Hi Tim, thanks for your reply.

Great advice! - we'll definitely do it that way. We didn't realise the train line went that far inland.

We arrive in Casablanca in the afternoon (after a 30 odd hour plane journey from NZ!) so think we will stay that night in Casblanca, then catch the Tangier train to Ksar el Kebir and grande taxi onto Chefchaouen the next day.

Can you recommend a place to stay in Casablanca that is in a location relatively handy to the airport and train station?

Thanks for your help!

Lisa

For a little adventure on the way to Azrou you could leave Fez on the R503 through Séfrou, then 24km past Sefrou turn right (west) and travel through the 'lake district' to Dayet Aoua, then join the N8 near Ifrane.

How to find the wild monkeys near Azrou: tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g616013-c145720/Azr…

Kasbah de la Vallée ( http://www.kasbah-vallee-dades.com/ ) is one of many options for the Dades Gorge. For Zagora you could consider Dar Raha ( http://www.darraha.com/en/ ) in Amazraou which is a couple of km past Zagora.

You may want to cut one of the days in Erg Chigaga and spend it in Tafraoute. On the way to Tafraoute, the N12 route from Zagora to Foum Zguid by now should be open as a tarmac road, which will save you having to loop round via Agdz.

Tafraoute is one of my favourite places in Morocco. You could stay in town, or in the Ameln Valley a few km to the north in which case I would propose Chez Amaliya ( http://www.chezamaliya.com/en/ )

I wanted to suggest to take the trip from Casa first up to Chefchaouen and then ... when I have read the same suggestion as Tim wrote.

Anyway, it is good decision to go this time to Erg Chigaga so you can keep in memory Chebbi as it was 1996. Even if it is still very nice there but probably not so empty and primitive like before.

The easiest hotel for Casablanca is the Ibis ( accorhotels.com/gb/…index.shtml ) which is right next to Casa Voyageurs station that is the station you would have to change at anyway when coming from the airport.

Google for ONCF and select 'translate this webpage' to get the train site in English. The airport is called AEROPORT MED V (translated as Airport Med V) and CASA VOYAGEURS will be translated as Casa Travellers. And Ksar el Kebir is referred to as EL KSAR EL KEBIR.

P.S. OP already plans to spend 2 nights in Tafraoute. From M'Hamid to Tafraoute it is a little far so it would be good to spend one night somewhere on the way, for example in Tata.

The R410 from El Ksar el Kebir to Chefchaouen follows the Loukkos river for some way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kyZsn9umhs

From 1912 to 1956 the river was the frontier between what was Spanish Morocco to the north and French Morocco to the south.

Hi Tim, we like a little adventure so your ideas sound great!

Last time I was here we went to Azrou and the surrounding area and we went to (I guess? - it was a long time ago!) the lake area and went to the headwaters of a river there where terraces had been built out over the river and you could hire one and have tea and snacks. It was really lovely but I can't remember the name of it or where it is exactly. Do you by any chance know where I mean? :)

Hi Khamlia, thanks for your reply about Erg Chebbi/Erg Chigaga! I agree - and it will be great to go somewhere completely new with my family! :)

>it would be good to spend one night somewhere on the way, for example in Tata.

Tate would be OK but possibly a bit early seeing as the N12 is a fast main road. Another 'adventure' option would be to carry on the N12 past Tata and Akka, then turn north for Amtoudi (use Google Maps to find this).

Stay overnight at Ondiraitlesud ( tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1576738-d157… ) then in the cool of the morning climb up to and explore the wonderful agadirs (fortified communal warehouses), see http://looklex.com/morocco/amtoudi.htm

(The 'ventilation system' described on the link above is actually bee hives.)

Afterwards approach Tafraoute from the south, but as the owners at Ondiraitlesud which is the best route.