Nomad's Land

Introduction
Morocco Morocco
Join our 2 week expedition and learn about the Nomad life and Berber culture.

This adventure lets you explore the beautiful and diverse landscapes of Morocco on a ride from the interior, to the Atlantic coast, crossing mountains, deserts and small villages on the way.
We bring you off the beaten path on a fantastic ride in some of Morocco's most isolated places, so that you can get a real taste of the local life.

Nights will be spent in a mixture of camps and hotels.

Accomodation


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

Description
You will spend 5 nights in hotel accommodations and 9 nights camping.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Agadir
Night 2: Inn in Goulmim
Night 3 to 7: Camping
Night 8 & 9: Hotel in Tantan
Night 10 to 13: Camping
Night 14: Hotel in Agadir

Hotel in Agadir
This hotel is located in the center of Agadir, just 400 m from the beach. It offers 2 outdoor swimming pools, a snack bar and a nightclub. The rooms are en-suite with air-conditioned and have satellite TV and private balconies. WIFI is available in public areas and is free of charge. Laundry can be arranged for an additional fee.

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 being 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 on the ride except for lunch on day 9. 

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.

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 (Sunday): Arrival in Agadir
Dinner and overnight accommodation in a hotel.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Agadir

Day 2 (Monday): Introduction
we drive by car 200km southwards, over Tiznit and Lakhsass to Goulmim. We meet the horses outside of Goulmim in the Oasis of Tighmert. After a quick lunch we go on a short ride through the palm oasis of Tighmert. In the late afternoon we will have time to visit Goulmim. Dinner and overnight in an Inn.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Inn in Goulmim

Day 3 (Tuesday): Goulmim to Taidalt
This morning, we ride through the oasis of Tighmert out in the big desert. Soon we will be in the endless plain, where we can canter. In the sandy ground little bushes are growing. After the first rain, in winter, they will bloom and the whole plain will be covered by rose and white flowers. We will stop for lunch on the way. As we get closer to our destination for the night, more and more Acacia trees are growing, and the ground gets sandier. In the evening, we will reach the village of Taidalt where we will camp under some Acacia trees.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping near Taidalt

Day 4 (Wednesday): Taidalt to Green Valley
Today we ride across a big plain, but we can already see the mountains coming closer. As we get closer to the mountains, more stones appear on the ground. Big herds of sheep and goat try to find something to graze on, under the Acacia trees. At one point, the plain narrows down and the mountains appear bigger than before. We follow a pathway in a valley. The empty riverbed beside shows us that water is coming down during heavy rain pours, digging little gorges in the mountains. Maybe we will see a lonely camel herd going the same way as we are, through the brown and black mountains. Here and there, we can see some wells that provide water to the nomads and their herds. In the afternoon we continue following the valley. Suddenly a green plain appear in front of us. Here, there is enough water to irrigate, so some farmers started growing crops.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Day 5 (Thursday): Green Valley to Desert
About 7 km from our camp, we will find Aouina Torkos: a very lonely place. No fields nor trees are found here, but in the village, you can find a few people and everything you need to cook a delicious meal. This is the last possibility to find food for the next 150 kilometers! The first 10 kilometers after the village are very stony but still some Acacia trees are growing here. In the distance, we can see a new mountain chain. As we come closer, suddenly the ground changes in fine sand. The mostly white plain invites us for a long gallop. A lonely house with a well will be a good picnic place. In the afternoon we continue riding across the plain. Tonight, we camp in the middle of the desert.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Day 6 (Friday): Following the Draa River
This morning we continue our ride across the deserted plain. From time to time, we see some Acacia trees, but there are no people nor animals. After some time, we will cross over the mountain chain. In the valley below, we find an old, ruined village. The valley follows a gorge to the next big plain. There we will find an empty riverbed: the river Draa. However, water runs here only after heavy rains. Despite this, mimosa and Acacia trees are growing in the riverbed. We might meet a Camel herd and its shepherd. A long time ago, the river Draa was where Morocco was fighting against the Polisario and the Algerian.
At some point, a forest of Acacia trees appears in front of us, and we seem to be surrounded by mountains. This will be our camping spot for the night.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Day 7 (Saturday): Across the mountains
Today, we will cross over the mountains. A small but very long wall can be seen over the mountains. This is a border between 2 enemies Berber tribes. When crossing stony valleys, we can see some cacti. Eventually, we reach a plain with a small spring and some palm trees.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Day 8 (Sunday): Ride to Tantan
Our destination for the day is Tantan, 30 kilometers away. Riding on hilly paths we have a few opportunities to canter. Along the way, we find some lonely springs. Tonight, the horses will stay about 2 kilometers outside of Tantan, by the government well. All the local nomads come here to water their camel herds. From there, we will drive to Tantan, where we will have dinner and stay in a hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Tantan

Day 9 (Monday): Rest Day
Today is resting day for the horses. Tantan is not very big, but there are many shops and souks to visit. You can also choose to spend a relaxing day in a local café.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Overnight at a Hotel in Tantan

Day 10 (Tuesday): Back to the Desert
Time to get back in the saddle. We gallop over a large plain and meet the river Draa once again. Here some water can be found but it is usually low and muddy. We find a place to cross to the other bank. Then, we continue on sandy paths to our picnic spot. After lunch, we continue to follow the river Draa. Many birds and sometimes also camels can be seen. Later on, we will leave the river and ride into the sand dunes to find our camp on a little hill.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Day 11 (Wednesday): Riding to Aurora
This morning, we follow a dry creek with some bushes. Today's picnic spot offers a good view over the Atlantic Ocean. In the afternoon we gallop along sandy pathways to our camp, close to the old fort of Aurora.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Day 12 (Thursday): Beach Ride
Today we ride to the fort and then go down onto the white beach. This beach is endless and empty, so we enjoy a nice picnic there. in the afternoon, we continue riding on the beach towards the village of Plage Blanche, where we camp (on the beach).
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Day 13 (Friday): Back to the Mountains
Our ride continues on the same beach as yesterday. Slowly the sand will turn into stones, and we start riding uphill, surrounded by cacti. We ride on small pathways across valleys and springs, eventually reaching a small river, where we will set our camp.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight camping

Day 14 (Saturday): Last Ride
Our last riding day has us crossing over hills and little plains, where we canter in the direction of Goulmim. We say goodbye to the horses at the Paleriae of Tighmert and drive back to Agadir. overnight in the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Agadir

Day 15 (Sunday): Departure
Individual return.

Rates and Dates for Nomad's Land

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Agadir Airport
Airport: Agadir-Al Massira Airport (AGA)
Transfer: Agadir Airport

Climate:
                                            Agadir area