Morroco

Just four hours away, Morocco enjoys an exotic culture ideal for a family adventure holiday. Trek through the Atlas mountains and stay in Berber villages, or discover the huge sand dunes of the Sahara and relax in a tented oasis. In Marrakech, plunge into the bustle and bargains of the colourful kasbahs and bazaars.

Our 'big trips' are selected to take our pupils out of the Western world they know & introducing them into different cultures. We select destinations that are appropriate for a large age range of pupils, parents are welcome to join us to.
The intention is that the pupils themselves raise a substantial proportion of the trip costs. Most pupils raise at least 1/2 of the trips fees, some raise the entire amount. This is a lesson in itself. They get so much more out of the experiance if they work towards it & it's not just given to them. To this end we work on a 3 year program which gives them sufficient time to run a series of event, get a part time job maybe, organise & run a series of short lectures, film shoes, hands on workshops to learn more about where they are going.

Outline Expedition date: 2017

App. Cost £1,200



May & Summer Provesional Itinerary
Day 1. Fly to Marrakech; city tour: Depart the UK and arrive in Marrakech. Enjoy a tour of the city on a calesh ride.
Day 2. Biking in the Atlas Mountains: Head out of Marrakech for the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Mountain bike from the village of Azizmiz, following backroads past olive groves and typical Berber villages. Ascend steadily and stop for a picnic lunch with great views of the mountains and the Lala Takerkoust Lake below. Continue by bike through juniper forest to the village of Ouirgane, where your hotel is. Relax or explore your surroundings.
Day 3. Hiking in the Atlas; meet the Berbers: Hike a circular walk around Ouirgane, the olive groves and surrounding villages. Join a Berber family for a traditional lunch and learn about their way of life in the mountains and if time allows, visit the Almohad Tinmal Mosque.
Day 4. Hiking in the foothills of Mt. Toubkal: Transfer to the village of Imlil for the start of the trekking route to Toubkal, along the main trail to the village of Aremd and the shrine of Sidi Chamarouch, where you have magnificent views of the surrounding rocky peaks. Then descend back to Imlil, stopping off in Aremd to take a glass of mint tea in a Berber home.
Day 5. Camel trek to Sidi Mbarek: Drive towards the Atlantic coast along the famous Argan tree forest, stopping at the Berber village of Sidi Kaouki, south of Essaouira for a picnic lunch. From here, start your camel trek to the waterfalls of Sidi Mbarek and on to your overnight camp above the small waterfall to enjoy a night under the stars.
Day 6. Camel trek and then to Essaouira: Continue camel trekking along the beautiful Atlantic Coast and across the fields of the Haha tribe to the tiny fishing village of Iftane. Then it is a short walk to the road head and transfer to Essaouira.
Day 7. Essaouira tour and cookery class: Go on a tour of Essaouira, a former pirates' lair on the balmy Atlantic coast. It's possible to hire a camel, go for a long walk along the beach or even go kite-surfing. Then go to a restaurant/riad to learn the secrets of Moroccan cuisine in a cookery class and afterwards enjoy your delicious meal.
Day 8. Return to Marrakech; free afternoon: Transfer to Marrakech, stopping off at the Argan Oil Corporation where you can learn about the process of manufacturing the pure argan oil. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Marrakech - enjoy wandering around the souks and market place.
Day 9. Depart Marrakech; fly to the UK: Depart your hotel for Marrakech Airport and fly back to the UK.

Last Updated: Thursday, 14-Jan-2016