Any suggestions as to routes in Morocco?
Discussion
I'm going to Morocco for a week in September. Will be getting the ferry to Tangier, then heading down to Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakesh, Fes and back to Tangier. Any suggestions as to if there's any decent routes to make a detour to include? I'm thinking as we're around the Atlas mountains there's a chance there could be some decent roads in the area.
I am also interested.
Last year we drove down through Barcelona to Valencia.
For 2008 we plan, UK France, Italy, Monte Carlo, Spain, Gib. then ferry over to Ceuta in Morocco.
Are there good roads over there? and what would you put on you list of places to see, and things to do.
We would plan on being in North Africa for maximum of 5 days.
Last year we drove down through Barcelona to Valencia.
For 2008 we plan, UK France, Italy, Monte Carlo, Spain, Gib. then ferry over to Ceuta in Morocco.
Are there good roads over there? and what would you put on you list of places to see, and things to do.
We would plan on being in North Africa for maximum of 5 days.
Police: Do you know how fast you were going?
Us: Yes, eighty kilometers per hour.
P: Are you Moroccan?
U: (looking at steering wheel on wrong side of car) Erm.... no.
P: Then you must slow down.
U: What's the speed limit here?
P: Eighty kilometers per hour.
U: We were going slower than that.
P: You must slow down. Next time will be a three hundred dirham fine.
On all the major routes, you will find police with speed guns every 10-20 km. If you give them an excuse to stop and fine you, they will. The motorwayu from Tangiers to Casablanca is particularly well populated.
Off the major routes, you can have a lot of fun. I drove a leg from the coastal motorway towards Ceuta (no map handy so can't tell you exactly where it was) which offered a lot of overtaking opportunities around open corners and some fun mountain passes.
Beware potholes. If the 4x4 in front of you suddenly swerves, follow it. It's quite likely to be avoiding a crater.
Beware of anything that moves. The locals don't seem to have made the connection between fast moving vehicles and death.
In the cities, be confident. It's no worse than driving in Rome. If you're ahead, you have priority. Use your horn well. If in doubt, follow a taxi. If you really want to have fun, hire one of the Petits Taxis. We got a 205 which had done well over a million km, was on it's 4th engine, and was held together with duck tape. He taught us how to drive properly in Casablanca
Importing a foreign car involves a bit of paperwork, but it's not too bad. If you're getting a ferry directly to Tangiers, do as much as you can on the ferry. Whatever you do, do not accept the "assistance" offered by the helpers outside the immigration compound. If you can speak some French, you'll get by. Paying €20-30 to someone to help you through the process is ok, but do not allow them to get in your car and be wary of anyone without an ID badge.
Morocco is a brilliant place. Enjoy it
Us: Yes, eighty kilometers per hour.
P: Are you Moroccan?
U: (looking at steering wheel on wrong side of car) Erm.... no.
P: Then you must slow down.
U: What's the speed limit here?
P: Eighty kilometers per hour.
U: We were going slower than that.
P: You must slow down. Next time will be a three hundred dirham fine.
On all the major routes, you will find police with speed guns every 10-20 km. If you give them an excuse to stop and fine you, they will. The motorwayu from Tangiers to Casablanca is particularly well populated.
Off the major routes, you can have a lot of fun. I drove a leg from the coastal motorway towards Ceuta (no map handy so can't tell you exactly where it was) which offered a lot of overtaking opportunities around open corners and some fun mountain passes.
Beware potholes. If the 4x4 in front of you suddenly swerves, follow it. It's quite likely to be avoiding a crater.
Beware of anything that moves. The locals don't seem to have made the connection between fast moving vehicles and death.
In the cities, be confident. It's no worse than driving in Rome. If you're ahead, you have priority. Use your horn well. If in doubt, follow a taxi. If you really want to have fun, hire one of the Petits Taxis. We got a 205 which had done well over a million km, was on it's 4th engine, and was held together with duck tape. He taught us how to drive properly in Casablanca
Importing a foreign car involves a bit of paperwork, but it's not too bad. If you're getting a ferry directly to Tangiers, do as much as you can on the ferry. Whatever you do, do not accept the "assistance" offered by the helpers outside the immigration compound. If you can speak some French, you'll get by. Paying €20-30 to someone to help you through the process is ok, but do not allow them to get in your car and be wary of anyone without an ID badge.
Morocco is a brilliant place. Enjoy it
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