13-day 4x4 Morocco road trip: feedback on itinerary and desert crossing

Hi there! First off, do you have any experience driving in the desert? Next, do you plan on venturing deep into it? If so, it’s still recommended to take a guide. If you want to camp in the desert, no particular issues—just make sure to bring large water containers. If you stray off the road, it’s highly recommended to get the number of a tow truck service to call in case of trouble. However, I’m not sure cell service works everywhere in Morocco, especially in desert areas. So if needed, consider getting a satellite phone plan like Inmarsat or Iridium. As for the plates—are they large perforated ones, I assume? When camping, watch out for scorpions in the sand!

Hello, Regarding the crossing from the Zagora road to Foum Zguid, there are several possible routes, more or less sandy and more or less well-marked. No technical difficulties if you stick to the track—you’ll obviously need to deflate your tires a bit, but not too much if you’re not venturing into the dunes. By staying on the sandy track that runs along the Erg Chegaga, you can drive with a pressure of 1.8 bars in a Land Cruiser, so standard inflation for a track. If you want to take a few turns on the dunes, you’ll need to go significantly lower, with a minimum of 0.8 bar, while 1.2 is a good all-around pressure... The main issue is navigation, so having a GPS and knowing which route to follow is key. There are several tracks leading to Iriki and tons of trails going all over the place in this area, so try to "retrieve" waypoints or a track from another traveler (you can also buy the Gandini guide for the area—it provides waypoints for certain tracks). That said, if you get a bit lost, just head toward the mountain ranges to the northwest to find easier tracks, as the dunes are to the south. For bivouacking, try to avoid vegetated areas as much as possible—those are where the little critters hang out. It’s better to be fully in the dunes, away from the "shrubs" bordering the erg. In July, it’ll be hot, but nothing extreme. No need for a guide to make this crossing... as long as you have a GPS for extra safety and, of course, know how to use it properly.

Thanks for your replies.

Water will be priority number one, along with the diesel jerrycan, during the crossing. For safety and peace of mind, I’m thinking of getting a GPS beacon like the GARMIN inReach. I’ve heard they can be rented—any feedback on that?

For the desert, I don’t plan to stray from the tracks. Maybe once or twice just to "have some fun," but always with extreme caution. The 4x4 we’re renting will be well-equipped—I found a rental company (medloc) that seems very professional, and the Google reviews confirm it. The rate for 14 days is really good: 1610 € from 07/19 to 08/01, including a roof rack, compressor, shovel, sand plates, cooler, and tow strap.

For the bivouacs, I think I’ll buy everything I need locally in Marrakech or nearby (sleeping bags, camping mattresses, cooking utensils, stove, tarp, etc.). On the way back, I’ll leave all the gear with local families—it might come in handy, and we won’t be taking it on the plane anyway.

I’ve taken note to avoid spots with bushes and vegetation so I don’t get surprised by critters in the middle of the night 😄

For tire pressure, that’s what I had in mind too, so it’s all good.

For GPS, I’m mapping my route on OpenStreetMap and exporting the GPX to OsmAnd on my phone.

For data, I plan to get one or more Maroc Telecom SIM cards—I’ve heard they have the best coverage. Free offers international plans for 20 €, but I’m not sure I trust it for this trip.

What do you think of the route for these two weeks?

For water, you definitely need to bring some, but there's no need for extra diesel. If you fill up at Tagounite (or even Zagora), you'll have enough fuel to reach Foum Zguid, even if consumption is a bit higher on the tracks along the erg. No need for a beacon—you're not in a "real" desert... there's always some traffic, and phone coverage is available in many areas. Regarding the route, it *is* quite long for the duration of the stay. You don’t drive very fast in Morocco—the average speed is low, so you’ll spend a lot of hours covering relatively few kilometers. That said, you’ll see how it goes when you arrive in Foum Zguid. If you're short on time, you can always shorten your route.

Thanks for the reply, Perju.

In terms of things to see along the route, are there any must-visit spots? Or are we really in the very wild part of Morocco?

As for the sights, I’d say—just my two cents—that the main draws along this route are the landscapes and the different villages and ksars with their "visual" appeal. With a tour guide, you’ll have no trouble spotting these highlights along the way. For a more "cultural" experience, Marrakech is the better bet. Again, guides will cover all the must-see spots.

In terms of things to see along the route, are there places you absolutely must visit? Or are we really in the very wild parts of Morocco?

If you really want to get into the wild parts, you’ll need to head deep into the desert—but it’s best to take a guide then. After that, it’s up to you. The northern part of Ouarzazate, let’s say up to the foothills of the Atlas, consists of very rocky plateaus, and you can’t drive there by car.

I made sure to avoid spots with bushes and vegetation so I wouldn’t be surprised by critters in the middle of the night 😄

To illustrate Perju’s point, along the track leading to the Erg Checagga hit by a sandstorm https://www.flickr.com/photos/105926314@N04/40948286262

The northern part of Ouarzazate, let's say up to the foothills of the Atlas, consists of very rocky plateaus, and you can't drive there by car.

I don't know if you can check out this topic (you usually need to register on the forum), but it's a "route description" for a mountain crossing north of Ouarzazate... done on dirt tracks at the time the description was made... which are now paved.

https://www.casa-trotter.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=10044

I don’t know if you can check this thread (you usually have to register on the forum)

Okay, but maybe I didn’t explain myself clearly. When I say "wild areas," I mean spots that are hard to reach with a vehicle—basically off-road. Obviously, driving on paved roads is pretty much problem-free.

I wasn’t responding to your comment about the "wild" areas... but rather to the one about the Atlas sectors north of Ouarzazate... On the other hand... the wild areas... I’m not really sure which sectors you’re referring to.

On the other hand... the wild areas... I don’t really see which sectors you’re talking about.

For me, wild areas are all the zones that aren’t accessible by motorized vehicle—only on foot—and where there are no dwellings.

I get your definition of wilderness, but my question was about the situation in Morocco regarding those areas you call wild. It seems to me that the route our friend was hoping for was mostly focused on civilized regions, connected by tarmac, and that only the Erg Chegaga/Iriki section could offer a bit of wilderness if you skirted the erg by getting closer to the Algerian border... and even then, because that area isn’t really "wild"... 😉

Actually, by "wild" I mean places that aren’t too touristy—no big cities, etc.

Actually, by "wild" I mean places that aren’t too touristy—no big cities, etc.

I misunderstood what you were looking for. By "wild," I thought you meant places where no one goes—spots with no human presence, or where there never has been any. Basically, no roads, no tracks, just sand and rocks—pure mineral territory.

Oh come on, not *that* bad! 😄 We're looking for a mix of peace and stunning landscapes. And if there happen to be some great sights to visit, that'd be ideal. But I get the impression that our route doesn't have tons to see, and that we'd need to head toward northern Marrakech for that instead.