Morocco

Flight to Casablanca

As soon as you land in Casablanca, you will head to Marrakech aboard your coach. Take a moment to settle into your room and relax before setting off in the late afternoon to explore Marrakech. In the company of a tour guide, students will get to know this important city of Morocco. Its mosques, palaces, souks and Jemaa El-Fna Square will amaze them! Overnight at hotel in Marrakech. Meals included: lunch and dinner.

This morning, discover the main points of interest in Marrakech, the capital of the South. See among others the Koutoubia Mosque, “Mosque of the booksellers”, which is the most important in Marrakech. You will also see the Bahia Palace, the Menara Garden and the Saadian Tombs. At the start of the afternoon, take the road to Ouarzazate. Throughout the journey through the mountains, you will see the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2260m), the typical villages of the region and their low houses with their “granary fortresses” which dominate them. Overnight at the hotel in Ouarzazate. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

On board your coach, head to Zagora along the Drâa Valley, an almost uninterrupted 200 km oasis. Throughout the route, you can see many fortified villages called ksour. Once you arrive in Zagora, the last big city before the desert, enjoy a good lunch at a restaurant before exploring the surrounding area. First, visit Tamegroute, a small town made up of several ksours, linked to each other. This village is famous for its pottery, a major craft activity in the Drâa valley, as well as for the famous library of its Koranic school. Then head to the Dunes of Tinfou to give you a glimpse of life in the desert. The return to Zagora is at the end of the afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Zagora. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After having had your breakfast and packed your luggage, take the road towards Erfoud. You will cross many villages with typical houses. You will see mosques and scenes of everyday life while having the view of desert landscapes dotted with oases. Once in Erfoud, settle into your hotel and feast on a good dinner (it is possible, for an additional charge, to spend the night in a bivouac in Erg Chebbi). Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This morning, set off towards Tinghir, a charming town known for its magnificent palm grove. On the road to Tinghir you will follow the Ziz valley, a river that feeds the oases in this region where water is scarce. Surrounded by arid landscapes, the valley allows the cultivation of palm trees, fruit trees and cereals. Once in Tinghir, visit the palm grove and then take a trip to the Todra Gorge. It’s a true climbing paradise! The enormous cliffs of the Todra Gorge, some of which are over 300 meters high, are sure to impress students. At the beginning of the afternoon, continue your journey towards Ouarzazate. As you go along the Dades Valley, one of the most beautiful and impressive in southern Morocco, you can admire the kasbahs, the oases, the city of roses: El Kelaa des M’Gouna, as well as Skoura. Night in a hotel in Ouarzazate. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

After breakfast and the preparation of your luggage, go to the Kasbah of Taourirt. Symbol of the city and built in the 17th century, the kasbah is one of the finest examples of Berber architecture in Ouarzazate. After visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site, depart for Marrakech. Stop en route at the Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a famous fortified village that was the location of many films such as Gladiator and Prince of Persia. Discover this magnificent site by walking around it. After lunch, head back to Marrakech where a folklore dinner-show will end your day. Night in a hotel in Marrakech. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The few hours spent in Marrakech at the start of the trip did not allow the students to grasp the full extent of this city. Your morning is therefore devoted to visiting this ancient imperial city. Your visit will begin with a tour of the ramparts and will continue to the famous Djemaa El Fna square, the heart of the Medina, where a huge market comes alive every day. Access the souks, looking like labyrinths, where you will be completely disoriented: bargaining, compact crowd, sounds, colors and smells, will make students live an extraordinary experience. Take the road to Essaouria in the afternoon. Night in a hotel in Essaouria. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Your student trip to Morocco is already drawing to a close, enjoy a day of relaxation and discovery by the sea, in a magnificent port city: Essaouira. With its inviting beach, its ramparts, its medina and its fishing port, Essaouira will allow you to end your stay in Morocco in style. Uncover its secrets in the company of your guide and then enjoy some free time, either to walk on the beach or to practice your negotiating skills in the stalls of the many merchants. Re-board your coach at the end of the afternoon for your journey to Casablanca. Night in a hotel in Casablanca. Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Return flight to your original destination from Casablanca. If the flight schedule allows it, you will be entitled to an orientation tour of the economic capital of the country: United Nations Square, where the main administrative buildings are located; Boulevard Mohamed V, a major shopping street; the Anfa district, an elegant residential district; the corniche and the famous Hassan II large mosque (outside visit). Meals included: breakfast (to be confirmed according to your flight schedule).