What type of car for the Atlas?

Hi there, in mid-January my wife and I are leaving from Marrakech heading to the Atlas (Essaouira ==> Dades ==> Merzouga ==> Draa Valley) before finally making our way to Taghazout near Agadir for 2 or 3 days.

The route ends up looking like this, except for the end where we head toward the ocean. https://www.les-covoyageurs.com/ressources/images-produits/photo-produit-29-carte.jpg?v=6

I’m hesitating about renting a car, and since I don’t know the road conditions, I’d like to know if a Dacia Sandero is enough for this kind of trip?

Another thing making me hesitate is the possibility of rain and roads being less passable.

I’m reaching out to more experienced travelers who can share their advice, of course.

Thanks in advance

Hi there,

For this classic route, any sedan will do just fine.

The roads are similar to French national and departmental roads.

thanks attila for this reply.

Hi,

For this very classic route, any sedan will do.

The roads are equivalent to French national and departmental roads.

I would’ve gone with renting a good 4x4 instead. But hey, if you’d rather rent a sedan, that’s up to you! 🙂. In the Atlas mountains, there are often unpaved roads. For example, if I remember correctly, the road between Ifni and Tachedirt is a bit narrow.

Hi there,

Any standard passenger car will do. The Sandero works great.

There’s a link to the planned route. Renting a 4x4 for this trip would be about as useful as renting one from Clermont-Ferrand to explore the Puy de Dôme...

Hi there,

No need for a 4x4—unless you're just looking to have some fun in the Erg Chebbi dunes or tackle rougher mountain trails, that is! 😉

That said, it’s not the rain you should worry about. In January, watch out for snow on the roads in the High and Middle Atlas! The Tizi n’Tichka Pass sometimes closes due to heavy snowfall. Make sure to check conditions before heading out, and you might need to equip your tires with chains or snow tires. When it happens, it’s not just a few flakes—it can get serious! https://fr.le360.ma/societe/moyen-atlas-des-routes-impraticables-apres-de-fortes-chutes-de-neige_N3ULAYOXDFHCTIPQNRB26POBDI/

Hi there

Any standard rental car will do. The Sandero is a great choice.

Thanks, Djalma

thanks mathews

thanks kate and good point indeed

Back in 1975, the entire route of your trip was doable without any issues in a Renault 4! The loop through the Todgha Gorges, Tamtatouchte, Agoudal, and the Dades Gorges was on a slightly rough track, but it was passable with a regular car... though it took the whole day. It's probably fully paved now—I highly recommend it!

We did a route a bit like yours with a rental sedan. No problem at all. Here’s the story of our trip. https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9865000;#9865000

thanks lea (I’ll read your story) and thanks everyone..

If you're considering the Todgha Gorge–Tamtatouchte–Agoudal–Dades Gorge loop (see Djalma’s post), there’s now a paved road connecting Tamtetoucht to Msemrir (Dadès) via the Tizi n'Ague pass (2,600 m) without going through Agoudal. The Agoudal–Dadès road via the Tizi n'Ouano pass is nearing the end of paving—it might even be finished by now. This pass reaches 2,900 m. These are two mountain routes with potential snow-related issues in late January. Before committing, it’s wise to check road conditions either with hotel owners in Tamtetoucht or the gendarmerie in Msemrir.

Renting a 4x4 for this trip would be about as useful as renting one from Clermont-Ferrand to explore the Puy de Dôme...

Wait, can you really explore the Puy de Dôme without a 4x4 now? I wouldn’t risk it 😅

On the other hand, at this time of year, it's better to consider snow tires! 😉

For weather alerts: https://vigilance.marocmeteo.ma/?q=fr/meteo/vigimet/generale