Sahara Crossing
30 Days
Morocco ( Best airport: Ouarzazate)
This is a month-long, immersive desert adventure – an epic camping trail across the Moroccan Sahara. Get ready to truly live the landscape and culture as you ride Arab-Berb horses an incredible 875km. From the legendary dunes of Merzouga to the vast Iriki lake, through vibrant plantations and beyond, your journey culminates at the Atlantic coast.
This isn’t a guided tour; it’s a shared expedition. You’ll be a crucial part of the community, contributing to daily camp life, assisting with horse care, and supporting your fellow riders and the dedicated support team. This is a demanding and incredibly rewarding ride, exclusively for fit, advanced riders craving an unparalleled adventure, genuine connections, and total cultural immersion.
Level of Riding and Fitness
This is an exciting and demanding ride, specifically designed for fit, advanced riders who are looking for a unique adventure. Any rider who wishes to participate needs to ensure they are in perfect physical health and have multiple years of riding experience with long-distance trips, or be an experienced rider.
To ensure an enjoyable and safe experience for everyone, you should be confident and comfortable riding at all paces, including long trots and gallops over varied desert terrain. You’ll be spending long hours in the saddle, often covering significant distances each day:
- First week: 6 days on horseback covering approximately 240 km in the region of Zagora.
- Second week: 7 days on horseback covering approximately 288 km to arrive at Tata.
- Third week: 8 days on horseback covering approximately 222 km to Guelmim.
- Fourth week: 3 days on horseback covering approximately 125 km to arrive at White Beach.
This trip also requires a willingness to participate actively in daily camp life and be part of a close-knit team throughout this journey. The minimum age is 18 and the weight limit is 95 kilos.
Guides and Group Size
The group size will be between 6 and 12 riders and the group will be guided across the desert by Abdel, the head guide. It’s said he was practically born on a horse in the Agadir region, a testament to his profound connection and lifelong passion for horses. While his background includes working with racehorses, his true calling now lies in leading unforgettable journeys on horseback. Abdel has personally ridden all of our trails in Morocco and numerous others in France, before making the desert and Atlantic coast his home. Beyond his exceptional horsemanship and outstanding organizational skills, Abdel is a fluent speaker of Berber, Darija, French, and English, ensuring seamless communication for all riders.
Tack and Riding Equipment
All saddles are English saddles, specially designed to fit each horse perfectly. These saddles are typically made of high-quality leather, providing durability and comfort. They feature long flaps that allow for a better connection between rider and horse, as well as a deep seat that ensures a stable and balanced position. Additionally, they often feature double or triple-point girths for a secure fit. Saddlebags are provided for all riders to carry daily essentials.
Accommodation and Dining
Throughout the expedition, you will experience a unique blend of authentic bivouac camping (21 nights) and comfortable hotel stays (8 nights) during designated rest periods. The bivouac camps are fully equipped tents sleeping 2-3 people on foam mattresses (single tents are available for a supplement), there is also a communal dining tent, and individual shower (with hot water!) and toilet facilities.
You’ll be amazed at what can be cooked up in the desert as most days will begin with a delicious breakfast, featuring freshly brewed tea, coffee, and milk, alongside warm, crusty bread, sweet jams, golden honey, and fluffy pancakes. You’ll also find creamy cheese and a selection of cereals to fuel your morning.
Lunches will feature a fresh salad, typically made with ingredients like tomato, peppers, sweet corn, and beetroot. This is usually accompanied by rice, pasta, or lentils served with a traditional Moroccan sauce. You’ll also have the option of cheese, canned tuna or sardines, and bread. Tea and mineral water are always served with lunch.
Dinner will be a delightful experience of traditional Moroccan cuisine, such as couscous, tajine, Berber Omelette, and Kefta. For dessert, you might enjoy a fruit salad or even traditional Moroccan patisserie, depending on what’s available in the local town. Tea and mineral water is always on hand. If you prefer soft drinks, these can be purchased during one of the town stops and stored in the support truck.
Get a free Sahara Crossing mini-brochure in PDF format.
Gallery
Itinerary
Sahara Crossing
30 days / 29 nights / 24 riding days
Single supplement: £675
Flights & Transfers
Do not book your flights until you’ve received your ‘Booking Confirmation Email’ from saddletravel.com.
Book your arrival flight to Ouarzazate Airport (OZZ) by 3:00 PM on day one; transfers from Ouarzazate are included. Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) arrivals incur a supplement, requiring an early morning landing due to a 10-hour transfer. Depart from Agadir Al-Massira Airport (AGA) after breakfast on the final day, or opt for a Marrakech (RAK) transfer for a €150 shared supplement (3-4 hour journey).
- Accommodation for 29 nights (8 in a hotel and 21 camping)
- All meals from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day
- Trail riding horse, tack and saddlebags
- Mineral water
- 4-7 hours riding on 24 days
- Airport transfers from Ouarzazate on Day 1
- Airport transfers to Agadir Airport on Day 30
- Luggage transfer
- Flights
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Marrakech Airport transfers