Program Itinerary
US to Morocco
June 16
Depart JFK to Casablanca
Casablanca
June 17
Morning Arrival Casablanca
Shared Accommodations in Casablanca hotel
Instruction/Cultural Touring/Activities
o Transfer from Casa airport to hotel
o Tour of Hassan II Mosque
o Lunch/Siesta
o Tour of Jewish Museum
o Dinner
Casablanca to Fes
June 18
Morning
o Breakfast Discussion with al-Akhawayn University Graduate: “A Young Professional Woman’s Perspective on Morocco ” - tentative
o Late Morning Departure to Fes by Train (approx. 3 hours)
Shared Accommodations in Fes hotel
Daily Instruction/Cultural Touring/Activities
o Home-stay orientation at hotel
o Afternoon guided medina tour #1
o Group Welcome Dinner in medina
Fes
June 19-23
Home-stays
• English-speaking home-stays for non-French, non-Arabic students
• French-speaking home-stays for French students
Shared Home-Stay Accommodations in Fes medina
o To be arranged by SACAL Fez (www.sacal-fez.com), Global LAB partner
Daily Instruction/Cultural Touring/Activities
*All instruction/lectures will take place in “the new city” (Ville Nouvelle) unless otherwise noted; group will meet each morning at Bab Racif in “the old city” (medina) and be transported by minibus to the Ville Nouvelle
June 19
o Morning: French language instruction
o Late Morning: Group darija (Moroccan Arabic) language instruction
o Afternoon guided tour of medina #2
o Afternoon Discussion: “Cultural Heritage Preservation: Fes medina case study”
o Evening home-stay placements, dinner
June 20
o Breakfast with home-stay families
o Morning: French and darija language instruction
o Lunch with home-stay families
o Afternoon: Commence medina restoration work
o Afternoon Tea Discussion: “Introduction to Islam, Sufism and ’Moroccan Islam’”
o Evening: Return to respective home-stays for cultural immersion, dinner
June 21
o Breakfast with home-stay families
o Morning: French and darija language Instruction
o Lunch with home-stay families
o Afternoon: Continue medina restoration work
o Afternoon/Evening: Return to respective home-stays for cultural immersion, dinner
June 22
o Breakfast with home-stay families
o Morning: French and darija language Instruction
o Lunch with Dr. Fatima Amrani: “Gender Roles in Contemporary Moroccan Society”
o Afternoon: Zellij and Tadelakt Artisan Workshops
o Afternoon/Evening: Return to respective home-stays for cultural immersion, dinner
June 23
o Breakfast with home-stay families
o Day Trip to Roman Ruins of Volubilis / Holy village of Moulay Idriss
o Late afternoon Henna party, live Andalusian Musical performance
o Farewell dinner with home-stay families
Fes to Marrakech
June 24
o Late morning train to Marrakech, arrive evening
Shared Accommodations in Marrakech medina riad (traditional courtyard home)
Daily Instruction/Cultural Touring in conjuction with Academy Arabesa, Global LAB partner
o Minibus transfer from Marrakech train station to riad
o Check in, settle in
o Traditional Friday couscous dinner at riad
o Guided tour of Djemaa el Fna by night
Marrakech
June 25-26
June 25
o Breakfast at riad
o “Sahara—Berber culture” lecture by Mohamed Soudani
o Guided Marrakech medina walking tour #1
o Lunch in medina
o Continue medina tour
o Traditional dinner buffet at hotel near Djemma el Fna
June 26
o Breakfast at riad
o Guided Marrakech medina walking tour #2
o The Art of “Storytelling” in Morocco: Stories as told in the Djemaa el Fna
o Afternoon free time/journaling/siesta
o riad farewell dinner + observance of a Sufi dhikr ritual
June 27
o Breakfast at riad
o Morning tour of Jardin Majorelle
o Continue to Imlil / The High Atlas Mountains
The High Atlas Mountains
June 27 – July 1
Shared Accommodations in the Ourika Valley (June 27)
Village school
Shared Berber Home-stays in the Ourika Valley, (June 28-June 30)
4-5 participants per home-stay family
Daily Instruction/Cultural Touring/Service Activities
– in coordination with Global Diversity Foundation, a Global LAB partner
June 27
o Mid-afternoon: Arrive at village school, acclimate
o Evening Ourika valley walk, orientation
o Group Dinner + discussion on local rural development challenges
June 28
o Breakfast
o Intro to Berber phrases, greetings
o Morning Olive Tree Plantings with the goal of developing sustainable gardens
o Afternoon half-day Hike in the region to appreciate High Atlas geography
o Evening transfer to nearby village
o Group dinners and overnight at Berber home-stays
June 29
o Breakfast at home-stays
o Transfer to school
o Intro to Berber phrases, greetings
o All day community service
Olive Tree Planting continuation, if necessary
Development of an irrigation system for the gardens
o Evening Roundtable with students and/or villagers (tentative)
o Return to home-stays for dinner and overnight
June 30
o Breakfast at home-stays
o Transfer to school
o All day community service
o Evening Berber musical performance
o Final dinner and overnight at Berber home-stays
July 1
o Farewell breakfasts with home-stay families
o Transfer to Essaouira (approx. 6 hr drive)
The High Atlas to Essaouira
July 1 – July 2
Shared Accommodations in Essaouira medina
Daily Instruction/Cultural Touring/Activities
July 1
o Visit Argan Oil co-op en route to Essaouira
o Afternoon arrival in Essaouira, hotel check-in
o Afternoon/Evening informal group tour of Essaouira’s medina (old city)
Shop, practice French & darija in the souqs
Seek impromptu Gnaoua musical in the wake of World Gnaoua Music Festival…
Codify, discuss initial impressions of Morocco
o Sunset Dinner at famous oceanfront fish stands
July 2
o Breakfast at hotel
o Morning Beach camel ride
o Independent Afternoon in Essaouira
Opportunity to Focus on Photography, Journals, Audio Capture for Blog
Kiteboarding, windsurfing, surfing lessons (a la carte)
Visit to a hammam – a traditional, public, segregated bath house (a la carte)
o Dinner
July 3
o Breakfast at hotel
o Return to Marrakech
Marrakech
July 3
Shared Accommodations in Marrakech riad
Daily Instruction/Cultural Touring/Activities
o Arrive Marrakech in late afternoon/early evening
o Check-in riad
o Afternoon tea/biscuits
o Free time/pack for return
o Adieu Maroc Dinner at riad
o Berber dancing lessons - tentative
Marrakech to US
July 4
o Early Morning flight to Casa, transfer, then mid-morning flight to US