First tour of Morocco & the promise of more?

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foss

foss

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We have just returned from our virgin trip to Morocco, along the Draa Valley-what an amazing country & group of fellow travellers we were lucky enough to spend four weeks with. Some incredible memories, a place I will for certain return to; although having your gear & transfer box out in Zagora the day before 5 days in the desert was quite frightening!
Personally I am very glad we did not attempt our first trip alone-the comfort zone of fellow travellers & an experienced overlander came into its own on many occasion. Waypoints are all well & good-but not when whole trails across dunes & lakes have been moved by changes in weather. Much time could have been lost & trouble have been got into with no experience of the situation.
I would highly recommend Trailmasters to anyone wanting to visit Morocco.

So now is my dilemma of a new adventure...does anyone have any experience of
Scandinavia? Whether lone travel or with a group. If so whereabouts did you go?
Is there opportunity for overland/off road travel, as I have heard there are many restrictions in that part of Europe regarding where you can & cant drive...

Any knowledge appreciated

thanks
 

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Was it at Garage Iriki Zagora you had your work done?

"you want greasy greasy?"

Easy to find in Zagora, they actually come to find YOU when you your on the outskirts of town (coming off the pistes).

Where else did trailmasters take you? not just the Draa I hope?

Next time you go, do it as a solo vehicle ;) you will enjoy the experience 100 times more.

G
 
It was Ali's garage...I have photos of it-its plastered in "Dakar" & off roading stickers & photos of "Ali" doing his thing!
We came down through the Cedar Forests (beautiful), Black Mountains, Zagora, northern edge of the desert then onto the start of the Draa to its end at the Atlantic, back along the coast via Essaouira.
We got lots of "greasy greasy"! & one "Lavage"! Lovely people, a real eye opener in the wilderness. Just how do families with young children survive it; hats off.
We have track logs on the gps & although Ive been there once I would still find it daunting solo. We came across a french group who had spent 6 hours looking for a route out of a canyon-that would be me!
Trailmasters were superb. However we did meet some folks on the Bilbao ferry home returning from a tour with "another off road adventure" organisation who hadnt had the best of experiences; which is a shame after spending so much money...they werent pleased. We were fortunate enough to cancel with said organisation 3 weeks before we were due to leave as we were warned about a lack of organisation.

How long have you been going on your own?
 
Hi Foss, Glad you enjoyed it, not heard much feedback for trailmasters :)

We went to Morocco last year and I had only been driving for 3 years :D that was my 1st time driving abroad and our 1st trip away with a vehicle :D Sometimes you just have to get out there and get on with it! honestly, its not as difficult as it 1st looks.

stuck in a canyon you say. Ok, take a step back and think about it logically (over a cup of tea). You would have plenty of water, plenty of food and plenty of fuel. along with your sleeping system so whats the problem? whats the worst case? a few nights wildcamping maybe? take your time, work it out and you will be fine.

some people worry to much ;) myself included.

G
 
For sure, people worry way too much. I have been in some rather biazarre situations which often result in biazarre workarounds (take camping in a military storage facility for one under armed guard for one!) - but that is all part of the fun in my opinion.
 
Hey Griff. You say to go solo. Dumb question from a point of ignorance here so please don't think I am critisizing cos I am not. You are the second person I have spoken to who recommends the desert experience solo as being the best way. You know who the other one is I am sure.

Doesn't it carry huge risks? I mean everyone always says don't go laning alone so is this not far more risky? After all I wouldn't want to be stuck out on the lanes on me own but at least I Know civilisation isn't that far away but it the desert?

Cheers

Ryder
 
Ryder said:
Hey Griff. You say to go solo. Dumb question from a point of ignorance here so please don't think I am critisizing cos I am not. You are the second person I have spoken to who recommends the desert experience solo as being the best way. You know who the other one is I am sure.

Doesn't it carry huge risks? I mean everyone always says don't go laning alone so is this not far more risky? After all I wouldn't want to be stuck out on the lanes on me own but at least I Know civilisation isn't that far away but it the desert?

Cheers

Ryder
Click to expand...


Its a valid point Ryder, but what you have to remember is your travelling on known pistes (or you should be) that do get used by locals (some only occassionaly). Therefore the pistes are often tame and not technically challenging to any degree, you would be very unlucky to get stuck. As they do tend to be driven by locals then someone will be along in a day or 2.

The other point to raise is that you should be confident and completely self sufficient. If you do get stuck then what? have a spade, carry waffle boards/sand ladders maybe even a winch and ground anchor. ways of extracting yourself by yourself. Always think things through and take your time. If you have sufficient supplies then there is no need to unduly worry. Know your vehicles, know how to fix common problems, take spares that will completely imobilise you.

In Morocco there are also a staggering number of shepherds around out on the desert plains and in the Atlas mountains. you will pass these people a number of times throughout the day.

the reward? a true sense of travelling alone in the wild, stopping when and where you want, sleeping where you like and sharing the experiences with your passenger (in my case my girlfriend) and only them. why would you want to share them with 24 other people you have never met? you get a true sense of culture and you have oppertunities and chances that would/could otherwise be missed. With time on yourside, you are free to do whatever you like :) thats what I love about travelling.

G
 
"The other point to raise is that you should be confident and completely self sufficient. If you do get stuck then what? have a spade, carry waffle boards/sand ladders maybe even a winch and ground anchor. ways of extracting yourself by yourself. Always think things through and take your time. If you have sufficient supplies then there is no need to unduly worry. Know your vehicles, know how to fix common problems, take spares that will completely imobilise you."

Spot on. Preparation is the key to most things in life. In my case it was a weekend in Wales to learn the Landy and basic off-roading, pay and play days, LandyRally 07 to get use to and see if I'd like bouncing around W Europe in a Landy and I did, so much I did a couple more trips solo in my Series. And now a few more trips in my Def 300, just love it. Prepare, plan, go, and enjoy. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

"the reward? a true sense of travelling alone in the wild, stopping when and where you want, sleeping where you like and sharing the experiences with your passenger (in my case my girlfriend) and only them. why would you want to share them with 24 other people you have never met? you get a true sense of culture and you have oppertunities and chances that would/could otherwise be missed. With time on yourside, you are free to do whatever you like thats what I love about travelling."

My thoughts exacly.
 
You are all quite right-I think the initial sense of panic if something goes wrong puts the "willies" up people when the situation is probably more than dealable with.
At the end of the day, you might be a long way from home, but perspective is the key to everything.
Some of us are just born to worry!
I needed that experience to convince me that common sense is the answer to most situations, now I can think about taking the wife & little man along on my next trip
 
"Some of us are just born to worry"

Sounds like me! :) But your right with the next bit, "you needed that experience", after that it's marmite. Like it or loathe it!

If your travelling around Europe; only take out comprehensive breakdown cover, no less. And in my case, if you belong to an RAC approved motor club (series 3, 90 and 110) you'll get nearly 100% off the annual fee, I pay about £98.00 per yr, well worth the money.
 
Good news Griff.

Check the conditions though, after a gearbox failure in Poitiers, I know the cover I have is tried and tested. If you can get the same for cheaper, great.

Where you off next?
 
Apparently they will tow me home if thats what i want! or to any garage. sounds good. only used it once on my old 90 and only got towed back from Exeter to Bristol so not thoroughly tested. The bloke did say something about X amount paid for overnight stays, hire car etc while mine is being fixed. cant remember exactly what he said though, I was at work.

next trip, well I could be going back to the Alps next year if a little "buisness venture" comes off. taking 5 other vehicles.

If that does not happen then nothing. Just saving hard for West Africa 2011 :) or maybe south Africa 2012. see how things go, nothing is set in stone yet.

G
 
Griffdowg said:
Its a valid point Ryder, but what you have to remember is your travelling on known pistes (or you should be) that do get used by locals (some only occassionaly). Therefore the pistes are often tame and not technically challenging to any degree, you would be very unlucky to get stuck. As they do tend to be driven by locals then someone will be along in a day or 2.

The other point to raise is that you should be confident and completely self sufficient. If you do get stuck then what? have a spade, carry waffle boards/sand ladders maybe even a winch and ground anchor. ways of extracting yourself by yourself. Always think things through and take your time. If you have sufficient supplies then there is no need to unduly worry. Know your vehicles, know how to fix common problems, take spares that will completely imobilise you.

In Morocco there are also a staggering number of shepherds around out on the desert plains and in the Atlas mountains. you will pass these people a number of times throughout the day.

the reward? a true sense of travelling alone in the wild, stopping when and where you want, sleeping where you like and sharing the experiences with your passenger (in my case my girlfriend) and only them. why would you want to share them with 24 other people you have never met? you get a true sense of culture and you have oppertunities and chances that would/could otherwise be missed. With time on yourside, you are free to do whatever you like :) thats what I love about travelling.

G
Click to expand...

I see where you are coming from... I think though, in my own case, I would probably want to take one other vehicle with me just to be on the safe side.
 
the reward? a true sense of travelling alone in the wild, stopping when and where you want, sleeping where you like and sharing the experiences with your passenger (in my case my girlfriend) and only them. why would you want to share them with 24 other people you have never met? you get a true sense of culture and you have oppertunities and chances that would/could otherwise be missed. With time on yourside, you are free to do whatever you like thats what I love about travelling.
Click to expand...

Spot on :)
 
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