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White buildings and historic stone sea walls of Essaouira, Morocco, overlook the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Morocco

Marrakech & Essaouira: A Look at Local Life in Morocco

Program No. 25189RJ
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
11 days
10 nights
What's Included
18 meals ( 9B, 7L, 2D )
12 expert-led lectures
13 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously)
Dinner:
Dinner with the group
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Walking 3 miles overall morning and afternoon in the old city; several stops and visits, including standing, sitting and lunch. All in flat terrain no hills and very few stairs here and there. Very crowded with motorbikes and bikes.
Breakfast:
Breakfast starts at hotel
Morning:
Depart to the 11th century old city Field Trip: Marrakech Museum Field Trip: Benyoussef Madarsa
Lunch:
Lunch (Dar Moha)
Afternoon:
Architecture and arts in Dar El Bacha Lecture: “Moroccan Identity and Pluralism”
Dinner:
Dinner on Own
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Visiting museums and monuments. Standing to cook for 1 hr. 30 minutes cooking session. There are elevators in the culinary museum.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at hotel
Morning:
Depart to the old city Explore the Jewish Quarter & Salat Al-Azama Synagogue from 1492 Field trip: Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum: Cooking Class
Lunch:
lunch at the Moroccan Culinary Arts Museum
Afternoon:
Field Trip: Bahia Palace Lecture: “Women in private and public spaces in Islam” Tree Time to disciver Jemaa El Fna, Marrakech Main Square: People, Food, and Entertainment
Dinner:
Dinner on Own: Restaurants by the Square
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus to gardens and museums. Walking and standing for under 1 hour at slow pace through outdoor garden with winding paths, ½ hour at Berber Museum, 40-min. through YSL museum. Benches available throughout the garden; seating in onsite café. Standing in line to enter museum varies from 10 to 20 min
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning:
Field Trip: Majorelle Garden * The Berber Art Museum * The Yves Saint Laurent Fashion Museum
Lunch:
Lunch at La Trattoria restaurant
Afternoon:
Field Trip: Menara Garden
Dinner:
Time at Leisure Dinner on Own
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving 55 miles to Imlil village, approximately 2 hours riding time with stops for toilet breaks. Elevation 5900’. Hiking in the mountains. Possibility for those who can’t to ride a 4-wheel.
Breakfast:
Breakfast starts at hotel
Morning:
Depart for Imlil in the High Atlas Bus Lecture: “Amazigh People and Culture” Lecture: “Tourism and Hiking in the High Atlas: Interaction with Locals,” by the Tour Guide Association of Imlil Hike around the Berber Village Through an exceptional journey in the High Atlas Mountains, you will unveil off-the-beaten-path wonders of Amazighi/Berber generous hospitality and discover the Imlil village through the eyes of its people and hike in the High Atlas Mountains. We will gain insight into the importance of revisited environmental and ecological millenary-old practices that helped maintain the rich natural resources while facing mounting challenges of climate change and global warming.
Lunch:
Enjoy an organic meal with Amazigh (Berber) Families in Imlil village
Afternoon:
Depart to Marrakech
Dinner:
Time at Leisure Dinner on Own
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus. Walking/standing for under an hour at water museum. Visit a women’s cooperative of leather work and lunch there.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning:
Field Trip: “Aman, the museum of Water Civilization in Morocco Visit ANOU
Lunch:
Share a meal with artisans
Afternoon:
Lecture: “Rural Women leading on climate action” at ANOU by Hamza Cherif D’Ouezzan.
Dinner:
Dinner on Own
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 104 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time with stops, depending on traffic. Stop at an Argan Oil making cooperative then to the winery for lunch and visit. Musical performance (some dancing maybe!) Exceptionally, when it is raining, it might require 34 more stairs for lunch instead of in the winery plantations.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning:
Check out and depart to Essaouira Bus Lecture: “Art and Spirituality” Field Trip: Introduction to Marjana Argan Cooperative run by Women Visit a Local Winery
Lunch:
Lunch at the Winery Restaurant
Afternoon:
Resume Trip to Essaouira Hotel Check in Musical Performance:“Ahwash: Traditional choreography Amazigh Music” Attend and participate in a unique musical choreography with a band of Ahwash from the village of Haha
Dinner:
Dinner on Own
Activity Note
Essaouira Day: Visiting Bayt Dakira, walking in the medina, visiting the fishing port, woodwork hands-on activity for 15 minutes standing.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning:
Field Trip: Landmarks of Essaouira: Traditional Fishing Port, Sqala, Old City Streets & Alleyways, Bayt Dakira
Lunch:
Lunch on Own
Afternoon:
Meet an artist: woodworker or painter at their workshop Time at Leisure
Dinner:
Dinner on Own
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 104 miles back to Marrakech, approximately 3 hours riding time. Lunch at the hotel upon check in in Marrakech
Breakfast:
Breakfast starts at hotel
Morning:
Depart to Marrakech Bus Lecture: “The Educational System in Morocco”
Lunch:
Lunch at a restaurant
Afternoon:
Hotel Check in Time at Leisure Lecture: “Discussing current matters with Locals* Wrap up the program
Dinner:
Farewell Dinner
Activity Note
Departure day: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning:
Depart to Marrakech Menara Airport RAK
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