GUIDE MOROCCO SUMMER 2019 14 DAYS
WHERE ARE YOU GOING? MOROCCO Discover the blazing colours and enticing aromas of Marrakech; a crossroads for travellers and traders for centuries where souks and bazaars offer a continent s worth of riches. Step out of this vibrant world and get your boots dusty as you head out to the silent desert wilderness of the Atlas Mountains. Descend to help with a community project and gain an insight into traditional Berber life whilst camping under the clear desert skies. Morocco is a land of guaranteed adventure! WHAT IT S LIKE... PHYSICAL RATING: Moderately challenging expedition. CULTURE SHOCK: A definite difference to what you are used to! ALTITUDE: The team will not exceed 3000m. VISA: Not required for British nationals* The purpose of this brief is to introduce your expedition opportunity. It will give you a feel for the destination and the type of activities that you will be involved in. We hope this brief snapshot will leave you feeling inspired and wanting more! HIGHLIGHTS Trek the High Atlas Mountains Enkoy a camel ride in the coastal town of Essaouira Explore the winding streets of Marrakech * Please note requirements may change DESTINATION FACTS RELIGION/S: Islam. CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL INTEREST: Morocco is an ethnically diverse country with a rich, varied history due to its unique geographical location. LANGUAGES: Arabic, Berber, French, Spanish. GEOGRAPHY: Mountainous desert interior with forests and fertile plains in the Mediterranean north. CLIMATE: Hot and dry in the summer, comfortably warm in the winter. Cooler at the coast.
WHAT IS AN? Expeditions are a life-changing experience, a chance for young people to go on a fun and educational journey with their friends. Most expedition destinations are in developing countries, allowing students to not only experience stunning parts of the world but also witness a very different way of life, often with the chance to immerse themselves in the culture through project work. HOW IT WORKS... EXPEDITION TIMELINE 1 2 3 4 5 EXPEDITION LAUNCH ITINERARY DEVELOPMENT FUNDRAISING LEADER MEETING EXPEDITION TRAINING FINAL PREPARATION FUNDRAISING Our expeditions are made up of four main phases; acclimatisation, trekking, project and rest & relaxation. During the build-up we put students in the driving seat, allowing them to finalise their itinerary alongside our experts. Acclimatisation Arrive in country and spend some time getting used to the new culture whilst planning your next phase and changing currency. Trekking You may take part in a trek doing either a cultural trek through villages or an attempt to summit a nearby mountain! Project Dedicate some time to helping on a project - either community or environmental based, often working with local people. R&R Enjoy some R&R! This could involve a few days on a beautiful beach, reflecting on your expedition or an adrenaline adventure.
EXAMPLE ITINERARY The below itinerary has been created by our Destination Managers as an example of what you may choose to do on expedition. DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3-7 Depart the UK on your international flight to Marrakech. On arrival, transfer to your pre-booked hotel in central Marrakech; you will need to exchange some of the team budget, purchase a team in-country mobile and confirm your arrival with itinerary contacts. Spend the day in a traditional village in the High Atlas Mountains, ready to start your trek. Trek in the amazing High Atlas Mountains, enjoying the wild and rugged scenery whilst learning about the friendly and fascinating culture of the Berbers. You will get to sample the local cuisine and camp out under the stars. DAY 8-11 DAY 12-13 DAY 14 Travel to your project at Avon Academy where you will be assisting local people with the development of essential community infrastructure. There is also the possibility of running language lessons to help the local children improve their English. Catch your transport to Essaouira on the west coast of Morocco. Spend time relaxing on the beautiful golden sandy beaches, exploring the historical walled town or sampling some fresh seafood overlooking the harbour. Travel back to Marrakech on day 13 and barter for those last minute souvenirs and enjoy a celebratory meal as a team. Depart for the UK. Due to the changing nature of the world over the build up period, Outlook may be required to change aspects of, or the order of the itinerary. Outlook will consult with the Link Teacher/Group Leader and all participants if this is the case.
ADVENTURE At the Itinerary Development Session, with guidance from one of our destination experts, the team will be able to choose from options to finalise their itinerary. The choices may include the project they work with, the challenge level and type of trek and where they go for some rest and relaxation! The M goun Massif forms the most southerly of the three ridges which make up the High Atlas. It is a wild area that sees less travellers in comparison with the Jebel Toubkal region and provides trekkers with a beautiful and remote place to explore - with peaks over 4000m. Your incredible five day journey will start in the south of the Massif from a small village. From here you will work your way northwards through fantastic scenery and local Berber villages. Trek across the striking long crested ridges, through the deep gorges and over the areas characteristic slopes and cliffs. Return to civilisation and visit the colourful fishing town of Essaouira; home to beautiful beaches and colonial Portuguese architecture. Explore the streets and take some well earned rest and relaxation. Spot camels on the beach and enjoy the region s famous seafood cuisine. PROJECT Avon Academy is situated in one of the poorer quarters of the city. Their aim is to provide foreign language lessons to children from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as to foster the cross-cultural understanding between young people. Moroccan public schools only offer three years of English to students aged 14 and above. This leaves students with only a basic grasp of English and limited opportunity to pursue further education or higher paid work in the future. During the Moroccan term time (September to July) assistance can be given to classes in the Academy. These can be in the form of prepared lessons, organised games, workshops, or drama. At other times of the year our teams have assisted local people on sustainable projects, such as working with the community to build much needed toilets and drainage ditches, as well as spending time with local families and undertaking cultural exchange through dance and cooking workshops. Explore the vibrant streets and souks of Marrakech - winding your way through the unique and spellbinding Djeema el Fna Square in the heart of the city. Practice your bartering while on the hunt for souvenirs, sample some of the local delicacies from one of many food stalls and be on the lookout for snake charmers! In Marrakech you will discover influences from the whole of Africa and southern Europe - this vibrant city is a true cultural melting pot!
WHAT S INCLUDED? UK BUILD UP* Itinerary Development Session. Expedition Leader Meeting. Final Preparation Day. TRAINING Expedition Training event in the UK with your Expedition Leader. LINK TEACHER TRAINING Leader Team Training (first aid as required). LEADER TEAM COMPOSITION 2 Link Teachers and an Outlook Expedition Leader. FLIGHTS International flight. INSURANCE Comprehensive overseas medical insurance. TRANSPORT All overseas transport. IN DESTINATION All food and accommodation. All group activities including any entrance fees. All rest and relaxation activity. WHAT S NOT INCLUDED? Spending money for gifts / souvenirs whilst on expedition. Inoculations, prophylaxis and personal medicine. (All participants based in England and Wales receive 10% discount at Nomad Travel). Visas and passports please refer to page 3 to see if a visa is required. Personal belongings insurance (this may be covered by your household / contents insurance). Loss of passport. Cancellation insurance (contact our Customer Service Team for more information). Personal equipment (e.g. rucksack, sleeping bag, waterproof clothing); all participants receive 15% discount at Cotswold Outdoor. Transport to and from UK-based training courses, to the Final Preparation Day venue and from the airport. Food and accommodation in the UK, unless specified.
HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR To launch all you need to do is follow these steps: 1. CONTACT YOUR REGIONAL MANAGER 2. BOOK A PRESENTATION AT YOUR SCHOOL 3. STUDENTS APPLY ONLINE I am exceptionally pleased with the support and guidance Outlook provide before our expedition. - Link Teacher phone 01248 667 250 email INFO@OUTLOOKEXPEDITIONS.COM online WWW.OUTLOOKEXPEDITIONS.COM