Morocco: Moroccan Wanderer with Rustic Pathways

Name: Morocco: Moroccan Wanderer with Rustic Pathways
Brand: Rustic Pathways
SKU: 31111
Rating: 4.93 (27 reviews)

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4.93 Rating

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Location

Morocco

Length

1 - 4 weeks

Program Categories

Adventure Travel Cultural Immersion Service Learning Volunteer Abroad

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Program Type

Direct Enrollment

Timeframe

Summer

Housing

Hotel Lodge Tent

Language

Arabic

Age Min.

Age Max

Pricing

Starting Price

6495

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Meals Transportation

What's Not Included

Airfare

Last Updated: Nov 06, 2024

Last Reviewed: Nov 02, 2019

Wish List

18 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Rustic Pathways’ programs in Morocco encompass the breadth of this gorgeous country with visits to jaw-dropping sights such as the Cascades d’Ouzoud waterfall and Hassan II Mosque. Traveling to the indigenous Amazigh villages of the Atlas Mountains will expose photography students learn to rich cultural traditions and service students work on community-based projects focused on education, agriculture, and cultural preservation.

Iconic images of camels trekking across the desert fall far short of capturing what Morocco is really like. From the red sands of the Sahara to the crashing waves of the coast and the fragrant spice stands of Jamaâ El-Fna market in Marrakech, Morocco is a country you have to see firsthand to truly understand.

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Program Highlights

Discover the vibrant culture of Morocco as you wander through Marrakech, Casablanca, and Fez, experiencing bustling markets, historic architecture, and local traditions.
Embark on a guided trek through the stunning Atlas Mountains, visiting remote villages and taking in breathtaking landscapes.
Spend a night under the stars in the Sahara Desert, enjoying traditional Berber hospitality and camel rides across the dunes.
Contribute to meaningful projects, working alongside local communities to make a positive impact.
Delight in the rich flavors of Moroccan cuisine, learning to prepare dishes like tagine and exploring the spice markets that define Morocco’s culinary culture.

Popular Programs

Moroccan Wanderer

Spend two weeks in a life-changing experience traversing this unique and incredible country. Volunteer at a village in the high Atlas Mountains. Head to the Sahara Desert, where you’ll ride a camel and take in the beauty of the sand dunes. Visit the largest mosque in Africa in Casablanca, surf or relax on the beach in the coastal town of Essaouira, and admire the colorful goods and exotic spices in the souqs of Marrakesh.

Moroccan Wanderer (College Program)

Program Reviews

4.93 Rating

based on 27 reviews

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Rating Spread Volunteer High School

5 rating 92.59%
4 rating 7.41%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 4.75
Support 5
Fun 4.7
Value 4.75
Safety 4.95

Growth 4.95
Support 5
Fun 4.9
Housing 4.9
Safety 4.9

Good for Adventure travelers, Students, Under 18

Showing 25 - 27 of 27 reviews

My son had so much fun and he learned so much. He matured and grew in his confidence so much. This company kept in touch and even sent a few pics to let me know how the trip was going. They were so helpful and I felt my son was safe the whole time. He will definitely be returning.

This experience was one of the most eyeopening and life changing experiences of my life. Although living in the Zawita ahansal village was challenging it taught me to never take my life for granted. Also, it lead me to realize how unecessary material objects are and how, rather, love and the kindness of the human spirit are the true key to happiness and well being.

What would you improve about this program?

I would not stay in Rabat for one night. Atleast find another location to sleep at (possibly a riad).

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As amazing of a country as Morocco is, the thing that really made my Moroccan Wanderer adventure was the people it was with. The other students were awesome, but that's very subjective. The people that are much less so [subjective] are the guides/counselors. They were, for me, truly incredible. Due to them, this trip was much more educational, in ways that I never would have imagined before it, compared to other trips I've been on.

One of the biggest highlights was spending a night in the Sahara desert. It's the kind of experience that you'd never imagine yourself having: the kind of thing that only exists in movies. Thus, when the experience is actually had, it feels even greater than anything a movie could show. We rode camels in and out of the desert (which, in itself made me feel like Lawrence of Arabia), stargazed from the top of a tall sand dune, and went sandboarding. Combined, these formed an unforgettable experience.

The service project that we did in Zawiya Alhansal was also a vital and memorable part of the trip. We taught English and art in a small school for two days, then spent a lot of time playing soccer with the kids there and helping design a library in one of the schools. While this certainly didn't designate the overall adventure a service trip, it did give it a bit more meaning and impact that distinguishes it from a vacation.

Overall, this trip was something I would recommend to everyone and anyone, with my only advice being to be careful about health, as I did get sick.

What would you improve about this program?

I would spend more time in Zawiya Ahansal and perhaps forget one night in one of the locations, ideally the Dades Gorge, which, despite being a beautiful place, was the one place where we were unable to do the only thing we had the chance to do there: hike.

Doing this would widen the impact of the trip and allow even more bonding with the locals.

Questions & Answers

Can we volunteer as a family with a 15 year old daughter and 17 year old son?

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What are the day to day routines like?

Day-to-day routines varied quite a bit: some days we spent a lot of time in transit, other days we spent the days out and about exploring the various surroundings. For what it’s worth, mealtimes were fairly standard and consistent, even if the rest of our days weren’t. Beyond this, depending on the location, we sometimes had more structure in our days, with organized activities or group...

By Akshay Chalana on March 23, 2018

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose to go to Morocco with Rustic Pathways because it seemed like a really different and interesting country. The culture was amazing, and there’s a ton of fun stuff we got to do. The food was great too. Since the limit on the number of students allowed for this program was rather low, it allowed everyone to really connect and become good friends. Probably the biggest reason for me was the service we got to do in a village near Marrakech, and I already really enjoyed helping people.

Really, everything about this program was great.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Rustic Pathways gave me lists of everything I would need for the trip and contacts so any questions I had could be answered. They also scheduled flights to and from Morocco which was nice.

In my experience, they were always very helpful. The only things I really had to organize myself was everything I was packing and preparing however I needed to.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

A lot of people are nervous about traveling overseas, especially if it’s for the first time and with people they’ve never met. I felt the same way, and up until we actually arrived in Morocco I was still nervous about how the rest of the trip would be.

For someone who’s nervous, just know that you’ll connect with your group pretty fast and the time will fly by. You’ll have a lot more fun than you might expect.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

You're always up and moving on this trip. There are activities planned for every day and they are all really fun. A couple of days are mainly just long bus rides to get to the next place, but even those are fun.

On any long bus rides, my group always figured out different games to play to pass the time. Some days involve a little more activity than others; for example, riding camels through the Sahara desert and camping for the night was a bit more eventful than the cooking class we did.

Almost every day on this trip was a fun day and one to remember.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was traveling with people I had never met for the first time. I was always used to traveling with my family or friends so it was a big change that I wasn’t used to. I started to connect with the group really quickly, though, which honestly got rid of all the nervous feelings I had. I made some great friends and wish I could have stayed twice as long as I did.

What was your favorite experience from this trip?

While I loved the entire trip, the service project we worked on in a small village was my favorite part.

We worked on building an educational center and taught the local kids some English. The construction was hard work but it felt great to do, and connecting with the locals of the village was a great experience overall, the kids were eager to learn which was really cool.

We only stayed in the village for two days, but I could have stayed for a lot longer.

Alice Markey

2018 Alum

Emanuela Lombardi

2014 Alum

About Rustic Pathways

Travel and volunteer abroad with Rustic Pathways. Choose from culturally-immersive adventure and volunteer programs in 20+ countries. Make lifelong friends from around the world, work on sustainable community service projects, and discover new passions during a Rustic Pathways program. Whatever you're looking for this summer, Rustic Pathways has...