Educational Morocco Tour
Hosting you is a delight
Centuries of living mere miles from Europe and the Iberian Peninsula impressed upon the indigenous Berber people of northern Africa the imprint of a long parade of invaders, settlers and colonists. The result is today’s Morocco, a modern nation where a blend of Arabic, Berber and European heritage infuses every souk, square, medina and oasis.Morocco is a country of enormous geographical contrasts. From its Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, plains sweep inland to the foot of the forested Middle Atlas Mountains. Beyond, rise the High Atlas mountains with peaks over 4000m, before the long, dry, stony descent to the great emptiness of the Sahara. It is a country which embraces rich agricultural land, the oasis valleys in the south with their millions of palm trees, and barren mountains and desert.
Educational Morocco Tour has an academic, experiential, cultural and recreational objectives.Over the years our reputation for offering exceptional school travel experiences has grown and the majority of our work is with schools, colleges and universities, organising study tours around Morocco.
- Day 1 : Rabat arrival
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Pick up on the airport of Rabat., B&B accommodation in Rabat Cantor Hotel Terminus. Presentation of the tour program.
- Day 2 : Islam, Rabat's History, and Cultural Diversity
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Rabat B, L,D Cantor Hotel Terminus
Activity note: All the lectures are going to be in a conference room with air-conditioning, the lectures last for about 1:30 with a break of 20 minutes coffee break. The tour of Rabat I is going to be on the bus the whole time.
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Bus Tour: Daily Life in Rabat Lecture: Moroccan Politics
Lunch: Lunch at the Center
Afternoon: Lecture: the Veil in Islam and women issues The Veil in Islam has always been intriguing to both Muslims and non-Muslims. One finds a wide diversity in the definitions of the veil and its religious and social significance. This lecture aims at helping us understand this diversity and provides the social, historical and religious contexts of the veil in Islam. Lecture: Moroccan Costumes This session's objective is to clarify the different head covering and dresses that women wear in different regions of Morocco, depending on the tribes they belong to, depending on their interpretation of the religion, and depending on the situation they are in.Costumes of Morocco will be presented in this session in a fashion show format. Samples of Moroccan costumes, for both men and women, representing different regions, will be displayed. These costumes include the traditional outdoor dress in both rural and urban areas, as well as the fancy outfits worn on special occasions.
Dinner: Dinner at the Center
Evening: Musical Performance: Traditional Moroccan Music
- Day 3 : Landmarks, Moroccan Politics, and Music
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Rabat B,L,D Cantor Hotel Terminus
Activity note: All the lectures are going to be in a conference room with air-conditioning, the lectures last for about 1:30 with a break of 20 minutes coffee break.
Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hotel
Morning: Visit Chellah, Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Gardens
Lunch: Lunch with the group
Afternoon: Lecture: Arab spring and Social Movements in Morocco Experiential Session: Hands-on sessions in traditional Moroccan cooking. At the time of micro-waves, frozen food, and processed food, at the time also of working women and tight daily schedule, Moroccan families or more exactly Moroccan women, still spend a lot of time in preparing their meals. Making Couscous is time consuming and the process is so complicated that the woman's skill is evaluated with how delicious her couscous is! In this experiential session, the process of preparing couscous will be demonstrated and explained. The different recipes of couscous will also be uncovered to show the variety and the different uses of spices, meat, vegetables, and sauces, the combination of sweet and salty, the social importance and the symbolism of couscous in Moroccan culture
Dinner: Dinner wth the group
Evening: Musical Performance: Andalusian Music Musical performance prepared for this with readings of Arabic poetry reflecting the Andalusian heritage in Morocco
- Day 4: Arts in the North and Daily life in the Rif Mountains
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Chefchaouen B,L,D Riad Darechchaouen
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Departure to Chefchaouen Via Assila Field trip: The Murals of Asilah
Lunch: Lunch with the group
Afternoon: Continue the drive to Chefchouen Lecture entitled “Issues and Opportunities in Northern Morocco” that will cover Drug Plantation and Business, and Illegal Migration.
Dinner: Dinner with group
- Day 5 : Chefchaouen: the Blue Pearl City From 1471
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Chefchaouen B,L Riad Darechchaouen
Activity note: The city of Chefchaouen is located on hills. The field trip through the town is 3 hours with 20 min stops at the different sites. Participants can be transferred back to the hotel at any point during the field trip if desired.
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Guided visit of the Medina Explore the town of Chefchaouen which is famous for its blue-rinsed houses and buildings, a tradition that comes from the town's former Jewish population. It offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular here
Lunch: Lunch at the Local restaurant in Chefchaouen
Afternoon: Group discussion
Dinner: Dinner on your own
- Day 6: Sufism in Morocco
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Fes B,L,D Hotel Merinides
Activity note: The drives between each of the cities are 1.5 hours in duration with a rest stop between each city. In Ouezzane, choose between walking on an uneven terrain or getting a ride to the private home where lunch will take place.
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Bus leaves Chefchaouen for Fes via Ouazzane En route to Fez, stop in Ouezzane. A town north of Fez, Ouezzane is considered a holy city by Morocco's Jewish population, and is a popular destination for those wishing to venerate the tombs of several Moroccan saints known in Berber Marabouts. Take a field trip to a typical rural weekly market and an excursion to The Mosque of Moulay Abdellah Cherif. Bus Lecture: Health care system in Morocco
Lunch: Lunch with the group in a private house in Ouazzane
Afternoon: Lecture: Sufism in Islam Religion in Morocco is a combination of both Knowledge and Popular Culture. Knowledge is based on the written texts and belief in popular culture is a more concrete entity that is expressed through rituals and practices that are sometimes unique to Morocco. Our visits to the sanctuary towns such as Chefchaouen, Ouezzane, Mouley Idriss and Fes will highlight the idea of spirituality, Sufism, Moroccan mysticism and sainthood, and the concept of Maraboutism in Morocco. Resume the trip to Fes Field Trip: Farming and Agriculture Check in at the Hotel
Dinner: Dinner at the hotel
- Day 7: Fes, 12 Centuries of Urban Life
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Fes B,L Hotel Merinides
Activity note: The field trip through Fes is 5.5 hours in duration including several stops and lunch in between. Participants can be transferred back to the hotel at any point during the field trip if desired.
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Guided Visit: Daily Life in the Old Medina of Fes Local guides of the city of Fes will accompany the group through the narrow streets and alleys of Fes. Our senses will be challenged through the smells, sights and the sounds of the oldest Islamic city. Fes displays its beauty to the visitors through its Arab and Islamic architecture. We will explore different monuments such as the Medersa, the Foundouq museum, the tanneries and will walk by the mausoleum where the founder of the first Islamic dynasty is buried as well as the Qaraouyine Mosque built by a woman in the 9th century
Lunch: Lunch in the heart of the medina in a local Moroccan restaurant.
Afternoon: Resume the tour of Fes Coach back to the hotel followed by free time.
Dinner: Dinner on your own
- Day 8 : Roman Heritage of Morocco
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Fes B,L Hotel Merinides
Activity note: The visit to Volibulis is two hours in length. The bus will be parked within a 15 minute walking distance from the site and participants can return to it at any time
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Bus leaves for Volubulis Bus lecture: Educational System in Morocco Guided Visit: The Roman Ruins of Volubilis where you will have time to visit these Roman Ruins. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Volubilis features the best preserved Roman Ruins in North Africa. Archaeological evidence suggests initial settlement occurring in 40 AD upon a pre-existing Carthaginian site dating back to 3rd century BC. Eventually, Volubilis emerged as the administrative center in Roman Africa until an earthquake compelled its residents to abandon the city in the late 4th century AD. Since 2000, archaeological excavations have been carried out by the University College, London and the Moroccan Institut National des Sciences de l'Archeogie et du Patrimoine.
Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant in Moulay Idriss.
Afternoon: Guided Visit: Moulay Ismail Mosque, the Granary and Mansour Gate Coach back to Fes
Dinner: Dinner on your own
- Day 9 : Middle Atlas Mountains and Sahara Lifestyle
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Erfoud B,L,D Chergui Kasbah Hotel
Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel
Morning: Bus leaves to Erfoud via Errachidia Bus Lecture: Amazighi Issues
Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant - Midelt
Afternoon: Resume trip Erfoud Bus Lecture: Nomads and semi-Nomads Check in Hotel Chergui Orientation to the Desert Experience
Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel
- Day 10 : Nomads of the Sahara
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Merzouga B,L,D Nomadic Tents
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Bus leaves for Rissani Field Trip: The souk of Rissani, Field Trip: Ksour of Tafilalt, the medieval city and the largest Saharan oasis of Morocco.The oasis comprises the fortified villages of Erfoud, Arab Sebbah du Ziz, Rissani, Seffalat, Aoufous, and Jorf, together with palm groves stretching 30 miles (50 km) along the Wadi Ziz. Tafilalt is noted for its dates, most of which it exports. Architecture in the Desert Lecture: The Nomads of Morocco
Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant- Rissani
Afternoon: Board 4-wheel drive vehicles for excursion to the dunes of Merzouga This afternoon board 4-wheel-drive vehicles for an excursion to the dunes of Merzouga. Then, visit an NGO in the desert village of Hassi Labied and meet its members; children & women benefiting from literacy classes and more. Also learn about irrigation systems in the desert. Take a camel ride to the top of the dunes to enjoy the sunset.
Dinner: Dinner in the tent camp
Evening: Musical Performance; Gnawa of Khamlia. Watch a performance of Sub-Saharan Moroccan music and dance called Gnawa of Khamlia. Gnawa or Gnaoua refers to both a style of music that fuses classical Islamic Sufism with Pre-Islamic traditions, and an ethnic group/religious order partly descended from former slaves. Characterized by deep low toned sinter melodies, call and response singing, hand clapping and cymbals, Gnawa music strives to evoke a deep hypnotic trance, often aimed at frightening off evil spirits.
- Day 11 : Architecture and Human Rights Issues in Morocco
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Ouarzazate B,L,D HOTEL IBIS MOUSSAFIR OUARZAZATE
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Take Jeeps to Erfoud Bus leaves to Ouarzazate via Tinjdad and Tinghir Field trip: Oasis and Palm Trees
Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant - Todgha Gorges
Afternoon: Bus lecture: Human rights violations and Truth and Reconciliation process in Morocco History of Human rights in Morocco Resume trip to Ouarzazate Continue to Ouarzazate, on the bus learn about the western Sahara. Then, drive through the Road of 1000 Kasbahs and stop at Kalaa M'Gouna (The Roses Valley). Upon arrival in Ouarzazate, check into the hotel. Check in at the Hotel
Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel
- Day 12 : Berber life in The High Atlas Mountains
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Marrakech B,L,D Atlas Médina & Spa
Activity note: The drive to Marrakech will cross the high Atlas Mountains in which part of this drive will be at an elevation of 7,200 ft.
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Guided Visit to Kasbah Glaoui Take an excursion to the Kasbah Glaoui , Palace of the last ruling family of southern Morocco, led by a native guide. Then depart for Marrakech Bus Lecture: Sahara Issues Resume trip to Marrakech
Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant in the highest pass in Morocco.
Afternoon: Resume trip to Marrakech
Dinner: Dinner at the hotel
- Day 13 : Marrakech: Authenticity and Modernity
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Marrakech B Atlas Médina & Spa
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Orientation field trip through Marrakech. Known as the Red City and an important former imperial city, it lies at the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. Marrakech has the largest traditional market in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers, and musicians. By night food stalls open in the square turning it into a huge busy open-air restaurant. Guided Visit of Marrakech, Koutoubia Mosque, El-Bahia palace and Ben-Youssef Mederssa
Lunch: Lunch on your own
Afternoon: Free time in Jamaa Lafna, the Open Outdoor Theatre
Dinner: Dinner on your own
- Day 14 : A day with Berber Women of the high Atlas Mountains
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Marrakech B,L,D Atlas Médina & Spa
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Departure to a high Atlas village
Lunch: Lunch and open group discussion with the villagers
Afternoon: Tea ceremony Optional walk in the village Departure for Marrakech
Dinner: Dinner with the group.
- Day 15 : Casablanca Between Myths and Reality
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Casablanca B,L,D Ibis Casablanca City Center
Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Bus leaves for Casablanca Check in at the Hotel
Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant- Casablanca
Afternoon: Guided visit of Casablanca (Hassan II Mosque) Questions and Answers Program Wrap-up session
Dinner: Farewell dinner
- Day 16 : Program Concludes
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Casablanca B
Breakfast: Early breakfast
Morning: Depart for Mohamed V airport
