This is an awesome route through the eastern edge of the Rif Mountains. It might take slightly longer than the busy N13 main road but you will appreciate the wild beauty of the mountains and scattered villages.

There is an optional 44-km blue (non-technical) piste section in the middle. This might be a little challenging for ordinary cars which should probably continue on the tarmac road route.

The route passes the El Wahda lake formed by the dam (largest in Morocco) which was built in the 1990s to reduce the previously devastating flooding of the Oued Ouergha.

You are likely to see many fields of cannabis but should resist the temptation to go 'scrumping'!

Photos below are from a number of trips.


km23: don't inhale


km31: kif on the left, corn on the right


km71: the numbered rectangles on the side of the village school are for promotional posters when it's being used as a polling station


km80: first view of the Al Wahda reservoir


km84: bridge crossing the neck of the reservoir


km103: corrugated iron roofs are popular in the Rif which gets heavy downpours of rain


small haystacks sealed with clay


km121: the Oued Ourtzarh, approaching the town of the same name


worth exploring?


km162: It was a burning hot July day, so I joined the kids and went swimming in the Oued Sebou


km180: one of the many irrigation water wheels


km186: the Arabic sign for Fez/Meknes is correct, but on the French version the Fez/Meknes distances are the wrong way round.