Make the most of Morocco

I've got a couple of weeks in Morocco coming up and am looking to make the most of it. Seems to me the south of the country offers more than the north but am very open to suggestions. Right now the plan would be to head from Casablanca to Marakkesh (train?), do the desert thing (any suggestions here?) maybe climb the mountain (comments/suggestions?) then down to the beaches from south to north with side trips inland (to where?). Things to do, places to stay on a moderate budget, what not to miss. All suggestions appreciated. Let me know. Thanks.

Trains and buses are both great, comfortable options, but south of Marrakesh there arent' many tracks, so bus will be your choice there. The CTM and Supratour buses are REALLY nice, but when they are not available, you'll be fine on more basic buses as well. They'll take you anywhere.

For the "desert thing", my opinion is that Merzouga is your best starting point. It takes a while to get there, but it's worth it. You do NOT need to book yourself onto a dromedary tour of the dunes. Just stay in Merzouga and walk into the desert at your own leisure. This finger of the Sahara is small, and by heading up on the higher dunes, you'll always be able to find your way back to Merzouga. If you want to sleep in the desert, just bring a sleeping bag and find your own spot.

For mountains, I suggest Djebel el Kest, if you're quite fit. It's a good day's walk starting from Tafraoute. Take the bus or a taxi up the Ameln valley and get off at the turn to Tagdicht/Tagesdicht. Walk from there and back down. It's not difficult to find your way, there are cairns you can follow through the steep parts. You'll start your walk at about 900 meters above sea level, and the highest point is almost 2400 meters, so bring some warm clothes as the temperature will go down the higher you get.

If you're into really getting off the beaten path, head down the coast to the occupied Western Sahara and see the very, very basic living conditions there. And the luxury the UN personnel enjoy just next door, in Laayoune.

I've got some photos from my trip in Morocco that may give you some ideas/courage:
http://www.pvv.org/~bct/sahara/

Happy trails!

Bjørn
http://bjornfree.com/

Thanks Bjorn. Nice photos. Will get around to downloading your TransSiberian book once I get rid of these alligators.