A horseback trek is much more than a simple adventure immersed in nature. To ensure each experience is safe, well-organized, and unforgettable, a huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes. From logistical preparation to horse care, from bivouac management to the mobile kitchen, every department plays a vital role. Today, we'll take you behind the scenes to discover everything it takes to make a successful horseback trek.
Before the trek: preparation
Organizing a horseback trekking tour requires weeks, sometimes months, of preparation. Every detail must be carefully planned in advance to avoid unexpected events and ensure a pleasant and safe experience.
Choosing the path
The first step is defining the itinerary. Even though we know the routes well, we retrace them before each departure to check that everything is in order: passable paths, water points for the horses, changes due to weather or new roadworks. In the desert, for example, a sandstorm or a flood is enough to completely alter the terrain. For this reason, before each trek, we do a reconnaissance tour and prepare to improvise if necessary.
The work of the reception
Meanwhile, the back office is busy. Requests come in from multiple channels, and each person has their own unique needs: travel details, help finding flights, vegetarian menu options. In addition to responding to and following up with each person until departure, we book accommodations for the first and last nights, organize transfers to and from Marrakech, and—essential for trekking in Morocco—we request bivouac permits in advance, complete with passports and GPS coordinates.
In addition to following the various promotional channels, the office must:
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receive requests for information, answer various questions, manage reservations and assist customers in organizing travel and ancillary services
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Book accommodations in the city for the first and last nights, making sure everything is ready for the arrival and departure of the participants
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ensure you have all the necessary permits to set up bivouacs along the route, managing the bureaucracy to ensure the trek goes smoothly
Transport logistics
When the trek doesn't start directly from the Ranch, a new challenge begins: getting everything back to the starting point. The horses, the gear, the camp kitchen, the tents, the hay—nothing can be left behind.
The truck becomes our headquarters on wheels: it must always be in order, stocked, serviced, and insured. Each space has a specific function. Materials must be stored for easy access, and the kitchen must be ready to use as soon as we stop. Loading the truck is a bit like playing Tetris: if you get the pieces wrong, you have to start over.
Preparing the horses
Horse training and care lasts year-round and must be adjusted according to the season and the type of activity. When a long trek approaches, attention is heightened: a careful selection process is carried out to match horses and riders not only based on weight, height, and experience, but also on character and energy levels. It's not just a matter of technique: it's a form of listening.
We always pay close attention to animal welfare; horses are monitored physically and mentally. If a horse has spent a month on gentle rides with beginners, it might need a few days of ground work to regain focus and confidence before tackling a challenging trek with experienced riders. Each horse has its own pace and approach to work, and we try to respect that.
Cooking and meal planning
Eating well on vacation, and especially while trekking, makes all the difference. It's not just a matter of energy: it's a time to reconnect, get to know each other, and laugh. The mobile kitchen follows the group, organized in carefully divided crates. Every detail is designed to optimize time and space. During longer treks, we also plan supply stations to supplement the essentials: fresh bread, fruit, and vegetables. And when someone has special dietary needs, we do everything we can to accommodate them attentively. When the lights go out and the tents are already set up, some ask us: "Where does a dinner like this come from, in the middle of nowhere?" The answer is: organization, experience, and a few secret tricks from our magical staff.
The bivouac material
When the group arrives at the bivouac, everything must be ready. The tents must be pitched, blankets distributed, the horses with their posts, and fresh water must be available. Every evening, a new setup is found, and each time we find a different solution. The equipment is neatly packed before departure and placed in the truck for easy access: Berber tents, blankets, ropes, tack. Everything has its place.
While trekking: operations on the move
Once the trek begins, the organizational machine moves on multiple levels to ensure that everything goes according to plan.
Group management
Every trek has its own dynamic, and each group builds its own balance along the way. Our job as guides is to keep it all together: observing how people are doing, how they interact with the horses, and intervening if something isn't working.
The day has a well-defined structure: we leave early in the morning, stop in shady spots where the horses can eat and drink, have lunch—sometimes at the table, sometimes with a picnic in the saddlebags—and arrive at the bivouac in the late afternoon, where everything has already been set up.
Safety and the unexpected
No matter how much preparation you put in, a trekking tour remains a dynamic experience, and there are so many variables: a horse gets injured, a sudden storm, a road that becomes impassable overnight. That's why we always have a plan B. We bring backup horses, maintain a direct line with the logistics staff, and, when necessary, we modify the route. We've had to detour to avoid a flooded ford or an area where beehives have been placed right on the trail. But we're prepared and ensure the safety of everyone, including horses, even when conditions change.
Work at the bivouac
When the group arrives at the bivouac, everything is already prepared. The tents are pitched, the bathroom and shower are available, the horses are stabled with hay, water, and ropes ready. And the kitchen is bustling with activity for dinner.
So when we arrive, after hours of walking, we find a warm welcome: a tasty dish, a ready bed, the spectacle of the sunset and, finally, the starry sky.
After the trek: the return and maintenance
When the trek ends, the horses must be checked individually to ensure they are not fatigued or have any minor injuries.
The equipment is dismantled, cleaned, and put back in order for the next departure. Everything is checked: from saddles to tents, from cooking utensils to hay nets. It's an important moment, almost as important as the departure. A journey is concluded, the final details are gathered, and the next one begins to be planned.
Feedback and planning for the next trip
After returning, we take some time to gather feedback from those who participated: what went well, what we can improve, and whether there were any particularly appreciated or difficult moments.
Observations help us grow, but also confirm what's working. Sometimes they're small details, other times they're insights that lead to concrete changes. Every new beginning also stems from there: from listening, from the desire to do better, and from the experience just lived.
Special attentions for guests
One of the most delicate aspects of preparing a trek is assigning the right horse to each participant. For treks that depart directly from the Ranch, there's the option of last-minute changes to the assignments, adapting them to the realities that emerge once we meet the participants in person. For itinerant treks, where horses are chosen in advance, the assignment is done remotely, based solely on information, intuition, and a good deal of experience.
To make the welcome even more personal, each participant receives a folder with some helpful information about the program and their assigned horse, written by someone who knows them well. It's a way to begin building a bond even before they even climb into the saddle, and to demonstrate how important the relationship with our trusted travel companion is to us.
A work done with the heart
Behind a trekking tour lies meticulous organization, made up of people who work tirelessly to make the experience perfect. From the guides to the logistics, from the kitchen to the horse management, everyone has their role to play in making everything work. It's practical, concrete work, but it also has an emotional component that can't be taught.
The next time you go on a trek, you'll know that as you ride through the landscape, everything you experience has been prepared with care, attention, and—most importantly—heartfelt love. And now that you know the behind-the-scenes story, when will you come and experience it firsthand?
