Taste of Morocco
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Trip Highlights
- Building new classrooms in a Berber village
- Marrakech’s souks (markets), gardens, museums
- Djeema el Fna - musicians, storytellers & snake charmers
- Trekking in the High Atlas Mountains (April-Nov) or
- Exploring the Sahara Desert (Dec-Mar)
- Charming Essaouira and its beach
Your "Taste of Volunteering" Project
Repairs & Renovations, ad hoc Village Based Projects
Help the Berber people in the non-touristic village of Talamenzou. Three rooms are being constructed at the local school: a library, a computer room, and a reading room. This is also a great opportunity to interact with the children at the school, who will be thrilled to have you helping them!
Trip Summary
Apr-Nov itinerary:
Begin in the imperial city of Marrakesh, and you are met at the airport and transferred to your luxury riad (traditional Moroccan townhouse with an interior garden converted into a boutique hotel). You have a full day to explore with your guide Marrakech’s souks, gardens, museums, and of course the Djeema el Fna, a square that every evening is transformed into an open air market filled with musicians, dancers, storytellers and snake charmers.
After two days you are driven to the High Atlas Mountains for the start of a stunning six hour hike towards the Toubkal Mountain summit, mixing with the Berber people along the way, and sleeping in a bivouac tent.
The next morning is an early start for the spectacular three hour hike to the summit of Toubkal. After savoring the view descend back to your bivouac at Neltner Refuge.
The following day, descend further and make your way toward Sidi Shamharoush, stopping off at the Berber village of Aremd, and have lunch in Imlil. From there you drive to the remote village of Talamenzou, in Guemassa region, south-west of Marrakech, the site of your volunteer project.
You help alongside the local people constructing three new rooms in a school: a library, a computer room, and a reading room.
There will also be opportunity to interact with the children at the school, who are thrilled at the prospect of you coming to help them!
Whilst volunteering you have a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture. Enjoy a homestay or a rustic stay in one of the classrooms converted into sleeping quarters. Have meals with local families – prepare to be delighted by their hospitality! There will be trips to the ‘hamam’ (a steam bath, akin to a wet sauna) in a neighboring village for you to enjoy.
You then have a well-earned rest at the seaside town of Essaouira, where you can tour the old town, or just relax at Essaouira’s beautiful beach. Your accommodation is in a luxury riad in the heart of Essaouira town.
The trip ends back in Marrakech, where you may have time for some last minute shopping in the souks before being transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Dec-Mar Itinerary:
You are met at Marrakech airport and transferred to your luxury riad accommodation. You will have time for a brief visit to the Djeema el Fna, known all over the world for its visual delights. Every afternoon there is a picturesque market: fruits, flowers, herbs, spices surround you with their scent, their color and their abundance. When night falls, it morphs into a street circus with dancers, acrobats and magicians. Your welcome dinner is a great chance to get to know your wonderful guide and start to learn some Arabic!
The next day live and breathe the streets of Marrakech with a full day tour. Marvel at the majestic silhouette of the Koutoubia. Its name is derived from the word for librarian as it used to be surrounded by sellers of manuscripts. Built in the 12th century, during the reign of the Almohad Caliph Yaqub al-Mansur, its Minaret rises to 69m and is the model for the Giralda of Seville.
The palace of the Bahia, erected at the end of the 19th century on the order of Si Moussa, vizier of the sultan for his personal use. Rooms are richly decorated; gardens and patios are especially beautiful.
On the third day depart after breakfast by vehicle toward Zagora. The road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate showcases villages characteristic of the northern High Atlas Mountains. Built from beaten stone, which turn a golden color in the sun.
At an altitude of 2260m you reach the peak of Tizi n-tichka, the "pastures' peak", the highest road pass in Morocco.
Visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and the Kasbah of Taourirt, the old residence of the Glaoui. It was formed from simple houses built on rammed clay and crenelated towers which are decorated with geometric design. After Ouarzazate you continue through the narrow pass of Tifernine and the Tizi Tinifift (1660m), and have a picnic lunch in Ait Saoun.
The road then follows the Dadès river which is dominated by the enormous cliff of the Jbel Kissan. Down stream the confluence of the Dadès river and Imini river form the Drâa, which is lined by a rosary of palm groves producing the famous Boufkousse dates. It’s shores are dotted with Kasbahs and Ksours (walled Berber villages). The Draâ, the longest river in Morocco, was the life blood of this region. Today, its waters disappear into the sand.
The following day en-route to Mhamid you visit the holy hamlet of Tamegroute, surrounded by palm groves. Its impressive fortress is home to a mausoleum paved with ornate mosaics. Visit the district of potteries and open air shops. If the dusty roads have taken their toll and you are in need of pampering why not stop for a henna sitting with a local family?
Continue toward Mhamid and then to magnificent Shegaga dunes. Additional Option: Why not try a quad bike ride or a short camel trek?
Wake up early the next morning to view the magical desert sun rise. Then journey back to Ouarzazate, and Aït Benhaddou in time to explore this UNESCO world heritage site. Partially restored, this magnificent fortress often serves as a film set.
Your stay is at the top of the rocky tray, providing lovely views of the small river Oued Ounila. The next morning you make a short visit to one of the few houses that is still occupied by a family and return to Ouarzazate.
On the 6th day you are transferred to Talamanzou, the site of your volunteer project.
Here you help local professionals to build a library, reading room and an IT room for the school. Your accommodation here is rustic. You can either stay in a classroom in the school, sleeping on a make-shift mattress and blankets, or in a homestay. There are basic toilet and washing facilities. You can also visit a nearby hamam (‘Turkish bath’) to bathe in the evening – quite an experience!
After breakfast on the 9th day you say goodbye to your new friends, and have a well-earned rest at the seaside town of Essaouira, where you can tour the old town, or just relax at Essaouira’s beautiful beach.
After breakfast, transfer back to Marrakech, where sadly, all good things must come to an end, and you will be transferred to the airport for your flights.
For more information please contact us.
If you like this trip, you may also be interested in:
Libya - Desert and Dunes
Libya - Taste of Libya
Morocco - Moroccan Moment
Morocco - Minarets & Mountains
Feel free to contact us if you have any enquiries about this trip.
