Geography Trip to Marrakesh

A geography trip to Marrakesh is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your young geographers to discover the mountainous landscape of the High Atlas, find out how water is managed in dry climates and discover the impact of climate change on rural communities.

You’ll start your trip in the bustling city of Marrakesh, where you’ll focus your exploration on the Old Medina. You’ll immerse yourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the famous central square, Jemaa el-Fna and the bustling souks, where you’ll be able to visit a traditional apothecary.

The next stop on the tour is the town of Amizmiz, in the foothills of the High Atlas. On your way there, you’ll stop at the Lalla Takerkoust reservoir, where you’ll be able to explore the complexities of large-scale water management in Morocco and the importance of water to the Berber communities in this area.

You’ll also be able to explore landforms created by weathering and erosional processes and see the evidence for plate tectonics in the rocks around you.

The town of Amizmiz is an important meeting place for the local Berber community, who come from the surrounding villages and farms to trade at the weekly souk. Your visit here will help your students learn more about the Berber culture and way of life.

Your final day will be spent just to the northeast of Marrakesh, at the village of Douar Oulad Elguern. Here, your students will be invited to take part in the daily activities of this village on the Marrakesh Plain, while finding out why so many of the village’s youth are leaving for Marrakesh itself.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Flight from UK to Marrakesh Menara Airport, on arrival transfer to hotel

Afternoon

Group to walk to the Medina, Jemaa El Fna and the Souks, followed by an apothecary visit (dependent on time of arrival)

Evening

Evening meal at hotel

Day 2

Morning

Full-day excursion to Amizmiz in the lower slopes of the High Atlas, with a stop at the Lalla Takerkoust reservoir to look at large-scale water management.

Afternoon

Continue to the Amizmiz countryside to see all aspects of traditional life.

Evening

Return to hotel in Marrakesh for traditional evening meal

Day 3

Morning

Full-day excursion to Douar Oulad Elguern - group will be welcomed with tea ceremony and 'second breakfast' before participating in various daily village activities.

Evening

Return to Marrakesh for evening meal

Day 4

Morning

Transfer to Marrakesh Menara Airport for return flight to the UK

3 nights' half-board accommodation
English-speaking guide throughout tour (to deal with all logistics and practicalities, as well as provide information about Morocco, the Moroccan culture, changes and developments, challenges, politics etc.)
4 lunches (2 in restaurants, 1 picnic in the Amizmiz area and 1 in Douar Oulad Elguern)
2 large bottles of water per person per day for the whole duration of the trip
Full-day excursion to Douar Oulad Elguern (including second breakfast and donation to the Village Association)
1 camel per participant for the camel ride in the Agafay desert (on return from Amizmiz)
Airport taxes and passenger duty at current rates
All ground transportation and excursions in resort
ATOL protected return flights from the UK
Coach transfers in resort
Detailed information pack
Free staff place ratio 1:10
Itinerary planning service
Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet
VAT at current rates to tour operators

Curriculum

A Level

Minerals and rocks
Geomorphic processes
Geochronology
Water and carbon cycles
Characteristics of a distinct ecosystem
Hot desert systems and landscapes
Biodiversity: flora and fauna
Fieldwork
Earth structure and plate tectonics
Water security

GCSE

Characteristics of ecosystems
Biodiversity: flora and fauna adaptations
Water and carbon cycles
Features of drylands and deserts
Physical processes affecting land formation
Erosion, transportation and deposition
Fluvial landforms
Fieldwork - investigating physical environments
Characteristics of plate boundaries
Plate tectonics theory
Water security
Resource management

Key Stage 3

Geological timescales and plate tectonics
Rocks, weathering and soils
Weather and climate

Accommodation

Hotel Majorelle

Just a stone's throw from the lush Jardins de Majorelle and only 30 minutes from the airport, the Hotel Majorelle is the perfect base for your school trip to Marrakesh. Guestrooms all benefit from air-conditioning and private bathroom facilities. A buffet-style breakfast is served each morning, with pre-selected meals served to tables in the evening.

Hotel Wazo

The lovely 4* Hotel Wazo is located just to the north of Marrakesh, offering your group the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre in the evenings, while still being just 20 minutes from the Medina and 30 minutes from the airport. The hotel benefits from a large reception and spacious lobby (ideal for gathering before heading out for the day) and a swimming pool (please note that there's no lifeguard). This hotel offers a more family-friendly, resort feel, making it a lovely choice for school groups visiting Marrakesh. All guestrooms feature private bathroom facilities.

Tour highlights

Visit the Atlas Mountains

The Atlas Mountains are actually a series of mountain ranges which stretch across more than 2,000km of North Africa, through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The mountain range acts as a barrier between the mild Mediterranean climate and the harsh Sahara. The Atlas Mountains are commonly divided into two main sections – the Tell Atlas, which is the southern section and receives enough rain to grow lush forests, and the southern Saharan Atlas. The mountains have acted as a barrier, protecting the Berber people from outside influences and allowing them to preserve their own languages, culture and traditions, although most have embraced Islam.

Did you know?

The highest point in the Atlas Mountains is Toukbal in southwestern Morocco, which reaches up to 4,165m.

Visit Ouarzazate

Film buffs and Game of Thrones fans may notice that Ourzazate looks familiar – the town is a popular filming location and has featured in *Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator *and *Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.* Just to the west of the city is the kasbah town of Aït Benhaddou, which was once on the caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and well worth a visit for those interested in the history of this region. And still today, the city is a popular base for excursions out into the Sahara Desert. There are dunes, palm groves, rose gardens oases, valleys and gorges all waiting to be explored!

Did you know?

There are two major movie studios here – Atlas Studios is the world’s largest film studio by acreage, showing just how important this town has become in the film industry!

Visit Jemaa El Fna

Jemaa El Fna is a large market square in Marrakesh’s medina and is one of the best places in the city to soak up the atmosphere and experience the local culture. The square is home to storytellers, fortune tellers, poets, singers and dancers. Although it’s a huge draw among tourists, it’s also still an important gathering place for locals who come to enjoy the entertainment and culture on offer. And at night this is a great place to enjoy some traditional Moroccan food, with live entertainment from Berber and Gnawa musicians and dancers.

Did you know?

Jemaa El Fna and its importance as a place for cultural exchange and artistic heritage was the inspiration behind UNESCO’s Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity – and it became the first place to gain Masterpiece status.

Educational Activities

Atlas Mountains

Take your students on a full-day excursion to the Atlas Mountain Range which stretches all across northern Africa.

Essaouira

Essaouira, known as the White and Blue City, is situated on the Atlantic coast.

Majorelle Garden

Menara Gardens

Set slightly out of town, the Menara Gardens are one of the area's most photographed settings and offer a pleasant escape from the bustle of Marrakesh.

Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate, known as the Doors to the Desert, is a city of different cultures and artistic traditions.

Douar Oulad Elguern

Spend a day experiencing life in a traditional Moroccan village and see the effects of climate change on a rural population.

Cultural Activities

Chez Ali Fantasia

Enjoy a traditional dining experience at the Chez Ali, with a famous cultural show for entertainment.

Djemaa el Fna

Located in the medina, this square is a virtual festival of smells, colours, noise and activity, used by locals and tourists alike.

El Bahia Palace

The Bahia Palace was built in the late 19th century and was intended to be the greatest of its time.

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.