An Incredible 4×4 Trip Across Morocco
An incredible culture, extensive sandy coastline, and many historical locations make Morocco an awesome place to visit. The rocky mountainous landscape, great views of the Atlantic Ocean, and the extensive sandy beach hold the promise of a road trip in your outlander that is memorable and fulfilling. Adding the expansive Sahara desert to the mix makes Morocco the ultimate destination for any discerning overlander to get an incredible driving experience. What experience can beat that of driving on the sand of the Sahara Desert and the Atlantic Ocean? Absolutely none. Majestic sand dunes will invite you to relish in their awesome wonder in the Sahara Desert. Morocco offers great and safe camping grounds to pitch your tent and enjoy the outdoors in the true outlander style. For those nights that you wish to spend in a hotel, decent accommodation and meals are available. The rich Moroccan culture makes the people hospitable, and you will be spoilt for choice of souvenirs to take back home.
Morocco is located on the North-Western edge of the vast African Continent. The country spans across 710,850 square kilometers and has a population of about thirty-six million. Morocco has a mostly mild climate, though the winters can be unforgiving. The country borders two oceans: The Atlantic and Medittarenean Oceans. Driving over the Atlantic Ocean Coastline is one of the best outlander experiences of a lifetime that you want to add in your bucket list. Morocco is one of three countries that share the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. The two other countries are France and Spain. Your wanderlust will definitely get a deep quenching in Morocco more than any other destination.
Border Crossing
The entry point into Morocco from Spain via the Atlantic Ocean gets you to Nador. There are many volunteers(paid, of course) ready to help you get through the border, but the good news is that the process is not that difficult. At the border, you will be required to complete two forms. The first one is the D16-TER, which gives the details of your car. You can fill this form online before to make the process faster. The form is also available on-site as D16 bis, with the same details as the online version. Passenger details go to the second form. A quick reminder is that you have to keep copies of the D16 as you will need them when bidding Morocco goodbye. Crossing the border gets you ready for the ride of a lifetime in Morocco.
The Incredible Route
Your Moroccan experience will be made great by visiting several awesome destinations for the road trip of a lifetime. The epic drive through the Atlas from Nador will get you to Midlet, after which you will find yourself in Ouarzazate then in Tazenakht. The rest of the route will include Tata, Icht, Plage Blanche, Laayoune, and Dakhla. The itinerary will give you the most marvelous experience through the best Moroccan scenery.
Nador to Midlet
From Nador, a drive to Midlet takes you through a section of the majestic Atlas mountains dotted with mountain passes and local villages. The breathtaking view is just a taste of the awesome experience Morocco holds for you. You can choose to spend the night in Midlet to refresh from the long journey into Morocco. While at it, do not forget to plan for the visit to ski resorts in the High Atlas and the impressive Moroccan Alps during your adventure.
Midlet to Ouarzazate
The drive gets you through an incredible are donned with sharp rocks, sheer mountain drops, and river beds that make your experience unforgettable. The vast oases at the edge of the Sahara desert and the impressive Atlas mountains stimulate your eyes and mind beyond words. You might encounter obstacles on the road due to landslides that make you look for alternative routes on the dry river beds or choose to drive over them. Whichever way, the experience is interesting and fun for any serious outlander. The off-roads are an ultimate test for your 4×4 vehicle. You are advised to make the necessary adjustments to your vehicle to prepare it for the truly off the road experience in Morocco. The effort will be worth it and will make your road trip quite a great adventure. The Morrocan countryside is such a scenic and rich landscape that you will want to take many photos to capture the awesome scenery. On arrival at Ouarzazate, you can choose to set up a tent at the Atlas Film Studio for that well-deserved rest. Walking around the Atlas Studio makes you understand why big movies like The Gladiator, Spy Game, Babel, and others were shot. The view is breathtakingly unique and unsurpassed in beauty. From Ouarzazate to Tazenakht, sharp gravel on the road might make you want to relieve your offroader’s pressure. Also, there is an alternative road to Ouarzazate around Tata, especially if you find too much traffic.
Tafraoute
Enroute Tafraoute is the Valley of Vans, a delightful outdoor place in the Anti-Atlas. The Valley of Vans is a campsite that gives a great experience in nature. The trees and scenic views are especially inviting for relaxation. You can also walk around Tafraoute and get yourself some great memorabilia from Morocco. Those who like hiking, lace up your boots for there are great guided routes to choose from.
Mhamid
East of Tafraoute is Mhamid that is rich in the history of the land. Mhamid town is an oasis at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Your mind will luxuriate in the beautiful ancient architectural style in the town buildings. The local cuisine is also a great way to sample the rich Moroccan culture. Mhamid also offers you the chance to see the majestic sand dunes of Erg Chigaga. The place has some of the most impressive sand dunes reaching heights of up over 900 feet. You can further enrich your desert experience by camping next to the sand dunes.
Additionally, camel rides at sunset over the sand dunes will give you a surreal experience that will make the trip to Morocco memorable. Driving through the desert gives an awesome view of dromedaries and desert vegetation. The sand and rocky trails make your driving experience through the desert unforgettable. Erg Chigaga gives some of the most fantastic natural views in Morocco and the whole world. Did you know that ten million years ago, the Sahara Desert was an ocean? Fossil remains of ancient life dot the landscape. Walking through the desert gives you the feeling of walking back in time as you view the fossilized remains.
To Laayoune
Laayoune, which is the capital of Western Sahara, is about 360 miles from Icht. Driving west gets you to Plage Blanche, where the forty-mile white sandy beach gives you the most spectacular viewing experience. The beach is between the Atlantic Ocean and the Sahara Desert, and you know what? You are actually allowed to drive your 4×4 over it along the Atlantic Ocean. The beach is broken at intervals by pebbles and sand dunes that make the view incredibly breathtaking. However, you will be well-advised not to get too close to the ocean to avoid losing traction. Some company as you head to the beach is also a good idea if you get stuck in the sand. The beach is one way. Therefore you will need to find your way out away from the Atlantic ocean. It is important to get out to the rocky path that leads to the highway before the tide comes in. Driving south from Plage Blanche will have you going over very rocky sections, but as compensation, you might be rewarded with graceful camels going about their business.
Western Sahara
Before getting to Laayoune, you will have to cross Western Sahara, indicated on the map south of Morocco. Driving through the roads gives you a view of the awesome cliffs just next to the Atlantic Ocean. The shipwrecks next to the ocean also give a great chance for adventure. A sudden drop in fuel prices and newly constructed buildings in the low populated upcoming towns will signal that you are in Western Sahara. Apparently, the government encourages people to settle in Western Sahara by tax reliefs on various goods, including fuel. Though the population is still low, Western Sahara is an exciting place to visit. After several hours through Western Sahara, you will finally find yourself in Laayoune. Due to the volatile nature of Western Sahara’s politics surrounding ownership, the land is rigged with landmines, especially on the eastern side. However, it is worth noting that close to the eastern side, which is rigged with land mines, in the mud wall built by Morocco for defense. Therefore, no meaningful off the road experience is advisable.
Nevertheless, you should have Tarfaya as one of your destinations in Western Sahara. The jaw-dropping sheer cliffs will give you the experience of a lifetime. Sample the camel tagines Moroccan dish before you leave Western Sahara.
Road to Dakhla
Driving to Dakhla on the well-maintained highway gives you a scenic view of the land and the Atlantic Ocean, which is next to it. Dakhla is situated at the end of a long headland. The peninsula is loved by kitesurfers, especially because the area can get very windy. Dakhla also offers choice locations for campsites.
Sahara Desert
You can choose to drive to Dakhla via the Mauritian border to enrich your Moroccan adventure. The drive will take you across the majestic Sahara Desert. The desert sand dunes are an awe-inspiring marvel of nature. The shadows that the dunes cast at sunrise are just great. In fact, viewing them will give you the feeling of being in a movie set. The sand dunes experience is out of this world. You have a choice of camping next to the sand dunes in the safe campsites. You should be wary of the wind, which gets quite strong, carrying with it sand particles that block your view. Once at the border of Mauritania, there are paid volunteers offer to expedite your crossing. Allowing the volunteers to help saves you a lot of time. There are new D-16 TER forms to fill and numerous custom checks at the border.
Dakhla
Before arriving at Dakhla is the Tropic of Cancer, you can take some time for a photo opportunity. Dakhla gives an awesome view of the Atlantic Ocean. The Muslim religion does not advocate for drinking alcohol. Therefore, alcohol is not used by most people and therefore is not freely available in Morocco. But while at Dakhla, you can enjoy an alcoholic drink at Restaurant Bahia. Do not forget to sample the sweet tea as you relish in the funny way it is served to make sure you experience its rich flavor. Dakhla also allows you to enjoy camping in the campsites. While in Dakhla, visit the large canyon that extends to the beach and just enjoys the scenery. You can even choose to cook a meal and enjoy it over the breathtaking sunset in the real Overlanding spirit. Cool campsites that have you camping in nature will add some nice flavor to the Moroccan expedition.
Morocco definitely is a great destination to enjoy a road trip to your outlander. The scenic views offered by the majestic mountains will leave you amazed. Experiencing the vast Sahara Desert on wheels should be on the bucket list of any serious road trips lovers. The rich culture of Morocco is a fantastic exposure to the interesting aspects of the African Continent. The combined effect of the Sahara Desert, Atlas Mountains, and the Atlantic Ocean is a fulfilling experience of appreciating nature that you will not get anywhere else. Plan that trip to Morocco soonest.