The Pearl of Essaouira
The Pearl of Essaouira
A six-day horseback excursion to experience the emotions of this land.
Description
Conditions and price details
Notes / Booking Instructions
6-Day Horseback Trekking to Discover Essaouira
The 6-day tour in Morocco, 4 of which on horseback in a circuit that will start and finish at the Ranch de Diabat, is the short edition of our famous equestrian treks .
You'll follow the meanders of the Ksob River, whose waters feed crops and wild palm trees. You'll pass through small natural canyons created by the flow of water during the rainy seasons.
Horseback riding through the desert and coastal towns of Morocco
The landscape will change and surprise you every single day with its peculiarities. During this Horseback trekking , you'll pass through a large argan forest, with the option of visiting a women's cooperative where they'll show you how they produce oil, from harvesting the olives to producing the finished product. If you'd like, you can purchase their products, knowing you're supporting a true rural cooperative of working women.
From the largest argan tree to a trail along the beautiful cliffs bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the Essaouira region, where you can descend onto small, wild private beaches, then climb back up to watch the sunset over the sea from above. In the evening, at the bivouac, after the horseback ride , you'll savor the delicacies of traditional Moroccan cuisine, freshly prepared by our chef, who will accommodate your preferences and any food allergies you may have, as indicated on the registration form.
Essaouira Tour: Stunning Beaches and Famous Monuments
The horseback trekking tour also includes crossing a sea of magnificent dunes, with the beautiful Cap Sim lighthouse in the background guiding ships approaching the port of Essaouira. With this unique landscape, you'll descend 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 World Heritage Site.
Before returning to the Ranch de Diabat, you will pass by the famous historical monument of the Palace of Sultan Moulay Ben Abdallah, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the setting for numerous films such as "Game of Thrones" and mythologized by hippies from around the world for the unlikely visit of Jimi Hendrix in the 1970s.
The last day of the equestrian trekking You will have the opportunity to visit the Medina of Essaouira and go shopping, and take a couple of hours for a hammam and a massage at the end of these days on horseback.
Plan
Day 1: Arrival
Meet and greet at Marrakech or Essaouira airport, transfer to Essaouira. Briefing on the trek. Dinner and overnight at a hotel.
Days 2–4: Between sand dunes and deserted beaches
Every day you will set off on a horseback trek lasting approximately 5 hours, with a 1.5-hour lunch break to rest, have lunch, and take a short siesta.
The six-day Essaouira horseback riding package, “The Pearl of Essaouira,” will take you on a discovery of the region’s many diverse landscapes: sand dunes, deserted beaches, cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and fishing villages.
Accompanied by your guide, you'll have the opportunity to gallop and trot through oueds (rivers) until you reach your camp. At the bivouac, you'll enjoy a bonfire, a traditional Moroccan meal, and a night in a Berber tent.
Day 5: Discovering Souiri
The last day is dedicated to exploring the Souiri coast and the city. The half-day stopover lasts, and lunch is served upon return to the Ranch.
The afternoon is free, with the option of shopping in Essaouira's medina, massages, and a hammam. Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel in Essaouira.
Day 6: Departure
Transfer to Essaouira or Marrakech airport.
Useful information
Prepare yourself as best as possible
You will receive all the information on equipment, clothing and physical fitness before departure.
Maximum weight
Maximum weight allowed: 90kg (the organization reserves the right to deny admission to the trek if anyone who fails to declare their actual weight exceeds this limit, and no refunds will be given. The health of the horses is a top priority).
Flights
Please book a flight arriving at Marrakech Airport by 2:00 PM on the day of arrival. If your flight arrives later, there will be a surcharge for additional transportation to Essaouira (bus or private taxi, €80 to be split).
For your departure, book flights from Marrakech after 12:00 PM. Allow 6 hours in total (3 hours of driving time + 3 hours of airport time). Those leaving earlier can take a private taxi (€80, shareable).
Travel insurance
The mandatory travel insurance we require must include cancellation coverage if the client withdraws before the trip for their own reasons. If the client does not wish to purchase this insurance, they may do so, but are responsible for the cancellation and the resulting non-refund of travel expenses.
We also require medical coverage during the trip, which is mandatory for trekking bookings. Medical insurance must cover any illness or accident during the trip and include horseback riding as a non-competitive activity.
We can recommend what our customers tell us after many years of trekking: Heymondo offers a single insurance policy that covers both cancellation and accidents, and horseback riding can be included. Our recommendation is based on positive customer reviews; if you have had good experiences with other insurance policies, please let us know.
Please note: insurance must be purchased at the same time as purchasing the horseback trekking.
Ranch De Diabat has its own insurance, however each customer is required to have their own.
Equestrian level
To participate in our treks, you must be comfortable with the three gaits and be accustomed to the outdoors. It's ideal if you've already done a full day of horseback riding. If you'd like, you can come to us a few days before the trek to take lessons and assess your riding level. Different riding levels will be managed by multiple guides to ensure every rider, from beginners to advanced riders, has fun.
Accommodations
Accommodations for the first and last nights are in a hotel. For solo travelers: if we can't find anyone for a double or triple room, we'll charge a supplement of €30 per night and person for a single room. The same supplement applies for single rooms.
Accommodation during the trek will be in 6-person shared tents, or, if you prefer, in a 2-person igloo tent. Your bivouac is equipped with a warm-water shower.
Meals
Meals are prepared by our chef, who will introduce you to the richness of Moroccan cuisine. The menu takes into account any dietary restrictions or allergies of participants, as indicated on the registration form.
Tip
It is customary to leave a tip at the end of the trip to the staff who took care of you during the experience, which can vary from 7% to 10% of the value of the trip.
The perfect luggage
Suitcase
Soft, not rigid, suitcase.
Clothing and shoes
Bring a few t-shirts, some cotton clothes, a long-sleeved shirt to protect against the sun, a fleece to protect against the wind, two or three pairs of riding trousers, and a waterproof poncho.
Boots or hiking shoes, gaiters or chaps.
Accessories
Don't forget your sleeping bag, flashlight, tissues, underwear, and some medicine to prevent intestinal infections.
Water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen.
Regarding charging your cell phones and cameras, we recommend bringing a good, fully charged power bank, as charging via the truck won't be available every day.
Notes
Each horse is equipped with a trekking saddle and saddlebags to carry your lunch and personal belongings for your day's riding. Sensitive riders are advised to bring a sheepskin saddle cover, readily available in equestrian shops both in Morocco and abroad.
Min. 3 - Max. 15 people
Included in the price
Transfer from and to Marrakech or Essaouira airport to the starting point of the trek, all meals (check if the arrival and departure meal are possible depending on the arrival and departure times), accommodation in collective Berber tents and several igloo tents, rental of horses equipped for the trek, equestrian guides, cap, transport to and from Essaouira city
PAYMENT METHODS
International credit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express – with Stripe)
IMPORTANT NOTES
The travel insurance we require must include cancellation if the client withdraws before the trip for their own reasons. If the client does not wish to purchase this insurance, they may do so, being responsible for the cancellation and the resulting lack of reimbursement of travel expenses. We also require medical coverage during the trip, which is mandatory for trekking bookings. Medical insurance must cover any illness or accident during the trip and include horseback riding as a non-competitive activity. We can recommend what our clients report after many years of trekking. Heymondo offers a single insurance policy that covers both cancellation and accidents, and horseback riding can be included. Our recommendation is based on positive customer reviews. If you have had positive experiences with other insurance policies, please let us know.
Attention
Insurance must be purchased at the same time as purchasing the horseback trek. Interruption of the requested activity by the client for any reason requires dedicated assistance. This cost will be invoiced on-site. The cost will be communicated at the time and depends on the location where the client interrupts the activity. The client agrees to pay this cost.
The booking payment is non-refundable, and the chosen date of the experience cannot be changed.
The customer who undertakes to book declares to accept and follow the rules written here.
For any inquiries or to arrange a private tour, contact us via WhatsApp at 00212613049107 or email at info@ranchdediabat.com