Horse riding in the Atlas Mountains
| country: | Morocco |
| location: | Atlas Mountains |
| departures: | 2010: 17 Apr, 25 Sep |
| price: | £1495 (9 days) excluding international flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Horse riding in the Atlas Mountains
Horse riding on the Atlas Mountains
A land of Eastern promise echoing the Arabian Nights, Morocco has been attracting travellers in search of adventure and the exotic for centuries.
A world of contrasts - vibrant, seductive and exciting - a place where shadows merge with sunlight, where oases spring from the desert, where sky and sea meet on the horizon and mountains climb to heaven, for the romantic traveller Morocco is simply unmissable.
Morocco has a wealth of experiences to offer, from wandering among the Medieval cities, Roman ruins, Berber fortresses and exquisite Islamic monuments to riding camels through the silent desert, horses through the Atlas foothills and trekking in the mountains.
Once again using our charismatic horse guide Domenico Mocchi, we are delighted to offer a spectacular horse trek through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains taking in the hugely impressive Gorge du Dades.
A land of Eastern promise echoing the Arabian Nights, Morocco has been attracting travellers in search of adventure and the exotic for centuries.
A world of contrasts - vibrant, seductive and exciting - a place where shadows merge with sunlight, where oases spring from the desert, where sky and sea meet on the horizon and mountains climb to heaven, for the romantic traveller Morocco is simply unmissable.
Morocco has a wealth of experiences to offer, from wandering among the Medieval cities, Roman ruins, Berber fortresses and exquisite Islamic monuments to riding camels through the silent desert, horses through the Atlas foothills and trekking in the mountains.
Once again using our charismatic horse guide Domenico Mocchi, we are delighted to offer a spectacular horse trek through the foothills of the Atlas Mountains taking in the hugely impressive Gorge du Dades.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart UK for flight to Marrakech on BA. On arrival we’ll check into a good hotel near the Medina. We’ll have dinner out and then to bed. |
| Day 2: | Transfer by minibus over the High Atlas from Marrakech to Ouarzazate. En route we will have plenty of time to take photos, have lunch and visit the village of Ait Benhaddou, where the kasbah is so spectacular that UNESCO has given it world heritage status. It was also part of the scenery in the movies "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Gladiator". On arrival in Ouarzazate we will check into the Bel Air hotel and have dinner in town. |
| Day 3: | After breakfast we will meet the horses and ride across the stony desert that leads to the foot of the High Atlas. We arrive at the village of Ait Benhaddou, where the kasbah is so spectacular that UNESCO has given it world heritage status. It was also part of the scenery in the movies "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Gladiator". Here we will camp on the edge of the village. |
| Day 4: | We leave Ait Benhaddou to enter the gorges and passing from village to village we ride deep in to the stunning canyon, which cuts a gap between two high cliffs and the bottom of which is dotted by small gardens and orchards. Once we climb out that canyon we reach a terrace high above the desert, with stunning views east on the Sahara. We will lodge in a small local hotel or with a local family. |
| Day 5: | We ride along the Telouet valley, high up the mountains and here the valley turns from a deep canyon into a colourful bowl of loose rocks spotted with small farms and pastures. Once we reach Telouet village we will visit the old palace of the Glaoui clan, once masters of the entire area. We lodge in the village. |
| Day 6: | We cross the pass at more than 2000m and we find ourselves on the Marrakech side of the High Atlas. Here the landscape is greener and lusher as the valleys intercept the Atlantic breeze. Following a little dirt track and occasionally jeep road we lose altitude and come to reach the first pine forest, where we find our small hotel and spend the night. |
| Day 7: | We follow the valley, which is burgundy red here because of the oxidation of the rock and after having crossed another small pass we reach the river. The landscape is made of small farms and pastures and is one of the most idyllic of the country. From here we say goodbye to the horses and transfer to a good hotel in Marrakech. Dinner will be out at a local restaurant. |
| Day 8: | Marrakech. Rabat may be Morocco's capital city, and Casablanca its’ largest, but Marrakech is considered by many to be the cultural capital and by far the most atmospheric. In many ways, the main square of Djemaa el-Fna in Marrakech is the heart of the city. Plenty goes on here, from food stalls, to fortune-tellers and street performers. From here, there are several entries to the markets, and plenty of cafés - for a great view of the square stop for a drink at the Café Glacier. Optional city tour can be arranged if you wish. |
| Day 8: | Return to London. |
traveller reviews for Horse riding in the Atlas Mountains
Riding beautiful horses through the Atlas Mountains was the highlight (more)
what this trip includes
Trips are on full board basis, and include transport as outlined in itinerary, twin-share accommodation, mineral water and entrance fees. how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
 We have a strict environmental policy to make sure that the fragile eco-system of the mountains is not damaged or spoilt in any way. On our Horse riding in the Atlas Mountains holidays, our guides are trained to uphold this policy and all clients are fully briefed on appropriate/responsible behaviour whilst in wilderness areas. Our “Leave No Trace” ethic is applied to all trips in all regions, and as tour operators is something we are careful to promote. When you take one of our trips, we make a contribution to When you take one of our trips, we make a contribution to “Carbon Clear” – an organisation who work with hundreds of organisations to measure their carbon footprint and reduce their carbon emissions. Community In each area we employ and develop close relationships with drivers, camp staff and guides. We feel the interaction between our friends and our clients offers both parties a valuable understanding between cultures. In Morocco we use local ground handlers who in turn book locally run hotels, providing employment for a number of members of staff and support families. The ground handlers also use local drivers and camp staff, and ensure that all supplies are purchased locally for the journey. This means that all the operational costs go directly into the local economy. On our horse treks, we work exclusively with “African Horse stables”, who ensure that the Barb/Arab horses we trek with are well treated, well fed and well looked after. Our trips visit local markets en route enabling our clients to purchase arts and crafts directly from local artists and tribes-people, again ensuring that money goes directly into the community. We also support several NGOs around the world such as the Hope Foundation, A-Cet and Adopt-A-Minefield, which are all carefully selected to improve the standard of living for the communities we visit. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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