Morocco

Riding: 5-6 hours a day

Horses: Arabs and Berber Arabs

Pace: moderate to fast with plenty of long canters, but varies with itinerary

Riding ability: confident intermediate to experienced riders

Weight limit: 95kg (15 stone)

Accommodation: 3∆ camping, 2 & 3* hotels

Group size: maximum 10

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The horses used are mostly pure and cross bred Berber Arabs of between about 14.2hh and 16hh. They are of a fairly narrow build, but are strong and sure footed. They are a forward going, responsive and enjoyable ride and there is a good selection of horses for riders of different abilities. Both mares and stallions are used on the rides – stallions need to be kept away from the group but they are all easy to control and responsive and if you have a preference as to what you prefer to ride (mare or stallion) then you need only ask. There is a weight limit of 95kg (15 stone) though please call to check if you are close to this. Groups are maximum of 10 guests.

Hours: There is usually about 6 hours riding a day, riding from camp to camp. Rides are broken up with rests for lunch etc. but on some rides there may be days when you ride 4 hours or so without a break.

Pace and experience required: To join a ride you must be a fairly experienced rider who is comfortable on a horse at all paces from a walk to fast canter in open country. You will be riding over varied terrain and in open country. The going on these rides does very from area to area, with some parts quite rough or rocky but where the going is good the pace is often fast, with long canters across open plains and riders encouraged to spread out. Generally you will cover 40 to 50km a day and you are expected to cope, keep up and stop when required, so you need to be confident and fit.

Accommodation on all rides is in a mixture of hotels and camps which are set up ahead of you. Hotels are comfortable, generally about 3* and bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms - they often have a swimming pool. Camping is fairly basic - small 2 man dome tents are used, with foam mattresses (about 3" thick) provided to sleep on. There is a general mess tent for eating, a 'short drop' loo tent, and also a washing tent. Jugs of hot water are provided on request for washing in the wash tent. Luggage will be transported by back up vehicle which will also meet you for lunch where possible. When it is not possible to meet the back up then a picnic lunch will be carried in the saddlebags.

Each itinerary ride has a different meeting point - either Fes, Agadir, Ouzarzate, Rabat or Errachidia (please see the individual itinerary or ask for more information). Royal Air Maroc fly daily to Casablanca from London and have onward flights to Fes, Agadir, Ourzazate and Errachidia. They also fly direct from London to Marrakech.

Easy Jet fly from Gatwick to Marrakech daily. Ryan Air fly from London Stansted to Agadir and London Luton to Marrakech. You can also fly via Paris with Air France who fly from Paris CDC to Rabat and Casablanca. There is a good train service in Morocco (www.oncf.ma) and there is a station at Casablanca airport with mainline connections between Meknes, Fes, Rabat and Marrakech. You can also travel by train all the way for the UK (see- www.seat61.com)

Itinerary in Brief (Golden Sands Agadir & Atlantic Ride)