MOROCCO
Mountains and Desert
This 3 week trip in March 2002, started and ended in Marrakech. I began by crossing the High Atlas Mountains via Le Col du Tichka.  I then meandered along the Vallee du Dades to the Sahara Desert at Merzouga. Finally, I descended as far south as M'Hamid via Zagora and the Vallee du Draa before heading back to Marrekech.
This trip didn't get off to a good start. Both my panniers and my bike did not reach Morocco with me. My panniers did arrive on a later flight but my bike took 3 more days to get to Morocco. In spite of the stressful start this trip ended up being the most memorable of all my trips.
For a Moroccan Musical Interlude click on the guitar.
My Casablanca to Marrakech page
Heading to Merzouga across this vast, desolate landscape, I'm not alone!! I regularly see women or children guiding donkey's loaded down with plastic drums or bottles full of water.
RouteMap
For a LARGER view click on the photo.
Fetching WATER a daily RITUAL
Without the benefit of a road, I make my way from Erfoud to the sand dunes in Merzouga by following the tracks left by the 4WD Jeeps shuttling people across the desert to the oasis.
Sitting on the door step of the small hotel I was staying at I watch a Caravan returning from an excursion into the dunes.
ERFOUD to MERZOUGA
MERZOUGA
MY DAILY COSTS (room + meals etc.)
$43 canadian / day
MY GUIDE BOOK
Lonely Planet MOROCCO 4th ed, 1998
ACCOMMODATIONS (daily average)
115 dirhams / day ( from 35dh to 250)
$1 canadian = 6.65 dh in 2002
$1 usa = 10.36dh in 2002
MY MAP(S)
Michelin # 959 MOROCCO
1/1 000 000 - 1 cm  = 10 km's
INTERNET RESOURCE(S)
Adventures of Morocco
LonelyPlanet's Thorntree-Morocco
After my stay in Merzouga I took this path across the desert connecting Merzouga to Rissani. It's a paved road now.
On the outskirts of this town as I head to my hotel I cross yet another dry river bed. Supposedly this one becomes a wild torrent during the rainy season. Hard to believe when you're there.
CAMELS on the MERZOUGA to RISSANI Road
DISTANCES (km)
Total                                                     1424
Longest                                                 156
Shortest                                                  31
Cycling Days                         16 out of  23
TAZZARINE
ITINERARY (distances in km's)

Starting from Marrakech my route took me to the following towns;

Taddert                                                           91
Ouarzazate (by bus)            31(around town)
Boumalne du Dades                               113.5
Gorges du Dades + Tinehir                       114
Erfoud                                                            140
Merzouga                                                        52
Rissani                                                             42
Tazzarine                                                      156
Nekob                                                               32
Zagora                                                           105
M'Hamid                                                       94.5
Zagora                                                          94.5
Agdz                                                              92.5
Ouarzazate                                                     70
Taddert                                                          105
Marrakech                                                      91
The Draa River was the only one which actually had water in it. Local kids with my bike at Tansikht
DRAA RIVER VALLEY
TRAVELOGUES
Steve&Kate BikingMorocco 2007/8
Frederic Hore's RemarkableMorocco 2006
Anthony Sloan's Morocco. Awesome!!
Hadrien's OnTheRoadAgain by bike 2006
Nicolai's Morocco Bike Trip Nov. 2005
Tanya/Richards MoroccoHighligts 2005
Stephen's SAHARA Adventure 2004
Matt's MntnBiking HighAtlasMntns2003
NickJenkins Marrakesh to Merzouga 1999
I stop here to rest and to take a photo looking back towards Zagora as I head up the first of two passes on my way to M'Hamid. Soon after leaving Ouarzazate, the High Atlas Mountains come into clear view as I begin my ascent of the Col du Tichka on my way back to Marrakesh.
HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS
Towards  M'HAMID
As I descend from the Tichka Pass - 2260 m alt. - this spectacular view opens up before me. However, at the beginning of the trip a snow storm forced me to use a bus to get over these mountains. Keep the cursor on the photo to see snow.
In public, Mint Tea, refered to as Moroccon Wiskey is the national drink. However some Moroccans, especially Berbers, see nothing wrong with something a bit stronger as my friends from Taddert show us.
MINT TEA - Moroccon Whisky
En descendant  LE COL DU TICHKA
To read comments left by my Guests until Feb 2008 click on the Book/Apple!!
For more information about bike touring in Morocco contact me at;
[email protected]
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