Morocco: October 2025

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On an unforgettable journey, we ventured into the heart of Morocco for an experience that blended awe-inspiring landscapes, deep cultural connection and meaningful service. From the rich, bustling streets of Marrakech to the quiet golden dunes of the Sahara, our group embraced the full spectrum of Moroccan life: staying in locally owned riads and desert camps, visiting Amazigh (Berber) villages in the High Atlas Mountains, and giving back through purposeful community engagement.

The trip began in Marrakech, where after arrival we settled into a charming riad in the medina, the original walled city center alive with cobbled alleys, souks, and age-old traditions. We learned the rhythm of everyday Moroccan life: breakfast on the terrace, mint tea, and the soothing calls to prayer echoing from the minarets. A highlight was a hands-on cooking class at the training centre of Association Amal, where we made our own tagine, practiced the tea ceremony, and understood how this NGO empowers women in the community. Afterwards, a guided walk through the medina brought us to the Koutoubia Minaret, the Bahia Palace and other cultural touchpoints, helping us feel the layers of Marrakech’s history.

Mid-week we left the city behind and ascended into the spectacular High Atlas Mountains, heading toward villages still recovering from the 2023 earthquake. Here we lived the “travel with purpose” ethos: in one village we taught English to local youth, in another we shared art and sport activities with kids who had limited resources. Outside of these service moments, we paused to take in the dramatic mountain scenery, visited traditional Amazigh homes, and learned about the customs and resilience of these mountain communities.

The latter half of our trip carried us southward through the lush palm groves of the Draa Valley and toward the expansive dunes of the Sahara Desert near Merzouga. We swapped motorised vehicles for camels in the late afternoon so we could ride into the golden sands, reach our luxury desert camp by sunset, and then spend the night under an open sky shimmering with stars. The next morning, we rose early to watch sunrise over the dunes, then moved into remote desert villages such as Ramlia and Tafraoute Sidi Ali, where our guide introduced us to desert plants, the nocturnal signs of desert creatures, and nomadic life that few travellers encounter. The sense of peace and expansiveness in the Sahara was a profound counterpoint to the rhythm of city and mountain, rounding out the trip with a moment of stillness.

By journey’s end we had not just seen Morocco; we had lived it, contributed to it, connected with it. We stayed in accommodations that supported local ownership, engaged in meaningful service rather than merely sightseeing, and forged friendships both within our group and with Moroccan hosts. The mix of bustling medina, high-mountain village, and vast desert provided a rich backdrop for personal growth, cultural immersion and human connection.