ATLAS COMMUNITY PROJECT
Global Goals Covered
Highlights
Assist in the building of a sustainable multi-use community centre for local people
Explore the vibrant Medinas of Morocco
Immerse yourself within the culture by staying at a traditional Berber village
Go hiking around the beautiful Atlas Mountains
Over the course of 7 days, students will journey to the stunning high Atlas Mountains, where they will meet members of the famous Berber tribe who call these mountains their home.
During their time here, students will help local villagers build a community gathering area that will predominately be used as a collaboration space where local women and meet and learn local handicraft skills that they can use to create items to be sold in the local markets. The space will additionally be used as a meeting area for important community decisions to be made, as well as a space where students can learn and study.
We can’t visit the Atlas Mountains without enjoying them of course, and students will hike for 1.5 days to witness their unique beauty. The trip will also allow us time to visit the famous Medina in Essaouira, in addition to exploring the medieval city of Marrakech.
Throughout the trip students will be learning about the culture of the Berber people, as well as of Morocco in general, and will be fortune enough to enjoy Moroccan cuisine throughout.
An Overview
Morocco is a country where civilisations and continents meet and where different nationalities coexist with one another in serenity and peace. A multifaceted culture with a blend of Arab, Berber, European and African influences makes this country an interesting place to visit and explore. The mountains, the desert and two coastlines make the scenery breathtaking.
Morocco is also diverse from its neighbours in that it has a history of independence. With no oil or natural gas, Morocco has had to develop its economy to be much more diverse than the other north African countries or Arab countries in the Middle East. However, the country still struggles with poor education, poor healthcare, and environmental pollution.
Mountain Quests together with our partners, aims to bring more opportunities for development in local villages. Beneath the impressive backdrop of the High Atlas Mountains, in traditional Berber villages, we are assisting the local community by partnering with social businesses to help with community projects.
Currently in the village of Matate, there is no communal gathering space. Mountain Quests is helping to provide a cooperative where the women in the village can meet and develop their local handicrafts to sell in the markets. The centre will also be an educational teaching space for children, as well as a space where the whole community can gather!
No trip to Morocco is complete without exploring the stunning city of Marrakech, as well as sampling the incredible food of Morocco. We will also be hiking through the Atlas Mountains - a real treat and highlight of our time here.
Pre Trip Activities
The level of support we offer our clients varies depending on their requirements. We can meet with students and parents to advise on all aspects of the trip, including kit lists, preparation, what to expect and how to get the best out of the experience. We can also work with the school or parents when it comes to students with specific dietary and allergy concerns so that all concerned parties are comfortable knowing that important issues have been addressed prior to departure. If you inform us of what level of support you require we will ensure you receive it.
This Trip Is Best For
Students who are:
Looking for a service project that assists in creating a community centre that benefits local women and children
Wanting to learn all about Moroccan culture and way of life
Excited to hike in by the scenic Atlas mountains
The Itinerary
This afternoon you will arrive at Casablanca International Airport where an enthusiastic and experienced Mountain Quests team will be waiting to greet you.
We will take a private transfer up to the Atlas Mountains to Aguersioual, where we will trek the rest of the way into the village of Matate. We will meet the Berber community and enjoy our first delicious Moroccan dinner in the mountains. In the evening, students will be given an in-country briefing to keep everyone safe and healthy throughout the trip. The group will also discuss the community project we will undertake in the next few days, before settling into a village guest house for the night.
Let the work begin! After fuelling up on a traditional Beber breakfast, we dive into the project work!
Our Project Manager will greet us and provide an orientation of the work site location. We will then get to the tasks at hand, working alongside the locals. In the afternoon we can join in on some local games and activities with the children in the village. We will then clean up, have dinner and enjoy a bonfire under the stars!
Today the group will take in the breathtaking views of the beautiful scenery as we head out on a trek around the surrounding area, complete with picnic lunch.
After, we will head back to the village to enjoy the local lifestyle and maybe join in on a soccer game!
Today is our last full day in the village. We will continue with our project work for the day, breaking for lunch. In the afternoon we will partake in a farewell dinner and ceremony with our gracious hosts in the village. Before heading off to bed will make sure we are packed up for the remainder of our journey.
After breakfast, we say our goodbyes to the village and again thank our hosts for having us. We also say our goodbyes to the mountains as we head down to the coast town of Essauria. Along the way we will stop for snacks and lunch. Once we reach our destination, located on the coastline of the Atlantic sea, we understand why Essauria is called “Wind City of Africa”. We will check into our hotel and head out to get our bearings to check out what the town has to offer.
We will stroll through spice-scented lanes, palm-lined avenues and watch fishing nets being mended in the ports. We will grab some dinner and afterwards explore the historical medina with its narrow and maze-like streets and can shop for an abundant of local handicrafts.
After breakfast, we will have some more time in the morning to continue to explore the medina of Essaouira before we continue to our next stop. After a 3 hour journey, we arrive at the city of history and culture – Marrakesh. Along the way we will stop at a women cooperative to watch how the infamous Argan oil is produced.
Once we arrive in Marrakesh, we will check into our hotel and then its off to explore! We will enjoy a delicious meal in the Medina, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Centre. In the evening we head to Jemaa el-Fna, the main square and marketplace, with its vibrant whirlwind of colour and noise where we will weave between tightly packed stalls exhibiting pyramids of brightly coloured spices, richly woven rugs, and a thousand other exotic goods.
Today, if we have time, we will meet a local guide who will help us discover more of Marrakesh, delving deeper into the history and culture of this place. We will uncover the cities fascinating architecture, intricately carved archways and ornate mosques, including the famous Koutoubia Mosque with its Moorish minaret from the 12th century. If our flight time in Casablanca does not allow, we will travel to the airport for our flight home.
Heath And Safety
Health and sanitary conditions will vary depending on location. Major cities like Marrakech have a higher level of sanitation than remote areas. In the village there will be a mix between bucket showers and normal showers. Toilets are also a mix between squat and Western style.
Health services in the major cities are easy to access and include big hospitals and small clinics. Minor issues such as cuts or bruises are easily handled at a local hospital or clinic. For major issues such as broken bones, surgery, head injuries etc, a trip back to Agadir or Marrakech is often recommended.
All of our guides are first aid trained, and your head guide is trained in wilderness first aid by the American Red Cross. We have with us at all times a full and well-equipped medical kit. The contents of this can be shared with you prior to departure.
Students are required to provide us information on dietary requirements, allergies and their health and travel insurance before departure. All allergies and dietary requirements can be taken into consideration and managed.
FAQs
What’s the accommodation like?
During the time in the village you will be sharing a nice room in a guesthouse with a few of your friends from school. This is a truly unique learning experience. During our time in the cities you will be staying at a comfortable 3-star hotel.
What is the weather like?
While Morocco does have a diverse and varied climate, the regions we will be staying are typically dry and hot with an average temperature between 20-35 Celsius.
Health and safety?
All of our trip leaders are first aid trained to a high standard. We have many years of experience working with students and have strict safety protocols and risk assessments in place.
What clothes should I wear?
Mostly light clothes, including t-shirts, shorts, hats and sneakers. But also bring some warm clothes to stay comfortable during the night. There are no special kit requirements, although a full kit list will be provided before the trip.
Is the food and water safe?
Food and water is absolutely safe as it will be provided to you by our staff. Moroccan food is amazing and diverse, it will be some of the best food you will have ever had and it’s prepared fresh by our chefs while in the village. As for the cities, we have done safety inspections at all the restaurants we eat at ensuring our high standards are met. We also cater to any allergies or specific dietary requirements.
How fit do I need to be?
You don’t have to be a fit person to join this trip. It is accessible to all fitness levels. The hiking we will be participating in is moderately challenging at best. While it is important to stay hydrated while in such a dry climate, all hikes can be completed by even the most novice of hikers.
Inquiries?
If you have questions about this trip, would like to know more or thinking about booking this trip with us, then please contact us at: