Just noted that for you more intrepid campers the Camping Cheque network now offer a site in Morocco - between Agadir and Essouira - looks lovely, and even better one cheque (£10.30) pays for three nights!!!! It's accepting cheques between 15th March and 15 December - so plenty of time to arrange something for this year! Just going elsewhere to browse the cost of ferries!!!!
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Had a quick look - from 240 euros return for two people/campervan - that's on the Fastcat from Algeciras to either Cieuta or Tangier - didn't go into details, because need to find a ferry that takes caravans - and off out to work now!!!
Emhh havn,t been camping in Morrocco since 1989 prior to my sahara crossing but back then you definetely needed a sense of adventure.
Camping near Cheacoun(sp) we were repeatedly stoned (better add by rocks) and had kids jabbing hypo needles repeatedly at us,That was one of the better places!It got worse after that!
You are bound to get "stoned" in Chefchaouen because it is a major Hashish producing area and they don't like strangers - LOL. People have disappeared there so it's not an area to be taken lightly
Nearer to the Coast it is a bit better. The main prob. is vehicle insurance. You used to park in the secure area of the Port. Beat your way past all the "I want to be your friend" nasty little Oinks and get yourself up to the equivalent of the Moroccan A.A and they used to issue you with 1month, 2 month or 3 months insurance.
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Having travelled to a good many parts of the non-touristy world and camped a great deal for the past 40 years, I would consider camping in Morocco more perilous than adventurous!
If you're just going for 'fun' then why not just stay in their small inexpensive hotels and pensions and enjoy the country without having to worry about your possessions and well-being.
The site in question is part of the Camping Cheque network, and is said to be fully up to European standards, we're not talking about a dust patch at the edge of a town. My son had six weeks' travelling in Morocco, by local transport, and had no problems whatsoever - meeting only friendly welcomes and some offers of free accommodation!
There's been a previous threat on this website about Desert Tours, which offer a guided tour or Morocco - and I quite fancy it. Having said that, we were 'intrepid' enough to travel to Czechoslovakia in 1974 in a hired Campervan, when we had to report, daily, to a police station. This was still in the cold war days, and our Czech friends were sure their house was 'bugged'! It was quite scary. One night we had to stay on a 'closed' campsite because it was the end of season, but we'd been taken there by too old Czech gents, who'd been in England during the war and were friends of the owner. We had to pay in Deutschmarks because we didn't have the small amount of Czech currency required. The lady campsite owner let us stay, provided us with breakfast, and gave us a salami in return for the 10 deutschmark note we paid with!!! It was, however, next to a steelworks, and the thud of the hammers kept us awake all night. Perhaps not so adventurous as Morocco but it seemed it at the time! Our Czech friends got out a couple of years later, by travelling to Yugoslavia and then going over the Italian border during the night to claim refugee status. Bohdan lost his job at the university shortly after our visit (he was never sure that it wasn't related - because apparently you could be thrown out of your job for not buying a bus ticket, at that time). They're now in Vancouver in Canada, where Bohdan works at the University. Sorry, rambling post, and nothing much to do with Morocco - but certainly brought memories back!!
I was taken aback by your agressive reply ValA! Thus far I'd only seen friendly exchanges of opinions on this forum.
I wasn't thinking of the quality of the campsite [even dust patches at the edge of towns can be good for camping!].
Travelling in a country, especially a poor country, and using the friendship and facilities offered by the local people is one thing ... staying in or on an area (large hotel / caravan-camping ground) where the profits bypass the local people can leave them feeling resentful.
Of course your son had no problems ... he was visiting 'amongst' the local people; not just 'in' their country.
Morocco is a beautiful and interesting country to visit and most of the moroccoan people are beautiful and interesting too.
somewhat saddened by it all!
------------- LittleSole
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It wasn't meant to be aggressive at all - sorry, must be the wording. I suppose I meant that in order to be accepted by the Camping Cheque network the site must have been vetted and could be recommended as 'reasonably' safe for those who wanted to go there. I'm awfully sorry you've been offended. Honestly, I didn't mean it to sound that way. I thought the other two replies were much more aggressive and anti-Moroccan than mine! I'd love to visit the country, and thought that this way might be an 'exciting' way to do it.
According to the Camping Cheque website 'news' the site is run by a Moroccan who's worked in the tranport/camping industry in France, so who knows the standards required - and just as a small hotel will add to the local economy, so will his campsite. We might try it anyway. If so, I'll come back on the forum and let you know what we found.
Just re-read my posting, and maybe my posting gave the impression that 'the Camping Cheque network' is something like 'Haven Holidays' - and run by some multi-national which will take money from the local economony. In fact, it is a consortium of campsite owners, who join the Camping Cheque scheme in order to attract visitors, promoting their site through advertising, brochure, promotions, etc. Sorrrrryyyyyyyyyy!
Actually it's you I have to thank for suggesting I visit the Gorges du Tarn this summer (when I asked "Where to go in France" earlier this year) ... and we're very much looking forward to it too.
...and I loved my tour in Morrocco aswell,cheacoun is a beautiful place hassle and all and the best soccer game I ever had was with a load of street kids in Rabat,bless them not once did they ask for anythink until they had beaten us 10-8.
Fez market is also absoulutely amazing and the atlas mtns great aswell. I used two campsites but most of the time camped wild,sometimes got an audience but once away from the tourist areas locals very friendly though they always dig up youre rubbish when you depart.(all places in Africa do that)
For me it was just the start of a 9 month trip through Africa to Zimbabwe but I still have many found memories of Morrocco,but Benidorm it aint!!
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We were in Agadir in january on a day visit from the cannaries,the place was full of motorhomes parked for the day but they all moved of to a proper camp site at night for security, as i was told by the one dutchman in a m/home i spoke to.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Morocco
I was taken aback by your agressive reply ValA! Thus far I'd only seen friendly exchanges of opinions on this forum.
somewhat saddened by it all!
Thanks for that ValA.
.ellroy.
