Route advice requested for 2011 please

[Barley-Mow]

I am contemplating a return visit to Morocco April/May/June 2011 with about 7-10 days there after riding down via France & Spain. I shall probably be travelling solo and have the choice of an R850R or R1100RT. I'm a road rider, not a trail rider and try to avoid the tourist honeypots in favour of ordinary places, with a view to spending a few days in perhaps two centres. The following possibilities are in my mind:

Cross to Tangier Med then East along the coast and South to Oujda, thence either across to Fez/Meknes/Moulay Idriss or South West towards Midelt and back via Azrou to the Imperial Cities.

I'm not keen to explore the Rif. The prospect of continuing South to Bouarfa then cutting back West and North towards Meknes again crossed my mind but I think it's too far and there are issues over re-fuelling I think, though perhaps if I carry a large jerry can on the 850 I could solve them.

Any comments or advice from those who know more than me (i.e. most of you) would be welcome.
I'd prefer to take the 850 as being a handier bike off the motorways but the limited tank range (plus limited time) are a bit of a worry to me

 

[Timolgra]

Depends what you want to see, fuel won't really be an issue as long as you keep topped up when poss

In your case I'd just draw a line on a Michelin map as a rough guide

 

[bladerunner]

Personally I'd avoid Tangiers and avoid the coast.

Cueta is a gentle entre into Africa, then Meknes, Marrakesh, the Atlas mountains, Ouarzazarte, and back Errachida and Fez. All very do-able on road bike. All great fun. I enjoyed Fez especially

 

[Tim Cullis]

The new Tanger Med port is an easier/faster crossing than Ceuta and is normally cheaper. You can get an idea of prices at http://www.aferry.to

I'm not a great fan of the northern coast which is a really narrow strip between the Rif and the sea. The east and Oujda would be fascinating if the Algerian border was open, but it's not and it's a dead end that not many people visit. Oujda is an extremely relaxed university town and quite nice, but there's not much to see or do.

The part of the Rif you should generally avoid is around Isaquen (aka Ketama), otherwise it's a very pleasant place to ride through. What I would suggest is...

Tanger Med - Chefchaouen - Bab Taza, then take the R419 south through the Rif via Beni Ahmed - Tabouda - Ourtzarh, then cross country on side roads to Taza.

From Taza south on the R507 through the eastern end of the Middle Atlas via Imouzzer des Marmoucha to Boulemane, then spend some time in the Middle Atlas around Azrou.

Your return route could be from Khenifra heading north west on the R407 towards Sale. Visit the coastal towns of Larache (Roman ruins of Lixus) and Asilah on the way north.

 

[consigliero]

I am agree with Tim to avoid Ketama , we drove from Fez to Ketama later to the El Jehba on Med sea coast. From Ain-Aicha to Tieta-Ketama where we taken fuel, some of guys want to stop you , and some even drive behind You showing by blinking light that they have something for You. But when we stop to take some gas they don't come to us. Also on road N2 direction Targuist and some kilometres on the small road to the sea cost You can get be disturb .
Nothing dangerous I think but also not nice.
Regards Marek

 

[Barley-Mow]

Thanks for that Tim, Oujda sounds my kind of place, I'm quite a fan of out of the way quiet dead end sort of places (I live in one - it's called Norfolk!).

I intended to do Larache this Spring but stayed in Asilah instead so it would be good to visit/re-visit both, and see Lixus.

Time to get the maps and calculator out I think. Bring on the snow

 

[Scroot]

pm

PM sent