THE RIDERS OF ESSAOUIRA

*2024 prices from 3 pers. in camping

*Prices from 3 pers. with all nights in hotel : 1266€

Price details

• Price per person and excluding flights.
• Groups are composed of a minimum of 3 international riders and a maximum of 12 riders.
• Please note: the ride will also confirm for 2 riders on payment of a supplement of €300 per person. Once the group has reached 3 people, we will remove this supplement from your invoice and refund you if you have already paid it.
• Single supplement room/tent : 140€

Please note

The itinerary may be modified at anytime for security reasons, meteorological or events beyond our control such as blocked roads, rivers in flood, drought, strikes and local holidays. Equus Journeys, our local partners and their local guides will always strive to find the best solution and will alter the itinerary as needed.
The names of the hotels and accommodation are given for information only and depending on availability, they may be modified without notice and replaced by another of a similar standard.

OUR PRICE INCLUDES

Accompanying persons

1 French-speaking and/or English-speaking Moroccan guide following the group and 01 groom (on horseback) beyond 5 riders.

Logistic team

• 1 vehicle and driver
• 1 cook
• 1 horse equipped with saddle and bridle per rider

Inland Transportation

• Reception & airport transfers to and from the airport Essaouira.

Type of accommodation

• Camping/bivouacs: 3-seater tents for 2 people and foam mattresses.
• Hotel 3*** based on 2 persons per room in Marrakech & Essaouira.

Meals

• Full board from diner D01 to breakfast D08.
• Filtered water or in case mineral water served during the ride.

Miscellaneous equipment

Group pharmacy (first aid)

OPTION

Hosting

Single room and tent supplement on request.

Arrival

Pick up at the airport of Marrakech (extra charge to be made) or Essaouira.

Possibility to make the ride in hotel accommodation.

On request, pick up from another airport or another city.

OUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE

Cancellation, Interruption and Repatriation Insurance.

Miscellaneous

• Visits of Marrakech or Essaouira in case.
• All museum entries and other during the trip.

Meals

• Lunch on D1 and D8 (depending on your flight schedule)
• Drinks and personal extras.

Miscellaneous

• Supplement for groups of 2 participants: 300€ per person.
• Tips for local teams.
• Possibility of privatization. Quote on request.

Day 1 : Arrival in Essaouira or Marrakech airport

Accommodation : hotel Les Trois Palmiers

Arrive in Marrakesh and be transferred to your hotel for your overnight stay. Please note that the itinerary may vary due to local conditions, but always with your best interests in mind. For operational reasons the trip may run in reverse. Day at leisure in Marrakesh. Enjoy dinner with your fellow riders and discuss the trail ahead.

Day 2 : ESSAOUIRA or Marrakech – Imessouane – Tissila : 2 hours riding

Accommodation : Mountain camp

After breakfast you will be met by your guide in the hotel lobby at 08:00. Transfer to Imessouane (about a 5 hour drive) and arrive in time for lunch. This afternoon you start riding with a short 2 hour trail to test the horses and level of each rider. The start of the trail will take you across a forest of thujas (a type of juniper tree). The terrain is variable - sometimes rocky, sometimes wide earthy tracks, sometimes sand, but you progress at all times through forest. Eventually you arrive at the Sidi Kaouki beach where you have your first canter across the sands. Overnight in camp

Day 3 : Tissila – Timzguida – Tafedna : 6 hours riding

Accommodation : Mountain camp

Today is a long day ride as you meander between the forest and the beach. You continue riding through the Argan forest, passing typical Moroccan villages along the coastline. Ride along the river channel of Oueds which is sacred to local Berbers before arriving at Tafedna beach.Camp near to a fishing village.

Day 4 : Tafedna - Iftane : 5 ½ hours riding

Accommodation : Mountain camp

Start the day by riding along the cliff with only the sea on the horizon. Descend to the beach for lunch and then in the afternoon ride to the tomb of a marabou. Camp is set up on the cliffs of Iftane high above the ocean.

Day 5: Iftane – Sidi Kaouki : 5 hours riding

Accommodation : Mountain camp

Today ride follows narrow paths and pleasant tracks with a succession of beaches and forests before riding through and dunes. Continue riding in land through more Argan forests until, at the end of the afternoon, arriving on Sidi Kaouki beach for a final fast gallop. Camp on the beach.

Day 6: Sidi Kaouki – Ghasoua – Essaouira : 2 hours riding

Accommodation : Riad Maison Du Sud

You leave the ocean behind and ride through thuyas woodland to the little city of Ghasoua. After this morning ride there is time for lunch and to say goodbye to your horses nefore being transferred to Essaouira (30 min drive). After settling into your hotel there is free time to explore this city. Dinner is either

Day 7 : Essaouira - Marrakech

Accommodation : hotel Les Trois Palmiers

Today you will rest from riding and have a free morning in Essaouira to enjoy the beach or to have a wander around the narrow streets. After lunch you will transfer to Marrakech (2h30 drive) for a final night in a hotel and dinner in town.

Day 8 : Essaouira or Marrakech - Airport

Breakfast and transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.

Comfort

In camp: Tents for two people with mattresses, Moroccan caïdal tent for meals, shower tent with hot water morning / evening, toilet tent.

In Essaouira : Riad in double or triple room .

In Marrakech : Hotel 3 stars in double or triple room.

Meals

Copious dinners, cold at noon and hot in the evening at the bivouac.
The cook takes care of everything.
In order to avoid plastic bottles, please provide micro-pure tablets or we provide filtered water (catadyn ceramic filter). We advise you to take with you one or two metal cans... to avoid plastic.

Climate

Like the coastal cities, Essaouira enjoys a mild climate throughout the year. The wind is very often present on the Atlantic coast.
Temperatures range from 15° to 30° in the summer, from 11° to 22° in spring and autumn. The winter remains mild but the wind accentuates the impression of cold.
The sea temperature is 20°/22° between June and October. Beware the coast is dangerous for swimming and it is forbidden almost everywhere.
Strong currents are present all year round. However, you will swim with your horses in some places.

Marrakech has a Mediterranean climate with "torrid" summers.
The sky is generally clear blue.
In winter, the mornings are cool. At noon, temperatures reach 20°C and decline fairly quickly in the evening. The evenings are very cool with a thermal difference between day and night quite important: 6°C at night.
The best season to visit this city is spring and autumn. Temperatures are pleasant all day long. At noon, the maximums vary between 22° and 30°C.

In summer the temperature rises. At noon, it is not uncommon to see the mercury reaching 40°C. The afternoons are often hot and stifling: around 45°C.

Local Team Guide

French / English-speaking Moroccan equestrian guides assisted by grooms.

TIPS

It is customary, as a sign of thanks, to give a tip to the local teams. You can foresee about 30€ / 40€ for the whole team.

Packing list

Head

• A riding helmet: it is seriously recommended and often mandatory. Manufacturers (GPA, HKM, LAS Helmets, Lamicell, Troxel, Equithème...) offer today ventilated, solid and light riding helmets, pleasant under all latitudes. There are also protective shells to put under your hat (Ranch & Rider, Lexington Safety Products) or western helmets (Troxel).
• Cap or hat for the sun (essential)
• A bandana, scarf or chèche to protect the neck or face from dust and sunlight
• A pair of high protection sunglasses
• A hat or hood in early spring and late fall.

Bust

• Thermal underwear (april & october).
• Cotton T-shirts + long-sleeved shirts (for protection against the sun) or T-shirts made of quick-drying technical materials.
• 1 warm fleece or equivalent (From November to mid-Februar).
• 1 warm Goretex-type jacket (waterproof and breathable) (From November to March).Waterproof windproof jacket the rest of the year.

Legs

• 2 riding breeches or long leather chaps
• 1 spare pair of pants (hiking or jeans or equivalent)
• 1 swimsuit may be useful (swimming, toilet)
• Cotton or non-irritating synthetic underwear

Feet and Hands

• 1 pair of light walking shoes (essential for the ascent of the pass) with chaps or boots with specific mini-chaps for riding
• 1 pair of sneakers or equivalent light shoes for the evening.
• Several pairs of socks
• 1 pair of gloves to protect yourself from the sun, cold and rubbin

Little tricks on horseback

• Soothing cream very useful in the corners of your intimacy irritated by long hours on horseback.
• Nothing on your back, everything in your jacket or a banana on your belly: lipstick,sunscreen, passport, small camera or mini camera (waterproof), cords, glasses... more accessible than fonts.
• Riding backpacks are not allowed

Sleep

• Sleeping bag warm comfort 0 °/+2 ° (March to October) and 0 °/-2 ° (November to February) .
• We also advise you to double this one with a silk bag cover which will be very useful on hot nights.

Miscellaneous

• Soft travel bag/case
• 2 metal cans of 1 liter or equivalent
• Headlamp, batteries and spare bulbs
• Toilet kit (biodegradable wipes to replace water, micropur...)
• Toilet paper + lighter to burn it after use
• A Swiss Army knife or equivalent (in the hold!!)
• Small paper bags to throw in the trash can
• Earplugs can be useful for those who would have light sleep as a roommate.
• Camera (with a spare battery)
• A pair of binoculars possiblyt

Pharmacy
As a precaution, list your drug allergies in your pharmacy.

• Personal medications
• 1 Broad-spectrum antibiotic
• Aspirin or paracetamol
• Anti Diarrhea
• Vitamin C
• Highly protective sun cream for lips and skin
• Eye drops
• Moisturizing cream for after sun.
• A roll of plaster
• A 10 cm wide adhesive elastic band
• A box of bandages is
• Ready-to-use disinfectant pouches
• Micropur or Hydroclonazone tablets to disinfect water
• An anti-mosquito cream and spray

Bearded stallion horses and bearded Arabs, selected and trained by our team, enduring, lively and docile. They are admirably adapted to the paths of the High Atlas: small sure-footed and big-hearted, their gaits are raised. Height at the withers: 1.45 m to 1.55 m.

They will amaze you on this hike by their resistance on sometimes the most difficult paths... You will come back for them!

Perfect mastery of the 3 gaits in outdoor and open terrain: trotting with the trotters off, galloping in balance and in groups, keeping control of the horse (distance, direction) at brisk paces with a light hand. Minimum academic equivalent of gallop 4.
Riders over 90kg and over 1m95 must consult us before registration. Good physical conditions required.

Paces

The basic pace in this ride is the step. Good regular trots and gallops every half day: from the small collected canter to unbridled gallops when the terrain allows it.The infinite beaches of hard sand are ideal for good gallops. Some stony and steep terrain (along the Oued) where the step and a good balance are imposed.Note that the gallops are done in line, especially at the beginning of the ride, because of the temperament of the stallions.

Autonomy and participation

Everyone is required to dress, saddle, bridle and unhook his horse. They are also expected to participate in camp tasks, including the setting up and dismantling of tents. You can participate according to your wishes in the care of the horses (distribution of water and food).

Level and experience required

Good physical condition and good endurance on horseback without any particular difficulty. Particularly pleasant temperate climate from June to October. Pleasant region all year round, tempered by cold sea currents. Short periods of bad weather (thunderstorms) may occur.

A multi-day horseback riding experience is a plus, but is not mandatory. Riders who don't ride regularly must get back in the saddle before the ride.
Encountering different cultures and mentalities implies an acceptance of these differences and respect for them.

Equestrian Equipment

Tailor-made hiking saddles, very practical saddlebags are available.
Bombs or helmets are not mandatory but strongly recommended. Our partner has a few bombs, but preferably bring your own equipment. In case of request, please do so when you register.