SKOURA TO TARBHALT DESERT TRAIL - MOROCCO

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews

The horses spend the cooler winter months in the depths of the desert. From October to May we offer a desert trail. This is a superb route through the desert along which we encounter the mountains of Saghro, the Drâa River Valley and the sandy expanse of the Sahara. Accommodation is in comfortable camps near oasis and/or small villages. On this riding holiday you can enjoy the incredible variation of desert landscapes and meet the people that have adapted to these harsh conditions.

Trip length 8 days /7 nights Ride only price 2008: from £805 see below for details 2009: £859 Departure dates 2008: 27 Sep, 11 & 25 Oct, 15 & 29 Nov, 20 & 27 Dec. 2009: 25 Jan, 8 & 22 Feb, 8 & 29 Mar, 12 Apr, 4 & 18 Oct, 22 Nov, 27 Dec Approximate riding time per day 4 to 6 hours Riding ability required Intermediate onwards but should be riding fit. Min age 12. Group size 2-12 Meeting point (getting there) Ouarzazate or Marrakech Airport Transfer Included from meeting point. Flight guide London - Ouarzazate return from £275 - 390 London - Marrakech return from £150 - £250 Single supplement None if willing to share, otherwise £43 for tent alone and £32 for 2 nights hotel accommodation.

SAMPLE ITINERARY - SKOURA TO TARBHALT DESERT TRAIL

Day 1
Arrival - Ouarzazate or Marrakech airport. If you are flying into Marrakech then you must arrive no later than 2pm. Transfer Ouarzazate (a 4 hour drive through the Atlas Mountains) and dinner & overnight in a hotel in Ouarzazate.

Day 2 Ait Marssid - Bab N’Ali
A transfer from Ouarzazate to Ait Marssid (a 3 hour trip). After the distribution of the horses, a setting of saddles takes place before going through the narrow pass of Tizi N’Tazazarte(2283m high) via a nomadic track. A picnic at the pass with a panoramic sight on the volcanic solid mass of Mount Saghro. In the afternoon we keep descending the same track which leads us to where we settle our first bivouac. 29 kms, 4 hours horse riding.

Day 3 Bab N’Ali - Amada N’Oumarirh
Today we are going the wadi (valley) N’Sit which makes us dicover the berber villages at the foot of Mount Saghro. We enjoy a picnic at Anagame. This afternoon we leave the wadi along a track that goes up allowing us a wonderful sight on the valley N’Sit before finishing our stage by a gallop on the plateau of Amda Oumarirh. Bivouac under the shade of the acacias. 33 kms, 5 1/2 hours horse riding.

Day 4 Amada N’Oumarirh - Assafour
This morning we cross the first desert plateaux with acacias, then we take a track which makes us cross several palm groves and villages. A picnic at Imi Ouaqqa. In the afternoon we go up the wadi Bou Isserfane where beautiful villages are located and the superb sight of the first dunes before crossing the large palm grove of Tazzarine. Bivouac right after Assafour. 36Km, 6 hours horse riding.

Day 5 Assafour - Foum Tizza
We keep on riding across desert plataux at the foot of Djbel Serdrar which gently takes us along towards the Saharan plains. Not far from the dunes, our picnic in the sahde of acacias takes place. The grand gallops are in the program. This afternoon, our bivouac is at the foot of the dunes of Tizza. 28 kms, 5 hours horse riding.

Day 6 Foum Tizza - Taghbalt
Our ride continues between Djbel Amraafi and Toukal to the oasis of Taqcha. Our picnic this time is in the shade of the palm trees. And in the afternoon we are going along the small gorges of wadi Taghbalt with scenic villages in the heart of palm plantations. Last bivouac at the foot of the grand dunes of Taghbalt. 42 kms, 6 1/2 hours horse riding.

Day 7 Taghbalt - Aqouge N’Ait Atmane
We benefit from our last gallops on the plateau of Eferd before crossing the last villages. A picnic under the shade of the acacias. 20 kms, 2 1/2 hours horse riding. In the afternnon a transfer to Ouarzazate passing by Agdez. (a 3 hours trip).

Day 8
Breakfast at the hotel in Ouarzazate and 9am transfer to Marrakech. Picnic lunch en-route. If you are departing from Marrakech, flights must be booked no earlier than 3pm to allow for the transfer time.

NOTE:
This itinerary on this horse riding holiday is given for your guidance only and it may be altered in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

NOTES - SKOURA TO TARBHALT DESERT TRAIL

There is a full backup team with vehicle for the length of your stay. Cooking will be done for you but you will be requested to assist with grooming and saddling your horse.

Level required:
One must be a good horseman and fairly fit. The horses are all stallions as it is customary not to castrate riding horses. They all have individual characters and are well schooled, of good temperament and no more difficult to handle than normal riding horses. Certain stages may force you to have longer days than usual. Certain passages in the mountains force us to dismount. A sense of humour and common sense are essential as well as the capacity to enjoy camping, remote mountains and desert scenery.

Logistics:
The camping is in 3 person dome tents with no more than 2 per tent. Foam mattresses are supplied, you need to bring sleeping bags. You are asked to give some help with the setting up of your tents. There is a shower tent with a large bucket of hot water for washing every day. There is one shower tent and one toilet (chemical). Meals are taken in a large restaurant tent around a round table with stools for seats. We recommend you bring 2 water bottles, mineral water will be supplied as well as plentiful amount of Berber mint tea. It is also possible to buy the usual array of carbonated drinks for about 40p per bottle in local shops.

Prices 2008:
02+ pax - £1,185 per person
04+ pax - £935 per person
06+ pax - £805 per person 

Prices 2009:
04+ pax   - £859
small group supplement for 2-3 pax £116

The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
All accommodation either camping or in 3* hotel with en suite bathroom, all riding with English speaking guide, meals as per itinerary including packed lunch on Day 8, 4WD back up and luggage transport, transfers to and from Ourzazate or Marrakech and return airport transfers. Alcoholic drinks with dinner are included on the trail - 1/2 bottle of wine and 1 beer per person.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights to and from Ourzazate or Marrakech, lunch on Day 1, drinks in Ouarzazate and tips.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.

Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

more photos | enquiry | availability check | ride reviews