Anyone heading to Morocco at end of 2014?? (1 Viewer)

[horshamjack]

Has any funsters that have been to Morocco taken their dog ? If so did they have any problems

 

[bellabee]

I'm a watcher! Watching with interest. My OH has promised me he'll finally retire in December. We're planning on going 'somewhere'. Probably get a crossing to Spain end of Jan - then down through Spain to Morocco, coming back to meet up with friends in Portugal at Easter.
We're fairly independent, but sociable - happy to meet up with people from time to time, but not really interested in travelling in groups.
We're planning on taking our dog, too.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

Well we do now!
Decided we are definitely returning to Morocco in January, although it might be last week in Jan as we intend to take our time getting down to Algeciras thus time.
We are going clockwise this time and heading for the desert first. We will then go across to Agadir and then work our way back up the coast.

We went clockwise last year and found it much better than the traditional route the Brits usually take round the coast. But it was Tafraoute before we met up with any Brits. But we will probably go that way again this year hoping for better weather at Mazouga where we will stay a couple of weeks then on to Tafraoute for a month or so. We have done most of the Marroc sites in the many years we have been going. So just looking for sun and relaxation.
So we may well meet up again somewhere.
Steve

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[bellabee]

Am I right in thinking that by travelling clockwise, this is the less frightening way to approach Tafraoute? I really want to go to Tafraoute, but I'm terrified of heights. Or, maybe, I just have to try to keep quiet and keep my eyes firmly shut? (I shalln't be driving, by the way.)

 

[Sheddy]

We also hope to go next year, we planned to go this year but had to pull out while we were down in Benidorm in January.
We plan to be in Benidorm October ish, then on to Morocco in January.

 

[Tecky138]

It is beginning to look like Morocco might be on again this winter. I'm hoping that something does get organised. All going well we will be joining. We tend to winter in La Torreta so I do not think we will be far from any group. It seem like it is time to do a lot of research.

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[makems]

Am I right in thinking that by travelling clockwise, this is the less frightening way to approach Tafraoute? I really want to go to Tafraoute, but I'm terrified of heights. Or, maybe, I just have to try to keep quiet and keep my eyes firmly shut? (I shalln't be driving, by the way.)

If you approach Tafraoute either from the East or from Tiznit to the South West you won't have any frightening roads to drive over.

 

[bellabee]

If you approach Tafraoute either from the East or from Tiznit to the South West you won't have any frightening roads to drive over.

Thank you very much, Makems. That's great to know.

 

[OldAgeTravellers]

If you approach Tafraoute either from the East or from Tiznit to the South West you won't have any frightening roads to drive over.

But bear in mind that Tafraoute sits in a basin between the mountains at 1100 meters so which ever way you approach you have to go over mountains so may have to shut your eyes for a little bit. I suffer from vertigo but am the driver so I am told I am not allowed to close my eyes. I have visited Tafraoute about seven times now and have also driven over the Atlas Mountains by the tricky route so it can't be that bad.
Just go for it Tafraoute is just beautiful. And the people are extra nice.
Steve

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[OldAgeTravellers]

morocco costs

A few suggestions ,
Make sure your tyres are really good,
carry a spare wheel

I can confirm what SUGGY says regarding tyres and spare wheel.
Two years ago I checked all my tyres before leaving home but the roads and heat produced rapid deterioration and this is the result below at 80kph. To be fair they were over five years old and I intended to change them after Morocco but they didn't give me a chance. And on inspection I had to get three new tyres put on a bus in Casablanca and shipped to me in Ouarzazate. But the Moroccans are great at doing things like that. But they also cost 50% more than at home!
So if your tyres are old, change them before Morocco.
But it is a great place to visit.
Steve

 

[vwalan]

Has any funsters that have been to Morocco taken their dog ? If so did they have any problems

i took my dog every year i went to morocco , she actually went before the pets passport scheme started but came back after it had started . used to have to keep them out for 6 months before coming back to uk. but there was no problems . mind best to have a blood test result as sometimes the spanish want to see one .
at one time every dog had to have a titra result to get the passport . if i get another dog i would have the blood test done if only for the bit of paper.

 

[bellabee]

But bear in mind that Tafraoute sits in a basin between the mountains at 1100 meters so which ever way you approach you have to go over mountains so may have to shut your eyes for a little bit. I suffer from vertigo but am the driver so I am told I am not allowed to close my eyes. I have visited Tafraoute about seven times now and have also driven over the Atlas Mountains by the tricky route so it can't be that bad.
Just go for it Tafraoute is just beautiful. And the people are extra nice.
Steve

Thanks, Steve. There's no way I'm going to miss Tafraoute. It's the place I'm most looking forward to - even if I have to keep my eyes tight shut until we get there!

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[mitzimad]

We won't be going for 2015 we have commitments
But we are defiantly going for 2016 god willing
Anybody thinking of going do it it's not difficult just make your plans and head south we had a blast on the 2014 run and made some good friends
We spent 4 and half grand in 3 months and I now know we could nearly half that on our next run

Do it life's too short

where do you think you could save money? we would love to go but need to know how to do it on next to nothing

 

[TerryL]

If you approach Tafraoute either from the East or from Tiznit to the South West you won't have any frightening roads to drive over.

But from Tiznet there is an "interesting" gravel road for about 35km just before Tafraoute - there is an alternative longer route though. Haven't travelled it but suspect might be a bit mountainous!

 

[vwalan]

best one is from tafraoute to izerbi then south on gravel tracks to thep30 road .
pic of me in my old vw with teardrop behind on way down . other one if you look hard to the right you can just make out me starting the decent .
it was a couple of hours to get down safely and very steep. at times all wheels locked but sliding along .
not recommended for light hearted .
you cant drive up its too steep , only way is down wards .
we found it in a german 4x4 route book . it was breath taking .

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[makems]

But from Tiznet there is an "interesting" gravel road for about 35km just before Tafraoute - there is an alternative longer route though. Haven't travelled it but suspect might be a bit mountainous!

Yes take the long route. The road is very good and no really dramatic mountain sections.
I've driven both routes and will always, always in future take the long way round.

 

[bellabee]

So what's the road like if you approach from the East? Is there anything I should know?

 

[makems]

So what's the road like if you approach from the East? Is there anything I should know?

No real problems at all coming from Igherm in the East
The only difficult road is the R105 from Agadir which I am told is a bit scary with big drops off the side of the road (but not so bad going back the other way towards Agadir as the steep drop is on the other side of the road).
There are a couple of posts on the 2014 thread regarding the R105, one I remember being from Malcolm Bolt.

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[Carol]

where do you think you could save money? we would love to go but need to know how to do it on next to nothing[/QUOTE



The main cost is getting to Morocco on the diesel and camping France/Spain the 200 euro open return ferry to Morocco, once there you can live really economically, use the Guardian areas for camping, they are in all areas and average £1 a night, fruit veg and meat from the markets is excellent quality and very cheap. The costs add up with eating out and buying souvenir's that you really don't need. If you want any alcohol stock up in Spain before you go, along with Cheese and bacon tea and coffee, nearly every thing else is very reasonable, including the diesel half the price.

If you can do it, think every one should try it with a open mind, we have had a amazing time there, though I do think occasionally meeting up with other funsters does give it another plus. Make sure you have a fun sticker in the van as people really do stop and say hello and English really is a minoraty many more French there.

 

[Carol]

Not sure how it happened but reply went in with Mitzmads post

 

[bellabee]

No real problems at all coming from Igherm in the East
The only difficult road is the R105 from Agadir which I am told is a bit scary with big drops off the side of the road (but not so bad going back the other way towards Agadir as the steep drop is on the other side of the road).
There are a couple of posts on the 2014 thread regarding the R105, one I remember being from Malcolm Bolt.

Thanks very much, Makems. I'll look up Malcolm Bolt's posts.
I'm getting excited about going, already - and we haven't even had our summer holiday, yet!

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