Morocco: Language Exchange and Magical Exploration
9 days/8 nights
At a crossroads of the African and European continents, the Kingdom of Morocco has been a meeting point for cultures and civilization for centuries.
The country has some of the most colorful bazaars, delicious food, sweeping deserts and ancient cities. Locals welcome travelers with a warm hospitality and always the time to share a hot, sweet mint tea together.
Morocco may have a lower GDP than its European cousins but it is rich in history, tradition, culture and joie de vivre. Very rarely will you experience a welcome as royal and incredible as from the Kingdom of Maghreb.
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival in Casablanca. You will be greeted at Casablanca airport by your tour manager and taken to Rabat to meet your host family.
Once you have settled in, you will have an orientation with the group to explain everything you need to know about your upcoming experience.
Welcome dinner and overnight with host family.
Overnight: Salé
Day 2 : Project (Scavenger hunt) & Surfing
Everyday you will have breakfast together with the family and learn the customs of a typical Moroccan home.
Most Moroccan breakfasts are abundant and filling, served with typical mint tea ‘atay’ or coffee. You will hear street vendors in the morning selling fresh mint from the fields in their carts.
On your first day, you will be taken to the center where you will be spending the next few days. Orientation will be completed with a scavenger hunt throughout the neighborhood. With the help of your local tour manager and teachers, uncover local secrets while engaging with local vendors, kids and adults in a coordinated and fun way. You might even learn some French or Arabic at the same time!
Transfer to lunch and an afternoon of surfing.
Surfing may not be the first thing you identify Morocco with but Rabat has an ancient tradition of surf. Whether novice or experienced, Rabat is a great place to get in the water. Suit up and go with an international surfing champ to lead you. Lifeguards and coaches included.
Dinner and overnight with host family.
Overnight: Salé
Day 3: Project Teaching English & Kayaking
Morning working at the center teaching English.
This afternoon you will enjoy the blue waters between Salé and Rabat, exploring the calm of the Bou Regreg River via kayak. Groups are guided with a local expert and two people per kayak.
Dinner and overnight with host family.
Overnight: Salé
Day 4: Project & Soccer, Rabat
Morning working at the center teaching English.
After the various groups in the morning, the children will all get together to play a friendly (competitive) match on the pitch of the local school yard. Get to know your local children with a mixed soccer match (mixed teams for more linguistic interaction).
End of work service dinner in a special restaurant with the entire group in Rabat. Pack up and get ready for departure tomorrow.
Dinner and overnight with host family.
Overnight: Salé
Day 5: Marrakesh
Morning departure on the train from Rabat to Marrakesh. Upon arrival in Marrakesh our local team will have a coach bring you to the riad. A riad, which means garden in Arabic, is a traditional Moroccan courtyard that usually features a fountain and palm or banana trees, with no roof. It is a tranquil oasis in the heart of the colorful Medina.
Relax in the hotel and use your afternoon free time to explore the cacophony of Marrakesh. Located near Le Jardin Secret and the Jardin Majorelle, a short walk to the Medina center, guests will enjoy a walking tour of Marrakesh. Walk to the bustling Jemaa El-Fnaa square ‘live theatre’ to wander the stalls of iconic spices and camel skin babouche slippers.
Dinner on rooftop in Medina and overnight in riad
Day 6: Desert adventure
Enjoy a traditional Moroccan breakfast buffet in the open-air dining area of the riad before walking to a market to meet your culinary guide and shop for a cooking class.
Amal Center is the perfect setting for hands-on cookery classes. Located in the lush Targa center, the cooking class is a fun and relaxing experience. You will make your own Moroccan dish with our chefs, whilst learning about Amal, Moroccan cuisine and culture. The class includes a traditional tea ceremony, picking herbs from the garden, learning about different spices and making your own dish from scratch. And of course, it ends with you enjoying the most delicious food you will have during your time here! With full bellies and hearts, depart for the desert where your chariots await.
Not many people have heard of Agafay. It’s about 45 minutes from Marrakesh and is a quiet relaxing abode after the noise of the city.
For centuries, the Arabs traveled the Sahara with their caravans. From North to South, East to West, M’Hamid to Taoudenni and to Tumbuktu, carrying salt, Bazin or incense, but also culture and ideas.
Upon arrival, get settled into your nomad tent, enjoy tea, and take a camel ride to appreciate the magnificent sunset colors. Camels in Morocco are dromedaries and always have a single hump, as opposed to the Bactrian camels with two humps. Contrary to popular belief, they do not store water in their humps but fats from food. They are able to live in an extreme climate and carry people and baggage, even if the desert wind blows. They are exceptional travelers and provide milk to nomad berbers who live in the desert. The original desert transportation, our handlers will show you the way to properly handle these curious creatures. The fascinating experience of riding a camel in the dunes of Morocco is that they do all the work, all you have to do is let yourself go with their movement.
Enjoy dinner and more mint tea, a campfire and an evening of music.
Overnight in desert tent
Day 7: Desert to Marrakesh
Enjoy a last dip in the pool or a trek around the hills before returning to Marrakesh.
Check into your riad and enjoy the afternoon to explore the souks and other sights of the city with your tour manager and local guide.
Dinner and overnight at the riad
Day 8: Marrakesh to Casablanca
The last morning in Marrakesh and departure for Casablanca via Al Atlas train.
Being the economic and commercial heart of the country, Casablanca is Morocco’s biggest city, with a population over 3.7 million. Contrasting to the serene and timeless desert, this modern face of Morocco so often gets passed over by travelers but some of the best food and fun are in this busy city.
At Casablanca train station, a coach will pick you up and take you to Hassan II Mosque. This is one of the most important architectural delights in the world, with over half of the building built above water.
Jutting out onto the Atlantic, the opulent Hassan II Mosque is the main, and for many the only, reason tourists come to Casablanca. It’s the third largest mosque in the world and perhaps the most impressive building in Morocco for modern times. Indeed it was built at enormous expense over six years and completed in 1993. Plus, it’s one of only two mosques in Morocco that are open to non-Muslims.
After the tour, enjoy some lunch on top of the hotel in the city.
Take a relaxed afternoon to stroll the Villa Des Arts - art deco from 1930s - or to visit the Parc de la Ligue Arabe.
The mall is the second largest in Africa and there’s plenty to do inside. Enjoy the unique 360-degree view cylindrical aquarium whilst taking an elevator to the top.
Also in the mall is Adventureland, an interactive venue with over 100 activities and games including a climbing wall and three levels of playgrounds, ice-skating and a musical fountain show.
For a more Moroccan experience, Casablanca’s medina is perhaps the least touristy medina in all of Morocco’s larger towns and cities.
For our last evening, we will enjoy a celebratory evening of dinner and a show. Taste special couscous or Rafissa (chicken) or Tajine with fries. Casablanca is also famous for honey pastries with gold foil and a special musical delight to close this fantastic adventure.
Overnight in riad.
Day 9: Departure
Check out and take a private coach to Casablanca airport
Asalama! It’s been a marvelous journey and we hope to welcome you again!
total cost: $3900
what is included
Activities:
Activities
Camel ride
Cooking class
Visit to Hassan II Mosque
Accommodation and services
A 24/7 tour manager accompanying you throughout the trip
Private transportation throughout the trip (except train journey which is not private but reserved seating)
Project accommodation in a family host home
All meals in family host home during project in Sale/Rabat
Post-project accommodation in luxury tents and Riad
All meals included
Medical insurance up to $50,000 and baggage insurance
Our tours are crafted in alignment with top tier sustainability measures with the UN Sustainability Development Goals in mind.
Tickets and Tours:
Projects:
English conversation with Moroccan children
Participating in sports development Rabat
Not included in this trip:
International Flights (we can arrange these for you)
Visas where applicable
Cancellation insurance (Medical insurance up to $50,000 and baggage insurance are included)