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We should be upfront about this one: Tour 84 offers a two-hour horse ride on Essaouira’s beach for EUR35 with a perfect 5.0/5 rating. This tour gives you half the time, charges EUR5 less, has no free cancellation, and sits at 4.7/5. On a pure value-for-money basis, that is a difficult comparison to survive. The one-hour format works for some people, but the overall package is hard to recommend when a clearly superior alternative exists.
What actually happens
You are collected from Essaouira (or drive yourself to the ranch near Diabat, about 3km south). After a brief introduction to the horse and basic riding instruction, you saddle up on an Arabian-Barb horse and ride to Diabat beach. The route passes through eucalyptus and mimosa forest with views toward the Ile de Mogador and its Portuguese fortifications offshore. A guide accompanies you throughout, speaking English, French, and Arabic. The ride is suitable for complete beginners - these are calm, well-trained horses used to nervous riders.
Our honest take
The ride itself is pleasant. Arabian-Barb horses are beautiful animals, the Diabat beach setting is atmospheric, and the guides are experienced. But 4.7/5 means a noticeable number of people were not fully satisfied, and reviews suggest that one hour feels rushed - by the time you are comfortable in the saddle and actually enjoying the scenery, you are turning back. The no-free-cancellation policy is the real frustration. Horse riding is weather-dependent, and being locked into a booking when storms roll in off the Atlantic is not ideal. Tour 84 gives you twice the ride time, a perfect rating, and more room to actually settle into the experience. The EUR5 difference is negligible.
Who should book this
- Visitors with genuinely tight schedules who cannot spare two hours but want a brief taste of beach riding
- Anyone who is nervous about horse riding and wants the shortest possible commitment to test whether they enjoy it
- Travellers who have already booked everything else and this is the only slot available
Who should skip this
- Most people, honestly - Tour 84 at EUR35 gives you double the time with a perfect rating and represents far better value
- Anyone whose plans might change - no free cancellation on a weather-dependent outdoor activity is a real drawback
- Experienced riders who will find one hour frustratingly short
Before you book
Duration: 1 hour
Price: From EUR30 per person
Cancellation: No free cancellation - be certain of your dates and check the weather forecast
Rating: 4.7/5 from 61 reviews
Better option: Tour 84 at EUR35 gives you 2 hours, a 5.0/5 rating, and a more complete beach riding experience. Unless you specifically need a shorter ride, that is the one to book.