Morocco overland information needed please

[jjsaul]

I am doing a mini geography project on tourism and decided to cover overland travel. I have decided to do Morocco.

I know some of you have been there and would be really grateful if you could help me out a little bit.

Which parts of morocco are visited , which areas?
What sort of facilities are out there (if any), im trying to establish how the region fits into the Butler model (http://www.geographyonline.co.uk/sitetour/resources/leisure/info3.html)

Is tourism good or bad for the area in your opinion and in what ways?


Im looking for a bit of insider knowledge and experience from those who have visited the area, to add to the boring stuff that can be fished off the internet.

Many thanks in advance,

[ROB 110 HICAP]

I did 2 trips in 94 and 96 and went more for the Atlas mountain pistes and 'desert' the other side up to the Algerian border. Most mainstream tourism is centred round Atlantic coast resorts offering day trips to the oasis towns. Fes and Marrakesh have many tourist hotels and official guides you can hire for the souks. Most of the towns have campsites with toilet blocks,aswell as auberge (hostel type) and tourist hotels. Look in Rough Guide or Lonely Planet, your local library will have these..

In the country things are more basic, and tourism is carried out by 'adventure companies' in your own vehicle or by hiring both bikes and 4x4. The tarmac has spread far and wide over the old pistes, since I went.

Speak to ajcoll as he goes regularly, or ask particular questions.

[Dave Sumner]

Visited end of 2003 while on a cruise, the ships mainly visit Agadir which seemed quite modern. Did all day trip in Land Cruisers, very interesting.
Agadir seemed geared to tourism. Several modern hotels in the resort area.

Other areas of the coast were almost deserted mainly fishing villages.

I could see potentila for devlopment there given the warm climate and superb coastline?

It was a culture shock once out of the town, third world! Very friendly people . Seemed to be a lot of small businesses welding, car repairs at side of the road! Health and Safety not an issue!!
Roads not bad, traffic fun, some vehicles looked like they would be rejected by a UK scrapper!

Worth a visit IMHO,would love to do a LR trip.

[AJC]

James,

I concur with all that Rob said.

Get yourself a Rough Guide (http://travel.roughguides.com/default.html) or Lonely Planet (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/) travel book. If you've got specific question just ask as there's plenty members here that have visited before.

AJ

[jjsaul]

Well one of the big questions is, 'Why morocco (or that part of it) ? '

we all have to do presentations on a type of tourism and where people go and why.

Why do you specifically go to Morocco for overlanding trips? This is a question i cannot answer myself having never been, hence thought i would ask someone who has ;)

Cheers,

[Woodparts]

Can't do much better than Rich Clafton. He's taken Tiggurr his 101 there many times and runs tours there.

Rich Clafton
E-mail Address(es):
rclafton@lineone.net

He is an absolute mine of information.
HTH

'Parts

[jjsaul]

Can't do much better than Rich Clafton. He's taken Tiggurr his 101 there many times and runs tours there.

Rich Clafton
E-mail Address(es):
rclafton@lineone.net

He is an absolute mine of information.
HTH

'Parts

Cheers,

have emailed him.

[Woodparts]

[QUOTE=jjsaul]Well one of the big questions is, 'Why morocco (or that part of it) ? '

we all have to do presentations on a type of tourism and where people go and why.

Why do you specifically go to Morocco for overlanding trips? QUOTE]

One of the main reasons is that it is the most easily accessable parts of Africa. You just have to drive down to southern Spain and get the ferry. To get anywhere else is a logistical challenge including the passage into Africa (Egypt being a good example) although Lybia is starting to look like a new easy access point.... one day?

[AJC]

James,

As previously said, easy access has got to be the main attraction and then you have a competely different culture change over a distance of 12 miles (Straits of Gibraltar) and you feel so far away from western life.

Then within the country you have totally different terrains; the lush vegetation of the north, the mountain ranges, the coastline and of course the desert which is all easily accessed.

Although Morocco is a popular holiday destination, you never feel it is swamped with tourists or over commercialised (stand fast Agadir).

Although Morocco is a Sunni Muslim country it is not strict and constrained (for westerners) like Saudi or other Muslim countries I have visited. It is however, polite and courteous to observe some of their customs in the smaller villages.

The people are extremely friendly, you can get by with 'schoolboy' French (although most speak English too), prices generally are cheap (compared to UK), there's an interesting history and culture and I love the place.

Oh, another plus point is that vehicle 'Green Card' insurance is easily obtainable.

AJ

[jjsaul]

Cheers 'Parts and AJ. :)

I just wanted some personal opinions on visiting the area from people who have actually 'been there and done it'

I'll let you know how it goes ;)

[ROB 110 HICAP]

Riding a dirtbike up and down 200m sand dunes is the best driving experience ever! As AJ said its close to europe, but you get the wilderness of the sahara feel, while being pretty close to civilisation and nobody shoots at you (like in Algeria"!)