need some last help for our trip to Morocco
Replies: 14 - Last Post: Jul 10, 2012 12:23 PM Last Post By: khamlia
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need some last help for our trip to Morocco
Hello everybody,We are two grils travelling to Morocco at the end of july for 17 days. Are route is mostly don but we still have some questions left.
does anybody know a good and cheap hotel in casablanca. One that is near the train station or one with a logical location for our next day travelling to ouarzazate. We arrive in casablanca about 6.30 in the evening and if possible we would like to see the hassan 2 mosque.
the next day we want to take the early morning train to marrakesh and than a bus to ouarzazate.
so our route will be as follow;
1 6.30 in the evening arrive casablanca
2 7.00 in the morning, casablanca - ouarzazate via marrakesh by train and bus (about 7 hours)
3 high atlas
4 high atlas
5 high atlas
6 high atlas
7 high atlas
8 high atlas
9 high atlas / tinghir - marrakesh by bus (about 7 hours)
10 marrakesh
11 marrakesh
12 marrakesh - essouira by bus (about 2,5 hours)
13 essouira
14 essouira
15 essouira - oualidia by bus (about 3 hours)
16 oualidia
17 oualidia
16 oualidia - casablanca by bus/ train? (about 3 hours)
17 casablanca early morning flight back home
any advise on our route??
any tips on what we should see or do in the high atlas region?
thnx in advance
2
..... do you know Ramadan begins 20th.July, research here to see if it affects your plans on the... search all forums, enter terms like "Morocco during Ramadan"....see on right>>The journey from Casablanca to Ouarzazate takes more than 10hours, to make a further point, travel in Morocco is slow and unpredictable, so always allow plenty of time between connections.
Opening times for the Hassn ll Mosque are to the best of my knowledge... Saturday - Thursday 9. 10. 11am. and 2pm. During Ramadan these times will vary, as the numbers of the faithful attending prayers increase significantly and at times special religious events take place.
Agree the Ibis Hotel beside Casa Voyager, (a train station in the city), is the best place to stay.
Edited by: moroccotraveler
3
Thank you allin the high atlas we want to go to skoura oasis, ait benhadou and the dades and torda gorge. Also we would like to do some small hiking in the mountains and maybe rent a quad nair ouarzazate. so we will travel by public transport in between those places.
the lonely planet says that the distance between marrakesh and ouarzazate takes about 5 hours by bus en the train from casablanca to marrakesh takes about 3 hours. So why do you think its more then 10 hours moroccotraveller?
4
..... clearly it won't take 10 hours to get from Casablanca to Marrakech, Dave has made a rare mistake in this estimate. My off the cuff estimate was 10 hours for Casablanca to Ouarzazate, this is a little over, it will I'm sure take about 9+ hours. When you train gets into Marrakech, the bus won't be waiting for you to board and rush off, it takes time to load parcels and luggage etc. I'm mindful of the time of year, the journey via the roads there, and the effect fasting has on bus crews heading into the hot desert areas. At the best of times its unpredictable, at Ramadan in July....... who knows.5
As I can see on oncf schedule, it take around 4 hours from Casa to Marrakech, then around 5 hours to Ouarzazate, so it is around 10 hours to travel.7
The oncf website lists a variety of trains between Casa and Marrakech that take only about or slightly over 3 hours...maybe yours was late?8
HelloJust a little advice, I live between Casablanca and Ouarzazate, Ramadan is the last week in July and the first three weeks of August. In the south everything will be closed until around 8 o'clock when a few bakeries start to open,
Be very careful with your travel plans as the route across the tishka mountains is very dangerous and during Ramadan there are always many more accidents, Ouarzazte is a great town but in August it is blisteringly hot( I often avoid going in August )
Ait Benhaddou is a good experience but be careful as the souvenir shops are fierce, the price is at least 5 times higher than you should pay
I just had a trip between Ouazarzate and Ait Benhaddou by Quad and its an out of this world experience
Im just worried for you with the heat and truly hope you are not here in the month of Ramadan as your experience will be truly ruined
Take care
9
" the route across the tishka mountains is very dangerous"It's a major transport route through the mountains with some twists and turns. I must have driven or ridden it at least 50 times. It's not at all dangerous, though people who haven't travelled in places like the Swiss Alps or American Rockies might be apprehensive about the drop-offs.
10
thank you all for youre comments.We arrive in Casablanca on 30 july at 15.10. Would you recommend to travel that same day on to Marrakesh? Can we arrage that quick a train ticket?
It will be maybe a bit more relaxed for us to only travel the next day from Marrakesh to ouarzazate ( 5 hours)
what do you people think?
12
..... from Airport Mohamed V there's a train departing 18.00h. arriving Marrakesh 22.00h. with a change at Casa Voyagers, 30+ minutes journey from the Airport. http://www.oncf.ma The ticket you buy at the Airport takes you through to Marrakesh.13
thank you all.I have anohter question abuit our high atlas part.
We want to go to skoura oasis, ait benhadou and the dades and torda gorge. Also we would like to do some small hiking in the mountains and maybe rent a quad nearby ouarzazate.
We could travel by public transport in between those places and stay here a couple off nights or would you recommend a organised 2 or 3 day tour through 'daya travel' for expample considering our route and time?
would recommend other beautifull places in the area between marrakesh and todra / dades gorge we must see?
thanks again
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