Marrakech: Hiking, Camel Riding, and Exploring
Over the weekend the students visited Marrakech and Ourika. Marrakech is about a four hour drive from Rabat. We arrived on Friday night and enjoyed dinner in Jamaa al-Fana, a marketplace in the Marrakech medina. The sun set as we were finishing dinner and then students returned to the hotel to rest for a packed Saturday.
On Saturday morning, students went on a guided tour of the historical sites in Marrakech. We went to Mosque Koutoubia, which was built by the Almoravid dynasty. Then we visited al-Bahia palace, a nineteenth century residence of the Prime Minister. The palace has many sections, including a mosque, a garden, and areas for entertaining dignitaries. The most striking feature of the palace is its tilework on the floors and walls. The name 'al-Bahia' refers to its brilliance.
After the tour, we headed to Ourika and stopped on the way to ride camels. Before getting on the camels, students dressed up and wrapped their heads as people do before going into the desert. The students only had a few minutes to ride the camels, but camels can carry people on their backs for long journeys in the desert.
When we arrived to the mountain village of Ourika, we had a lunch made with locally grown ingredients and then went on a hike through an Amazigh village. The landscape was incredible and students got to see how people in the area still thrive on small scale agriculture.
Related Posts
What's It Like to Do High School Summer Abroad in Morocco?
"If you have the opportunity to do something like this, definitely do it." Christine C., 16, and Mohamad H., 17, flew across the Atlantic this past summer to improve their Arabic language skills in the capital of Morocco. Here's how they describe their program.
A Weekend Getaway to the Blue City
A breathtaking blue oasis nestled in the Rif Mountains of Morocco, Chefchaouen is a picturesque town renowned for its vivid blue-painted buildings and rich cultural heritage. This past weekend, the... keep reading
Student Spotlight - Nepu Hossain - Reflections on Time and Friendships
Time is weird and deeper than I can understand sometimes. I think about how people dont always stay in your life and maybe they are not supposed to or maybe... keep reading