6 Day The Pearl of Essaouira Horse Riding Holiday in Morocco
Morocco Horse Riding Holiday
The six days in Essaouira on horseback are the short edition of Ranch de Diabat's famous horse trekking. With this formula, you can tour Morocco in six days, four days on horseback in a circuit that will start and finish at the Ranch de Diabat.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 198 pounds / 90 kilograms
- Horse Height Range: 14 to 15 hands
- Tack Type: Western Tack
- Horse Breed: Barb-Arabian
Highlights
- 4 days of horse riding
- Approximate daily riding time: 5 hours
- Free use of horse tack, helmet, and equipment
- Ride through sand dunes, deserted beaches, cliffs, and fishing villages
- 5 nights accommodation
- Transfers to and from the airport
- 3 daily meals
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
Accommodation
Your accommodations throughout your trail ride will be in collective tents for six to seven people, or if you wish, in a two-person igloo tent. On the first and last nights, the accommodation will be in a hotel at Essaouira in a double room. For individual travelers, if Ranch de Diabat cannot find a second person for a double room, there will be a supplement for a single room.
Program
Daily itinerary
Day 1
Reception at Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) or Essaouira-Mogador Airport (ESU). Transfer to Essaouira. Briefing on the progress of the trek. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Days 2 to 4
Every day, you will leave for a day of trekking on horseback for about five hours with a lunch break of one hour and a half to rest, have lunch, and take a little siesta. The six-day package in Essaouira on horseback, The Pearl of Essaouira, will take you to discover the many different landscapes of the region: sand dunes, deserted beaches, cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and fishing villages. Accompanied by your guide, you will have the opportunity to gallop and trot across oueds (rivers) until you arrive at your camp. At the Bivouac, you can enjoy a bonfire, a traditional Moroccan meal, and a night in a Berber tent.
Day 5
The last day is dedicated to the discovery of the Souiri coast and the city. The stage lasts half a day, lunch is served upon return to the Ranch. The afternoon is free, with the possibility of shopping in the Medina of Essaouira, massages, and hammam. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Essaouira.
Day 6
Transfer to Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) or Essaouira-Mogador Airport (ESU).
About the program
You can walk the bends of the Ksob river, which feeds crops and wild palm trees with its water. You will pass through small natural canyons created by the flow of water in the rainy seasons. The landscape will change and surprise you every single day for its particularities. You will cross a large forest of Argan trees, with the possibility of visiting a cooperative of women who will show you the production of oil, from the olive harvest to the finished product. If you want, you can buy their products, knowing that they are helping a real rural cooperative of working women.
From the largest Argan tree to a path on beautiful cliffs bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the Essaouira region, where you can descend to small, wild private beaches, then go up and watch the sunset over the sea from above. In the evening, at the bivouac, enjoy the delicacies of typical Moroccan cuisine, freshly prepared by the cook, who will follow your wishes and any food allergies previously communicated in the registration form.
Next, you will cross a sea of grandiose dunes, where in the background the beautiful Cap Sim lighthouse guides the ships as they approach the port of Essaouira. With this unique landscape, you will go down to the beach where you can gallop to the rhythm of the wind, admiring the island of Mogador in the background and the beautiful Medina of Essaouira, a UNESCO heritage site.
Before returning to the Ranch de Diabat, you will pass by the famous historical monument of the Sultan Moulay Ben Abdallah Palace, also included in the Unesco heritage and the scene of numerous films such as "Games of Thrones" and mythicized by Hippies from all over the world for Jimy Hendrix's unlikely visit in the 1970s. On the last day, you will have the chance to visit the Medina of Essaouira and do some shopping and take a couple of hours for a hammam and a massage at the end of these days on horseback.
Ranch de Diabat reserves the right not to admit to the trek who does not declare the real weight if this exceeds the limit, and no refund will be allowed. The health of the horses takes priority. You will ride for an average of five hours a day. You will depart camp at around 10:00 a.m., pause at around 1:30 p.m. to eat and rest, arrive at the camp at about 5:00 p.m., and then eat dinner and sleep at the camp. Your luggage will be stored in the support vehicle, which will be stationed at the lunch and dinner campsites. Please bring flexible bags rather than rigid suitcases and do not pack unnecessary items.
Equestrian level
In order to participate in treks, you must be comfortable in the three gaits and have the habit of being outdoors. It would be better if you had already done a full day on horseback. If you wish, it is possible to come to Ranch de Diabat a few days before the trek to benefit from lessons and to know your level. The different equestrian levels will be managed with more guides in order to guarantee fun for every rider both beginner and with a good equestrian level.
Location
The holiday will take place in Morocco. You will explore the Atlantic coast with its chain of deserted beaches, cliffs, and paths that run through the arid and rocky land in the hinterland.
Food
You will be served daily meals included in the price. Your meals will be prepared by the chef, who will make you discover the richness of Moroccan cuisine. The menu takes into account your special diets or food allergies, which will all be communicated in the registration form.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
During your free time on the fifth day, you may shop around the medina of Essaouira or have a massage and hammam.
What's included
- 4 riding days
- 5 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Airport transfers
- Rental of horses
- Equestrian guides
- Helmets
- Transport to and from Essaouira city
What's not included
- Airfare
- Personal insurance
- Personal expenses during the trek
- Sleeping bag (available on request)
- Optional hammam and massage
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Marrakesh Menara Airport
163 km away from your destination
Airport transfer
Transfer included
Essaouira-Mogador Airport
14 km away from your destination
Airport transfer
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at one of these airports: Essaouira-Mogador Airport (ESU) or Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK). Transfer from and to the airport is included. Ranch de Diabat will pick you up from the airport. Please book a flight that arrives at Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) by 2:00 p.m. on the day of arrival so that other participants do not have to wait too long. If your flight arrives after 2:00 p.m., you will be charged a small fee for extra transportation to Essaouira, carried out by bus instead of a taxi.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
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