Post by Widget on Apr 7, 2013 14:10:04 GMT -5
Jim - that's an ambitious itinerary. 1 - based on recent experience I'd suggest you cross to Tangier Med rather than Ceuta. Ceuta is a primitive crossing - whereas Tangier Med is ordered, lacks hustlers and is quicker to get through. If you visit Carlos the travel agent in Algeciras the difference is about 10 euros between the two crossings.
If you were to take the first ferry from Algeciras you'd get into Ceuta at the earliest by 9.30. With the border crossing you'd get you Chefchouen by about 2pm. You will not reach Taounate before dark and I wouldn't recommend driving in the dark on your first day in Moroc.
Midelt is doable in a day from Taounate - are you headed for Chris Scotts MH1 route by the way? I wouldn't recommend staying in Midelt though - it's not a pleasant town and not geared up for tourists. Even if you do make it onto MH1 the Berbers near the Cirque de Jaffar are not best friendly and you won't get any rest with them around.
After driving from the UK you'll be jaded and these days are too much to allow enjoyment.
I'd suggest that you take the long ferry with Charlie - (1 day), then a day through spain and a day from Tangier Med to Marrakesh via the Autoroutes from where you can strike out to the Sahara in a day to Foum Zguid and Lac Iriki.
Only my view of course - and based on recent and relevant experience. The progress you can make on these roads is less that you imagine.
Also don't be concerned about fuel range - fuel is cheap at 8.1 Dirhams/litre (70p) and there are loads of places to refuel.
Have fun.
OK...route...
16th October: Day 1: Ferry from Dover @ 12:05 hrs (GMT) arrives Calais at 13:35hrs French time (CET)
The plan is to make the Spanish border that night, it's about a 10-12 hour drive to the Pyrenees, failing that, we could have a break of a couple of hours and drive straight across the border, but I would want to be in Algericas by midnight of 17th October.
The Morning of the 18th we get the Ferry across to Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in Morocco and then cross into Morocco proper.
Head South on the N13 toward Tetouan, then we turn south on the N13/N2 to Chefchaouen, then we turn east on the N2 toward Bab Taza then we follow the N2 toward Ketama. Here we turn south onto the R505 toward Taoumate on the N8. At Taoumate we will have covered 330km (205 miles) and stop for the night.
Day 2:
Continue on the N8 South for about 65km, just before we reach Ain Kansera we turn onto a gravel road which takes us South east about 15km, here we turn right (South) onto the road toward Sid-Abdel-Razeck, here we get onto the N6 to Bir TamTam, here we turn toward Sidi Youssef, after about 12km we turn south on a unmarked road (track) toward the town of El Menzaeh, we then follow the R505 about 20km to Sefrou. Here we turn south onto the R503 toward Bouleman and follow this road to the Junction of the N13, here we turn South East toward Midelt. We can either camp or stay in Midelt.
Total distance for this section is 345km (220 miles)
I am in the process of redoing the rest of the route as I screwed up some distance calculations and want to redo and make sure they are correct due to fuel limits in our vehicles. I will posts more as I complete sections, will have it completed over the next couple of days...
Please a look at this and say if there are any issues you know of or would like changed
If you were to take the first ferry from Algeciras you'd get into Ceuta at the earliest by 9.30. With the border crossing you'd get you Chefchouen by about 2pm. You will not reach Taounate before dark and I wouldn't recommend driving in the dark on your first day in Moroc.
Midelt is doable in a day from Taounate - are you headed for Chris Scotts MH1 route by the way? I wouldn't recommend staying in Midelt though - it's not a pleasant town and not geared up for tourists. Even if you do make it onto MH1 the Berbers near the Cirque de Jaffar are not best friendly and you won't get any rest with them around.
After driving from the UK you'll be jaded and these days are too much to allow enjoyment.
I'd suggest that you take the long ferry with Charlie - (1 day), then a day through spain and a day from Tangier Med to Marrakesh via the Autoroutes from where you can strike out to the Sahara in a day to Foum Zguid and Lac Iriki.
Only my view of course - and based on recent and relevant experience. The progress you can make on these roads is less that you imagine.
Also don't be concerned about fuel range - fuel is cheap at 8.1 Dirhams/litre (70p) and there are loads of places to refuel.
Have fun.
16th October: Day 1: Ferry from Dover @ 12:05 hrs (GMT) arrives Calais at 13:35hrs French time (CET)
The plan is to make the Spanish border that night, it's about a 10-12 hour drive to the Pyrenees, failing that, we could have a break of a couple of hours and drive straight across the border, but I would want to be in Algericas by midnight of 17th October.
The Morning of the 18th we get the Ferry across to Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in Morocco and then cross into Morocco proper.
Head South on the N13 toward Tetouan, then we turn south on the N13/N2 to Chefchaouen, then we turn east on the N2 toward Bab Taza then we follow the N2 toward Ketama. Here we turn south onto the R505 toward Taoumate on the N8. At Taoumate we will have covered 330km (205 miles) and stop for the night.
Day 2:
Continue on the N8 South for about 65km, just before we reach Ain Kansera we turn onto a gravel road which takes us South east about 15km, here we turn right (South) onto the road toward Sid-Abdel-Razeck, here we get onto the N6 to Bir TamTam, here we turn toward Sidi Youssef, after about 12km we turn south on a unmarked road (track) toward the town of El Menzaeh, we then follow the R505 about 20km to Sefrou. Here we turn south onto the R503 toward Bouleman and follow this road to the Junction of the N13, here we turn South East toward Midelt. We can either camp or stay in Midelt.
Total distance for this section is 345km (220 miles)
I am in the process of redoing the rest of the route as I screwed up some distance calculations and want to redo and make sure they are correct due to fuel limits in our vehicles. I will posts more as I complete sections, will have it completed over the next couple of days...
Please a look at this and say if there are any issues you know of or would like changed
Jim gutted for you,