Morocco is a dizzyingly diverse country blessed with epic mountain ranges, ancient cities, vast deserts and magnificent coastlines. Essentially Africa and the Middle East rolled into one, lyrical landscapes carpet this North African nation like the vibrant rugs piled up in the local bazaars. 

Your hosts will meet you at Agadir Airport when you fly in. Alternatively, if you’ve arrived a day or two early, they will collect you from your hotel at a mutually agreed time. It’s a little less than an hour’s drive to your accommodation, a guest ranch in the town of Aourir. Here you’ll meet the beautiful Arab-Barb mare you’ll be riding along the coast!

Dinner tonight will be your first experience of the sensory overload that is Moroccan cuisine. Alive with subtle spices, it’s shaped by the seasons and influenced by Morocco’s web of international connections in countless intriguing ways. Think tart green olives and chopped preserved lemon stirred into a tender chicken tagine, the pleasant surprise of rich pigeon meat pie dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar, and sardines coated with a tongue-tingling combination of coriander, parsley, cumin and a hint of chilli. Wear your stretchy pants!

Today gets off to an easy start, with a few hours to enjoy the sights of Aourir followed by a filling lunch at the ranch. Then you’ll pack your bags, don your riding gear and take a transfer to the nearby Berber village where your horses will be waiting to start the ride. The bonding experience begins with grooming and saddling your steed, then it’s time to hit the trail. The route follows dramatic cliffs overlooking the endless blue of the Atlantic. You’ll pass goats and wild donkeys nibbling shrubs on the steep slopes, and Berber shepherds leading camels along the track.

Later in the day, the path enters the arid mountains, where your trusty support crew will have set up camp in a gorgeous spot with a panoramic view of the ocean shimmering in the sunset. Dinner will be another delicious tagine followed by a simple yet tasty dessert and sweet mint tea. You can expect a Moroccan ‘shower’ (a bucket with warm water) every night while camping and a chemical toilet will be available.

The landscape on today’s ride is hilly, arid and increasingly covered in Morocco’s famous argan trees. These trees are incredibly tough and covered in needle-like thorns, but their fruit is a valuable food source for livestock and their nuts yield oil that is highly sought-after around the world. Your guides will tell you more about argan trees as you rest in their shade at lunchtime. 

Lunch in Morocco is a relaxed affair; it’s a chance for the horses to take a break, too, so there will be time to take a siesta or perhaps write a few lines in your travel journal before mounting up again. In the afternoon, the path winds further into the mountains past small clusters of farms, single dwellings and villages – everyone here lives off the land. Finally, you’ll ride into Imardissn village, where you will set up camp under a glittering starry sky.

Your support crew will whip up another tasty breakfast this morning, perhaps augmented with a few delicacies from the village, then you’ll pack up and ride on. Initially, the road passes many Berber villages; then it re-emerges onto the cliffs that border the coastline and slopes down to the pristine sands of the beach. If the tide permits, you’ll be able to loosen the reins and enjoy a canter or gallop. Savour the moment, globetrotters – you’ll never forget racing the waves down an empty beach on a spirited Arab-Barb!

Another argan tree picnic provides a chance to cool down before the afternoon ride past more sleepy settlements, grazing camels and impressive rock formations. Tonight you’re in for a real treat: you’ll be camping at Iftane beach, a tiny fishing village built right on the rocks as they tumble into the sand. The continuous, rhythmic sound of the waves and the sight of fishermen hauling their catch out of tiny, vivid blue boats will transport you to another world.

Iftane beach is too good to leave so soon! This morning’s ride begins on the beach, where you’ll splash through the waves and, if the tide is out and you’re so inclined, have a race! Trust us: after yesterday’s beach run, your confidence will be up and you’ll be feeling more than game. After exploring the local area a little more, you’ll head back to camp for a lunch of what could be the freshest seafood you’ll ever eat, then continue your journey in the afternoon.

Today you’ll ride mainly along the spectacular beaches, an infinite blue horizon on your left and an undulating line of hills, cliffs and villages on your right. You’ll see huge flocks of waterbirds fossicking in the sands, herds of livestock being shepherded through the scrub and contrasting signs of modernisation that your knowledgeable guides will shed light on. There will be plenty of time to relax and absorb the beauty of your surrounds and ample opportunity to trot, canter and gallop should you wish.

It’s your last day in the saddle, boo! But not to worry: it’ll be one to remember, with more than a few glorious, free-spirited beach gallops as you ride along the coast to Essaouira. At the mouth of the Ksob River, you’ll bid a fond farewell to your trusty steed. From here, your guides will take you into Essaouira, where you’ll be free to spend the afternoon as you like. Essaouira is a fascinating, history-filled city and between sampling seafood, checking out the local arts and crafts and visiting the ancient seaside fortress, time will fly. Come early evening, you’ll be driven back to Agadir with a stop on the way to watch argan oil being produced at a women’s cooperative. This is a great chance to buy oil direct from the makers. In Agadir you’ll share one last dinner together as a group, then collapse into bed to dream of free-flying gallops and star-studded skies.

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll say goodbye to your new-found globetrotting friends. Those flying out today will be transferred to the airport.

Complimentary round trip transfers are available from Agadir Airport or hotel to/from Aourir on the first and last days of the itinerary. Please be advised, Royal Air Maroc (the main airline in Morocco), is known to be a little unreliable in terms of arrival/departure times and lost luggage. Because of this, we actually recommend you fly to Agadir the DAY BEFORE the ride begins, to ensure you’re united with all your belongings and are ready to be picked up the following day. 

On day 8, departing flights from Agadir can be booked anytime after breakfast. 

Globetrotting is happy to provide a competitive quote on international flights, travel insurance, car hire and hotels before and after your ride.