Horse Riding through the Desert
Highlights
- Ride Barb and Arabian-cross horses bred for the Sahara
- Trail through dunes, oasis palm groves, and nomad camps
- Suitable for beginners and experienced riders
- Small groups of maximum 6 riders
- Sunset departures for magical golden-hour photos
Desert on Horseback
While camels are synonymous with the Sahara, horses offer a different kind of desert magic. Faster, more responsive, and capable of reaching places inaccessible to 4x4s, a horse trek through the Merzouga landscape feels like a scene from One Thousand and One Nights.
Our horses are a cross of Barb (the ancient North African breed) and Arabian bloodlines — hardy, calm, and perfectly adapted to desert conditions. They are well-trained, responsive to beginner riders, and capable of impressive speed for those who want to canter across an open flat.
The Route
The standard circuit leads from the stable at the edge of Merzouga through dune corridors, past the seasonal lake (Dayet Srij) that attracts flamingos in winter, through fringes of palm oasis, and to a high vantage point on the dune ridge for panoramic views.
Your guide — an experienced local rider — sets the pace based on the group's ability, moving from a walk through easy terrain to a trot or canter on the open flats for those who feel confident.
For All Levels
Complete beginners: Start with 30 minutes of instruction (mounting, basic commands, stop and go) before joining the trail.
Intermediate riders: The standard pace includes walk and trot, with options to canter on safe flat sections.
Experienced riders: Inform us at booking — advanced routes with more challenging terrain and extended canters can be arranged.
Practical Information
- Minimum age: 8 years old (under 12 on smaller, calmer horses with a leader)
- Maximum weight: 100 kg per rider
- Wear long trousers to protect against saddle chafing
- Closed-toe shoes are required; riding boots optional but not necessary
- Bring sunscreen and sunglasses
Included & Not Included
- • Horse, saddle, and riding helmet
- • Experienced equestrian guide on horseback
- • Riding instruction for beginners
- • Safety briefing and route overview
- • Specialised riding boots (trainers/closed shoes are fine)
- • Hotel transfers
- • Gratuities
Duration
1 hour
Price
From €30/person
Location
Merzouga, Morocco
Payment Methods
PayPal
Bank Transfer (IBAN)
Only 10% deposit required
Email:
[email protected]What Our Travelers Say
Real reviews from Google and TripAdvisor
We traveled to Morocco in a group of 6 adults, including my parents, who are already seniors, in the middle of summer. For my family it was a leap of faith to trust an agency we found online for the first time, but it turned out to be a wonderful surprise. Hamid, the trip organizer, was very kind and attentive both before and throughout the whole tour. It was a fully personalized tour - we got to do everything we wanted, from visiting the Sahara to enjoying the beach. He always looked out for our comfort, especially my parents': comfortable transport, well-timed stops at places with restrooms, beautiful air-conditioned hotels, and varied, plentiful food. Thanks to his organization we were able to enjoy the trip with real peace of mind. It was a great experience we would absolutely recommend.
Last week I did a self-drive trip from Fes to Merzouga, leaving the car rental, the riad in Merzouga, the desert camp, and the guided desert activities all in the hands of MerzougaWay and Hamid, and I can only say that everything was perfectly organized, right on time. Thanks to everyone at the riad we stayed at and the desert camp, as well as the guides who joined us for the 4x4 experience, Berber culture, and the camel transfer. Thanks to Hamid and MerzougaWay for that quad-bike ride back to the riad from the camp - what an experience, riding a quad across the dunes early in the morning. If you're thinking of traveling to Merzouga, I definitely recommend Hamid as the organizer of your adventure.
Excellent!! We loved the tour. Thank you Hamid for everything. Everything well organized, the guide Eljo (Elhousain) was very attentive, highly recommend. Everything super clean, we had a great driver, we felt very safe with him. Unbeatable desert excursion. Thanks MerzougaWay!
Trustworthy tour agency. I wrote Hamid what I wanted and he just made it happen. He arranged everything so quick and smooth. We had a 3-day Merzouga tour from Marrakech. Said was our guide and he made me and my wife very comfortable. He took us from our riad and carried us in his modern 4x4 Toyota to magnificent places. He gave us the confidence to ask him whatever we wanted to do and wherever we wanted to drive - like old friends. He is open-minded and respectful. I recommend asking the agency for Said to be your driver. In the 3-day tour you cross the Atlas mountains, stay one night in a perfect hotel in Dades with great food, then stay one night in Erg Chebbi dunes in a luxury glamp camp. One night wasn't enough for a real desert experience - if you have time, take two nights in the desert.
Unforgettable holiday. An 8-day itinerant tour in Morocco, including 3 days organized by Hamid - MerzougaWay: a route from Fes to Marrakech, spending a night in the desert and in Ouarzazate. Our guide Youssef, who drove us all along the way, was very professional and took us to try real experiences that not all tourists get to see. Breathtaking landscapes - Morocco amazed and fascinated us. We drove many miles but still traveled comfortably. Absolutely recommend it - they are a highly professional agency and managed to take us to unique places, like a Berber village in the desert where we were the only tourists. A spectacular, unforgettable experience.
Morocco from the heart with MerzougaWay. Heartfelt congratulations to Hamid, who organized our trip impeccably - present, correct, and extremely helpful. A special mention for our driver Ali, who was by our side through 3 intense days toward the desert: attentive, polite, discreet, and a genuinely good, nice driver. We found snow in the Atlas range and then sun in Ait Ben Haddou, visited women's cooperatives working argan oil and roses, saw the Dades Gorges, and finally reached the Sahara dunes by camel before sleeping in a tented desert camp. 3 intense and exciting days. Next time in Morocco I'll rely on you again, inshallah!
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MerzougaWay Team
We are a passionate team of local guides dedicated to sharing the beauty and culture of our home, Morocco. Our journey began with a simple desire to offer authentic, memorable experiences that go beyond the typical tourist trails.
Complete Your Morocco Trip
Two more services from our team, based in Marrakech.
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