

SPAIN & MOROCCO
SPICE OF LIFE
An 18-Day Cultural Immersion Program






Spain & Morocco

Program Details
Dates: | July 7 – July 24 |
Duration: | 18 days |
Tuition: | $5,995* |
Arrive: | New York, NY |
Depart: | New York, NY |
Grade: | 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th |
*Airfare for group flight from New York additional
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Program Highlights
- Sample Explosions of Local Flavor from Mint Tea to Paella to Tapas, All Enhanced with the Richest Spices
- Stay in a Traditional Berber Village in the High Atlas Mountains, Where Locals are Improving Sustainable Agriculture and Women’s Education
- Take up Spanish, Flamenco Dancing, and Preparing Regional Cuisine
- Discover the Ancient Cities of Madrid, Seville, Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Marrakech
- Meet with the Spanish Coast Guard, Working Hard to Process the Largest Numbers of Refugees in Europe
- Enjoy the Misty Breeze of the Mediterranean From Both Spain and Morocco
- Shop Through the Ancient Medina of the Enchanting Blue City of Chefchaouen, Which Lies at the Feet of the Rif Mountains
- 15 Hours of Community Service
Spotlight Project
Spanish and Moroccan Village Immersion
Discover for yourself what it means to be a local in two distinct locales. In Seville, stay in the center of the old quarter, where in centuries past, when Seville was the center of the world, statesmen and explorers used to conduct trade and board boats to discover new lands. Learn “real,” Andalusian Spanish, then practice by ordering tapas, joining locals as they meander through historic city streets sampling little bites at restaurant after restaurant late into the night.
In the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, enjoy a welcoming cup of mint tea on the rooftop terrace overlooking Azzaden valley, where each small village is an interconnected smattering of medieval houses constructed with earth of the hillside, so seamlessly integrated you feel at once part of the valley, and in a whole new world. Join the Berber community working toward sustainable agriculture and equality for women. Help with daily chores, engage in conversations about voting, and play soccer, hopscotch, or any other game with your new host siblings.
Program Overview
Go back in time to discover how worlds collided in these faraway places, then witness how those influences remain today in the medinas of bustling Moroccan city centers, and Moorish accents leftover in Spain. 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. Learn how Spain is changing as thousands of migrants seek asylum after arriving on the southern coast. Cross the straight of Gibraltar, where Morocco awaits just a short ferry ride away, but worlds apart. Explore the blue village of Chefchouen, then stay with locals in the High Atlas Mountains while you work on sustainable agriculture projects for local villagers. Ride a camel into the sunset in the iconic desert of Marrkech.
Photo Gallery
Program Details
Explore Historical Spanish Cities
The southern region of Spain was once the center of global trade and exploration and the starting point for some of the most influential explorers of the modern world including Hernán Cortés, Juan Ponce de León, and Ferdinand Magellan. We explore all of Madrid, from the main square of Plaza Mayor to the enormous Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid, Europe’s most successful soccer team. Drink specialty coffees in a plaza by day, and feast on tapas (“tiny bites”) in the evenings. In Seville, we learn and practice our Spanish language skills for three days, then visit towering cathedrals and medieval forts and experience flamenco dancing and bullfighting. We travel farther south to experience rural Spanish life in Andalusia and enjoy the gorgeous Mediterranean coast.
Experience Vibrant Moroccan Culture
In the northern parts of Morocco, worlds have collided for centuries, leaving a truly unique culture. We discover the ancient city of Tangier, Europe’s gateway to Africa. Next, we head south for a night in the blue-washed city of Chefchaouen. This beautiful city sits just below the Rif mountains and speaks of its Andalucian and Moroccan influence with bright blue buildings and red-tiled roofs. Wander through the bustling medina and to the “Fountain of Youth” as we adjust to a new pace of life in Morocco.
High Atlas Mountain Homestays
With a cup of mint tea, our host families welcome us to the most intriguing mountain range in Northern Africa. As this community works toward sustainable agriculture and women’s equality, we lend a helping hand planting trees and developing a water system for irrigation. We have a chance to learn and practice traditional cooking methods passed down from our host family, and help a local foundation cross language and cultural barriers to learn about the community’s needs.
Soak in the Desert Beauty of Marrakech
This bustling city fills our senses with the smells of local spices and tanneries and the sounds of the call to prayer. We spend our mornings exploring the never-ending medina, sprouting from Jemaa el-Fnaa, where snake charmers, merchants, and acrobatic performers barter with locals and visitors alike. Taking a break from the hot, desert afternoon in the pool, we head out again around sundown for a camelback ride into the sunset to visit Palmeraie, a lush, palm-lined desert oasis that has existed for hundreds of years.
Common Questions
What is the weather like in Spain and Morocco?
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 50’s). 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 90’s.
What kind of health precautions should I take before traveling to Spain and Morocco?
Spain and Morocco are relatively clean and safe places to travel. However, ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your trip. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more complete information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations, particularly for travel in Morocco. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Our leaders carry a full first aid kit, and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).
Where do we sleep?
We sleep in a variety of private accommodations (Moroccan Riads and Local Spanish Homes), hotels, and in a Berber camp (bedding provided).
What is the transportation like once we are in Spain and Morocco?
We will be traveling in a 30-passenger private coach, vans and trains throughout this adventure. We will also travel by boat across the Strait of Gibraltar
What is the food like?
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. It does help if we are informed of this prior to departure date.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, all students traveling to Morocco and Spain need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is at least six months after your trip start date. Be sure to make a photocopy of your passport and keep it in a separate place. If you lose your passport and you have a photocopy, it is much easier to replace.
Do I need a Visa?
No. US and Canadian Citizens do not need a visa for this program.
What is the time difference between Spain/Morocco and the USA?
During the summer, Spain is on Central European Summer Time, and Morocco is just one hour behind, as they don’t observe “Summer” time. Therefore, on your trip the time in Spain will be 6 hours later than New York (Eastern Time) and 9 hours later than San Francisco (Pacific Time). Morocco will be 5 hours later than New York (Eastern Time) and 8 hours later than San Francisco (Pacific Time).
Do I really need to bring a backpack, or can I bring a rolling suitcase on this program?
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.
Do I need to speak Spanish to join this program?
Not at all. There is no language requirement for this program. Prior to the program, you will 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 any time.
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19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, OR 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC
Contact Us
19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, Oregon 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC