4x4 Morocco road trip 8000km

We’ve just completed our incredible 4×4 road trip in a new continent: Africa, starting with the beautiful country of Morocco. Earlier, we shared our review of the RB33 roadbook from Vibraction, which was an invaluable help during our 4×4 debut in Morocco. Over 74 days, we covered 8000 km, discovering a wide range of landscapes that deeply impacted us. From arid deserts to lush pastures, from rugged mountains to cedar forests, from the stunning beaches of the Atlantic Ocean with its sand dunes to the tranquility of the Mediterranean coast, we were left in awe. The Mediterranean even reminded us of the landscapes in the south of France.

Traveling with Your Dog

As you probably know, Pixie, our little traveler dog, joins us everywhere. But to bring her outside the European borders, you need to comply with local and international regulations. First, your dog must be microchipped. Then, a European-compliant passport proving your pet’s identification is required. Rabies vaccination must be up to date. A health certificate from an official vet within 48 hours of departure is also necessary. Furthermore, a rabies titer test, taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, is required to return to the European Union. By following these steps, you can travel peacefully with your pup.

4×4 Morocco tracks

Driving in Morocco with a 4×4 is both accessible and fascinating. With apps like Gaia and Osmand, navigating the country’s many tracks becomes incredibly easy. These apps not only help you find wide, well-maintained routes suitable for supply trucks, but also uncover hidden gems for adventurers. If you’re not feeling like an explorer, don’t worry! You can soon download the tracks we carefully prepared during our trip. Morocco’s road network is evolving rapidly, with many roads being paved, making it easier to reach isolated villages. As a result, our tracks and recommendations will evolve too, reflecting the country’s infrastructure development.

Our First Experience in Africa

This journey was our very first experience in Africa. The first week was a real shock. We discovered areas where access to potable water is very difficult for remote villages, and as you can imagine, food is just as scarce.

The Reality of Remote Villages

The extreme poverty in some villages was striking, with children begging along the roads and waste management being a major issue, particularly the overwhelming presence of plastic and garbage. As you might guess, if humans are struggling to live decently, the same goes for stray dogs and cats. Feel free to bring some food and water to give to the village leader or Imam. A tin of pâté or kibble will make stray dogs and cats happy.

Highlighting these Realities

It’s important to highlight these realities, often overlooked in travel blogs, YouTube documentaries, and Instagram or Facebook posts. However, this shouldn’t discourage you from visiting this beautiful country, as tourism can indeed bring financial stability to some remote areas.

Challenges in Isolated Areas

In certain places like Imilchil, Agoudal, and other villages within a 100 km radius, you might encounter stone-throwing and children clinging to your vehicle. Don’t give in to the pressure of handing out money directly to the children. This can worsen the situation for those who don’t give and drive tourists away from these areas. It also disrupts schooling, which is crucial for the country’s development. If you wish to help, give to the village leader or Imam instead. These instructions were given to me by a village leader.

Contrast with Larger Cities

On the other hand, we visited large cities like Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca, Fès, and Chefchaouen, where we saw modern and clean streets. The lanterns decorating the roads are stunning, showcasing Morocco’s superb craftsmanship. Waste management is better (though don’t expect it to be like Europe), and access to education is much more developed with impressive schools in cities like Casablanca and Rabat. Children study from 9 am to 6 pm, with up to 4 hours of homework in elementary school. It’s a very intense rhythm, six days a week.

In summary, we discovered two very different sides of Morocco.

4×4 Morocco : Bivouacs and Safety

Our Bivouac Experiences

We primarily camped in the Oriental region, the Drâa valley, and near the mountains around Ouarzazate. Morocco is a 4×4 paradise, but for camping, many areas are marked with “No Camping” signs, especially along the coast. In some regions, the police may ask you to move or you may not feel safe due to the insistence of the population in remote Atlas regions, pushing you to look for a guesthouse or camping.

Bivouac and Safety Along the Coast

The coastline north of Agadir is particularly challenging for camping as authorities don’t want foreigners camping due to risks related to migrants and drugs. We preferred camping sites to ensure peaceful nights and avoid being moved by police with flashlights, especially late at night.

Safety Around Mount Toubkal and Beni Mellal

The area around Mount Toubkal should also be avoided for camping. Since the tragic murder of two Swedish tourists camping there, it’s now prohibited to camp without a guide. We also advise against camping within a 100 km radius of Imilchil. We’ve got a great track around this town coming up, but we strongly recommend staying at the Said guesthouse for safety.

Tips for Camping in Morocco

In short, Morocco has some beautiful camping spots, but be aware that it may not always be possible to camp every day. Rest assured, campsites are quite affordable, and from April to June, they are usually very quiet. In conclusion, prepare for an incredible adventure while remaining cautious and flexible about your camping spots.

In conclusion, while Morocco offers great opportunities for 4×4 camping, it’s essential to remain vigilant and follow local safety instructions. Using campsites can provide a safe and economical alternative when wild camping isn’t an option.

Cost of Living in Morocco

Here are some prices we observed during our stay:

1kg Tomatoes: 7 Dh
1kg Zucchini: 10 Dh
1kg Peaches: 25 Dh
1kg Cherries: 50 Dh
1kg Dates: 50 Dh
1 Egg: 1 Dh
Lamb: 130 Dh/kg
Beef: 100 Dh/kg
Chicken: 90 Dh/kg
Camembert: 67 Dh
Moroccan round bread: 1 Dh to 3 Dh in cities
Olive oil: 100 Dh/liter
Bottled water (5 liters): 13 Dh
Spices (brochette, tagine, couscous): 10 Dh/100g (beware in souks, they may cost 80 Dh/100g)
Vernished tagine dish (for 4): 50 Dh
Metal lantern (40 cm): 120 Dh
Pottery lantern (25 cm): 40 Dh
Sewn leather babouches: 50 Dh
Presentation teapot (1L): 300 Dh
Daily teapot (1.2L): 140 Dh
12x Tea glasses: 60 to 120 Dh depending on decoration
Diesel: 12.25 Dh/liter
Gas (3 kg): 12.5 Dh (without franchise)
Gas (13 kg): 50 Dh
Camping: around 80 Dh (without electricity for camper and two people; no extra charge for dogs)

Departure Instructions from Nador

When you arrive at Nador port, the first step is to park near your chosen shipping company. At the crossroads, you’ll meet a person with a yellow vest who will hand you a ticket in exchange for your ticket and a photo of your vehicle. Then, go to the counter to get your tickets. Be aware that many Moroccans will try to guide you to various people, but don’t follow them—it’s unnecessary. Stick to our instructions, and everything will go smoothly.

Once you’ve got your tickets, go around the port to join the vehicle queue. Be prepared for a long wait; we waited for 6 hours before we could board the ferry. During this wait, keep a close eye on your vehicle and ensure the back is properly locked, as we had three migrants trying to cling under our vehicle.

Afterward, you’ll go through passport check-ins at least 10 times, as well as three vehicle checks with a scanner to ensure there are no hidden migrants. Once customs is cleared, there will be a final vehicle check by the shipping company before boarding. Luckily, the return to France was much faster—we were out in just 30 minutes.

Conclusion

This trip to Morocco was full of discoveries and emotions. We’ve tried to share all the necessary information on our Polarstep-Voyage-Maroc-DefIntoTheWild so you can follow our itinerary. Feel free to contact us for additional details. We hope our story inspires your next adventures and helps you prepare for your journey to Morocco.

4×4 Morocco : About Our Adventure

Duration: 74 days
Distance covered: 8000 km
Regions explored: Desert, mountains, forests, Atlantic and Mediterranean beaches
Major cities visited: Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca, Fès
Recommendation: Secure bivouac, respect for local instructions

We can’t wait to share our next 4×4 road trips with you. Thanks for following us through this Moroccan journey!

Very soon, exciting 4×4 tracks from our explorations in Morocco, made by DefIntoTheWild 😉

Imsfrane-Imilchil

Tinghir-Toughda

Parc de Souss Massa

Imsouane-Essaouira