Academic Three Week Program

Brief itinerary Example

Day 1 – 4 Spain
Day 5 – 21 Morocco

(Activities will be custom-tailored to the specific needs of each educational institution.)

Day 1 Flight – Granada, SPAIN

• Arrival in Granada
• Cultural visits in Granada: Arabic and Jewish neighborhoods

Day 2 Granada

• Study: “800 years of Muslim presence in Spain”
• Cultural visit: Arabic palace Alhambra
• Relaxing visit of an Arabic bath

Day 3 Granada – Córdoba

• Transfer to Córdoba
• Study: “Coexistence of the three cultures during the caliphate of Córdoba”
• Cultural visits in Córdoba: mosque and Jewish center in old town

Day 4 Córdoba - Tarifa

• Transfer to Tarifa (with view of British Gibraltar)
• Study: “Historic and cultural links between Africa and Europe.”
• Cultural visits: Moorish castle in Tarifa and Roman ruins Baleo Claudia (with view of the African coastline)
• Late afternoon and evening free

Day 5 Tarifa – Tangier – Rabat, MOROCCO

• Boat trip across the Mediterranean Sea
• Visit of DARNA women’s center
• Study “Introduction to Morocco: cultural diversity, education, and gender issues.”
• Nights in Rabat with Moroccan host families in the medina (old town)

Day 6 Rabat

• Study: “The Muslim and the Western worlds: images about each other.”
• Cultural visit of the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V
• Exploration of Rabat’s street life in small groups with Moroccan students

Day 7 Rabat

• Study: “The role of media I: Representations of Islam.”
• Visit of the youth project Masal in Salé
• Relaxing Hammam visit

Day 8 Rabat

• Study: “The role of media II: The dynamic of prejudices and preconceptions.”
• Cultural visit of the Roman ruins Chellah
• Film screening and debate with Moroccan students

Day 9 Rabat

• Study: “The role of media III: Critical thinking and informed citizenship.”
• Visit of the human rights committee that facilitated the truth and reconciliation committee in Morocco
• Late afternoon and evening free

Day 10 Rabat – Sefrou

• Transfer to Sefrou (3,5 hrs)
• Cultural visits of Sefrou which had once a Jewish population of nearly 40%
• Nights with Moroccan host families in Sefrou

Day 11 Sefrou, Middle Atlas Mountains

• Study: “Centuries of coexistence of cultures in Morocco.”
• Visit of two local projects in small groups with Moroccan students
• Afternoon hike to Berber village in the Middle Atlas mountains

Day 12 Sefrou – Ifrane - Sefrou

• Transfer to Ifrane (1 hr)
• Visit of the American University in Ifrane
• Study: “Gender issues in Morocco.”

Day 13 Sefrou - Fez

• Transfer to Fez (1hr)
• Study: “Islam in Morocco I.”
• Cultural visit: medresa and souqs in the medieval medina of Fez (old town)
• Nights in Fez with Moroccan host families in the medina (old town)

Day 14 Fez

• Study: “Islam in Morocco II.”
• Cultural visit in the medieval medina
• Visit of a performance in a Sufi order

Day 15 Fez

• Study: “Islam in Morocco III.”
• Free afternoon and evening
• Cultural event (optional)

Day 16 Fez - Casablanca

• Transfer to Casablanca (2,5 hrs)
• Study: “Political power in Morocco: The years of King Hassan II.”
• Visit of the mosque Hassan II in Casablanca

Day 17 Casablanca – Marrakech

• Transfer to Marrakech (2,5 hrs)
• Study: “The impact of tourism in Marrakech and its implications for issues of globalization.”
• Cultural visit of the palace, mellah and souq with Moroccan students
• Free evening

Day 18 Marrakech – Amzamiz

• Transfer to Amzamiz (1 hr)
• Study: “Rural realities in Morocco.”
• Afternoon activities with Moroccan students (ex. soccer game and pottery making, etc.)
• Nights in Amzamiz with Moroccan host families

Day 19 Amzamiz

• Visit of an international development project; meeting local Peace Corps volunteers
• Study: “Sustainable volunteer work and the impact on local communities.”
• Afternoon activities with Moroccan students (ex. mountain hike and bread making, etc.)

Day 20 Amzamiz – Imlil, High Atlas Mountains

• Transfer to Imlil (1,5 hrs)
• Study: “Self reflections. Processing the experiences through journaling and group discussions.”
• Afternoon hike to a Berber village

Day 21 Marrakech - Flight

• Transfer to Marrakech airport
• Return flight