Sahara Desert Trails

Horses & Riding

Tack

English-style leather saddles are used for all the horses, along with practical saddle bags for your small items (camera etc). bridles are simple leather ones with either a snaffle or pelham bit. Each horse is also ridden in a martingale which can be attached to the front of your saddle to prevent slipping on climbs.

You will be asked to tack and untack your own horse at the beginning and end of each day. Help is on hand if required, but you should be fairly comfortable doing this yourself.

Horses

The horses are predominantly Barbs or Arab-barb crosses (with one Appaloosa). They are mainly stallions although some have been gelded. The horses are forward-going, fit and eager to please, but their behaviour, especially when handled on the ground, may differ from what you are used to at home or on other trails. Your guides will be able to show you the correct way to handle the horses and provide help if you require it.

Riding

There are 2 itineraries:

• Horses, Dunes and Nomads is a trail ride
• Desert Ride (camping) is a trail ride

Ages

None within reason - young riders are able to join this trail accompanied by a parent or guardian, provided they are fit, experienced riders who are confident handling a forward going horse (there are no ponies)

Health

You need to be physically fit and riding fit. If you are not riding regularly then you must get back in the saddle before joining the trails.

Weight

90kg / 198 lbs/ 14 st 2lbs

Food & Accommodation

Food

All meals are included during the riding tours, from dinner on your day of arrival until breakfast on your day of departure.

Dinners will be typical and traditional Moroccan fare featuring plenty of vegetables, chicken, beef, and lamb in the form of tagine, soups, stews and couscous. These are typically 3 courses, with soup to start, tagine or stew to follow and fresh fruit to finish. Lunch is usually lighter - prepared for you by the support crew on the trail - with fresh salad, pasta, rice or couscous and a selection of protein such as cheese or tinned fish. Breakfast will vary depending on the ride you are on but usually consists of a selection of bread, preserves, cakes, fresh fruit, eggs, tea, coffee and juice.

Traditional Moroccan tea will be served at breakfast, lunch and at the end of the riding day together with a selection of sweet and salted snacks. Water is provided but other drinks are payable locally. Some of the more touristic guesthouses will serve a selection of alcoholic drinks (beer and wine) for you to buy, but most will only offer soft drinks.

Accommodation

Depending on the ride you have chosen, you will either stay in the comfort of a guesthouse or riad each night or have more adventurous mobile tented camps set up each night in the desert.

Both trails begin with a night of accommodation in a high-standard tourist Riad in Ouarzazate. The riad offers single, double and triple room options for guests, all with en-suite bathrooms and hot water too. There is a restaurant on-site for included meals and a swimming pool available for those who wish to use it.

During the guesthouse trail, you will spend each night in a different riad or guesthouse and these vary in standard from very traditional to more tourists. All have twin, double, single and triple rooms as well as en-suite bathrooms with hot running water, however.

For the camping trail, besides the first and final nights, you will stay each night in tents which will be carried with you by the support team. At the end of each riding day, you will help to set up camp. This will include; erecting the tents, setting up the cooking area, helping to secure the horses and preparing the meals. Again, in the morning, you will aid the support team in dismantling the camp ready to be transported to the next night's location.

Itineraries

Horses, Dunes and Nomads Standard accommodation.

Desert Ride (camping) Tented accommodation.

Other Activities

These riding trails are not suitable for purely non-riding guests. The riding days are long so there are also few opportunities to fit in other activities. There may be some free time in the evenings to walk amongst the dunes, listen to traditional music after dinner or swim in the pool if you are on the guesthouse ride (and there is one available).

For those wishing to extend their stay in Morocco, it is well worth taking some time to explore Ouarzazate; famed as the gateway to the desert, its Berber and nomadic culture as well as its film and television studios which have featured as a location for titles such as Gladiator, Ben Hur, The Mummy films, Game of Thrones, Cleopatra, Jewel of the Nile and many others.

Travel

Airport transfers are included from Ouarzazate airport if you arrive/depart on the set days. If you spend an extra night before/after the ride, then transfers from/to can be arranged at extra cost.

If you cannot find suitable flights to Ouarzazate, then transfers can be arranged from Marrakech airport at an additional cost and most guests take this option as there are a lot more flights available. You need to land in Marrakech by 15:30 on arrival day and departing flights should leave at 16:00 or later - this is because everyone goes together in one group transfer and the journey is several hours.

Testimonials

Sara S., Dec. 4, 2023

The long, exhilarating canters, the ever changing terrain and scenery, the amazingly fit and responsive horses, and our guide Abder made this trip one to remember :) I was thrilled with the opportunity to spread out and ride as a group rather than single file, as the terrain definitely allowed for it. And especially thankful for Adber's confidence in us to give us a bit of independence while riding. The desert hotels actually exceeded my expectations; they were clean with lots of nice character. This holiday was more aligned with the type of rides I look for. I had a great time!

Chantal S., Jan. 26, 2023

What a fabulous trip. Loved it all. Excellent horses and comfy tack, tasty, fresh healthy food, comfortable accommodation and a great support team. We met lovely people just as you said we would. The terrain and scenery were so much more varied than I expected. We only needed a coat on the last day, the rest of the week was fleece and t-shirt weather. The outfitter was a real pro. Included everyone, good communications, organised and punctual, patient and polite and a good sense of humour. His team evidently love what they do, his horses too - how they love to run!

Pam W., Jan. 10, 2023

Excellent. A great way to spend Christmas/New Year with friends - riding lovely horses through amazing scenery.