Day 187 - Sunset Rides and Moroccan Adventures in Sidi Kaouki

After a very warm night and not a whole lot of sleep, we slowly made our way out for coffee around 7:30 or 8:00 in the morning. There was a big tour group staying at the accommodation, so the breakfast area and rooftop were already buzzing with people. Instead of squeezing in, we decided to head next door to a local café for breakfast instead, which actually turned out to be a great decision.

We’d already managed to grab an early coffee before leaving, but sitting down for breakfast at the café was a really nice way to start the day. While we were there, I got chatting with a guy from Turkey and the conversation turned into future travel ideas. Turkey has been floating around in our minds lately, so we exchanged numbers and he offered to send through some recommendations and places we should look into. One of the best parts about travelling like this is how often random conversations lead to completely new ideas and possibilities.

After breakfast we headed back to the accommodation. Originally, I’d decided I was probably done with horse riding for a little while, but later in the morning we got a message saying the ride would be a sunset beach ride. Riding horses along the beach at sunset sounded too good to miss, so I decided I’d go along for one last ride.

The rest of the morning was pretty relaxed. I spent some time researching possible next destinations while Kia worked on videos and helped the kids with some schooling. It was one of those slower travel days where everyone just eased into things.

By lunchtime we realised a lot of the town was closed because of a local holiday, but eventually we found a place we hadn’t tried before and managed to grab one of the last tables available. Kia and I ordered chicken and fry tagines, Emmett got a taco and chips, and Maddie ordered a Moroccan salad with chips.

The meals were definitely on the lighter side, but after eating some pretty big meals lately, it actually worked out alright. Sometimes travelling is a lucky dip with food and you never quite know what’s coming out of the kitchen, which is all part of the experience.

After lunch we headed back to rest for a while before the horse ride. Emmett was keen to go bodyboarding, but with everyone a bit tired from the warm night and only a short amount of time before we needed to leave, we decided to save our energy for later.

Around 6 o’clock a taxi arrived to take us back out to the horse stables where we met our guide again. Before long we had four horses saddled up and were heading off through the tracks behind the dunes.

I ended up riding Sultan again. Kia and the kids mounted using a step box while I attempted a standing mount onto Sultan, which probably looked pretty funny considering my flexibility isn’t exactly horse-rider level. Somehow I made it up there though.

We made our way through the rocky tracks behind the beach, weaving through the dunes and dry coastal landscape as the sun slowly started dropping lower in the sky.

At one point the horses got a little excited and there was a brief moment of chaos with a few sudden jumps and spins that definitely got everyone’s adrenaline going. Thankfully everyone held on and settled things down quickly, but it was enough to remind us that horses are incredibly powerful animals and that riding them is always an adventure.

Once everything settled again, we continued down onto the beach and climbed up onto a sand dune near the fishermen’s shacks where our guide set up tea and biscuits while we watched the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.

It really was a beautiful moment.

The light over the beach was incredible and after the excitement earlier in the ride, it was nice to just sit quietly together and take it all in.

Emmett decided he wanted to pour his own tea and quickly discovered just how hot Moroccan teapots can get after being heated directly on the stove. He gave himself a small fright and spilled the tea across the table, but thankfully nobody was hurt and it became one of those little travel moments we’ll laugh about later.

After sunset we walked the horses back to the compound while the evening cooled down around us. Once we arrived back, we desaddled the horses, removed their bridles and packed everything away before saying goodbye for the night.

Our guide had organised a lift back to our accommodation and by the time we arrived home it was already around 9pm. Because we’d had a late lunch and tea and biscuits during the ride, nobody really felt like dinner, so we all showered and headed straight to bed.

Thankfully the night had cooled down properly by then. We left the windows open for a while to let the cool air flow through the room and everyone slept much better.

And just like that, another memorable day in Morocco was done. Intense at times, beautiful at others, and definitely one we won’t forget anytime soon.