route advice requested

[Paul Rochdale]

Tim

I'd like to hear your opinion of a circular tarmac-only route I have sketched out for my trip next month. I shalln't be stopping at places like Casablanca.

Ceuta - Larache - Rabat - Casablanca - El Jadida - Safi - Essaouira - Marrakech - Ouarzazate - Tinerhir - Erfoud - Merzouga - Erfoud - Er-Rachidia - Midelt - Fez - Katoma - Chefchaouon - Ceuta

Time - about two weeks.

Paul

 

[Tim Cullis]

The new motorway connecting Ceuta and Tanger is now open and it's a great ride through the mountains. Asilah and Larache are decent places to stop for a first night.

The coastal plain from Kénitra to El-Jadida is very built up and crowded so I'd tend to go inland for a bit (look for the green roads on the Michelin map). The roads through the Forest of Maamora are interesting and the roads around Jbel Mouchchene are biker heaven.

Oualidia is a bit run down but with an interesting coastal lagoon. The coastal road from here to Essouira is slow but better than the N1.

The Tizi n' Tichka from Marrakech to Ouarzazate is a fine pass, but I'd advise using the Tizi n' Test which is head and shoulders above it. Below the Test pass at Olad Berhil is Riad Hida which is a jewel of a hotel.

Bikershome.net is a good place to stop in Ouarzazate.

Obviously there's the gorges near Tinerhir. If you can only do one, choose the Dades, then ride 25 miles up the gorge to the fabulous overlooks.

Chez Julia gets good write-ups at Merzouga.

The road to Fez north of Midelt going via Boulemane is narrow, bumpy and boring, whilst the road over the Col du Zad and across the volcanic plateau to Azrou is spectacular.

Azrou is a great stopping place (Cedars Hotel).

Don't take the N8 and N2 via Ketama; it's one long constant hassle from drug dealers. Instead head north on side roads to Ourtzarh, then take the R419 to Bab Taza.

Tim

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Excellent Tim, that sounds like great advice. Nothing like hearing it from the horse's mouth! Incidentally thanks for the offer of GPS co-ordinents in your PM but I shall rely as usual on old fashioned paper maps, a Michelin 742 to be precise.