Marrakech Express leafey

29 March to 9 April 2014
W
hen Crosby, Stills & Nash sang about the Marrakech Express in 1966 the Citroen 2CV was
already an iconic little car - especially with the hippies. Today the era of free love, flower
power, the Beatles, Swinging London, Twiggy and Biba are largely behind us but the evergreen 2CV
lives on and has become symbolic of the quirky French motoring of the period.
Its eccentric styling and ride, minimal interior and tin snail epithet have made it the personification
of the long lost age of simplicity and innocence.
The hippies have wilted but the 2CV remains and we will celebrate its extraordinary appeal with a
rally through the Morocco of the song - our very own Marrakech Express.
From the coast to the Atlas Mountains, from plush landscapes to desert, from tiny communities to
exotic Marrakech, the rally explores it all. Here David Lean filmed Lawrence of Arabia, and Indian
Jones went in search of the Lost Ark and the Temple of Doom. The Mummy and Gladiator were
also block busters filmed in the deserts of Morocco.
We explore the network of roads less travelled including the fabulous Todra Gorge. We find tracks
in the desert, visit Souks and watch the sunsets, try a Tagine of lamb and eat at a desert camp – all
bringing you an authentic experience of this fabulous country.
The Route
Day 1 – Malaga to Tarifa.
Day 3 – Meknes to Beni Mellal
184kms, 4hrs
The rally starts in the southern Spanish town of Malaga
which has frequent flights from around Europe. On the
day you arrive, you collect your car and familiarise yourself with it. From here we drive to Tarifa where we stay
the night.
Day 2 – Tarifa to Tangier to Meknes 290kms, 6hrs
We take an early ferry to Tangier, clear the cars in
customs then head for the hills and Meknes. The
fabulous roads of Morocco
beckon as we head
through the foothills
towards this pretty
town, one of the
ancient capitals of
Morocco. Hotel:
Transatlantique. This is an
excellent 4-Star hotel with
views across the city
and the Medina.
348kms 7hrs
A day in the Middle Atlas mountains. We route through
the Bab Mansour gates and the Place el Hedimin the ancient town before we break out to the major wine growing region in Morocco. The route climbs through cedar
woods to Ifran, the Switzerland of Morocco. Great scenery and competition sections. Hotel: Hotel Ouzoud. Very
average but with good food.
Day 4 – Beni Mella to Marrakech
265kms 5hrs
Just 15kms outside Beni Mella we have the first real
mountain challenge as we head for a testing Regularity
section - 470m to 1320m climb in 50kms. We visit the
Cascades de Ouzoud, one of the major attraction in
Morocco. From here we have 80kms of high agricultural
land before dropping onto the Marrakech plane for a
regroup in this picturesque town.
Hotel: Marrakech Sofitel Lounge and Spa. An impressive
5-Star hotel that will soothe away all the negatives from
the night before!
2CV Included
Day 5 Marrakech
Day 10 Midelt to Fes
315kms 7hrs
Rest Day - and a chance to lmake a night time visit to the
world famous Jemaa El-Fna square.
Another great day over the high passes of the Middle
Atlas. Out of the hotel we head for Boulmane and then
the quiet roads of Imouzzer Marmoucha. The river falls
Day 6 Marrakech to Ouarzazate
212kms 5hrs into a deep gorge and provides good sections for
With more than 100kms of competition today its a tough competition. Hotel: Sofitel Palais Jamais
one. First you have to climb out of Marrakech on the
Day 11 Fes to Chefchaouen
330kms 6hrs
famous Tizi n’Test, a demanding 20kms that climb
1,000metres! Then down through Bereber villages and
Out of Fez then into the Rif mountains. There’s a fairly
deep river gorges, ending up at Ait Behaddou, the
main road to Taounate before we find the quieter rural
Hollywood of Morocco where many famous films have
roads. A full day of twists and turns. Hotel: High Atlas
been made. Hotel: Ouarzazate Berberer Palace. True 5
Day 12 Chefchaouen to Tangier to Malaga
Stars.
298kms 7hrs inc ferry
377kms 5.5hrs A short run of 112kms today to the ferry which leaves at
Day 7 Ouarzazate to Merzouga
Easy route out of Ouarzazate into flat stony desert with
the High Atlas now to your left and views of the Grand
Canyon of Morocco. Then we have a 10kms regularity
section. After a passage control in N’Knob its back to the
desert road. We pass Tazzarine and then Alnif before the
busy town of Rissani. The stop for the night is the desert
camp south of Merzouga. Hotel: Camp La Belle Etoile
10.30am sharp, so its early up and out.
From the ferry we head east to Malaga where we say
good
bye to our tin snails and get Rready
for the Gala din12/16/13
oute de l' Abatto
ner and prize giving.
Di r eHotel:
ct i o n sCampanile
t o Av e n u eMalaga
Yo u sse
Load
Day 8 Merzouga Camp
Technically a rest day but instead we will be taking to the
desert for a bit of fun in the dunes. Hotel: Kasbah
Tombouctou.
Day 9 Merzouga to Midelt
380kms 7.5hrs
A big day in every way; distance; mountains; gorges;
competition and spectacle. Today we drive the fabulous
Todra Gorge and then find more gorges that are off the
tourist trail. Its a tough day with fabulous scenery and
plenty of competition. Don’t expect to get in early which
is no bad thing as Midlet is not the most lively place in
Morocco. Hotel: Taddart
©2 0 1 3 G o o g l e M a p d a t a ©2 0 1 3 G
Marrakech Express 2014
Date
Day
Mar 29
Mar 30
Mar 31
April 1
April 2
April 3
April 4
April 5
April 6
April 7
April 8
April 9
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Route
Fly to Malaga
Tarifa to
Ferry to Tangier to
Meknes to
Beni Mallal to
Marrakech
Marrakech
Ouarzazate to
Merzouga Desert Camp to
Merzouga to
Midelt
Fes
Chefchaouen to Ferry to Tarifa to
Night Stop
Tarifa
Meknes
Beni Mallal
Marrakech
Rest Day
Ouarzazate
Merzouga Desert
Merzouga Hotel
Midelt
Fes
Chefchaouen
Malaga
Kms
180
290
348
265
0
212
377
100
380
315
330
298
3095
2CV Adventures, Hewitts House, Elmbridge Road,
Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8LW. UK
Tel: +44(0)1483 542954. Mob: +44 (0)7785 281272
Email: [email protected]
Hotel
Campanile Malaga Airport
Hotel Transatlantique
Hotel Ouzoud
Sofitel
Sofitel
Hotel Berbere
Mardani Camp
Kasbah Tombouctou
Hotel Taddart
Sofitel Palais Jamais
Hotel Atlas
Campanile Malaga Airport