Piste 3

Foum Assaka to Sidi Ifni

Length: 50km approx.

Location: See all 10 featured pistes on one map by clicking here. (opens new window)

Detailed Info: Available in Morocco: The Desert Pistes & Sahara Overland.

Map used: IGN Carte Touristique 1cm:10km.

GPS: Please email in waypoint files if you have them, else they are available in Sahara Overland.

Notes: Quite a fun piste, especially with good weather, though usually windy near the coast. Starts off over the wide river mouth of Oued Draa (and via an old French Fort where you can stay in luxury if you like) before it's up onto a coastal plateau and along the cliff tops. It's fairly smooth going once up on the plateau, as it's mostly earth covered in a little sand.

Once at the (2nd) old French Fort at Aorera, take some time to explore the sand dunes on foot. The few soldiers in the Fort probably won't mind watching your vehicle and having you camp there.

From Aorera, take the piste inland which is either slow and bumpy going over rocky parts, or smooth over the edges of the sand dunes.

You can take the beach route as I did in the dvd, but environmentally, beach driving isn't very friendly, you'll have to time the tides correctly and there are thousands of smashed up wooden fishing crates (with nails) to avoid.

From Foum Assaka the road is now sealed into Guelmim and you should easily spot the sign posts to Fort Bou Jerif. A few small auberges have sprung up at Foum Assaka if your near death.

Featured in "Morocco: The Desert Pistes" DVD along with the other 9 pistes on this site.

Diary & Photographs: here and here.

Your reports: email in your links & photos and I'll post them on this page.