Hi all,

I am going to ride through southern Morocco between the 12th and 20th of January. My idea is landing in Marrakch, take a bus to Tarudant and beginthere the ride. Cross the antiatlas mountains and get to the fringe with the sahara desert, then go to Tafraute and finally down to the coastline at Tizir.

Anybody interested? It is a very varied landscape with mountains, valleys, desert and finally the beach. There are cheap flights to Marrakech by Ryanair, and that zone seems to be amazing. Most of the way is by trails.

Hi Mikel (?),

actually I'm no potential fellow traveller for you. I will go to Morocco in March for the third time and now I just wanted to wish you a nice trip. There are loads of Morocco freaks in this board and maybe you will have luck with your search for a companion.

By the way: You wrote of taking a bus to Taroudant. The road from Marrakesh to Taroudant crossing the Tizi-n-Test mountain pass is in fact very nice to cycle, preconditioned that you are in a good shape (mountains!). I made it in 2006, it's about 230 kilometres, so you could possibly make it in two days. The following picture was taken in the ascent to the pass.



Just an idea. If you should have any questions, then feel free to ask.

Roland

Hi Roland,

I see you have not enjoyed much Morocco (2006, 2007 and 2008 ). You do not know there are other countries in the world?

This is also the 3rd time to be, but the first one by bike...The first one I went as a classical tourist, the second one I went direct to climb the Toubkal and so and now I want to spend my time riding in the valleys and deserts.....but anyway, mountain crossing is what I love most of biking so i will consider your suggestion...

I have seen your blog, i have become delighted by your trips.....your large trip remainded me Goran Kropp's legend....I will read your notes about Morocco and definetely ask you some questions.......

regards,
mikel

I guess there is one word too much ("not") in the first sentence ?? And what do you mean by "other countries", why should I go anywhere else if I can go to Morocco as well ?? You're also already a Morocco freak I guess, so you will understand me ...



Oh thanks a lot, but the comparison with Goran Kropp is not only a bit exaggerated ...



Do you understand german? Otherwise: Feel free to ask here, as I already said .


Roland

It was a joke, I see you are in love with morocco indeed, so do I...



Of course, but the bike trip was similar, I guess you did not climb the everest

By the way, I was can say a couple of words in german, but google translator is a kind of miracle¡¡¡¡¡¡

I will soon read carefully your trip description......

Mikel

Hi Roland¡¡¡

I have been reading carefully your reports...great¡¡¡ As time passes my wishes to get to marrakech increase. Nevertheless, I have several uncertainties, about the way Zagora-Tata.

First one, about the wind. do you know which direction are the prevailing winds?. I am thinking of going that way by the south track, near the lake Iriki. Do you know if I could have problems there with the police or military controls? Are there water sources?

Tahnks very much in advance

Hi Mikel,

first of all I have to say that I myself don't know the most interesting part of the route Zagora-Tata, which definitely is the dirt track from M'hamid south of Zagora along the lake Iriki to Foum-Zguid. But I do know many guys here in the board who cycled this track, so we surely will be able to answer your questions ...

My experiences with the winds in morocco are that they are just crazy. Except of in the regions close to the sea I do not recognize any regularities . Surely there will be some but I am not able to help you out in this question.

I never heard of problems with police or military controls between Zagora and Tata and I'm quite sure you won't get any unless you don't try to cross the border to Algeria. You surely should take along your passport, but I guess this shouldn't be a problem?

Water sources between M'hamid and Foum-Zguid are rare, as far as I can remember there is only one village along the track where you can get water. If it's hot you will have to take along a lot of water.

I want you to notice some more aspects of the dirt track from M'hamid to Foum-Zguid, the route is really popular in this board but you should be aware of the following: 1. It is a difficult track, some parts are very sandy, other parts are rocky, so you will be very slow averaged and it is very demanding. 2. The orientation is not trivial and since it is in the desert you really should be carefully. You don't have GPS, do you? You surely can do it without one but I don't want to recommend that ...

I hope that this will help you a little bit.

Regards,

Roland

Hi Roland,

And have you gone from Foum-Zguid to the north?. I am thinking of closing the loop going to Ouarzazate or Agdz. It seems to be rather flat, excepting the way through Ait-Hammou.

I will take my GPS, I do not feel like losing myself in the mess of tracks crossing the hammadas....

Thanks for your help...

Exactly:

Image



Do you already know the free downloadable GPS vector map morocco? It really is a great map, even better than the Michelin map in many respects. The image above shows a part of the map.

Regards,

Roland

Edit: changed image to link (possible copyright problem). atk

Hi¡¡¡¡

I can not use vector maps, really what I have is a PDA with GPS. I use CompeGPS software and have downloaded TPC aeronautical, IGN French maps and Russian maps, both much more detailed than the Michelin

TPC:
[image]http://img99.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tpcow6.jpg[/image]

Russian:
[image]http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=russianjw1.jpg[/image]

IGN:
[image]http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7445/ignqo5.jpg [/image]

If you want i cand send the maps to you:D

I am now asseisng pedaling from Marrakech to Ourzazate passing the Tizi-n-Tichka. Have you heard about any site with snow reports?

Regards

Now well done

Russian:
Image

TPC:
Image

IGN:
Image

Edit: changed images to links (possible copyright problems). atk