Border ride

Introduction
Morocco Morocco
Join us on this incredible two-week loop ride out of Ouarzazate.

During this trip, you will discover small villages as well as a variety of landscapes from desert, to mountains and seaside. The River Draa will be a regular sight as you ride part of the border between Morocco and Algeria.

Nights are spent in a mixture of camps and local hotels, so that you can experience the best riding holiday possible!

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a wilderness ride, so nights will be a mixture of hotels and camping.

Description
You will spend 6 nights in hotel accommodations and 8 nights camping.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Ouarzazate
Night 2: Hotel in Foum Zguid
Night 3 to 5: Camping
Night 6 & 7: Hotel in Mhamid
Night 8 to 12: Camping
Night 13: Hotel in Merzouga
Night 14: Hotel in Ouarzazate

Hotel in Ouarzazate
Since 2005, the hotel welcomes guests in a warm and friendly atmosphere. It offer 31 air-conditioned rooms, all fitted with a private bathroom, WIFI access and a balcony. The hotel also has a beautiful outdoor pool and a small garden with palm trees and flowers.

Hotel in Foum Zguid
Located within the palm grove of Foum Zguid, this hotel offers a large outdoor swimming pool. Guests can enjoy a terrace offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The air-conditioned guest rooms are bright and have a modern décor. They each have a seating area and an en suite bathroom with a shower and hairdryer. Some rooms offer a private terrace with patio furniture. WIFI is available in public areas and is free of charge.

Hotel in Mhamid
This hotel is located just outside the city, surrounded by a beautiful oasis. Each of the spacious bedrooms has a view on the garden and is uniquely decorated, mixing modern decor with traditional architecture. They all come equipped with a private bathroom and air conditioning, You can connect on the Wi-Fi for free in public areas and you can also take a dip in the pool, to relax in the evening.

Hotel in Merzouga
This charming hotel benefits from a great location, at the foot of the sand dunes. All of its 35 bedrooms are decorated in Berber style and feature air conditioning, ensuite facilities as well as free internet connection. In the evening, guests can choose to relax in the garden, go for a swim in the outdoor pool or sit in the lounge, by the open fire.

Camping     
You will overnight in comfortable dome tents with ground mats. There are rustic portable toilets (no flush) on site and no showers. There will be some rivers along the ride where you can bathe and wash up. Make sure to being your own sleeping bag!

Room Occupancy
Single supplement is mandatory if we are unable to find another rider to share.



Meals
All meals are included on the ride except for lunches on days 7 and 14. 

You will enjoy a mix of food: some "western food" and some very good local specialties!
Some days a car will meet us for lunch and on some days we will have a picnic on the trail - you will take the food with you in your saddle bags.

Drinks in hotels or restaurants and alcoholic drinks on the ride are not included.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions if given prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Horses
You will ride small but very surefooted Arabian Berber horses with a great courage and stamina. Mares and stallions go together on the ride. Stallions and mares go well together, but some of the stallions need extra space when two are in the same area. A whip is suggested for the stallions, as they need strict orders. This does not make them difficult to ride, they just require more firm direction and more attention. These horses can get very attached to their riders and are always ready to please.

Tack
Mostly English and some military tracking saddles. Some people bring their own gel-cushion or sheep-skin cover to put over the saddle since we ride for long hours.

Staff
Driss and Rena 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 will 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).

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary- subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival in Ouarzazate
Dinner and overnight accommodation in a hotel.
Meals included: //
Overnight at Hotel in Ouarzazate

Day 2: Introduction
In the morning, transfer to Foum Zguid. After lunch, short ride through the palm oasis to get used to the horses. Overnight at a hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Foum Zguid

Day 3: To the Mountains 
We start our adventure by riding through the small town of Foum Zguid, among the palm trees. Then, we make our way towards the Tagine mountain. We stop for lunch by a little palm oasis. In the afternoon, we follow the mountains and enjoy some gallop on sandy grounds. Tonight, we camp in the middle of nowhere.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 4: Across Iriki Lake to Sidi Abdenbi
This morning, we enjoy long canters over to Iriki Lake, an endless plain. We stop for lunch on the way. In the distance, we can already see the sand dunes of Chegaga. This evening, we camp by a little village Sidi abdenbi.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 5: Ride across Chegaga Sand Dunes
Today we ride into the sanddunes of Chegaga. In between the dunes we find clay ground where we can canter. We enjoy our picnic  by a small group of Tamarisk trees. In the afternoon we get closer to the mountains. Tonight's camp is by a holy spring .
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 6: Ride to Mhamid
We continue our ride among sand dunes. Sometimes crossing over the sand dunes, sometimes cantering in between them. It is an incredible feeling being in the middle of this sand world. At some point, we will reach a beautiful green place with huge trees. We will stop here for our picnic. Then, we follow a dusty path to the small city of Mhamid, where we will stay for two nights.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Mhamid

Day 7: Rest Day
You are free to spend your day as you like. You can wander through the garden and go for a swim at the hotel's pool or you can go explore the small town of Mhamid.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Mhamid

Day 8: Draa Valley
Today, we get back in the saddle and ride along the valley of the Draa. This river does not always have water, but it is bordered by large palm trees. Later on, we cross over a small mountain with a great view over the valley and its many palm trees. We have our lunch break among the palm trees. This afternoon, we continue to follow the river valley, dotted with small villages and green gardens. Tonight's camp is on the edge of a palm oasis.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 9: Across Mountains
A long canter over a plain brings us to the foot of a mountain chain. Here is one of the military border posts. Then we climb over a mountain on a large path, with beautiful views over the desert valleys and canyons. In between the mountains, there is a large plain with a well. This is where we will stop for lunch. After our break, long canters lead us across another mountain chain . Our camp for the night is near a small village, under acacia trees.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 10: Border Ride
Today, we will cross plains, desert mountains, little sand dunes, acacia trees, military border points and more… The scenery is incredible. We camp under Acacia trees.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 11: Ride to Tafraout
We start our day's ride by following a large empty valley without any road or track to follow. Cars and horse can go where they want but from time to time there are sand banks so the cars must watch out to prevent from being stuck in the sand. Lunch together with the cars under a huge lonely tree. In the afternoon, we ride among sand dunes. At some point, we reach a plain surrounded by rose mountains. We end our day's ride with a canter over a huge white plain, that will lead us to our camp, close to Tafraout.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 12: Tafraout to Ramlia
Today is our longest riding day with over 65 km to cover! Our ride leads us across plains and over sandy mountains. At one point, we will cross the empty river bed of oued Gheris in order to reach the green fields of Ramlia village. The scenery is unforgettable and changes every hour. Tonight, we camp under acacia trees.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 13: Ramlia to Merzouga
Today is our last riding day together. We follow the river Ziz, which is mostly dried out. Then, we ride over white plains toward the valley of Merzouga. Finally, we see the red sand dunes of Erg chebbi.  In the afternoon we ride along the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi until we reach our Inn. There might be time to jump in the swimming pool before dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Merzouga

Day 14: Transfer to Ouarzazate
Today, we say good by to the horses before driving back to Ouarzazate (approx. 6 hours).  Overnight in the hotel
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Ouarzazate

Day 15: Departure
Individual return.

Rates and Dates for Border ride

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Ouarzazate
Airport: Ouarzazate Airport (OZZ)
Transfer: Ouarzazate

Climate:
                                            Agadir area