Morocco

Owlhouse

Full Member

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104
Thinking of taking the plunge and having a go to Morocco. Plan would be a couple of weeks down to Tarifa and ferry across. Anyone done it and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Well that's your choice........................ I think you could be just as much at risk in London or just driving on motorways through France and Spain.
We've been to Morocco twice and will probably go again this year............unless, of course, the warnings get any more dire. We've seen the link so don't need reminding anymore about why you wouldn't go.
So ask away@owlhouse................There are some really useful threads on the Fun site that are essential readings for taking a motorhome to Morocco
 
Webby said:
Well that's your choice........................ I think you could be just as much at risk in London or just driving on motorways through France and Spain.
We've been to Morocco twice and will probably go again this year............unless, of course, the warnings get any more dire. We've seen the link so don't need reminding anymore about why you wouldn't go.
So ask away@owlhouse................There are some really useful threads on the Fun site that are essential readings for taking a motorhome to Morocco
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The link you posted to another forum, the last post on the Morocco thread was Dec 2018. The world has changed greatly since 2018, and is changing for the worst IMO within the ME, which spills over into North Africa countries. We had Morocco penciled in for early next year trip, now binned for the foreseeable future.

Lovely part of our world is the ME & NA, it can also be a very dangerous part of our world, which is a shame, as the majority of the people Ive met when over there are always very nice, trying to live their lives in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, there are factions out there, who do not wear uniforms, hellbent on doing harm to Westerners, even their own citizens, more so when tensions are high.

My choice was to offer Owlhouse positive feedback, including the up to date FO travel advice, which maybe the gent has already consulted?
 
At present there is no FCDO advice not to travel there, but should this advice be given it is rather selfish to ignore it as it puts at risk those who may be tasked with resolving any issues. I have personal experience of this.
 
You’ll not have an issue related to the Middle East, just don’t travel East into Libya or Egypt which is a shame as it’s a great drive.

DO NOT GO TO MOROCCO AND MISS MARRAKESH

That’s where Africa really starts from a Morocco point of view IMO.

Done 40+ trips mostly in a truck, but also in the Motorhome several times.

Customs in Tangier can be onerous but it’s a great introduction into the local mindset.
 
Check your insurers. Chances are that you will be fine but surely the local population may be unhelpful due to western support for Israel and UK attacks on terrorists ! If you do not feel comfortable then no enjoyment (IMHO). So nothing to do with politics !
 
We are (outline) planning to nip across to Morocco in January 2026 as part of our Spanish winter trip so I'll follow this thread and any info, with interest.
 
Owlhouse, we plan to start our trip stepping out from Dover on the 11th November with an open ended return date (within Moroccan visa requirements of course.). Hoping to bump into Kathy and James of Clunegapyears at some point when we are there. Kathy pointed me to https://motoroaming.com/ who have some very detailed and fabulous advice. Including on buying Sims and insurance etc upon arrival.

I have a sort of detailed itinerary built around the above source which I intend to follow but probably wont as we will also change things along the way (sorry if its a bit long) posted below, plus my view of the situation out there. The list is not dated but serves a guide as to what is there maybe or not. I'm no expert, this is my first Morocco

However, Tarfaya with the St Expurey museum and the little prince are compulsory imho.. Its going to be a long trip

Would welcome anyone who might suggest additions to my rather badly pasted and poorly spelt (I don't care its for me) spreadsheet below

1​
Cap Spartelmost NW part of AfricaCaves of Herculesused to be brothelsAway with the steiners
noelithic occupation
Camping35.787,-5.9289were also stone mines
Hercules stayed here before his 11th labour (golden apples from Hesperides garden (lixus)
camping/foodparking sol achakarit was here hercules smashed thu the mountain Atlas and craeted the med
35.7796,-5.9299between Gib and Cueta rock at Gib and Mont Hacho know as pillars of Hercules
1995 Def leppard played here plus London and Vancover 1st band to play
three continents in one day
2​
ASILAHtake n1 roadWhite town fringed by the sea dates from 1500BC
phonecian trade town
15th cent fort from portugese invasion
Camping ASADA35.4717,-6.028519th century pirat base until the Austrians got a bit upset
Avenue mohamedel halduiNougat shop
Bakery
Thursday is market day
3​
LaracheBelieved to be site of the Gardens of Hesperides (golden Apples)
camping35,2048,-61484
35.1988,-61533
Afriquia service stn35.1489,-6148
4​
Moulay Bousselham
la casa latifa34.8700, -6.2798ornotholigist Hassan Dallil
5​
Rabat and casablanca
Mohammedia
camping mimosa33.7272, -7.3349use mimosa as base for rabat and casablance
6​
El JadidaFortress Mazagan 16th century portugese
Irson well filmed othello from here
7 QualidiaR&R stop
Laguna park32.7254, -9.0435
camping ca del qualidia32.7319, -9.0442
8 safiSafiR & R sardines since 16th century portugese architechture
pottery and ceramics quarter on Rue du Souk
portugese cathedral 1519 plus a national museum
restaurants at Place de L'Independence
The Dar el Bahar is a small ancient fortress overlooking the sea
Kasbah Hamidouch, part of the system of fortified outposts built by Moulay Ismail.
Drive back passing through the Chaidma region, the land inhabited by the holy
Regara Berbers, descendants of the seven apostles of Islam
9​
EssaouriaJimmy hendrix wrote Castles in the Sand here
Camp Sidi Kaouki Beach31.3505, -9.7947Surf citynamed after a 19th century marabout(leader n teacher) derilict building
north part of beach is his shrine
locals also sleep here
10​
Legzira beachRock island and beach arch
Camping at top of hill29.4463, -10.1154restaurants etc on beach
11 sid ifnifishing port
Ait Baamran ethnic group ancient traders with europeans and animal husbandry
1957-58 the Infini war against spain ended with a 1-0 win for Morocco
pylons still visible of the spanish cable car system for unloading ships
12​
TarfayaAntione De Saint-Expury lived here 1927 1928 as the station manager
when he was an airmail pilot Aeropostale
Antione De Saint-Expurey Museum
Tarfaya wind farm (largest in Arica)
Port Victoria found by Donald McKenzie 1882
hotel good food La Courbine d’Argent
13​
return to Agidir7 plus hr drive
stopping at Naturalfarmong30.1796, -9.4670good food nice camping
12​
Route R105
Ich underground kasbah
Campinig Amerdoul29.0465, -8.8463
13​
R107 Ich to tafraouteberber museum
camping tazka29.7154, -8.9864
14​
R109 Taroudanthistoric moroccan fortified city 3.7kms city walls
15​
QuarzazateDoorway to the desert and the film centre of Morocco
camping quarzazate30.9232, -6.8867Lawrence of Arabia, The Living Daylights, Mummy, The Last Temptation of Christ
Gladiator,Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Wages of Fear (Game of Thrones)
and many more
Was a crossing point for traders on their way to Europe and former French garrison
tiz n tichka passWinding stevio type pass
Ait benhaddou
16​
Erg Chebbi
Hotel la Chance
]
18​
MarraketchMarmite cityRed city11th century fortified city
Jemaa el Fna (the square) trans The gathering area of the dead
Badi palace and bahia palace
le jardin secret
Ben Youseff mardrasa museum
marraketch museum
El Bacha café (long queues)
Le Jardin restaurant
19​
marraketchLe Jardin MajorellesYves St Laurent bought this place and is buried here
Ourika ValleyCactus Thiemann Farm
Le Relias camping
20​
Ouzoud water falls110mtrs over 3 drops
21​
Merzouga/chebbi areaMerzouga once flourished as a tropical jungle until it was turned into a desert
by God who punished families for refused offerings to a poor woman and buried them
in the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi
21​
Azrou
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fesOldest city 789admoroccos old capitalwas worlds largest for 500 years
started as two cities fes el bali and fes el jdid oldest continuing univesity 859ad
23​
voloubilisroman ruins
24​
Oujda
25 Berkane


NB: fwiw I'm relaxed about the situation (Morocco btw is in North Africa not the Middle East ) To get anywhere near the troubles would require an 8hr flight to that particular area in the Middle East) or a 3000+mile drive (if it were possible) thru Algeria, Lybia and Egypt From my personal experience of the Middle East (I worked in the Lebanon on a Syrian Govt project, also Egypt and forays into Israel towards the end of the last war) is that people have no general malice towards western people. If there is active anti western "stuff" going on, then it will be blatantly obvious to the world.... ........at the moment there isn't and it wont suddenly fire up overnight, don't let it spoil your plans for now.
 
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Appears my post has been taken the wrong way, post was also not to put folks off travel to Morocco. My comment "I'd be giving any Muslim country a BIG swerve for the time being" is my opinion, only, based on previous experience.
 
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"NB: fwiw I'm relaxed about the situation (Morocco btw is in North Africa not the Middle East ) To get anywhere near the troubles would require an 8hr flight to that particular area in the Middle East) or a 3000+mile drive (if it were possible) thru Algeria, Lybia and Egypt From my personal experience of the Middle East (I worked in the Lebanon on a Syrian Govt project, also Egypt and forays into Israel towards the end of the last war) is that people have no general malice towards western people. If there is active anti western "stuff" going on, then it will be blatantly obvious to the world.... ........at the moment there isn't and it wont suddenly fire up overnight, don't let it spoil your plans for now."

I certainly hope you have a relaxed build up and tour of Morocco, with you feeding back to the forum. Yesterday saw protests within Rabat and surrounding towns. As for ME distance to NA, Morocs near neighbour Tunisia, terrible body count at the Museum in Tunis, then a few month later tourists sunbathing on the beach, this was 2015. It was not locals doing these heinous attacks, it was Jihadis trained in Syria. The link below is a good and accurate resource covering ME & NA, click on Arab gates then country required. https://middle-east-online.com/en/arab-countries/morocco

I too, witnessed no malice while in the ME, worst experience was actually transiting through Eilat from Jordan into the Sinai, Israeli border control got humpty when we told them not to stamp our passports, not a good to have their stamp within your passport. The majority of the populace within the Arab states are all decent folks looking to eek out a living in peace, with the current situation, these are the same people who suffer EG: many rely on tourism, which is normally the first industry to suffer which impacts their economy, which is very sad.

ME/NA a beautiful part of our world, being destroyed daily with this current crisis. We recently witnessed the violence and destruction recently within our own borders, when tensions are high, a situation turns ugly.
 
My reasoning is roughly as follows and no way a personal assault on your comments

Yep understand what your saying but we have protests in London and other cities every day around the world(is it all kicking off because of Rabat??.....nope) and similar to your previous comment where you pointed out that its worse now than between 2018 and today because the world has changed?

However, it seems to me that then quoting the 2015 attack in Tunis, a different country which to me was actually a worse year than 2018 has it got better then?....nope or yes 2015 involved attacks around the western world. It was actually worse than today in other countries

Morocco has been very peaceful thanks to the Government working hard with the West (esp Spain) to combat terrorism, Just like most everyone does. all credit to its governance.

To me it merely points to the fact that yes we are in an everchanging world and the personal balance of what actually is worse can suit any situation when we chose.

Since the turn of the century the world has clearly been at its bloodiest, The worst century so far from what I can see. Such a shame really. But Suggesting giving Muslim countries a swerve is imho somewhere between over generalising/overstating/ maybe a little blinkered

By that I'm not insulting you but I feel we are in danger of comparing apple to oranges to pears and back again from many many miles away in the UK? eg:

By the same measure you just mentioned. If avoiding Morocco because of an attack in a nearby country in 2015 is sensible? Should we also avoid visiting France. After all it has been victim of many attacks some more recent than 2015?? Of course we don't, we judge it by what we see by applying commonsense against risk What about the USA, Turkey, India, Denmark and all the others that were attacked by Muslims in 2015 Isn't that by your comment a very similar risk??.....of course its not

Think about it? What about "swerving Muslim countries"? does that include Brunei, India, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaya, Mali etc. (2015 they were attacked and it was in the respective countries, not over another border). they are all Muslim

:) Maybe we should swerve London and Liecester then :)

We are where we are, Morocco, it has been relatively free (and very peaceful) of that kind of violence for a very, very long time. Rabat? The whole world seems to be (rightfully) protesting on the streets about what's been going on daily we can see that in the news. everyone has a point in the modern world

As I say I'm relaxed about it, but we live in a world that can change, of that I am well aware but avoiding all Muslim countries because something is happening 3000miles away in countries that do not share your views is maybe a little too risk averse and broad imho.

Living in such a connected world means we can more readily and quickly apply common sense to what is coming in.

Interesting to hear about your Israel passport experience. did you know if you tell the PP office of your plans, that your entitled to more than one UK passport? I used to have three when I was working. it was very useful at making life easy between various countries too

I hope you have a great trip Owlhouse, I'm hoping too as well. would love to hear how you get on
 
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jim and pat dalton said:
My reasoning is roughly as follows and no way a personal assault on your comments I never took your reply as an attack to my post.

Yep understand what your saying but we have protests in London and other cities every day around the world(is it all kicking off because of Rabat??.....nope) and similar to your previous comment where you pointed out that its worse now than between 2018 and today because the world has changed? Nothing is kicking off because of Rabat protest, detail here https://www.israelnationalnews.com/en/news/397210 Re: 2018, this was my reference to a link to another site website Morocco tour info, which when I quickly viewed the link, last post I could see dated 2018, my point, although maybe not clear, areas within the posts may not be safe now, 6+ year on.

However, it seems to me that then quoting the 2015 attack in Tunis, a different country which to me was actually a worse year than 2018 has it got better then?....nope or yes 2015 involved attacks around the western world. It was actually worse than today in other countries Within your post you stated the distance between Moroc and the ME. I stated Tunisia as a near neighbour, where atrocities to westerners took place by Jihadi Tunisia citizens who trained in their murderous trade in Syria. Easy targets is what they look for, including governments taking their eye of the ball. Which Israel did a year ago.

Morocco has been very peaceful thanks to the Government working hard with the West (esp Spain) to combat terrorism, Just like most everyone does. all credit to its governance. Absolutely good governance. I can imagine "the Government working hard with the West" because those factions who want to cause mayhem dont play by the Queensberry rules.

To me it merely points to the fact that yes we are in an everchanging world and the personal balance of what actually is worse can suit any situation when we chose.

Since the turn of the century the world has clearly been at its bloodiest, The worst century so far from what I can see. Such a shame really. But Suggesting giving Muslim countries a swerve is imho somewhere between over generalising/overstating/ maybe a little blinkered. I am certainly non of your three latter points within your sentence, I was referring to the ME & NA. Countries most likely forum members would travel to. Hard to say what century was the bloodiest?

By that I'm not insulting you but I feel we are in danger of comparing apple to oranges to pears and back again from many many miles away in the UK. Yet you mention London and France!
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jim and pat dalton said:
By the same measure you just mentioned. If avoiding Morocco because of an attack in a nearby country in 2015 is sensible? Should we also avoid visiting France. After all it has been victim of many attacks some more recent than 2015?? Of course we don't, we judge it by what we see by applying commonsense against risk What about the USA, Turkey, India, Denmark and all the others that were attacked by Muslims in 2015 Isn't that by your comment a very similar risk??.....of course its not First of all lets be correct here, I never said any forum member should avoid Morocco, I gave my opinion, some of which based of personal experience. Maybe the OP, Owlhouse, had not viewed the UK FO Travel site?

Think about it? What about "swerving Muslim countries"? does that include Brunei, India, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaya, Mali etc. (2015 they were attacked and it was in the respective countries, not over another border). they are all Muslim You appear to hang on to the date 2015, December 21st 1988, PANAM flight 103. Three decades+ ago, you don't have to be within a countries borders to be impacted. More important for me to point out, I have Muslim friend, salt of the earth, as I mentioned in a previous post, the ones who want to do harm, do not wear uniforms.

:) Maybe we should swerve London and Liecester then :) AGREED.

We are where we are, Morocco, it has been relatively free (and very peaceful) of that kind of violence for a very, very long time. Rabat? The whole world seems to be (rightfully) protesting on the streets about what's been going on daily we can see that in the news. everyone has a point in the modern world Rabat protests were more towards their government normalisation agreement with Israel. We only have to look at our own recent, protests, upgrade to riots, to see how easily people can be manipulated into committing all kind of crimes.

As I say I'm relaxed about it, but we live in a world that can change, of that I am well aware but avoiding all Muslim countries because something is happening 3000miles away in countries that do not share your views is maybe a little too risk averse and broad imho. I stated my opinion, not my views.

Living in such a connected world means we can more readily and quickly apply common sense to what is coming in. I have worked alongside Phd's who have no clue what common sense is.

Interesting to hear about your Israel passport experience. did you know if you tell the PP office of your plans, that your entitled to more than one UK passport? I used to have three when I was working. it was very useful at making life easy between various countries too at that time one PP was suffice, I merely pointed out if a forum member any time in the future finds themselves travel to Israel, politely request they do not stamp your passport.

I hope you have a great trip Owlhouse, I'm hoping too as well. would love to hear how you get on Ditto.
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My reply in red text.
 
Please can we leave the discussion about whether it is safe to go to Morocco or indeed anywhere else.....it really really does not help.
As I said please let this be an informative thread about practicalities for those who have decided using the same rationale as Jim and Pat #14 to travel to Morocco. I like your itinerary Jim and those are many of the places we have stayed at before and will visit again.
I would also recommend adding Tiznit and then Chefchaouen on the way back up to Tangier Med.
 
Webby said:
Please can we leave the discussion about whether it is safe to go to Morocco or indeed anywhere else.....
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I’ve nothing else to add apart from, those who chose to visit Morocco, I sincerely hope they have a safe and enjoyable time there, and I look forward to viewing informative posts and pictures to the forum 👍
 
Webby said:
Please can we leave the discussion about whether it is safe to go to Morocco or indeed anywhere else.....it really really does not help.
As I said please let this be an informative thread about practicalities for those who have decided using the same rationale as Jim and Pat #14 to travel to Morocco. I like your itinerary Jim and those are many of the places we have stayed at before and will visit again.
I would also recommend adding Tiznit and then Chefchaouen on the way back up to Tangier Med.
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Thanks webby, quite agree

I did look at the blue city but left it off for some reson, I can't remember.

Tiznit!! now that sounds good, Pat likes her jewelry (well actually its me! I can't resist buying it for her) great recomendation. The rest of the city sounds good too

Tiznit is in!! :)
 
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