Experience a rich history to see how worlds collided in these faraway places, and witness how those influences remain today in the medinas of bustling Moroccan city centers, and Moorish accents left over in Spain. Improve your Spanish skills through lessons taught by local language teachers, then enjoy afternoons spent exploring the cities of Madrid and Seville. Immerse yourself in the lively Spanish culture through flamenco dancing and guided tours. Taste the iconic spices in paella, tagine, and all the tapas you can eat. See the temples, mosques, and cathedrals from centuries of overlapping histories. In Spain, practice your Spanish every day, then enjoy afternoons of flamenco, historical exploration, and Andalusian culture. Cross the strait of Gibraltar, where Morocco awaits just a short ferry ride away, but worlds apart. Travel the vibrant cobblestone streets of the blue village of Chefchaouen, then stay with locals in the High Atlas Mountains while you work alongside locals on sustainable agriculture and infrastructure projects for Moroccan communities.
Spain & Morocco
Spice of Life
18 days
Trip duration
9th – 12th
Grades
18 days
July 7 – July 24 - One Spot Left!
(Limited availability)
New York, NY
Arrival & Departure
$5,995
Tuition
18 days
Trip duration
July 7 – July 24 - One Spot Left!
(Limited availability)
9th – 12th
Grades
*Airfare for group flight from New York additional
Overview
Highlights
- Sample Explosions of Local Flavor from Mint Tea to Paella to Tapas, All Enhanced with the Richest Spices
- Take up Spanish, Flamenco Dancing, and Preparing Regional Cuisine
- Meet with the Spanish Coast Guard, Working Hard to Process the Largest Numbers of Refugees in Europe
- Shop Through the Ancient Medina of the Enchanting Blue City of Chefchaouen, Which Lies at the Feet of the Rif Mountains
- Stay in a Traditional Amazigh Village in the High Atlas Mountains, Where Locals are Improving Sustainable Agriculture and Women’s Education
- Discover the Ancient Cities of Madrid, Seville, Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Marrakech
- Travel Into the Agafay Desert to Visit a Palm-Lined Oasis Hidden Amongst the Golden Sand Dunes
- 15 Hours of Community Service
Cultural Immersion
Explore the Spanish cities of Madrid, Seville, and Andalusia, and enjoy the gorgeous Mediterranean coast. See iconic sites such as the main square of Plaza Mayor and the enormous Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home to Real Madrid, Europe’s most successful soccer team. Build your Spanish language skills through structured language classes led by local teachers and immersive practice in Seville. Visit the bustling medinas and kasbahs of Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Marrakech, see flamenco dancing, and sample delicious tapas and meals.
Cultural
Community Projects
Assist local Amazigh communities in the Atlas Mountains as they work towards sustainable agriculture. Work together with a Moroccan organization helping to empower local women to get involved with agriculture and improve women's equality. Lend a helping hand planting trees and developing a water system for irrigation for this community. Help this local foundation cross language and cultural barriers to learn about the community’s needs.
Service
Adventure
Experience bustling cities filling your senses with the smells of local spices and tanneries and sounds of the call to prayer. Spend time exploring the never-ending medinas, sprouting from Jemaa el-Fnaa, where snake charmers, merchants, and acrobatic performers barter with locals and visitors alike. Take a camelback ride into the sunset to visit Palmeraie, a lush, palm-lined desert oasis that has existed for hundreds of years. Enjoy a refreshing dip into the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Exploration
Common Questions
The weather can vary from very hot climates on the coast and in cities, to more mildly cool climates up in the higher altitudes in the High Atlas Mountains (some nights it can get as low as the 50s). The coastal and lowland areas near Seville and Marrakesh tend to be dry and hot in the summer and temperatures will often be in the 90s.
We sleep in a variety of private accommodations (Moroccan Riads and Local Spanish Homes), hotels, and in a Berber camp (bedding provided).
We will be traveling via a variety of methods over the course of this program, including private shuttles, vans, and trains throughout this adventure. We will also travel by ferry from Spain to Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar, and take a short return flight from Morocco to Spain.
We will have the opportunity to sample traditional local cuisine such as tapas, tagine, paella, and local fruits and vegetables. This region of Spain and Morocco is known for rich spices and flavors. Vegetarians and medical dietary requirements (i.e. allergies) are catered to. Please inform ARCC of any dietary restrictions prior to the departure date.
Although you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this trip, it is important that you bring a backpack or duffel as your main piece of luggage. During the trip the group will be navigating through airports, getting on and off buses, going up and down stairways and escalators, and taking short walks. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is able to carry their luggage.
Not at all. There is no language requirement for this program. Prior to the program, you may have to take a quick language placement test so that you will be placed in the best class for learning Spanish during your time in Seville. If you speak Spanish you will have plenty of opportunities to use it. Your trip leaders and local guides will speak both Spanish and English (and Arabic in Morocco) and can help translate for you at any time.
Have questions? Speak to one of our Program Directors, give them a call at (415) 332.5075 , they love talking about their trips!
