Return trip to Morocco

[stevedo]

My wife and I did our first trip to Morocco in 2009 on a BMW K1200GT. We had a brilliant time the 4 weeks we were there and are now planning a return trip in April 2012, this time on a Tiger 800xc.

One of our main objectives this time round is to get off the beaten track. With this in mind I'm looking for recommendations for "off road" routes/pistes, any information on maximum likely distance between fuel stops, need to book accommodation in advance etc.

Looking at the map I'd really like to do the route between the Todra Gorge and Dades. Any other recommendations for us? We hope to spend between 3 and 4 weeks in Morocco and would head directly south with no desire this time to spend extended periods in Fez, Marakesh etc. This will be more about getting off the beaten track.

Thanks
Steve

 

[Shadwell]

My wife and I did our first trip to Morocco in 2009 on a BMW K1200GT. We had a brilliant time the 4 weeks we were there and are now planning a return trip in April 2012, this time on a Tiger 800xc.

One of our main objectives this time round is to get off the beaten track. With this in mind I'm looking for recommendations for "off road" routes/pistes, any information on maximum likely distance between fuel stops, need to book accommodation in advance etc.

Looking at the map I'd really like to do the route between the Todra Gorge and Dades. Any other recommendations for us? We hope to spend between 3 and 4 weeks in Morocco and would head directly south with no desire this time to spend extended periods in Fez, Marakesh etc. This will be more about getting off the beaten track.

Thanks
Steve

Steve, i did the Todra to Dades Piste last year and i have got to say there is no way i would try it 2 up.

There are several parts of the route that your pillion would be off and walking because in the riverbeds there are points that even on my own on a fairly lightly loaded F800 gs i was struggling.

I think i read somewhere on here that Tim Cullis took 12 hours with a group he was leading to do this piste... i may be wrong.

Im not saying it would be impossible, and no doubt someone will be along shortly to try and shoot me down in flames but i think there are far more suitable pistes for a two up bike. I enjoyed the pistes down around merzougha the most.

I would say dont miss Dades or Todra mind, just go the long way.

enjoy

Shad

 

[stevedo]

Hi Shad,

thanks for the reply. We went to both Dades and Todra on our previous trip and went the "long way" round by road. Looking at the map I fancied taking the short cut between the two next time round. Clearly the map doesn't give much of a clue as to the difficulty or otherwise of the route. With that in mind does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions for some off road pistes sutable for 2 up? We don't mind being challenged, that's one reason we want to go

Regards
Steve

 

[barneydinosaur]

My wife and I did our first trip to Morocco in 2009 on a BMW K1200GT. We had a brilliant time the 4 weeks we were there and are now planning a return trip in April 2012, this time on a Tiger 800xc.

One of our main objectives this time round is to get off the beaten track. With this in mind I'm looking for recommendations for "off road" routes/pistes, any information on maximum likely distance between fuel stops, need to book accommodation in advance etc.

Looking at the map I'd really like to do the route between the Todra Gorge and Dades. Any other recommendations for us? We hope to spend between 3 and 4 weeks in Morocco and would head directly south with no desire this time to spend extended periods in Fez, Marakesh etc. This will be more about getting off the beaten track.

Thanks
Steve

Get a copy of Chris Scott's book Morocco Overland. Lots of that sort of info in there.

Even with the book it's worth asking around locally about the state of the piste you're thinking of taking. In the mountains they can wash-out pretty quickly.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Some pics of the Gorge Link piste. It's basically three connected river beds with some higher bits in between.