Our Destinations

Why travelling with Randocheval ?

MOROCCO : HORSE RIDING TRAIL IN SAHARA DESERT...

Discover another Morocco, nearly another planet at the rythm of Barb horses, in the savage and desertic southeast of the country in Sahara desert. During this trail, you will cross Berber villages, and nomads' camps among sand dunes. Do not hesitate to answer to "desert call", from Ouarzazate and Zagora, between november and march. From april, may and september month, join us in the Atlas Mountains (8 days) or in June, july and august on our Berber Ride (15 days), near the Atlantic Ocean in Atlas first mountains.

ITINERARY

This trail ride is dedicated to experienced riders, able to perform long trots and enjoy gallops. The mostly flat ground, allows a heavy rythm, more intense than on other rides.
The Drâa valley landscapes are among the most beautiful in Morocco : endless palm groves, springs and gardens, villages with clay houses built like the Kasbah of old. And of course, the desert : golden sand dunes and boundless areas.

Day 1
Pick up at Ouarzazate airport. Transfer and night at the hotel. Meeting with the ride team. (meals not included)

Day 2
Transfer by taxi or minibus to Zagora, a 2h30 drive, the starting point of the ride. Meeting with the horses. We begin our ride following the Drâa valley, through palm groves and irrigation channels. We will ride through typical Kasbah villages, known as "Ksar". At the end of the day, we camp or stay in the inhabitants' houses, according to the weather and the number of riders.

Day 3
This journey will induce us to trot and gallop toward the Drâa Gorge, where the river crosses a rocky barrier. We will picnic close to the ruins of an ancient Ksar before going down toward Tagounit and its palm groves where we will set our camp.

Day 4
After crossing the Foum Larsam pass, we will have a fantastic view of sand dunes around M'Hamid, the highlight of our day. By way of a change, we will spend the night inside traditional nomads' camp enjoying hammam and the hospitality of the inhabitants of the Draa valley.

Day 5
Today the sand dunes await us and the only way to meet them is to leave the safe shadow of the palm groves to walk in the Sahara, where dry rivers and furnace - like air - await us. Then, in the middle of nowhere, there is a well - an oasis - where we will set up our bivvy.

Day 6
Sometimes made of sand (called "erg"), or of stone (named "reg"), the desert is surrounding us, Saharan trails, intersecting, and far away, there is the relief of a small mountain range. At the end of the day, the rocks seem to become simultaneously pink and purple under the sunset light. The last camp is close to a well used by Saharan families, with in the distance the imperceptible line of hills surrounding Zagora.

Day 7
This morning, an early wake up to reach Zagora for the picnic. Last trots and gallops, and here appears the protective shadow of palm trees, the freshness of the water of the channel, and again the river Drâa. This is the end of the ride and we have to say goodbye to the guides and horses. Transfer back to Ouarzazate by taxi or minibus, with a en-roue stop in Agdz where we will leave the magical valley. Arrival in Ouarzazate, at the hotel. (dinner not included)

Day 8
Transfer to the Airport according to your flight. (meals not included)

Important
All our programmes above are indicative. They can be modified or rearranged for technical, safety and weather reasons. In this case, only the people in charge of the supervision are able to take the decisions that are necessary

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

Extra stay possible in Ouarzazate, anti-Atlas mountains and/or Agadir on the atlmantic coast.
Contact us for any a-la-carte travel extension.

HORSES AND REQUIRED RIDING LEVEL

Horses and tack
All our horses are Barb horses, admirably suited to the mountain tracks. They have English or trail riding saddles

Required riding level
Our trail rides are dedicated to riders with good equestrian mastery. It is necessary to be confident at all paces. In the most difficult ascents or slopes, on the rocky tracks, we will ask you to dismount in order to let your companion get its breath back.
Sample day organization : after breakfast and collection of luggage and equipment, every day is usually structured as follows : 2h30-3h on horseback in the morning, picnic and 2h30-3h on horseback again. Children over 12 are accepted if accompanied by a riding adult.

YOUR GUIDES

Guide
Our guides in Morocco are really experienced, with a real passion for their job and horses, conscious of their responsibilities. The whole staff speaks french and some of them english. Above 8 riders, a second Moroccan guide will supervise the group.

Logistics
The following logistic car allows to carry your personal effects, the supplies and the equipment you will find every evening at the camp and from time to time at midday. Saddlebags are provided to put some of your personal belongings in (sun cream, gourd, camera, picnic lunch...)
A cooker will serve you a copious and varied food in accordance with the Moroccan tradition. A driver dispatches the equipment for the camp.

ACCOMMODATION

Meals
A copious breakfast in the morning, picnic for the lunch (grills, mixed salads, omelettes…). On the evening, the cooker prepares most of the time typically Moroccan meals.

We will ask you to contribute to the cohesion and the harmony of the group, that will assure the success of your trip, thanks to a positive and active participation to the inevitable tasks : grooming, harnessing and feeding the horses, taking down the camp in the morning.

DATES AND RATES

Flights to Morocco

Please contact us to check the best available rate from your country.

BOOKING - INFORMATION

Contact Jennifer for any enquiry !

PRATICAL INFORMATIONS

From 4 riders minimum to 12.
If group size exceeds 8 riders, a second guide will be provided.

Warm days and cool/cold nights in the desert.

This trail is run only from november to end of march, when temperatures are not too high in the desert.
As in any desert, there are huge temperature changes between day and night. During the day, you will enjoy a nice 10°c to 25°c. In the night, temperatures can drop under zero. The weather is always dry, mostly with a fantastic blue sky.

Formalities
Please check with your local ambassy.

Vaccination - health
No specific vaccinations. Don't forget your repatriation insurance.

We recommand to be update of usual vaccination, and especially tetanus..