Oasis of Tafilalelt Expedition
Across the sand dunes of Erfoud to the Oasis of Tafilalelt
.... a riding adventure in Morocco

Sand - Oasis - Mountains - Kasbahs ...  this is an expedition into the remote parts on southern Morocco.
Ride across sand dunes that are up to 150 meters in height, enjoy endless gallops through the desert, ride along palm trees, through oasis and lonely valleys or dry river beds - a dream for desert fans.

03/02-03/16   03/16-03/30   10/19-11/02
  availability & reservation

ITINERARY
Day 1  Arrival in Ouarzazate. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2   In the morning we travel over Boumalne Dadaes to Tinghir, where the horses stand. On the way you will have a first impression of the desert countryside. driving along the valley of thousands Kasbahs, you pass through many villages, but alot of nthe old Kasbahs are ruins today. after a pick-nick in Tinghir you get your horse and a ride of 3 hours will bring you to the camp, passing though many little villages. Overnight in the camp
Day 3   Today we follow the dry river valley, on one side we see the endless grey-blue mountain ranges of the Jebel Saghro, on the other side the High Atlas mountains, which are often covert with snow in the winter month. Wherever there are springs we see green gardens grow. Beside one of this gardens we will have a picnic in the shade of the Tamarisktree. In the afternoon we ride over a little hill of Shebel Saghro. we find a salt spring but still the animals are drinking this water. so often you can see the camels or goats of the nomads. Soon we reach the camp of Tindruish.
Day 4  Today we ride over sandy plains between palm tree gardens. One big spring gives water for the whole palm oasis. but as the last years where very dry the end of the oasis gets very dry and you see also the palm trees dying. we cross aver a empty river valley and will find our picnic place under palm trees. In the afternoon we follow a dry river course into the mountains. On this plane you can gallop for ever. But then the Plain goes in to the riverbed and we follow slowly between the black mountains. Suddenly a tooth-like, black mountain rises before us, at its feet some palms and oleander grow. There is even a small well, making this place an ideal campsite.
Day 5  We leave the stony plateau and gallop again over sandy plains. This flat infinity is very impressive. Sometimes herds of camel converge on lonely wells. We have lunch in an old abandoned fort which was a former military base. The loam construction is still in good condition with typically shaped windows and ornaments. Unfortunately all the wood has ben stolen so there are no more floors and roofs. We continue our ride by the green gardens. This part goes over little sand dunes and through palm trees. Camp close to a well that provides water for this whole oasis.
Day 6  The today's palm gardens are part of the oasis of Tafilalelt. Besides them the desert stretches away. In the distance isolated mountains rise. In some places we find again rows of innumerable, small earth hills that cover a waterway system. Many long gallops brings us to the Hotel in the Palmoasis of Rissani. In the afternoon we will visit Rissani - a small desert town. There is the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif a king of the Alaouiten Dynastie. In the center is a small Souk, some cafes and little shops. Three times a week is a bigger market. Then the people of the desert will do their shopping. Night in the Hotel
Day 7   After a good breakfast we leave for a long ride towards the Sand dunes of Merzouga. We follow little ways trough the palmerai. sometimes we cross villages . there many children are following us. But a gallop brings us again in the solitude of the Oasis.

Suddenly we are out of the palm trees and a immense plain opens in front of us. If the weather is clear you might already see the rose colored Sand dunes far away. This infinite flat expanse littered with small black stones has no vegetation. Our camp is on the feed of the dunes. There is a spring which brings water for the whole region. So many green gardens are just beside the sand dunes In the afternoon you might walk up the sand dunes and enjoy the beautiful view. These impressive dunes are up to 150 meter in height. Or you enjoy the green gardens where you can walk through or you go in the near village to have a coffee.
Day 8  Today is a resting day. You have the possibility to enjoy the sand dunes, or going for a camel ride. May be you just enjoy a slow day or you like to ride along the sand dunes. The horses enjoy running over the little sand dunes . You might discover the nesting places of rare birds.
Day 9  In the morning we leave the camp by the sand dunes. After a big rain we can find a lake near Merzouga. Many birds will come to this lake in the time where water is in. So sometimes you can even find the pink Flamingos. Around the lake a few green grass is growing and camel herds come there to eat the grass. Soon we will gallop over a big black plane – it seems to be endless when in front of us the black plane joins the blue sky; Later we cross a empty river valley and follow the white sandy plane. Black and stony parts changes to white sandy planes. In the evening we find the hill of Tinghras. This place is famous as a film place. Many movies are turned in this region. Our camp will be just under this beautiful mountain.
Day 10   Today is a long riding day. So we will leave early in the morning. Little sand dunes are crossing our way. Then again we can gallop over big planes . from time to time a little village shoes up. But soon there are no people no ways. We follow lonely valleys. The mountains are covered with red sand. So the black stones shines through the golden sand. One lonely valley follows the other. Finally we will find a well in the middle of the desert. The horses are very thirsty after this long day. But still we have to cross another big valley before finding our camp next to a well in the desert
Day 11  Many gallops brings us through Akaziatrees. Then we follow are river valley. Even if the river has only water in rainy time – there is a lot of groundwater. Many villages follow this empty river valley. The water is pumped out of wells and many green fields are growing along the valley. Picnic is on a lonely place under paimtrees; In the afternoon we still follow the same river valley. More and more villages and people shows up. But our camp is again outside in a lonely Palm oasis.
Day 12  This morning we cross over a mountain range. In this mountains you can find fossils they are 500 million years old. In a big plane we follow little ways. From time to time you find sheep and goats herds. In between the brown and yellow mountains there is one very black mountain. Finally we come to a canyon. In the middle of this canyons is a little spring with some palm trees. This is a point where all the people crossing the canyon stop. So there is also a little coffee shop where you even can buy a coca cola. In the afternoon we follow the canyon. Then we cross the mountains. In the next plane we will find our camp under palm trees.
Day 13  Today is our last riding day. We ride along the Jebel Saghro which is a mountain range of black color. But on the other side we have yellow and brown desert mountains. Over the fine stones on the ground we can even gallop. From time to time we find a little well where the horses can drink. The nomads led always a rope and a bucket by the well. So anybody who comes there can get water out. In a little palm oasis we will have picnic. Some last gallops brings us to the camp near by Tinghrir. We leave the horses and the crew and drive to the hotel in Tinghrir. May be there is still time to drive in to the gorge of Tinghrir. Diner and overnight in the Hotel.
Day 14   Today we drive back to Ouarzazate. On the way we will visit the gorge of Boulmane Dades. On the way in the gorges you will see plenty of greenery, mostly figs and almond trees, interspersed with an array of Kasbahs and Ksours. On some places you can see very bizarre formation of the rock. In the afternoon we will come to Ouarzazate . so there is still time to go in the souks of the town. Diner and overnight in the Hotel.
Day 15  Departure