I'm interested in cycling in Morocco in the near future. Probably for about 6 weeks. Just wondering if anyone had some thoughts on the best time of year to do this with respect to weather. I'd like to visit the coast, mountains and dessert.
Best Time for Morocco
月, 2013-03-04 19:20
#1
WS Member
Best Time for Morocco
We did Morocco in Sept a couple years ago. I think it was great weather and temps.
We did Morocco in Sept a couple years ago. I think it was great weather and temps.
September sounds good. Do you have any recommended routes?
Matthew
I'll get back to you with some possible routes. Tonight I'm busy packing for a bike tour, leaving tomorrow, am just running out of time. But stay tuned...
Cheryl
Hi,
My wife and I are headed to Morocco in October and plan to bike for three weeks. can you send us any details about you route and any helpful information you think would be important to pass on?
thanks, Brian
Hi Brian;
We actually have not made it to Morocco yet. Hope to in 2015. So to flip this message around, can you let me know how your trip goes and any suggested routes when you return?
Hello all who want to go to Morocco,
Me and my wife cycled 7 weeks in Morocco in April/May 2011. From Agadir we went southeast through the Anti-Atlas into the Sahara. Then north over the High Atlas and through the interior of the country till Ceuta on the Mediterranean coast.
Me had mixed experiences. We generally liked the first part of our trip. The south is quite empty and people were generally friendly and sometimes hospitable. The scenery was fantastic, roads good and the weather perfect. In the Sahara daytime temperatures were over 40C by the end of April.
The only tourist city we visited was Fes. We hated it. We left after an hour.
The northern part of the country was not a good experience. The scenery was still good, but we had many unfriendly encounters with local people. Children throwing stones, adult men asking my wife if she wanted sex, etc. She was wearing headscarf, long trousers and long sleeves and visibly pregnant and married. But she was treated badly in almost every village we passed through. Sometimes we got into small fights. I have traveled in 50+ countries and never had this kind of experiences anywhere. Especially in Islamic countries like Turkey, Iran and Pakistan I met the best people. But Morocco left a bad taste in our mouth.
Peter
Hi Brian,
We cycled from Agadir south through the Anti Atlas to Tafraoute in January, 2012.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvanpeenen/sets/72157631859309496/
Here you can see some photos, video and a map of our route. Until then, it was one of the best month-long cycling trips we've done. Great weather, nice people, good food, fabulous camping and cheap hotels, even in Marrakesh we paid less than $50 for a nice hotel, including breakfast, right in the centre, 2 blocks away from the Djemma.
No problems whatsoever. Always able to find or buy water and food. People were helpful. Cold higher in the mountains but in October that's probably not an issue.
Enjoy, Pv
Hello, how are you today?
I am a big knower morocco topic. I travel every year there. But i have not know the Sahara yet!.
If you can to tell about your route (cities, towns), i maybe could explain you somethings.
I went in April 2 years ago and the weather was just wonderfull for cycling....I went all around Morocco.....beach,atlas and sahara....I did 5 weeks,mixing bus and bike.
About my route:
I started in Ceuta(bike)...to Fes(bike)...Meknes.(bike)..Rabat(Train)...Casablanca(Train) then Marrakesh...Bike to Quarzottee,,,,back to marrakesh.,...
good trip
Let me know any questions with more details.
Gerardo
Hello Mkadey,
I have visit every year to Morocco, by bike or with my family for 13 years.
That country has a fantastic weather and food, only you have to avoid the summer (july/agoust).
In winter it is ussualy rains, but the temperature is pleasant, too.
By cycling: in 2011 i went to Marrakech to Essaouira, and in 2012 Tanger to Souk el Arbaa/Moulay Bouselham (in the north)
You can to use free camping without problem near, or into the small villages. But it is polite if at firt you ask permission for the camping. The people is very hospitable.
I thing the best time of year is in spring or autumn. Dont forget this year, in july is ramadan month.
My youtube trips in Morocco:
2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3wdTF5nEqo
2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZkIYG4yM0c
When you are going across the countryside, in small villages you can to rent a house with a family into (maybe 5-10€/nigth), and have a dinner and breakfast with them. Maybe they dont want money, but it is a good idea to give same money or gifts to the childrens before you go out.
email, if you have some question...
(sorry my english) regards, Rafael.
This is all very helpful.
In general how are the roads and traffic? Does the spring or fall offer more in the way of fresh local fruits and vegetables? Also, if we don't bring a tent about how much should we budget for accommodation?
well the roads are fine in general,the traffic is the annoyoing....like in any world city...but here sometimes the drivers are just cray....but like in any place,just use comun sense in cycling....to me was better spring,I didn't go in Fall,....but sometimes summer and fall in some countries the rain is the problem...check weather for a month.
I didn't bring a tent....but you can use it if you want,there is plenty of wild camping,but I can;t remember camping places...I didn't see any problem with the people,they just don't mess up with foreigns...but if you are trying to be friendly they will be friendly.
about money,morrocco in my time it was cheap....thats the reason I didn't bring a tent,the hotels are in the 3-10 dlls the night or sometimes 15 dlls,it depends the location,town etc....but by sure you can negotiate the price,they by rutine will give you 5-10 dlls more than the normal...I did pay always less than the first price....and never get to the first hotel you see,in most cities there is a 2-3 hotels around,and they will fight for your money.
Between Marrakesh and Quarzate the cycling by the Atlas is a must....then from Quarzate I hire a touring Co to get to the Sahara for 3 days,because basically you will spend part of one day and one night in the desert....to me was just enough,there is some times packages for more days cheaper but I believe one day and night is enough in Desert.
There is some packages from Marrakesh to the Sahara but if you are cycling is better the Packages fromQuarzate.,because the atlas cycling.
Is real a challenge the climbing,but to me was one of the highlights of my Morroco trip.
The cycling by the beaches is fine as well,but the main atraction are the towns by the beach...I did the part Marrakesh to Essaouire then to Agadir,I believe is the best part by the beaches in Moroco,I got back to Marrakesh by bus...but trough the road back to marrakesh I saw real nice sceneraries,so you can try by bike this route if you have time.
To me in my trip the better places to cycling were the Meknes,fes area and their sorroundings,Marrakesh to Quarzate area,and the beach section....the other Morocco areas seem to me like they have too much traffic and not too many places to enjoy the cycling.
good trip
Gerardo
Matthew,
We cycled in Morocco in january, 2012. One of our best tours ever. Great weather, although we got stuck for one day in the High Atlas in a snow storm. It was fun, although a bit cold. Food was great. People were great and hospitable. We camped and used hotels. Some photos, video and a map of our route are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulvanpeenen/sets/72157631859309496/
Traffic on our route was very light. Even close to Marrakech the traffic was no issue. Drivers were very respectful of cyclists and we always felt safe.
This is very encouraging. Thanks Paul. About how much a day does it cost to tour in Morocco if you split your time between camping and hotels? Were you wild camping or staying in designated areas?
We always wild-camped ("camp sauvage"). No problem although good to ask people if you're in an area where people live nearby and it was never a problem. We often camped in groves of palm trees, out of sight, on the edge of towns. And out in the desert, just anywhere beside the road. The only designated camp site we saw was only really for RV's and not suitable for tenting.
Water can be problematic. Carry lots. We always got water in some town in the afternoon and carried enough for the night and the next morning and the rest of the day until we knew we could resupply down the road.
In january, hotels were dirt cheap: $20-$30 (for two) including breakfast and sometimes dinner. And negotiable in many places. Even in Marrakech, right in the old city near the Djemma, we paid less than $50 per night for a double in a very nice hotel, including breakfast.
Hello Matthew,
I am happy all you are funcy and enjoy in your Marocco-tour.
I have seen your photos, I am momed with it. I have remember my Moroco-Tours, and I have revive with your trip.
The next time in the Morocco North, it is diferent...
now ,I am in your country, in Washinton!
regards,
Rafael.
Hi Matthew, I did about 7 weeks in Morocco a few months ago - January & February and the weather was pretty good, although for cycling the winds can be a bit of a handful. I toured coast, mountains and the desert, check out my blog (choose Morocco in the category drop-down) and if you've any Q's, please just ask.
I was doing it on the cheap, so a mixture of wild camping and the cheapest accommodation I could get, it's easily doable on 10 euros a day - as I spent quite a bit less than this.
http://www.dereksbiketrip.com
Derek
Thank you Derek for the information. I'll be in touch with any questions.