Morocco here we come

Tomorrow it finally starts our Morocco adventure. In the evening we will have our welcome briefing and receive the keys for our bikes.
Some of us arrived a bit earlier and used the time for a city tour through charming Malaga. Our tour guide Thomas shows us the must see`s of this fascinating city

Today is the day - we start our Tour of Morocco

Good Morning – Good Morning from Málaga

After a good sleep and a big breakfast, it was time for our first morning briefing. And so, we did. Axel has been the storyteller of the day and he started the briefing with the highlights.

What means:

On the way to our ferry, we crossed the beauty of Andalusia with the goal of Algeciras. On the left side the coastline of Mediterranean See, on the right side the mountain range of the Parque National Sierra de las Nieves and on top we got a perfect sunny day.

As soon as we came closer to the Ferry Port the famous Rock of Gibralta took our breath away. Even if we don´t stop there, because we had to catch the ferry, the history of this Fortress build into a Mountain is also from the distance verry impressive.

On top we got a better view at Gibralta as we passed by with our Ferry on the way to Ceuta. The ride himself was around an hour and then well then was the challenge of the day – the border crossing – they didn’t gave us a hard time – put the speed of the officers has been the blueprint of slow motion.

Finally, we cross the border to Morocco and now we are on our destination where will get each day more and more in touch with the magic of Morocco.

On the end of our first riding day we can say for say for sure this landscape is breathtaking in many ways and the culture to.

Now it we will go out for dinner in Chefchaouen and that means it is almost time to go to bed – because tomorrow we will dive deeper into Morocco.

 

So see you tomorrow

Angela, Thomas and Axel

Exploring new horizons

Edelweiss Bike Travel is constantly seeking to add new features to their tours. This time on the Morocco Tour we wanted to try out a new way to cross the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain to Morocco. And since we are three tour guides on this tour, Angela took the opportunity to scout the new option. Later in the day, the group met again on the way to Chefchaouen.

Obviously my arrival in Chefchaouen is not a secret. These cute little girls know very well that I am hiding candy in my pockets

But to my surprise, for this girl the candy was only second choice

Continuing south

Hello Again From Day 3

Today no Border Crossing that means we had a riding day with the as you wish for. The Day started as usually with breakfast and our daily morning Briefing. The story of what we will has been told by Thomas and Angela managed that our language will be delivered to the Van – you may wonder why I write this!?

The reason – simply our hotel from last night hast been in the heart of Chefchaouen were dived into the flair of Morocco. Little Shops all the way up to our hotel and no cars because it is all pedestrian zone.

Well, enough with yesterday – let´s talk about today!!

The first part of the ride has been through the Rif Mountains down south and the road has been a curvy pleasure for all riders. Up and down for at least 70 km – It was just what we have been looking for.

But you got to watch out – because there are a lot of shopping Donkeys along the way! Yes, Shopping Donkeys – here in Morocco the people do more than less everything with a Donkey (work, shopping, transport of everything what you can think of). Besides this the landscape along the way is just fascinating – on top there are heaps of Olive trees, which cover almost the complete mountain range. And, as we dropped down on the south side of the mountains, it was time for a mint tea and our first break. From there on we have been riding through the farm land and onion fields has been all over the place. The next stop for lunch and for the next highlight has been Volubilis – a old roman capitolin temple and fortress of Mark Aurels from 168/69 AD. 

The next 80 kilometers we have been riding through Meknes and other little villages where we get more and more the feeling how the live works out over here. Several coffees, butcher along the road + the smell of all the street food places let us definitely feel Morocco lifestyle.

Our final destination for tonight is clos to Azrou where will sleep and tomorrow our journey will keep on going.

So see you tomorrow 

Angela, Thomas and Axel

There are several coffee places next to each other and our bikes perfectly fitted in front of one of them

The Moroccans are happy people and always good for a little joke

Morocco's heart land

Europe is far away!!!!

Today we have been riding to Azrou and I can tell you this day was awesome!! The reason starts already in the morning.

As we took off, we reached our first highlight just an half hour later – the place what I mean has been the Cedar forest with the Babary Apes.

On the road in in all the trees surround us you could see them. After this highlight we just went on through the mountain range atill it was time to drop down towards Kenifra. All along the way we crossed several smaller and bigger towns where you felt the street live of the Moroccans. Everything what you need you can buy at the road – from drilling machine to food – it is a kind of crazy. In the town himself you should be verry awake because the Moroccan traffic is challenging and people just crossing the street without paying attention to the traffic.

Down in Kenifra we crossed the flat farming arear where they grow from oranges, onions almost everything ells as well. The weather on the other hand as been such a pleasure today and was also the first day where we reached the 30 C. From Kenifra we had to cross one more mountain range to arrive at our hotel and the road just went up and up – it was almost like in the alps for us tour guides. On top we get surprise with a view at the Atlas Mountains which has been still covered in snow – it was a breathtaking view. Well and now we had the last pleasure of the day with a freshly paved road down to the Hotel along the Bin el Quidane water reservoir. 

Another dreamy day in Morocco is coming to an end.

It was a pleasure to ride with all of you

So let´s see what tomorrow brings

Angela, Thomas and Axel

Rollercoaster – Wide Plains – Rollercoaster

Marrakech

Here we go again – another day in the beauty of Morocco

The day started as it ends yesterday!!!

As a breakfast we served our guest a nice winding road through the middle Atlas where we had a lot a fun towards the Ouzoud Falls.

Ouzoud Waterfall himself is 110m tall waterfall witch is surrounded from mountains and in the middle of this valley there have been our road.

For me a day on a bike can’t start better than this.

Afterwards we crossed the flat plain witch has been covered with farming land and a lot off local’s which has been taking care of several sheep herds. If you think that New Zealand got a lot of sheep!!!

Morocco can compete for sure. Later, the Route went back up on a nice curvy road where got another fun section. 

The final of the day has been like other big cities – it is mostly flat and a lot of straight roads into town, but in our case we had 30 C on top.

The last challenge of the day has been the ride into Marrakech to the Hotel. The traffic over here can be a real challenge and as soon as you come closer – heaps of scooter trucks crossing our way and traffic rules are not anymore excysting. If you are not used to it, it feels like you are on another planet.

But hey there is nothing what can stop our bunch off riders over here.

Well we are now in Marrakech where will stay the next 2 day´s and tomorrow we take over the town!!!

So let´s see what tomorrow brings

Angela, Thomas and Axel

A day in the heart of Marrakech

Surprise surprise, we are not on the bikes today!!!

The reason why is quite easy we are discover Marrakech. So if you are o this Tour we give you the opportunity to ride if you like to but you will miss the heartbeat of Marrakech – The place where it looks like traffic rules are not excysting and a place where you always make the best deal of your life. So, what does it mean:

First we slept a little longer and we met at the reception at 9:30 to take a Taxi to the center of Marrakech. The ride to the start of our Guided City tour was for sure adventures because here is somehow everything different!!! If you got a 2-lane road!!! That means more than less there will fit 3 cars side by side and if possible 2 scooters and some bicycles. Sounds impossible but I promise you the Taxi riders will proof it.

After this little adventure we went on through the City of Marrakech.

The Medina of Marrakech is one of a kind – all the little shops in the small alleys, the butcher on the street food places, the smell of the spices and the sound of the Medina is unforgettable. Just look at the pictures of the day! As you can see one day of not riding a bike means not it is boring. If you need a souvenir? That is. A good place to start with collecting some traditional memories like carpets and many other thinks what you might need or just like to have. The walk through the town was a moment on this Trip what you should miss. Just to mention some Highlights of the morning: Djamaa el Fna, the "Square of the Beheaded, snake charmer, water sellers and many places/ shops/ Artists we have seen. This morning is for sure one off this Tour what will last forever in our minds.

After a nice lunch we all went back to the hotel to recharge our battery’s to be ready for our second adventure of the day: Marrakech at night!!!

We went once out again and first we had a nice dinner close to the Medina before we enter the night market life of Marrakech. 

The difference of the morning and the evening has been maybe 3000 people on the same ways where we discovered the town at the morning. Storytellers and musicians popped out of nowhere and the Market was just covered with them. At night it is like a total different city as in the morning. Everybody gets out on the street and will bring this town even more to live.

I could write more but today I just le the pictures speak for them self!!!

That was Marrakech at his best with

Angela, Thomas and Axel

From the Marrakech plains to the green Atlas Mountains and then down to the little Grand Canyon before Aït Benhaddou

What a nice riding Day!!! First of all, it was short on kilometer (arround190km) but this 190-kilometer got everything what you dream off when you think about Morocco.

The way out from Marrakech was almost a piece of cake because we had not that much traffic. Well and then the fun started with an unbelievable nice Road up to the Atlas Mountains. The goal has been the pass of Tizi-n-Tichka. After we get warmed up Angela gave us the hint that this section would be good for a free ride – what means that Thomas went up the mountain and everybody could go his own speed and stop as much as they want for pictures. As we all cached up again at the coffee you could see the fun what they had on the face of everybody. The chats in the coffee have been not only about the ride, it was about everything the landscape what have changed, because of this impressive mountains, the souvenirs what have been presented along the road – but to be honest – the ride has been the main thing.

What a nice ride. On top Thomas and I stopped for a pass picture to capture this moment and Angela took care of the lunch and the guide which has been showing us around at the Telouet Kasbah. This historical place has been as well in some Hollywood movies and the story behind Dar Galoui was verry impressive. The valley of Oued was our Grand Canyon Moment on this Day as you can see on our pictures.

The Grand Final has been Aït Benhaddou where we stopped once more to get in touch with the history of Morocco and Hollywood. This has been our Day 7 and we Tour guides get the feeling that might be one of the favorite days of our riders. But we will see this Tour got some more highlights and maybe some are better than this.

So tomorrow we will move on and we are ready to create some more memories.

Angela Thomas and Axel – Over and Out

Moroccan Hollywood meets the riders of our Morocco Tour

Today the highlights were the Atlas Film Studios and the George du Dades.

The ride itself went along Morocco's old trading routes showing us a mindblowing landscape. The mountains in the distance, running parallel to our road, same as the small villages along our way delighted us with their unique colours of orange and red. Morocco simply bewitched us with its charming nature, with its flair, its unique mix of culture, and the lifestyle of its inhabitants. It is hard to describe the impressions on a day like today - you need to see and feel it here in real life. This is why we let the pictures speak for us instead.

First thing in the morning we visited the famous Atlas film studios. Following the studios, our next highlight was the picknick Thomas prepared for us in the Gorge du Dades. The canyon itself clearly is a must-see if you travel down south in Morocco. The road that runs through this gorge is simply a pleasure for motorcycle riders. All the riders in our group where overwhelmed by the beauty of the rock formations that we saw on the ride in and back out. It was a wonderful finish bevor we went to our African style hotel.

Angela Thomas and Axel, and I guess our riders as well are hungry – so let´s go for dinner and see you tomorrow.

Out of the mountains, around the corner, and into the desert

Morocco has so many different facets to offer to its visitor, that every day gives you a number of different impressions and experiences. Today we leave the High Atlas mountains with its magnificent gorges behind us and continue further south to Morocco's part of the Sahara desert - the Erg Chebbi. If you thought that our day of riding found its end at the parking lot at the hotel, you are only partially right. We may have been stopping to ride the motorcycle for the day, but some of our group changed vehicles and continued to ride a camel into the sand dunes and even further to our desert night camp.

Angela, Thomas und Axel

Looking at the sand and the camel in the distance automatically awakens the adventurer in you.

Thomas - always friendly and welcoming

Thomas Cool

Have you ever done something like that?? Snowboarding down the sand dunes was totally fun !!

It took a little to convince Amber, but she made it !!

Once again, relaxation was on the program. After we have enjoyed the sunrise in our desert camp, we went quite comfortably on the camel back towards the hotel. Some spent the rest of the day at the pool reading a good book. Others, instead, were seeking more action, and naturally, this was provided also. In the afternoon, whoever wanted to, could take a quad tour through the dunes.

Angela, Thomas and Axel

A switchback in orientation - back north again 

A long riding day comes to an end in the city of Fes. So today we can check the 480 km long ride off our bucket list. 

What sounds long at first was no problem for our bunch of riders. Along the way we had some nice highlights like the Vallée de Ziz, which is well-known for its date palm orchards and the Legionnaire’s tunnel. For quite a long stretch, the route itself ran on top of a high plateau. At an altitude of 5000 feet we got some nice sections of twisties to ride too.

So altogether, this day has been a potpourri of impressions again. Now that we are riding towards north means also that we are getting closer to Spain again, and that pretty soon this journey will come to an end. But we still have three more days to spend here in Morocco. Before that, though, we got some nice day´s like tomorrow when we will discover Fes.

Angela, Axel und Thomas

Closing the circle

Closing the circle.... Which in our case means we're back in Chefchaouen. The place that already accommodated us at the beginning of our trip and has inspired. From the direction of Fes we take of course a different route than at the beginning of the tour. And what can we say it was spectacular. Once again, the landscape changes fundamentally. we drive through an area known as Moroccan Andalusia. Fantastic views and countless curves make this, our last day, in Morocco unforgettable.

Angela, Thomas and Axel

Our Tour comes to an End – Today we are

going home – Malaga here we come

Unbelievable how quick the times has been slipping away. It feels like yesterday that we had our first briefing – and now we got to go back to Malaga. All in one we can say this Tour has been a great!!!! All the riders fit verry well together and we became a family. Yes a family – everybody was taking care of each other all the time and all the challenging Moments, like the traffic in Marrakech we managed together as a Team / Family. It was a pleasure for us Tour Guides to guide this Groupe through the heart of Morocco.

The day himself was a nice last ride through the mountain range of the lower Rif Mountains. With some nice curves as a goodbye present from the Tour. The challenge of the day was for sure the border crossing to Ceuta where you never know how long it will take to get out of the country. But we also managed this. After the ferry ride we landed in Algeciras and from there it has been another 2 hours to the Hotel in Malaga.

Well, that has been our last ride of this Tour.

But before we went to the last dinner, we cached up at our Van for a nice get around with some beer and wine. And of course, it was also the Moment where we chatted about what we have seen and all the favorite moments what we have been through.

We can tell you this group was awesome!!!
The Tour Guide Team like to say thank you for this great ride with you!!!!!!

Angela Thomas & Axel