Transfer Option:

Day 1 Arrival at the airport of Casablanca. Going by train to Rabat (not included) which will give you a first impression of the rich diversity of the Moroccan country (1h30 / 2h). If you have the time, you can visit Rabat to get a first impression of the Eastern lifestyle. You can take a walk in the Medina, the garden of Oudaiya. We will meet at the hotel with the guide and we will spend the night there.
Day 2  A private car will take you early in the morning to the city of Meknes. There your horse will await you. They are Berber-Arab, small but very strong and with a lot of stamina. A first trip will take us to the foot of the mountain range of Zerhound. The road will wind through many small villages with clay houses and olive trees, sunflowers and cornfields. We will follow the direction of a small river with beautiful flowers just up to the village of Sainte de Sidi Ali. From here we will have a splendid view of Meknes and the surroundings. Lots of sandy fields will offer many chances to canter before we meet Volubilis, an ancient Roman city with houses like the ones found in Pompei, with ancient temples, bathing houses and a palace. Beautiful mosaics will give you a picture of what life was like in those days. We will eat and sleep  close to the Roman ruins, beside a small River.
Day 3 Today, the road will take us to Moulay, across olive tree forests, up to the peak of the Zegota. We will have a magnificent view of the Rif mountains up to the sources of Dezala Des Ben Ammar. The rocky ground does not allow many crops to grow here here : only a few olive trees can grow on a rare open space. Before we will arrive at the sources we will travel through a country that it is so devoid of human life and completely deserted, that it is hard to believe. A few human beings can be found around a water well where animals will drink. These places are very important to talk and discuss rumors. We will sleep in tents.
Day 4  Today, we will ride across the white mountain range of the Rif. Here and there you see a small village at the very bottom of a valley or small houses made out of clay. Agriculture is here done in the old fashioned way, that is with bare hands and we will see many women doing hard work on the fields. After the picnic, we will descend towards the oued Mikkes. You will follow this stream with many small windy roads and cross many Arab villages. After this we will reach our place for tonight and we will sleep here at the border of the stream in a olive tree forest.
Day 5 Today we will enter the 'Death Valley' which got its name because there is a river here that is so salty that it can not water the fields or refresh animals or human beings. To get water in this area, the local people are forced to go fetch water at places that are up to three hours away from here. The land here in the 'Death Valley' is completely sterile and the color is changing between yellow, white and beige. The road will take us through many small Berber villages via sandy fields from Moulay Yakoud up to Fes. The horse will wait at the gates of the city and a car will take us to Fez, to our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit Fez, the Medina, the University, the Souk with its small shops. We will sleep at a hotel in the city.
Day 6  We will leave the royal city today and continue our path through a very different countryside than you saw at the beginning of the trip. It's very flat but offers many interesting sights and is still very varied. A little curvy stream passes close by. We will see many turtles here and there that dive under water to escape from the horse feet. We will have picnic at the top of a hill, amongst the figs. A little bit farther away, a source provides water for animals and human beings and is also a popular washing place. From here you can see the entire Fez region and even the mountains of the Atlas. In the afternoon, we ride close to th beginning of the Atlas mountains. we cross over little creeks stony hills and arrive on a bigger plane where we can canter. Our camp is on a hill with a beautiful few untill Fes. On this hill is an old French farm which is now a government agriculture place.
Day 7 The ride will continue from hill to hill occasionally through a small village. Once a while we will have the opportunity to race in a long gallop by the side of the fields where they are growing grapes and melons. finally a lonely valley brings us back to the riding stables by noon.   After an emotional goodbye with our horses, a private car will  take you to the Medina of Meknes where you will have a short time to go through the souks. Afterwards the car brings you back to Rabat where you will spend the night in the hotel.
Day 8 Return by train to Casablanca and then the flight home.

(Note: you can also go directly from Casablanca to Rabat by plane)

What weather can I expect?
Sunny weather all year! Isn't that great! Actually, you can expect warm to hot weather with a nice breeze in the open country. At noon, we typically foresee siesta's to stay out of the sun. Except sunny weather most of the time, so bring light yet comfortable clothes with you. Nights can be chilly however, so take some warm clothes as well. but i any moment of the year you might have a thunderstorm. so better you bring a rain coat with you.

How hot can it be?
Very hot! You should always have a good suncream with you all the time. It is also strongly recommended to wear something on your head to avoid a sunstroke. The most comfortable clothes in warm environments are covering your body yet are light and airy to make sure that the air can circulate

Morocco has a subtropical climate that is tempered by oceanic effects resulting in moderate temperatures. In January, these average 16°C (61°F) and 22°C (72°F) in August.. Towards the interior, winters are colder and summers warmer. Thus, in Fès the mean temperature is 10°C (50°F) in January and 27°C (81°F) in August. Some mountain peaks are covered with snow during most of the year.

Rain falls mainly during the winter months and is heaviest in the northwest and lightest in the east and south. The average annual precipitation is about 955 millimetres (about 38 inches) in Tangier, 430 millimetres (17 inches) in Casablanca. Spring and fall are very pleasant. Temperatures from March to May and from September to October are between 19-29° C or 66-84 F. Summers are very hot with temperatures up to (and over) 35° C or 95 F (nights are considerably cooler!).

The clothes and items that you need should be taken in a soft duffel bag and will follow you in a van while you are riding.

Ideal for riding are breeches and high boots. We do not recommend rubber boots due to the heat, although jeans and cowboy boots are fine. Bring long-sleeved cotton shirts as protection from the sun; it is nice to wear a T-shirt underneath so that the long sleeved shirt can be removed if it gets too hot. All riders should have a wide brimmed hat or cowboy hat with a chin strap to keep it on while riding. Gloves for protection against sunburn and blisters from the reins and sunglasses, sun cream and chapstick are recommended. While camping you will need a sleeping bag, flashlight, a pocket knife is handy, warm up suit, tennis shoes, warm sweater and canteen or water bottle. Don't forget your swim suit! A towel and soap should also be brought along.

ATTENTION LADIES: IN ORDER NOT TO OFEND MUSLIM CUSTOMS, PLEASE DO NOT WEAR SEE THROUGH BLOUSES, TANK TOPS OR SHORTS IN THE CITIES AND VILLAGES. SHORTS ARE OKAY WHEN IN CAMP. Basically, dress modestly. Especially when going to the cities, you should try to cover your arms and legs as much as possible.

Men can wear shorts anywhere. We find it handy to bring a belt pack in which to put small items and camera while riding. Some saddle bags will be provided (1 saddle bag for every 2 to 3 persons) for the necessaries such as paperback book and cards which you may want during the long lunch breaks, water bottle (very important that you bring a water bottle). A 'seat saver' may add to your comfort while riding.

Everyone should plan on having a clean pair of pants and shirt or dress for Fez.

 

This is a camping ride with 3 nights in hotels. 
The camps have a cooking and dining tent and idividual 3 person tents for 2 people each.
Hotels:
Rabat:  HOTEL Bougreg
F E S:  Hotel Ibis Moussafir

What are the hotels like?
The people in the hotels are always very friendly. The rooms are mostly naturally air-cooled and most of the hotels have their sun-warmed swimming pool! The average hotel has a small bar but there is no club or dancing foreseen. In general, tap water should not be used for drinking but only for washing.

Will a cold beer await me at the end of the day?
Morocco is a muslim country so they do not have a rich alcohol culture. Basically, mint tea is the national drink but beer and beverages can only be found in the large cities. On the rides we typically go shopping for some bottles of wine to accompany dinner. Should you wish for beer in the evening, we can always buy some in a large city and take it with us.

Tack: Mostly English and some military tracking saddles. Some people bring their own gel-cushion or sheep-skin cover to put over the saddle.

Horses: Mares and stallions of Arab-Berber origin. They aren’t as big as European or American horses, but they are very surefooted and strong and are used to our climate. The stallions are just horses that have a natural leadership urge for "group care" and they do not like to stray too far from the group. When you ride a stallion, you should also pay attention not to get too close to another stallion. They are just as soft in the mouth as the other horses but we would only ask you to pay attention to the other horses.
Pace: Fast with many trots and canters

Daily Riding: 5-6 riding hrs

Level: Good Intermediate
We ride between 5 and 8 hours per day with mares and stallions, so basically you should be a rider with a good stamina and have some common sense

Horses and Guides:
Driss and Rena Erroudani started their riding tours with Hidden Trails in the year 1993, but have been organizing treks on horseback in Morocco since 1982.
Rena, once a schoolteacher in Switzerland, came to Meknes in the year 1984 to realize her dream of living in harmony with horses and nature.
In love with Morocco and its inhabitants, she'll help you discover another Morocco, away from the beaten track, authentic and enchanting, as your guide on the treks.
Driss is a riding instructor who used to work for the National Studfarm of Meknes. He has more than 25 years of experience with horses and he has taught a great many students (a lot of them French) who for the most part have gone on to be high level riders).
Together they will help you to realize your passion for horses.

The horses are of Arabian Berber descent: small but shurefooted and possessing great courage and stamina. In Morocco you ride with fairly severe bits -- please ride with a soft hand, but constant contact !

Tack:		English trekking
Horses:		Arab, Berber stallions & mares
Pace:		Fast with many trots and canters. 5 riding hrs. per riding day | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3 to 4 out of 5)    Good Intermediate
Riders:		Min 4 riders	Max 8 riders

Tack: Mostly English and some military tracking saddles. Some people bring their own gel-cushion or sheep-skin cover to put over the saddle.

Horses: Mares and stallions of Arab-Berber origin. They aren’t as big as European or American horses, but they are very surefooted and strong and are used to our climate. The stallions are just horses that have a natural leadership urge for "group care" and they do not like to stray too far from the group. When you ride a stallion, you should also pay attention not to get too close to another stallion. They are just as soft in the mouth as the other horses but we would only ask you to pay attention to the other horses.
Pace: Fast with many trots and canters

Daily Riding: 5-6 riding hrs

Level: Good Intermediate
We ride between 5 and 8 hours per day with mares and stallions, so basically you should be a rider with a good stamina and have some common sense

Horses and Guides:
Driss and Rena Erroudani started their riding tours with Hidden Trails in the year 1993, but have been organizing treks on horseback in Morocco since 1982.
Rena, once a schoolteacher in Switzerland, came to Meknes in the year 1984 to realize her dream of living in harmony with horses and nature.
In love with Morocco and its inhabitants, she'll help you discover another Morocco, away from the beaten track, authentic and enchanting, as your guide on the treks.
Driss is a riding instructor who used to work for the National Studfarm of Meknes. He has more than 25 years of experience with horses and he has taught a great many students (a lot of them French) who for the most part have gone on to be high level riders).
Together they will help you to realize your passion for horses.

The horses are of Arabian Berber descent: small but shurefooted and possessing great courage and stamina. In Morocco you ride with fairly severe bits -- please ride with a soft hand, but constant contact !

Passports
Passport valid for at least six months from date of entry required by all nationals referred to in the chart.
Passport Note
Visitors should ensure that their passports are stamped when they enter the country.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months.
Visa Note
(a) Visa extensions are possible upon request at the nearest police station. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.