The short answer
It is safe with an unhurried, sober pace, but it is a real mountain road. The Tizi n'Tichka pass on the N9 tops out at 2,260 metres, Morocco's highest paved road, with steep drops, blind bends and slow lorries. Heavy snow in January or February can close it for a day or two.
In more detail
The road surface is good and the route is busy, which helps. Newer sections have eased the worst hairpins. What catches visitors out is the combination of bends, overtaking lorries and the temptation to stop on the verge for a photo.
There are no crash barriers in places, and mopeds and livestock appear without warning. Driving it after dark is a bad idea. Plan to cross in daylight, and in winter check the forecast before you commit to a date. We watch it before every crossing.
Most first-time visitors find it more relaxing to let a local driver take the wheel. You get the views, the tea stop at the summit and the descent into the south without watching the road the whole time.
Good to know
- Cross in daylight and leave early on short winter days.
- East of Ouarzazate, fill the tank whenever it drops below half; stations get sparse.
- Use the proper viewpoints and tea stops, not the hard shoulder, for photos.