Moroccan Community and Culture

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Marrakech

Arrive in Marrakech, the Red City, where you will be warmly greeted by your ACIS Tour Manager and transferred to your hotel. If the timing of your arrival flight permits, embark on a brief orientation sightseeing tour of this cosmopolitan destination, a vibrant blend of historic souks, ancient charm found in its Medina and modern influences in areas like Guéliz.

Day 3: Marrakech

Discover the secrets of Marrakech on today’s guided city sightseeing tour. Highlights include walking through the perpetually bustling Jemaa El Fna square, seeing Koutoubia Mosque’s skyline-dominating 282-foot minaret, and soaking in the atmosphere of the 12th century Kasbah’s food market, bakeries and narrow alleyways. Visit Medersa Ben Youssef, a historical school renowned for its stunning architecture, with intricate tilework, wooden carvings, and a peaceful central courtyard. It once housed hundreds of students and remains one of the city’s most remarkable examples of Moroccan design. Then marvel at the opulent 19th century Bahia Palace and discover the intricate work done by local artisans to decorate this splendid home, courtyard and gardens built by a powerful Vizir for his Harem.

Day 4: Marrakech

Today’s full-day excursion brings you into the Atlas Mountains for an enriching and eye-opening cultural exchange with members of an Amazigh (Berber)community. You’ll have the chance to actively participate in the local way of daily life, with activities such as: baking bread and preparing tagine to share for lunch in the kitchen of a village family; brewing traditional mint tea; a hands-on ceramics workshop; weaving a kilim alongside local women on their ancestral looms; strolling through the farm terraces to learn about ancient irrigation and subsistence farming methods; and more. You’ll also have the chance to visit a preschool center, where the littlest members of this indigenous North African community learn Arabic in preparation for their long-term educational journey. Return to Marrakech for the evening.

Day 5: Marrakech

This morning you may choose to take part in an optional hands-on cooking lesson, learning the steps to preparing authentic and traditional Moroccan dishes bursting with flavor, and dining on the delicious results. Otherwise, the morning is free for discovering more of Marrakech at your own pace. In the afternoon, immerse yourself in the beauty of Majorelle Garden, a captivating botanical oasis created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later home to French designer Yves Saint Laurent. The garden houses a collection of cacti and plants from the four corners of the world, which flourish amidst elegant ornamental ponds and a Cubist villa whose special shade of bold cobalt blue is trademarked and named after the artist—Majorelle Blue. Then hop from one paradise to another and visit Le Jardin Secret, right in the heart of the medina. This historic riad is known for its exceptional architecture and its stunning hidden garden, half exotic and half traditional Islamic, which is fed by and showcases a restored original khettara (ancient underground irrigation system).

Day 6: Marrakech

Today’s excursion brings you to Morocco’s Atlantic coastline. Your scenic route takes you first through a forest of argan trees, native only to this part of the world. You’ll stop to visit a cooperative that crafts the renowned Moroccan argan oil, learning how the nuts are processed and about the oil’s many benefits and uses. Then arrive in Essaouira, a captivating, fortified town with a strong multicultural history that served as a vital caravan trade market and international seaport connecting Morocco with sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. On a guided sightseeing tour, explore its traditional streets, food markets, and artisan workshops, visit the Bayt Dakira Museum in the Jewish quarter, and ascend the city ramparts, including the Sqala du Port bastion, for views over the ocean. Discover the fishing harbor during a seafood lunch and then enjoy time to watch kitesurfers along the beach or browse for souvenirs before driving back to Marrakech.

Day 7: Agafay

Prepare for a day of adventure and gorgeous scenery, starting in the High Atlas Mountains at Terres d'Amanar. Learn about the resort’s focus on sustainability, responsible travel and eco-tourism as you engage in a thrilling activity of your choice—such as zip-lining, hiking, or mountain biking—taking in breathtaking views of the surrounding nature reserve. Afterward, perhaps unwind with a traditional Moroccan tea or just soak in the tranquility of your surroundings. Then embark on a magical journey as you're chauffeured from the mountains to the rocky dunes of the Agafay Desert. Meet members of the local Amazigh (Berber) community as they guide you on a sunset camel ride through the unique terrain of this captivating landscape. As evening falls, indulge in a memorable lantern-lit dining experience under the shelter of the nomadic community camp, savoring delicious Moroccan cuisine. Then enjoy stargazing in Agafay under a clear, unpolluted sky, before your special overnight stay in comfortable desert tents.

Day 8: Marrakech

After waking to beautiful desert surroundings, a scenic drive brings you back to Marrakech through picturesque rolling hills and scattered traditional villages. Then the rest of the day is yours to explore more of this captivating city at your own pace before a final dinner together caps off this culturally enriching Moroccan experience.

Day 9: Departure

Depart for the USA.