Heart Button Gap Year Tips: How to Make the Most of Your Gap Year Gap Year School Group Travel Student Travel Gap Year Morocco Embarking on a gap year in Morocco with Rustic Pathways was a journey of discovery and connection for Sophia Dong. Here, she shares her heartfelt reflections and top tips to make the most out of your gap year experience.
Heart Button Gap Year Tips: How to Make the Most of Your Gap Year Gap Year School Group Travel Student Travel Gap Year Morocco Embarking on a gap year in Morocco with Rustic Pathways was a journey of discovery and connection for Sophia Dong. Here, she shares her heartfelt reflections and top tips to make the most out of your gap year experience.
During this program, you will: Ride camels during a daylong excursion to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Take a day trip out of Marrakech to the spectacular Waterfalls of Ouzoud, where you’ll go on an easy hike before cooling off in the falls! Have your hands and feet painted with intricate Moroccan henna designs as you enjoy a refreshing cup of mint tea. Learn a little Arabic and how to make traditional Moroccan dishes at a cooking class. The Moroccan Wanderer program includes stops at some of the most famous sites in the northwestern African country. From the beach town of Essaouira with its white-washed homes to the scenic gorges amid the Atlas Mountains. Along the way, it also includes community service and lessons about the local Amazigh indigenous culture for both high school and college students. Students took full advantage of these opportunities, making a difference while having a blast at the same time. Here is a look at some of the highlights from this summer: Morocco Teen Travel Service & the Amazigh Culture Students helped build a site where women in the village of Tizi can use native plants to create herbal tea bags to sell in different cities. The service gave the students the opportunity to interact with local community members and make a local impact. The students toured a village while staying in the Atlas Mountain region. They learned about the way of life for the Amazigh indigenous people. And, they took part in bread-making workshops with local families and a soccer match. Scenery in the Mountains & Desert After the students spent time in the community at Tizi and did service, they headed south to start their journey towards the Sahara. Their first stop was the fortified village of Ait Ben-Haddou. The 17th century site is known for its earthen clay architecture and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Another fortified village they visited was Kasbah Amridil. Likewise they viewed the Dades and Todgha Gorges before they camped in the Sahara Desert. The drives through Tizi N’tichka were scenic and breathtaking. The adventure wasn’t over yet. The students headed to Ouarzazate, a city south of Morocco’s High Atlas mountains. It is known as a gateway to the Sahara Desert. The students ended their programs with the traditional Rustic Ties discussion. They got to talk about what they learned about Morocco, its people and each other. It’s always a touching way to end a memorable journey through another land.