Atlas Mountains Ride

Introduction
Morocco Morocco
Discover a lush and mountainous Morocco on this exciting 10 day tour. Beginning in Fez, a city still reminiscent of the Middle Ages, you explore French villages, Moroccan lakes, stark mountain ranges, rocky plains, fresh water springs and waterfalls, and volcanic stone that sprouts grass. Along the way you encounter animals such as sheep, goats, camels, monkeys, and a multitude of birds. Explore the land of the Nomads and make note of their legendary lifestyle as we pass by Berber villages of clay huts established miles from anywhere. This amazing trip takes you toward the  Lake Afnourir Nature Reservation, where you spend one last peaceful night in the wilderness.

Highlights
- Swimming with the horses!
- The 40 springs of Oum Erbia
- The city of Ifrane
- Cedar forests with wild monkeys
- Racing over abandoned prairies 
 

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a wilderness ride, so nights will be a mixture of hotels and camping.

Description
You will spend 2 nights in a hotel and 7 nights camping. You will change champ sites 6 times.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1 & 9: Hotel Riad El Yacout in Fes 
Night 2: Camping in Ifran
Night 3: Camping near Lake Afennourir
Night 4: Camping near Lake Ouiouane
Night 5: Camping near Lake Aguelmam Aghiza
Night 6: Camping near a salty river
Night 7: Camping near Lake Aguelmam Sidi Ali
Night 8: Camping near smaller lake

Riad El Yacout in Fes
This beautiful 16th century Riad used to be the home of a rich merchant and has recently been restored in order to provide comfortable accommodation to guests. The architecture of this Riad is very typical of the area with water fountains and beautiful mosaics. Each room is tastefully decorated in the Moroccan style and comes equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi access and ensuite facilities. The hotel also has a spa and a swimming pool. Laundry can be arranged for an additional fee.
*Please note that hotels are subject to change based on availability. Double check at the time of booking!

Camping
You will overnight in comfortable dome tents with ground mats. There are rustic portable toilets (no flush) on site and no showers. There will be some rivers along the ride where you can bathe and wash up. Make sure to bring your own sleeping bag!

Room Occupancy
Single supplement is mandatory if we are unable to find another rider to share.



Meals
All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on the last day. 

You will enjoy a mix of food: some "western food" and some very good local specialties!
Some days a car will meet us for lunch and on some days we will have a picnic on the trail - you will take the food with you in your saddle bags.

Drinks in hotels or restaurants and alcoholic drinks on the ride are not included.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions if given prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


Horses
You will ride small but very surefooted Arabian Berber horses with a great courage and stamina. Mares and stallions go together on the ride. Stallions and mares go well together, but some of the stallions need extra space when two are in the same area. A whip is suggested for the stallions, as they need strict orders. This does not make them difficult to ride, they just require more firm direction and more attention. These horses can get very attached to their riders and are always ready to please.

Riding Experience
Riders must have at least 5 years experience and hacking experience is a plus. We might have to lead our horses in some difficult mountain pass.

Tack
Mostly English and some military tracking saddles. Some people bring their own gel-cushion or sheep-skin cover to put over the saddle since we ride for long hours.

Staff
Driss and Rena have been organizing treks on horseback in Morocco since 1982.
Rena, once a schoolteacher in Switzerland, came to Meknes in the year 1984 to realize her dream of living in harmony with horses and nature. In love with Morocco and its inhabitants, she will help you discover another Morocco, away from the beaten track, authentic and enchanting, as your guide on the treks.
Driss is a riding instructor who used to work for the National Studfarm of Meknes. He has more than 25 years of experience with horses and he has taught a great many students (a lot of them French) who for the most part have gone on to be high level riders).

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1 (Friday): Arrival in Fes
Transfer to Riad (traditional Moroccan house or palace).
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Riad El Yacout in Fes

Day 2 (Monday): Introductory Ride
In the morning you will visit the medina of Fes. This old medina is very spectacular. Built in 808 by Moulay Idris II, you will feel like you're in the Middle Ages. You will see the old University, the Souk with its small shops, the magnificent mausoleum of the founder of Fes, the huge mosque of Karaouin, the tanneries, and so much more that you won't want to blink! An hour drive by car will bring you up to the Atlas Mountain, where you will have picnic beside a lake. Moroccans often comes here to enjoy the nature.
Afterwards we will transfer you to Ifran, built in 1929 by the French. This little town, with its pointy rooftops and flowery alleys sits at a height of 1700 meters (approx. 5500 feet) above the sea. Ifran is very popular for his agreeable climate in the summer. The horses are waiting for us outside Ifran, near Azrou. We will go for a short ride during which you will get to know your new friend. We'll spend the night in tents.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping in Ifran

Day 3 (Tuesday): Ifran to Lake Afnourir
The day will start on a high plain, with beautiful view over the Atlas. The local famers have bees and the region is very famous for the lavender honey. Big cedar trees grow beside the hills. In the forest are living many kinds of birds, the famous berber monkey of the Atlas and a few wild boars, which you may see occasionally. We will stop for lunch in an oak tree forest, enjoying the shade. 
In the afternoon, we will leave the woods and ride over big lonely planes (volcanic ground). Soon, we will reach a big forest of zederwood and the landscape changes completely. Later on, we reach a high plane where we find the natural reservoir of Afnourir lake. The lake gets water only from the rain. Many birds, frogs and small fishes populate the area.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Lake Afnourir

Day 4 (Wednesday): Lake Afnourir to Lake Wiwane
Our ride starts over the big plains and soon, forests can be seen on top of the mountains on both sides of the valley. When we reach the end of the plain, we go down the valley through the forest to reach the river of Zaouiet Ifran. Monkeys live in this region, and sometimes we will find them jumping from tree to tree. We cross the pretty village of Zaouiet Ifran and climb up on the other side of the valley, through the oleander bushes, which are in bloom in summer. We will take our picnic lunch around there.
In the afternoon we ride up again, crossing through beautiful forests and arriving by lake Wiwane in the evening.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Lake Wiwane

Day 5 (Thursday): Lake Wiwane to Lake Aguelmam Aghiza
In the morning, we ride around the lake. Our trail then continues on small mule paths across green pastures. Little rivers can be spotted from time to time. At one point, we will reach a river full of salt and the ground looks like it is frozen. Finally we reach the 40 springs of Oum Erbia. After a cool drink we climb up the hill. Once at the top we will have our picnic lunch by the river.
In the afternoon, we follow the river through the forest and again over green pastures with sheep, cow, horses and mules. Then, we cross through another beautiful forest with cedarwood and make our way down to the lake of aguelmam aghiza.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Lake Aguelmam Aghiza

Day 6 (Friday): Ride across forests and grassy plains
After leaving the lake behind us, we ride across another beautiful forest populated by monkeys. Beautiful grassy plains invite us for gallops.
In the afternoon, we enjoy beautiful views over the valleys and the mountains. We will eventually reach a green valley and soon we will find our camp beside a salty river.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Salty river

Day 7 (Saturday): Ride to Lake Aguelmam Sidi Ali
After following a small rocky trail, we reach a plateau and follow a small mule path through the forest. Later on, long gallops bring us over grassy planes. Along the way, we find a well so our horses can drink.
The picnic break will be taken in the mountains. There is not a lot of shade, but a cool wind might blow and bring us some fresh air.
After lunch, we go down to the lake of Aguelmam Sidi Ali. This is the biggest lake in the region and its water comes from underground.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping near Lake Aguelmam Sidi Ali

Day 8 (Sunday): Lake Aguelmam Sidi Ali to smaller lake
In the morning we take some time to enjoy the lake and swim (with the horses if possible). We will start riding in the afternoon, making our way through a lonely valley with very old tuya trees. We will enjoy some gallops on the way, and cross a few rivers. Our camp will be beside a smaller lake this evening.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight Camping

Day 9 (Monday): Ride to Azrou
For our last riding day, we climb up the mountain. We come across a small salty spring and then we cross a huge valley. Big heards of sheep are grassing here. At one point, the ground changes into volcanic stones. Herewe will carefully stay on the designated path. Some lonely farmhouses can be spotted from time to time. We will eventually reach Azrou where we say goodbye to the horses. From there, a car will bring us back to Fes in the Riad.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel Riad El Yacout in Fes

Day 10 (Tuesday): Departure
Individual return.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Atlas Mountains Ride

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Riad El Yacout Hotel
Airport: Fès-Saïs Airport (FEZ)
Transfer: Fes Airport

Climate:
                                                    Fes area