
Tizi n'Bachkoum
Morocco, africa
N/A
1,700 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're cruising through southern Morocco, Ouarzazate Province to be exact, Drâa-Tafilalet region, and you stumble upon the N-10. This isn't just any road, my friends. This is Tizi n'Bachkoum, a seriously cool mountain pass that tops out at 1,700 meters (that's 5,577 feet for us imperial system folks). The road? Yeah, it's paved, but don't think it's gonna be a boring cruise. This baby's got some serious steep sections that'll keep you on your toes. Plus, the views from up there? Absolutely epic. Just be prepared for some winding fun and keep your eyes peeled!
Where is it?
Tizi n'Bachkoum is located in Morocco (africa). Coordinates: 31.4406, -7.7833
Road Details
- Country
- Morocco
- Continent
- africa
- Max Elevation
- 1,700 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 31.4406, -7.7833
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