.: XT660.com - The #1 XT660 Resource :. - France to Morocco Prepping

Quote:

Originally Posted by Two wheeled Celt (Post 205914)

Well done.
Having read your preparation posts it would be interesting to find out how your trip went as I may be touring Morocco in 2016.
Was that a bottle opener on the back of your pannier.
Think I'll do the same!

Hi

I can give some tips and advice based on my experience if you wish,in no particular order,as they bounce into my head!!

The trip went really well as can be seen. Having said that I was there again last October for 3 weeks scouting out new trails and places to stay. I have my kit/tools whittled down to the bare minimum these days with even space left in my panniers!

Print out your entry documents before arriving and this will help immensely. If you're exiting form Algeciras,buy a one way ticket at the main building from the shipping company office direct. The touts will want to steer you to an on site travel agent where they'll get their cut.

They will tell you that their company's boat is leaving before anyone eles....you buy the ticket and you'll see other boats leaving. At least at the official office they'll tell you when it should be leaving.

Once you buy your ticket you need to immediately slot into Africa mode,i.e. nothing will be on time. That's why I allow a full day to enter and leave Maroc.

The reason for a one way ticket means that when you go to leave Maroc you can buy a ticket back from the ticket offices on site. This way you can see when the next boat leaves. Allow about an hour or so to get through the gates at customs etc.

Once on the boat go straight to passport control and fill out the form. Whist the customs dudes are getting your moto sorted you'll dander over to passport control where the cops will put you on the system. There'll be a number stamped on your passport and this will be your number that you'll quote on any papers you fill in thereafter....and any next visit in years to come.

The paper that the custom dudes give you once you leave should be guarded with your life...this is the passport that enables you to get your moto back out.Loose it and you'll pay big money in import duties for the moto you've just sold!!!

When you stay in an hotel etc you'll have to fill in a form with your detail on it.

Standard procedure for me is to write Hotel F�s,F�s for Destination....

One way ticket for one person and moto will be about €60 max.

You'll be able to buy insurance at the port if you ins company doesn't; cover you. Usually shut up shop at about 1800-1900hrs. There's also an ATM beside the offices. You can also find insurance in Tanger Port itself which is far further away from Tanger Med. Expect to pay about €90 for 3 weeks. make sure you also have medical insurance.

There is a scanner that scans vehicles for smuggling people out. If you ride up close to it and catch some of the traffic guards eyes and wave over and they'll usually wave you on through. The scanner is what slows everything up as it scans cars lorries ever so slowly!

For this reason the sooner you get to Algeciras the sooner you arrive in Maroc and the more chance you'll have of finding somewhere to stay that first night.

I had no problems apart from a clutch cable snapping,but that was a 10 minute fix as I had a spare zip tied to the original.

I threw in about 4 nights wild camping and stayed in auberges the rest of the time. The French government issued a warning due to the last kidnaping and murder in Algeria. There was not the same amount of French tourists there this year. I found no problems whatsoever even though I was only a few kms from the Algerian border.

The usual haggling for the auberges applies. Normal price as usual was between 150-200Dhms per night to include evening meal and breakfast. If they don't want to accept that head off somewhere else. They'll call you back normally. (The lowest I got was 100Dhms for evening meal and breakfast)

I rode about 1200kms plus off road which was all easy going apart from just a few technical shorter stretches. Some great pistes. I usually try to ride as much off road as possible when I'm there.

On my way back this year I scouted off a few on the RN(Route National) roads and came across some excellent B roads.

When I return again in October I'll take these same roads as they were that good!!!

I use Open Street map on my GPS as Garmin maps are indeed abysmal for Maroc. OSM will show pistes and will usually even route from one village to the next off road.

I usually head south as soon as I can and get over the Atlas mountains as there's a usually a good chance of rain in the northern regions when I ride in Oct, You may find the same in May.....or not!!

If you have to get a local dude to tae your broken down moto from say,Zagora to Tanger Med..pay no more that €500 to have it done. If you find yourself well south of Zagora and need to get your moto back there for repair..pay no more that €150.

Local dudes drive and scan for broken down tourists. If they want more,tell them you'll get the next dude to take you. Always agree to a price before anything.
(I haggled a vulture for a moto take out to Zagora from €850 to €250 to include baggage and a stay at an hotel of the drivers choice(uncles,brothers sisters,husbands hotel) Remember everything is negotiable.

The hostel I stay at in Caceres Spain was still €18 per night with continental breakfast. Clean as a whistle and modern.

I have my routes in www.wikiloc.com to download if anyone wishes.

I use Mitas E07's when I'm there...great off road hard pack/rock wear. Very strong tyres and great on road wet handling.

Cans of crap beer will be about €2.50 each...get a price before you buy or you could find each can at €5.00 a pop.

If you've any questions by all means just ask.

:)