Jun 28 - Jul 12, 2026 |
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From the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains to the sweeping sands of the Sahara, Morocco reveals itself as a land of crossroads—where Africa, Europe, and the Middle East converge. On this journey, students uncover new perspectives on contemporary Morocco while tracing its living connections across continents. Along the way, we engage in conversations on human rights, colonial legacies, and diverse religious traditions—all while strengthening language skills, building leadership, and gaining the confidence to travel with purpose.
Practice Moroccan Arabic through interactive classes, daily interactions with locals, and immersive homestays with welcoming families
Hike through the Atlas Mountains and Saharan sand dunes while learning valuable hiking, leadership, and outdoor skills
Apprentice with artisans in weaving, shoemaking, painting, and other traditional art forms
Experience millennia of Roman, Moorish, and North African influences through food, art, and archeology in rural and urban settings
Our travels begin in Casablanca before winding along ancient trade routes into the heart of Morocco, where culture, geography, and history converge. From the bustling streets of imperial cities to quiet mountain towns, you’ll step into experiences that few travelers encounter. In the Middle Atlas Mountains, you settle into a small town for orientation: learning Arabic, exploring cultural norms, setting intentions, and beginning your study of Islamic traditions. Rolling hills, cedar forests, and local experts provide the backdrop for your first lessons in language, community, and Moroccan life.
Next, you travel to the Berber town of Azrou—“Great Rock”—for a semi-urban homestay. Here, homestay families welcome you as kin, sweet mint tea cups never empty, and you engage daily with Moroccan youth, hike surrounding mountains, and develop your Independent Study Projects.
In the imperial cities of Fes and Marrakesh, the medinas’ labyrinthine streets, spice-scented markets, and centuries-old tanneries immerse you in the sensory pulse of Moroccan life. Finally, you trek through the High Atlas Mountains, encountering remote villages and nomadic communities, witnessing sandstone canyons and alpine plateaus, and reflecting on Morocco’s enduring traditions, faith, and resilience. This program blends language, culture, and adventure, leaving you with skills, stories, and connections that last a lifetime.
After traversing the Atlantic Ocean, we arrive in Casablanca and then travel by multiple modes of transportation to a small town, tucked away in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Here, at our orientation site, we begin Arabic language study, receive an introduction to Moroccan cultural norms, get to know each-other, and set our intentions for the course. In addition, we begin an exploration of the Islamic traditions of Morocco and explore the rolling hills of the Middle Atlas.
Following our course orientation, we travel by taxi to the quaint Berber (Amazigh) town of Azrou (which translates as “Great Rock”). In Azrou, surrounded by the rare cedar forest which dominate the mountains, we prepare for our semi-urban homestay with language and cultural etiquette lessons. We meet our homestays families and get ready for a multi-day cultural experience in Moroccan homes. In Azrou, we discover urban life and family dynamics. We come together as a group each day to learn Arabic including the alphabet, greetings and introductions, shopping and transportation phrases, as well as useful expressions to begin navigating daily routines independently. We hear from local experts, spend time with local Moroccan youth, hike in the surrounding mountains, and develop a plan for our Independent Study Projects.
We wrap-up our time in the Middle Atlas, by travelling to the city of Fez to see the religious sites and massive medina of this world-renowned city. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fez teems with superlatives. Not only is its medieval medina the largest car-free urban area in the world, but it’s also home to the oldest existing, continually operating educational institution on the planet. We explore the medina (old city), wending our way along the labyrinthine passageways to experience the diversity of the souqs (markets). We visit centuries-old tanneries, walk among crumbling ruins, and practice our bargaining skills.
We make our way to the largest chain of mountains in North Africa as we hike through an area almost untouched by tourists in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains. As we trek we encounter some of the most remote villages in Morocco as well as communities of nomads who tend their flocks in these canyons during the summer. We experience the raw beauty of sandstone plateaus and canyons during our morning hikes and continue to learn more about Morocco and its people during our afternoon lessons. Our final days together are dedicated to reflecting on our journey, celebrating our experiences, and considering the knowledge and perspectives we’ve gained.
Our Program Components are the building blocks of every travel experience we offer. Each program emphasizes different activities and themes to help you meaningfully connect with your surroundings. The Program Components are a great way to find an experience that best fits your individual interests and goals.
Experienced educators. Community builders. Life mentors. With deep regional expertise and local language fluency, our instructors are skilled at providing context for the student experience and building cultural bridges. We collectively draw upon personal networks to create opportunities for connection and guide students along their journey.
