Morocco: Souks & High Atlas Service

Meet your group at the airport, check in, and pass through security together. Use this time to get to know your fellow travelers and share what excites you most about your upcoming adventure in Morocco.

Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport and meet your Program Leaders, who will be with you throughout the journey. Depending on arrival time, you may head straight to the High Atlas foothills or spend the first night in Marrakech. Settle into your accommodation and join the group for an orientation, where you’ll review the week ahead, learn a few Amazigh and Arabic phrases, and get your first taste of Moroccan hospitality over a hearty dinner.

Travel into the High Atlas, winding past terraced fields and walnut groves before reaching your host village. Meet the families you’ll be working with, tour the village, and learn about the community’s history and traditions. After lunch, get your first introduction to the service project—whether it’s helping to improve school facilities, building pathways, or supporting a community garden. In the late afternoon, join your hosts for a tea ceremony, learning the steps and etiquette behind Morocco’s beloved drink. Journey into the High Atlas, navigating through terraced fields and walnut groves until you arrive at your host village. There, you’ll meet the families you’ll be working with, tour the village, and gain insight into the community’s history and traditions. After lunch, you’ll be introduced to the service project, which could involve improving school facilities, constructing pathways, or supporting a community garden. Later in the afternoon, join your hosts for a traditional tea ceremony, where you’ll learn the steps and etiquette of Morocco’s cherished beverage.

Start your day with breakfast and mountain views alongside your hosts. Head to the service site to work with villagers, practicing your language skills and sharing stories. In the afternoon, participate in a bread-making workshop, where you’ll knead dough, bake it in a traditional clay oven, and enjoy it fresh with local honey or olive oil. Evenings are dedicated to informal conversation and games with community members.

Continue your impactful service work, dedicating your efforts to making tangible and visible progress on the ongoing project. Your commitment to these endeavors strengthens the community you are serving.

Following a well-deserved lunch, immerse yourself in a truly authentic cultural experience with a visit to a local artisan’s home. Here, you will be treated to a captivating carpet weaving demonstration. This isn’t just about witnessing a craft; it’s an opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of Moroccan heritage. You’ll learn firsthand how intricate patterns and vibrant colors are not merely decorative but rather profound storytellers, conveying family histories, regional identities, and age-old traditions passed down through generations. You’ll even have the chance to try your hand at weaving a few rows yourself, experiencing the tactile connection to this ancient art form.

The remainder of the day will be dedicated to fostering genuine connection and relaxed conversation with your gracious host family. This invaluable time allows for cultural exchange, sharing stories, and building bridges of understanding in a warm and welcoming environment.

As the service project wraps up, students and community members gather for a closing celebration—sharing thanks, exchanging photos, and offering small tokens of appreciation that reflect the work done together. Say goodbye to your hosts and begin the drive back toward Marrakech.

On the way, stop for a camel ride with views of the surrounding mountains. Ride in a single file as handlers lead the camels and take a quiet moment to reflect on the week before continuing to the city.

Meet your local guide and set out on a focused walk through Marrakech’s historic core. Visit the Mellah (Jewish quarter) and its synagogue to learn about the community’s history and role in the city. Continue to the Bahia Palace and move through its courtyards, noting the tilework, carved cedar, and layout designed for shade and airflow.

Stop at a spice shop to see common blends and learn how they’re used in Moroccan cooking. Then head to the artisan complex to learn about Tazwaqt, the traditional Moroccan wood-painting technique—how designs are drafted, colors mixed, and patterns built. Finish by browsing other workshops featuring leather embroidery and fine jewelry.

Wake up for your final full day in Marrakech. With your Program Leaders, head into the medina and navigate the souks. Stalls line narrow alleys with spices, textiles, leatherwork, metalwork, and ceramics. Use simple Arabic greetings, practice polite bargaining, and talk with artisans about their tools and techniques. Each exchange is a look at daily life in a market that runs on relationships as much as sales.

At sunset, make your way to Jemaa el-Fna. The square fills with musicians, storytellers, acrobats, and snake charmers while food vendors grill kebabs and simmer snail soup. Eat at a stall, watch a few performances, and see why this square is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Return to your accommodations to pack for tomorrow.

Enjoy a relaxed morning for last-minute shopping or revisiting a favorite spot in the medina. In the evening, join your group, host families, and friends for a farewell celebration with live Gnawa music, a traditional Moroccan feast, and intricate henna designs.

Together, reflect on the highlights of your journey during Rustic Ties, sharing the friendships, insights, and memories you’ll carry home long after Morocco.

Transfer to Marrakech Menara Airport for your departing flight, leaving Morocco with new skills, deep friendships, and a lasting connection to the people and places you served.