Can you do horse riding holidays in Morocco?

Morocco is a natural fit for riding because the horse is woven into its culture — the Barb and Arab-Barb breeds here are ancient, hardy and beautiful, the same lineage you see thundering in the tbourida cavalry displays at festivals. For a riding holiday that gives you a real spread of terrain: rolling Atlas foothills, oak and olive country, riverbeds, and the chance to reach Berber villages on horseback the way people genuinely travelled for centuries. Multi-day point-to-point treks, sleeping in gites or under canvas, are the classic format and they are wonderful.

The coast is the other great riding region, and the most beginner-friendly. Around Essaouira and the Atlantic beaches just south, several long-established stables offer rides along huge empty strands and through the coastal argan and dune country — the sea breeze keeps it cool, the sand is forgiving, and a canter along the surf line is exactly the postcard you are imagining. These outfits cater well to nervous and novice riders with calm horses and short outings, scaling up to multi-day coastal trails for the experienced.

On the desert edge you can ride horses (not only camels) on the fringes of the dunes around Merzouga and in the pre-Sahara, which is a striking alternative for confident riders. And at the luxury end, some country estates and riads near Marrakech keep good stables for refined day rides through olive groves with the Atlas as a backdrop. There is a tier for every budget and ability, from a gentle hour to a serious week in the saddle.

My one firm, honest insistence is welfare. Standards vary, and you should ride only with stables that visibly care for their horses — healthy weight, clean tack, no sores, water and shade, and a willingness to match the horse and the pace to your ability. Established, well-reviewed riding operators take this seriously; roadside "rides" offered to tourists too often do not, and I steer guests away from them. Bring a helmet or confirm one is provided, be honest about your experience, and check the operator’s reputation before booking.