A time-critical tour day: the solution isn't to drive faster
Learn from the route, without promising arrival times
- Fez to Merzouga taught me the difference between knowing a route and running a tour day.
- On my first attempt I left Fez at about seven in the morning and arrived in Merzouga around 9:30 at night.
- Later, after years of working that road, some journeys brought me in around 3:30 or four in the afternoon.
- Those are examples from my experience, not standard driving times or a promise to anybody.
Manage stops safely
- The key was not speeding.
- Driving faster can make a journey more dangerous without solving the real problem.
- The key was stop management.
- The route is so varied that even drivers want to admire every changing landscape.
- But if travelers have one night in the desert and a camel ride before sunset, the day's stops cannot consume the whole afternoon.
Confirm the deadline and plan backward
- The evening before, contact the camp and confirm the actual camel-departure time for the season and when guests need to arrive.
- Aim to be there 45–60 minutes before that activity, allowing for luggage and restroom needs.
- Start with that deadline and work backward.
- Plan lunch, the cedar forest and Ziz Valley stops accordingly.
- Know which travelers return on time and who usually takes longer.
- Keep within safe speeds and take necessary rest breaks.
Check winter roads and coordinate changes
- In winter, shorter daylight and possible mountain-road disruption make preparation even more important.
- Ask people who have recently driven the road, and check reliable current road information.
- If conditions aren't safe, the programme and expectations must be escalated to the operator.
- Being on a job means protecting the experience without gambling with safety.
Tips from real experience on the road, not official training or certification. Always check current rules and safety guidance. Terms