MOROCCO: Cities, Cultures, Landscapes

Join the Middle East Studies Program for its first faculty-led study abroad trip to the North African country of Morocco.  This undergraduate field trip that will focus on the cities, cultures, countryside, food, religion, art and architecture of Morocco.  Integrating homestays with vernacular riad lodging, the students will travel across Morocco on a faculty-led thirteen-day trip visiting famous, and beautiful sites renown in the region.

Students will be guided by faculty escorts and AMIDEAST coordinators for every leg of the two-week trip. Explore the broad Moroccan landscape from the seaside cities of Rabat and Casablanca, to Marrakech and the Ourika Valley below the towering Mount Toubkal. Experience the medieval beauty of Fez and Meknes, the Roman glory of Volubilis, and the colorful architecture of Chefchouan.  This tour will also include a number of museum visits, and workshops including Conversational Arabic/Darijah, Arabic calligraphy, Sufism, Jewish Culture in North Africa, and Morocco in the African Context.

Travel Dates: June 5-June 20, 2017* (dates confirmed by February 2017)
Faculty Leader:  Dr. Tom Paradise, paradise@uark.edu
Academics:  Students enroll in 3 credit hours (MEST4103 or GEOS4103)
Estimated Costs:  $2500 Program Fee* + $1500 Airfare (estimate) + U of A Tuition (rate/hour varies depending on your College)

Itinerary

Day 1:  Departure from the US.

Day 2:  Arrival in Rabat, Morocco. Arrival orientation. Host family stay.

Day 3:  Moroccan Arabic Workshop. Guided tour of Rabat. Host family stay.

Day 4:  Moroccan Arabic Workshop. Lecture: History of Morocco and an Introduction to Judaism in Morocco. Host family stay.

Day 5:  Tour of Casablanca: Hassan II Mosque, visit and lunch at NGO, Association Solidarité Féminine. Museum of Judaism & Jewish Culture in Morocco. Travel to Marrakech. Dinner and lodging in Marrakech.

Day 6:  Tour of Marrakesh: Koutoubia Mosque, Menara Gardens, Jemaa el Fna Square, Bahia Palace. Free evening in Marrakesh.

Day 7:  Visit Ourika Valley and lunch. Travel to Rabat. Host family stay.

Day 8:  Free day in Rabat.

Day 9:  Travel to Volubilis. Travel to Fez. Lecture: Sufism in Morocco.  Group dinner in local riad with accommodations.

Day 10:  Tour of Fez. Drive to Chefchouan. Free evening and dinner with accommodation at Chefchaouan hotel.

Day 11:  Morning in Chefchaouan. Travel to Rabat. Host family stay.

Day 12:  Lecture: Morocco in Its African Context. Arabic Calligraphy workshop with free afternoon. Final Presentations by student groups, followed by fieldtrip summary discussions. Farewell group dinner with music and henna. Host family stay.

Day 13:  Depart from Rabat to United States.

*dates are approximate, may be subject to change. Visit the Study Abroad website for information on costs, eligibility, mandatory pre-departure meetings, etc.