Spectacularly diverse, Morocco combines sand and sea, forests and fields of cherry trees, almond trees and olive trees, imperial cities with their palaces, and Berber villages with their simple adobe houses.
Your horseback riding vacation will take you to the Imperial city of Marrakech with its pink castle walls and views of the snow-covered Atlas Mountains, and to the Ouirgane Valley where the trails wind through the Atlas Mountains - green-stepped terraces cultivated by the Berbers whose traditions have changed little over the centuries.
Long ago, this area was scene to many historic struggles and was the stronghold of notorious tribal chiefs. Now peace reigns once more and the people have come down from their protected mountain villages to a gentler life in the valleys that you'll ride through. Riding is the Berbers mode of transportation, and you will pass the friendly Berber people on the paths as they go about their life.
Your base will be a five star hotel, which features rose gardens, lemon and lime trees, spectacular swimming pools and hammam (spa). The hotel is famous for its cuisine and uses fresh produce grown on its premises. The horses are Arab and Arab Berber crosses. The history of the Arab and Berber horses is profound. The rides take you on wide trails scented with wild mint and oleander. The terrain is flat in parts and hilly elsewhere, making it suitable for walk, trot, canter and gallop.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Marrakech Menara airport. Meet your guides. These multilingual guides will be your companions for the week. You will find them very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and experienced. Drive for a tour orientation of Marrakech see some of the grand mosques, palaces, markets and gardens. Lunch at Al Fassia Restaurant. After lunch, drive to Ouirgane Valley. Check in at La Roseraie and have a welcome mint tea, the Moroccan national drink. You will meet your horses. Before dinner you may enjoy a folkloric Berber group of musicians.
Day 2: After breakfast, departure from the hotel stable. Follow the road up the hill and cross the river to the village of Tussock. You will take the Tizi Meloul path towards the salt factory, where you will see Berbers mining salt as they have done for centuries. They sell salt riding their donkeys from village to village. The path then follows the pine forest towards Asni. You head back to Ouirgane via orchards, farms, L'Azib (Bergerie) and Marhalfou, a forest in Berber. Duration: 4 hours. Picnic lunch in the forest. Dinner and overnight at La Roseraie Hotel.
Day 3: You start from the ranch and cross the town of Ouirgane towards Lbour Village. Then riders will follow a Berber trail towards a small river. Then you keep following trail up to 1220 m at Tighfist, a Berber village. There you may enjoy an incredible view of the whole area of Ouirgane including La Roseraie. You will get an insight into the village life having tea in a Berber village. After a picnic lunch you take a different way back to a village of Anraz where you will visit an ancient synagogue. Then you will cross another Berber village called Agni. Finally you head back to Ouirgane via Talatane and Dar Imziln where families have forged iron for centuries. Duration 3-4 hours. Dinner and overnight at La Roseraie Hotel.
Day 4: You begin you horse back riding from the hotel to reach the village of Torord. You go along the Azaden river and its colorful oleanders until you reach the village of Tassa-Ouirgane (the heart of Ouirgane), there you can sit under the trees of walnut, plums, apples and peaches by the river bed, and have a break to enjoy the fresh air and take your picnic lunch. After a rest, you ride back to Ouirgane passing by the pine trees forests. Duration 4-5 hours. Dinner and overnight at La Roseraie Hotel.
Day 5: Starting from the hotel, you follow a long salty stream towards the village of Marigha Noufla, and from there you take another trail to the Berber village called Tinzert via the salt mines. There you have a short rest to take your picnic lunch. After return back to Ouirgane valley crossing Dar Issrassn, which is a meeting point for Berber women to discuss their news, trade and socialize. Berber women sit there having a chat between them after a long day of gathering wood. Duration 5 to 6 hours. Dinner and overnight at La Roseraie Hotel.
Day 6: Ouirgane/Marrakech. After breakfast, transfer to Marrakech, the second oldest Imperial city, known as the pearl of the south. Winston Churchill loved Marrakech and said, "This is the last paradise on earth." The city was founded by the Almoravides at the end of the 11th century. You will begin with a guided visit of some of the major attractions, including French painter Jacques Majorelle's beautiful gardens, the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia and dar si Said Museum. Lunch at La Paix restaurant, then visit the souks and the famous Jamaa El Fna with its open theater, with storytellers, soothsayers, fire-eaters, snake-charmers and palm-readers. Dinner at Yacout Restaurant.
Day 7: After breakfast, transfer to the Menara Airport.
2008 Dates: March 29 - April 4, May 25-31, September 19-25, October 10-16.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
$3,700 per person, sharing; $620 single supplement.
Price Includes:
- 6 nights 5-star hotel accommodation
- All meals (beverages not included)
- 4 days guided trail riding
- Horse
- Tack
- Guide
- Tax.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Morocco
Horse Riding
Cultural Journey
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