. The intention is to send our bikes crated from Sweden to Malaga. We’ll fly there and catch up with our bikes and from Malaga head directly towards Morocco. I’ve got a couple of basic questions for you:

1. Once in Morocco, we’ll quickly head south towards the region around Erfoud and Merzouga to play around in the sand. Then to Todra Gorge and Dades Gorge. After that, we’ll attack the High Atlas, the higher the better! So my question to you all is what time of the year would be the best? We’re looking at either in April/May (when all the snow’s gone in the High Atlas) or in September/October (right after the Ramadan). What do you guys think? Would it be too hot riding in the dunes at these times?

2. If 10 or 12 (or even 14) of us are travelling in Morocco in May or October, do you think we’ll have difficulties finding decent hotels that can house all of us, without prior reservations?

Your input is appreciated and highly valued!
Stefan from Sweden

 

[Timolgra]

April/May will be fine but as you move further into May it will get hot.

April tends to be a popular time and can get busy but there are generally plenty of places to stay if you search around.

Sometimes I prebook when running my own trips there but it's not strictly neccesary unless there are specific and busy small hotels you know you want to stay in.

September/October will be less busy and remember that Ramadan is in October and many eating places other than hotels will be closed.

If you intend riding in the dunes on a GS, firstly may I wish you good luck and secondly -25 deg C would still be too hot for the likes of me on a GS.

Have a great trip and enjoy
Tim

 

[Greg Masters]

2. If 10 or 12 (or even 14) of us are travelling in Morocco in May or October, do you think we’ll have difficulties finding decent hotels that can house all of us, without prior reservations?

Stefan from Sweden

Stefan

Of course the more of you that there are and the more 'choosy' you want to be about your hotels, the more important it becomes to book in advance.

Erfoud is a good base for the Erg Chebi dunes and Merzouga. There are a number of decent hotels in Erfoud. A Google search should bring you a good list. Personally, I'd pick one with a decent bar, restaurant and swimming pool. You acn then use it as a base for day trips out. The Todra and Dades Valleys are both within a comfortable day's ride from Erfoud.

Read Tim Cullis's excellent reference thread here.

Have a great trip.

Greg

 

[Steptoe]

Good hotel in Dades Gorge, Hotel Kasbah Didis. Not on the Marocco list

350 dirhams for room eveningmeal and breakfast.



Just along from this piece of road

 

[Marjorie Proops]

That could so easily have been a fantastic photo

 

[Beemer-Biker]

Thank you all! And that Tim Cullis's thread´s really great! But I'm pretty sure I'll have more questions for you during my planning for this trip. I'll be back...

Stefan

 

[Gecko]

Stefan
Check out www.horizonsunlimited.com too - a great resource for travellers.

 

[Tim Cullis]

September/October will be less busy and remember that Ramadan is in October and many eating places other than hotels will be closed.

Ramadan is a 'moveable feast', advancing some 11 days each year. In 2007 it runs from 12 September to 11 October. Having experienced it once, I would recommend you try to avoid it.

 

[Fanum]

Stefan......just for your information, Morocco has recently had the worst rain and flooding it's had for 17, 30 or 60 years (depending on who you listen to there )

Nearly all of the major riding areas have suffered severe damage.....the road up the Todra gorge was wiped out, the pistes in the High Atlas are either very damaged or totally impassable and there are still villages that are totally cut off.

We made it up to Agoudal by following the GPS up what used to be a good piste.....to be honest, it was impassable but we had to do it because we had a man down at the top.......it took us 6 hours to do what would normally be an hour's drive, and we had to build stone slopes, use bridging ladders and the high lift jack as well...we were the first vehicle to make it up in 15 days and it was very obvious it was going to be a long time before the piste is usable.

Winter is now closing in and they won't be able to do much work in the high mountains- I suspect that a lot of routes will still be closed well into March next year, some maybe later.

We'll be over there again in the beginning of 2007 and will obviously report back, but keep an eye open and when you go, ask the locals what the situation is before committing to any particular route

 

[ktmBill]

crating your bikes to Morocco.... a question

The intention is to send our bikes crated from Sweden to Malaga. We’ll fly there and catch up with our bikes and from Malaga head directly towards Morocco. I’ve got a couple of basic questions for you:

Hi,
Im really interested in how you are crating the bikes and transporting them. Could you send me details? I'm planning to take twenty bikes to Malaga in the spring and still deciding on BEST method to securely and safely strap bikes down and stay cost efficient ie. Bikes need to be crated/strapped in minutes not hours and same at the other end. Ideally I'm after an innovative method so bikes can go on the wagon/truck and come off very easily - yet have the confidence that when the truck goes around the roundabout - they dont all fall over!!!!!.....

Any advice appreciated
Billy
[email protected]

 

[cookie]

ride them?

 

[Beemer-Biker]

Hi,
Im really interested in how you are crating the bikes and transporting them. Could you send me details? I'm planning to take twenty bikes to Malaga in the spring and still deciding on BEST method to securely and safely strap bikes down and stay cost efficient ie. Bikes need to be crated/strapped in minutes not hours and same at the other end. Ideally I'm after an innovative method so bikes can go on the wagon/truck and come off very easily - yet have the confidence that when the truck goes around the roundabout - they dont all fall over!!!!!.....

Any advice appreciated
Billy
[email protected]

ride them?

Riding the bikes from Sweden to Morocco isn't an option for us. It takes way too long (3-4 days each way), it's simply too boring and we would need to change tyres at least once during the trip. Sending the bikes saves us at least a couple of days each way and we can start our trip in Morocco with fresh knobbies. The convenience and the time saved justifies the additional cost of shipping.

In the next week or so, we'll "test-crate" my bike. I'll certainly let you know how it goes.

Stefan

 

[Jon]

1. Once in Morocco, we’ll quickly head south towards the region around Erfoud and Merzouga to play around in the sand.

Stay in the Desert Inn (Auberge Kasbah Derkaoua), between Efroud and Merzouga.

The owner "Michel", was a méharist in the French army’s camel corps

Good place to base yourself if you want to ride out each day, as it's in the middle of nowhere..............but has a pool, air con in the rooms, good food and beer

 

[ktmBill]

Stay in the Desert Inn (Auberge Kasbah Derkaoua), between Efroud and Merzouga.

The owner "Michel", was a méharist in the French army’s camel corps

Good place to base yourself if you want to ride out each day, as it's in the middle of nowhere..............but has a pool, air con in the rooms, good food and beer

Sounds like a destination...
How much per nite?

 

[Beemer-Biker]

Hi,
Im really interested in how you are crating the bikes and transporting them. Could you send me details? I'm planning to take twenty bikes to Malaga in the spring and still deciding on BEST method to securely and safely strap bikes down and stay cost efficient ie. Bikes need to be crated/strapped in minutes not hours and same at the other end. Ideally I'm after an innovative method so bikes can go on the wagon/truck and come off very easily - yet have the confidence that when the truck goes around the roundabout - they dont all fall over!!!!!.....

Any advice appreciated
Billy
[email protected]

I’ve found out that crating a bike is really surprisingly easy, quick and inexpensive. Our bikes almost seem to be designed to be loaded onto two EUR-pallets. The width of my crashbar is just within the width of the pallets (=80 cm). Lengthwise, the bike is appr. 20cm shorter than the two pallets (=240cm).

The pictures show how I joined the two pallets, using two 2” x 5” beams. The key issue is to make sure to have screws that go all the way through the sturdiest place of the pallets and to have large washers, spreading the load. And to use locking-nuts to prevent them from vibrating loose during the transportation. I fastened a piece of sheet-metal over the joint, for the centre-stand of the bike. The total cost for the crating is appr. € 20 + two pallets. And timewise you can make one in less than an hour.

It really feels more solid that I anticipated. It doesn’t flex when lifting it in one end or even at one corner. And there should be no risk of tipping the entire pallet, due to the low centre of gravity. I’m convinced that it sending the bikes this way should work just fine.

Panniers and stuff like that can be strapped (and locked with wirelocks?) to the pallet. I really see no need to wrap up the entire thing, making it into a sealed box. If 15 of us go (a full truck-load), the bikes will not be reloaded anywhere, minimising the risk of theft or damages.

The crated bike can now be quickly loaded and unloaded to trailer, using e.g. a forklift truck. And loading/unloading the bike to the pallet is done in a few minutes.

The EUR-pallets are designed to fit a standard trailer. This means that 15 of these “double-pallets” will fit in a trailer. I’m now waiting for transportation-costs for an entire trailer-load from Sweden to Malaga.

Pictures:
<a href="http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4280644"><img src="http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/12/35109112127.jpg" alt="Click to enlarge."></a>
<a href="http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4280643" target="_blank"><img src="http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/12/35109105655.jpg" alt="Click to enlarge"></a>
<a href="http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4280635" target="_blank"><img src="http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/12/35109055254.jpg" alt="Click to enlarge"></a>
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4280644
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4280643
http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4280635


Merry Christmas to all of you!
Stefan

 

[ktmBill]

I’ve found out that crating a bike is really
The EUR-pallets are designed to fit a standard trailer. This means that 15 of these “double-pallets” will fit in a trailer. I’m now waiting for transportation-costs for an entire trailer-load from Sweden to Malaga.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Stefan

Thanks for this Stefan, great stuff. Bike certainly looks solid - even on the tilt pictures. Couple of comments: Everything I read seems to suggest that the bike should NOT be on the centre stand - that it should be 'sprung' on the suspension with the tie downs. Not sure if this is an issue - just thort I'd mention it. Its on horizon adventure site and the guy who done 'adventure motorcycling handbook' Chris Scott. In my mind it would be 'safer' on the centre stand - but he says not.

Regarding the pallets - they look great. Can I ask how big the truck is that will take 15 bikes? Let me see, 15 bikes at say 200kilo each, is 3000k, so well in the limits of the average wagon - but I'm curious as to the tonnage of the wagon and the length. Do you have one in mind? I was looking at a double decker - so you could get more bike onto the twin floors. And using a pallet trolley instead of a fork lift, with of course the tail lift on the wagon to get you up to the two floors. This way you get scale - ie the more bikes the better on cost. This is an area of interest for me business wise.

The pics are great - am going to make one - and see for myself, as I'm experimenting with various types. But I've also seen pics of none palleted contraptions that can hold a bike by the front wheel locking into a the frame. See the following links, which I think you;'ll find interesting.

http://www.ultimatejourney.com/Chap2.html
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tripplan/transport/
http://www.moverspakman.com/EZ RIDER Crate.html
http://www.motorcycleshippers.com/s_pop_crates.htm
http://www.motoexpress.co.uk/flyride_insurance.htm
http://www.getrouted.com.au/How_its_done.html

Notice, how narrow the last one is - and yet this is to be put in a container and put on a ship. But it is screwed down to the wooden florr of the container.

When are you planning your trip? I'm buying a new truck in March - which will be designed for Bike haulage (if all goes to plan!)
All the best for Christmas
Billy

 

['Nuffsaid]

Bad news - Michel died .....

Stay in the Desert Inn (Auberge Kasbah Derkaoua), between Efroud and Merzouga.

The owner "Michel", was a méharist in the French army’s camel corps

Good place to base yourself if you want to ride out each day, as it's in the middle of nowhere..............but has a pool, air con in the rooms, good food and beer

Err - How do you say this delicately, Michel died about a month ago, the Desert inn is still open, however it is being run by his wife (who is somewhat less than charming) - IMHO - Go visit one of the new hostelieries in Merzouga - my favourite is the Kasbah Mohayout, run buy a young very freindly Berber guy called Moha - Its clean, comfortable very friendly and serves good food.

 

[Jon]

Stay in the Desert Inn (Auberge Kasbah Derkaoua), between Efroud and Merzouga.

The owner "Michel", was a méharist in the French army’s camel corps

Good place to base yourself if you want to ride out each day, as it's in the middle of nowhere..............but has a pool, air con in the rooms, good food and beer

Sounds like a destination...
How much per nite?

'bout 500 dirham half board - £30/night.....

Err - How do you say this delicately, Michel died about a month ago, the Desert inn is still open, however it is being run by his wife (who is somewhat less than charming) - IMHO - Go visit one of the new hostelieries in Merzouga - my favourite is the Kasbah Mohayout, run buy a young very freindly Berber guy called Moha - Its clean, comfortable very friendly and serves good food.

Oh no! He was a real character too. What happened to the husband/wife team who managed it for him - she was/is stunning.

Hopefully it won't go downhill, but if the couple aren't running it and his wifes a dragon , I can see it happening