Price
2026
Mid Season
18 – 25 October, 8 – 15 November, 22 – 29 November, 13 – 20 December, 20 – 27 December
7 Nights - €1,355 per person sharing
Single Supplement – €150
High Season
1 – 8 November
7 Nights - €1,390 per person sharing
Single Supplement – €150
Dates & Prices
MOROCCO
Desert Rides - 3 Itineraries
Overview
The Desert Rides in Morocco are marvellous cultural rides in the Sahara region. These ridesare for Intermediate Plus riders who will enjoy riding a forward-going Arab or Barb Arabian stallions across the wide-open desert plateaus. These are some of the fastest rides in our portfolio and each itinerary provides fantastic canters and gallops for those who enjoy the speed.
Rides do not run in the summer months as it is too hot. Spring and autumns months are warm and pleasant, whilst winter nights can be cold – in mid-winter the night temperatures can dropping below zero but days are still warm. Make sure to pack layers.
We offer three itineraries in the Sahara region:
Sahara Caravan - camping
This is the only trail that takes you on a horse to this remote area of Sahara. If you’re looking for untouched environment without modern life commodities, this is the trail for you. Accommodation is in tents and in some parts the bags and camp gear are transported by dromedaries like the Saharan caravans used to do in old days. Landscape varies from massive plateaus that are perfect for fast gallops to sand dunes.
Desert Cavalcade – camping
This one offers the most variety in terms of terrain and gives riders a real feel of how a desert can look – it is not just sand dunes. The trail goes along a string of oasis and palm groves, sand hills and tamaris that shelter a rich life away from the burning sun before it reaches the sand dunes. Along the way, you’ll see the traditional buildings, kasbahs and ksour, and men and women working in the fields, even some children taking their donkeys to the well, some going to school.
Dunes of Merzouga – guesthouse accommodation
Choose this one if you prefer comfort and guesthouse accommodation over camping. For this reason, it doesn’t perhaps feel as remote as the camping itineraries but it is the most popular of the three itineraries and also offers great fast riding – faster than Desert Cavalcade.
We also offer flexible lodge based holidays and trail itineraries in the Atlas Mountains region.
Location
Ouarzazate and Sahara Desert, Morocco
Airport
Ouarzazate, Morocco
Duration
7 nights
When to go
October - March
Riding level
Intermediate to Advanced
Weight
90 kg / 14 stone / 198 lbs
Group size
10 max
Accommodation
Guest houses or tented camps
Included
Riding, full board accommodation, transfers from Ouarzazate airport.
Extras
Small group supplement of £495 if only two riders confirmed.
Single Supplement – £110.
Excluded
Flights, tips and alcohol.
Price guarantee
All our riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book with us and will refund the difference should you find the same riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
Exchange rate
Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full details.
Transfers
Transfers are included from Ouarzazate, but if you arrive into Marrakesh then there is an additional transfer cost of approximately €160 each way, per vehicle and split between all guests arriving/departing Marrakech. If flying into Marrakech your flight must arrive before 15:30 on day 1 and leave after 14:00 on Day 8.
Departure dates
Regular departures October - March. See details in the Price section.
Riding & Itinerary
Dunes of Merzouga sample itinerary - all three itineraries available on request.
Day 1: ARRIVE IN OUARZAZATE
No riding
Fly in to Ouarzazate or Marrakech. If there are no direct flights to Ouarzazate it may be easier to fly to Marrakech and transfer by road to Ouarzazate. If flying to Marrakech then you need to arrive early enough to allow time for the transfer (4 hrs), payable locally and split between all who aresharing the transfer. You will be transferred to your hotel.
Day 2: OUARZAZATE - IMI N'CHAABTE - TAFRAOUT
2-3 hours riding
Meet in your hotel reception at 07:00 and transfer in the direction of Zagora through the Draa valley, until reaching Tansikht. Continue along the Djebel Sagho, passing through Nkob and Tazzarine and stop for a picnic along the way. After about 6 hours drive you turn off the tar road and follow a track for 60kms to Mcissi. It's a long transfer, with limited facilities along the way, so make sure to bring some snacks! Here you will meet the team and horses. After a short riding assessment you will set out into the desert for your first ride amongst the dunes.Ride up to the sand dunes and enjoy the views. The terrain is ideally suited for fast canters and gallops! You ride lovely Arabian and Barb Arab stallions - there is a horse for everyone.Overnight in a comfortable inn.
Day 3: TAFRAOUT - FOUM MHARECH
4-6 hours riding
Riad Nomad
Ride through the village of T afraout and reach the plateau of Ahbouche Ntkouyte (Lake Tafraout). The terrain is perfect for some decent canters. Ride along the base of T attihate, between Djbel Mohre and Djbel Zireg. The scenic splendour of the Sahara desert is laid out before you - endless dunes alternating with distant cliffs.At the end of the day you reach a beautiful inn in the desert valley of Mharech where you spend the night. The inn is located over a hill with stunning views over the valley.
Day 4: FOUM MHARECH - REMLIA DUNES - OUZINA DUNES
4-6 hours riding
Inn Ouzina Rimal
Set off riding south, through the Tamarisk trees and sand dunes. Your journey takes you across the Chouiref plateau to Tizi n Guidou pass and on to the abandoned village of N'Oubahllou. The orange dunes of Remlia provide a spectacular background for pictures before you ride down to another vast plateau where horses and riders alike will enjoy a gallop. Keeping the mountains and "Mount T ajine" to your left, the ride alternates between long stretches of walk,trots and controlled canters before you reach your inn for the night.
Day 5: OUZINA DUNES - JDAID
4-5 hours riding
Inn Itrane Sahara
Depart on horseback through the superb dunes at Ouzina. Your trail will take you from the dunes and onto plateaus - from sand to rocky mountain. Your day in the Sahara ends at the village of Taghaoucht-n-Jdaid - a place of water.
Day 6: JDAID - MERZOUGA
5 hours ridingGuesthouse
In the morning, you will ride through various environments until reaching the highest sand dunes in Morocco: Erg Chebbi. Enjoy stunning views while your horses carry you safely through the large seas of dunes.
Day 7: MERZOUGA - OUARZAZATE
3 hours riding
Your final morning on horseback takes you from Chebbi Erg to Taouz where you say goodbye to the team and horses. You are then transferred in the direction of Erfoud, Boumlane and Dades along the "road of a thousand kasbahs" until reaching Ouarzazate. Dinner and overnight in a hotel.
Day 8: DEPARTURE FROM OUARZAZATE
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back. If you are flying from Marrakech then your flight must depart late enough to allow time for the road transfer. (payable locally).
Please ask about
There are some other things to do in the area. You can choose to arrive earlier or stay a few days afterwards to enjoy and we can help with arrangements.
Visit of the souk and the kasbah of Taourirt and the Cinema Studios in Ouarzazate.
Visit of the Kasbah of Ait Benhadou and the Fint Oasis.
Ride for half a day or all day on the beautiful palm of Skoura.
You could always add a couple of nights in Marrakech to this itinerary or glamping in Agafay desert which is very close to Marrakech if you have few extra days to spare.
Horses
Barb Arabian horses, made up mostly of stallions who are very well behaved
Riding level
Intermediate to Advanced
Type of riding
There are long days in the saddle and the riding can be technical. You need to be comfortable on forward going horses
Tack
English style, with good quality tack, English Saddles and mostly snaffle bridles
Weight limit
90 kg / 14 stone / 198 lbs
Group size
10 max
Accommodation & Meals
The first and last night is at a comfortable hotel near to the historic Kasbah, it has good sized rooms and a swimming pool. The rest of the nights are spent in simple tent accommodation, which is moved each day by the support team and transported in the support vehicle.
The tents are 2-man dome tents, with porch. You are provided with a foam mattress and need to bring your own sleeping bag. The camping site also includes a mess tent, a shower tent and a chemical loo. Everyone pitches in when setting up the camp site for the evening.
The food is good quality and freshly prepared each day. You can expect the following:
Breakfasts with cereals, bread, cheese and jams, tea and coffee.
Lunches are salads with couscous, rice, potatoes and fruit.
Snacks include dried fruits, tea, coffee and juice.
Dinners are always hot, typical Moroccan dishes like Kefta, Lamb Tagine and Tagine Makhoul.
Drinks include water, sodas, tea and coffee. Alcohol is not provided but you can bring with you.
Accommodation
Guest houses or tented camps
Single Supplement
Possible to have a single room and tent for an additional fee
Meals
Inform us about food allergies and intolerances
Drinks
Non alcoholic drinks included. Alcohol not served but possible to bring your own
The Destination
Ouarzazate is a city south of Morocco’s High Atlas mountains, known as a gateway to the Sahara Desert. Its huge Taourirt Kasbah, home to a 19th-century palace, has views over the rugged local landscape, which features in several movies. Northwest is the fortified red-earth city of Aït Ben Haddou. Northeast is the rocky Todra Gorge. A road winds southeast through the Draa Valley’s lush palm groves to the desert.
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