N9 · Morocco
Tizi n’Tichka
The road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate crossing the High Atlas. This page covers its mountain section, up the switchbacks above Taddert and over the top.
Counts are from Turini’s pace-note engine on this route. Heights come from terrain data and can differ from signposted figures by a few tens of metres.
Where is the Tizi n’Tichka?
The Tizi n’Tichka is in Morocco, on the N9. Also known as Tichka Pass. The route on this page: the N9 north side over the pass, past Taddert to Ighrem N’Ougdal, 31.4 km.
Why the Tizi n’Tichka is famous
It is the highest major mountain pass in North Africa. The French military built the road along an old caravan trail in 1936. The sign at the top says 2,260 m, though GPS measurements put it a little lower.
Tizi n’Tichka hairpins
Over 31.4 km Turini calls 12 hairpins and 156 corners graded 1 to 6, plus 1 crest and 2 dips. That is 177 calls in all, one every 177 metres on average. Grade 1 is the tightest, 6 is nearly straight (how to read pace notes). On Turini’s ranking of the twistiest famous roads it comes 33rd of 61.
Tizi n’Tichka elevation profile
From 1,603 m at the start to 1,917 m at the finish, with a highest point of about 2,210 m. Red marks are the hairpins.
Tizi n’Tichka pace notes, first few km
The first 25 calls, exactly as Turini reads them, with the distance from the start.
Right 2Left 3Right 3Right 2Left 3Left 1Left 1Right 2 long tightensLeft 3 tightensLeft 6Right 3 tightensLeft 2Right 6Left 2Hairpin rightLeft 5Hairpin leftRight 2 tightensLeft 3Right 3Left 3 longLeft 6Right 3Left 3Right 3 very long opensThat takes you to 2.54 km. 152 more calls follow over the remaining 28.8 km.
Before you drive the Tizi n’Tichka
Open all year, but snow can close it between November and March.
Expect trucks and tour buses, and overtake with care. The kasbah at Telouet is a short detour from the top.
How to drive the Tizi n’Tichka with Turini
Set the route before you leave and Turini saves its notes on the phone, so it works with the screen off and no signal. On the road it reads each call about 4.5 seconds before the corner, timed to your speed, and you never touch the phone. It plays through the phone or the car speakers. If pace notes are new to you, start in Simple mode (Easy, Medium, Hard) and switch to the 1–6 scale once it feels natural.
Always drive within the law, the conditions and what you can see. Turini tells you what the map says; the road is what counts.
The Tizi n’Tichka: questions
Is the Tizi n’Tichka open all year?
Open all year, but snow can close it between November and March.
Where is the Tizi n’Tichka?
The Tizi n’Tichka is in Morocco, on the N9. Also known as Tichka Pass. The route on this page: the N9 north side over the pass, past Taddert to Ighrem N’Ougdal, 31.4 km.
How long is the Tizi n’Tichka?
The route on this page, the N9 north side over the pass, past Taddert to Ighrem N’Ougdal, is 31.4 km (19.5 miles) long, with about 720 m (2,360 ft) of climbing.
How many hairpins does the Tizi n’Tichka have?
On this route Turini calls 12 hairpins and 156 corners graded 1 to 6: 177 pace-note calls in all, about 5.4 corners a kilometre. Signposted counts can differ, since Turini only calls a hairpin where the road really doubles back.
How high does the Tizi n’Tichka go?
The highest point on this route is about 2,210 m (7,250 ft), from terrain data, so it can differ from the signposted height by a few tens of metres. It starts at 1,603 m and finishes at 1,917 m.
More roads like the Tizi n’Tichka
The twistiest famous roads, ranked · All famous roads · How to read pace notes · How to find twisty roads near you
Sources: Wikipedia: Tizi n'Tichka.
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