Age
15-19 yrs
Social Causes
Women’s Empowerment
Highlights
Ride Camels in the Sahara, Float in a Hot Air Balloon, Learn to Windsurf
Trip Pace
Very Fast
Physical Level
Moderate
About this Trip
Raw, vibrant, colorful and exotic, Morocco is unlike any other place in the world!
You will fall in love with the eclectic and unique vibe of this incredibly diverse country! The chaotic hustle and bustle of the local souks will energize you as you wind your way through the fragrant, endless maze of colorful spices, beautiful pottery, ornate jewelry, and masterful leather goods. You’ll experience the calm, peaceful pace of Moroccan village life as you fly over the valley in a hot air balloon and as you traverse through the Sahara on the back of a camel. Take workshops from local artisans and learn to cook traditional Moroccan dishes from some of the very best chefs. You’ll spend a night under billions of stars in the Sahara Desert and cool off learning to windsurf in one of the best locations in the world.
While every part of Morocco is amazing, the most meaningful part of your trip will be teaming up with an incredible local organization to aid in their Womens’ empowerment efforts.
Teen Service Opportunities In Morocco
If you want to lift up humanity, empower women
In many parts of the world, your gender at birth immediately determines your value, your opportunity to contribute, and your access to basic human rights.
Due to unchallenged ideas and longstanding cultural traditions, women who want to do things like pursue an education, own land, or get a job often face incredibly difficult obstacles. This leads to increased poverty, lower education, and worse health outcomes for their families and communities.
Your time spent volunteering at a locally-run Moroccan women’s center will help you understand your role in giving women a fighting chance.
Youth & Parent Experiences
Who Can Go On This Teen Trip?
All youth, ages 15-18, who commit to and follow the rules and safety standards of Travel For Youth can attend this trip.
Is Morocco safe?
Yes! Safety is, by far, our number one priority when we choose any location for our trips. We are keenly aware of the intense trust that is placed in us to provide a safe and life-changing experience for your child. As parents of three children, we do not take that trust lightly. Because of this, we will never take your child to a place that we, as the founders, do not deem safe for our own small children, and that we have not PERSONALLY visited and vetted from top to bottom.
Morocco is an amazing country with a high level of safety and hospitality–especially in the areas that our group will be traveling. The most common complaints by visitors that we want you to be prepared for are pushy salespeople in the squares and medinas, pickpocketing, and occasional catcalling.
We have several layers of safety in place to prevent all that we can. You can read more about our additional safety precautions here.
What is the food like?
Moroccans are some of the most hospitable people we have ever met. Your hosts spend the majority of their day preparing a large breakfast and a 3-course dinner for you every day. Breakfasts consist of pastries and bread, fresh-made yogurt, soft cheeses, fruit and nuts, and fresh-squeezed juice. Lunch and dinner usually start with fresh bread and several vegetable-based salads and appetizers. The main course is typically tagine (cooked vegetables and meat with several fragrant and flavorful local Moroccan spices) or couscous. Our hosts in Morocco bend over backward to accommodate for food allergies; dairy allergies are easily managed here and gluten allergies can be accommodated with extra planning and preparation.
What are the housing accommodations going to be?
Again, safety is our number one priority. When we consider new locations, we always go beforehand and scout out the safest, highest quality housing and neighborhoods available. We never stay in hostels and we vet every accommodation for cleanliness, location, safety, and privacy. In order to provide a more immersive cultural experience, and to better support and give back to the community we are visiting, we prioritize Airbnb’s or private, locally owned bed and breakfasts for the majority of our stay.
While we travel through Morocco, we will stay in traditional riads—large enclosed homes built around a beautiful outdoor courtyard with surrounding rooms and bathrooms. The riads are safe, comfortable, and clean. You will also have the opportunity to sleep in a tent in the middle of the Sahara Desert for a few nights, but don’t worry, the tents has hot water, a bed, solar-powered electricity, and even air conditioning! Amazing right?!
How can I prepare for my experience?
First and foremost, get a passport if you don’t already have one!
Next, keep your eye out for the information and resources that we will be sending you about women’s empowerment. The more you know and understand, the more this experience will mean to you and the more prepared you will be to make a meaningful difference.
We’ll be learning to windsurf one day so if you don’t know how to swim, now is a great time to learn! We’ll also be doing a good amount of walking on our trip so move your body a little bit every day so that you will be comfortable and ready for that.
Lastly, practice getting uncomfortable: try new foods, start conversations with people you don’t know, put away your phone for a few hours every day, etc. Traveling is exhilarating and life-changing, but it can also be full of moments that are new, hard, or uncomfortable. New people, new cultures, new languages, and new food can be a lot to take in at times. Everything you do to get ready now will make it that much easier. Just know that we’ll be there to walk you through all of it and help make the experience amazing!