Orbis Impact Expeditions heads to the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco on an incredible education focused adventure.
11th-18th October 2022
18th-25th April 2023
£1,650 per person.
The Women’s Partnership Challenge- Morocco
Why is this trip for you
This expedition has so many highlights and really makes us tingle. Like every great Orbis Impact trip you have adventure, travel and purpose.
Based in the High Atlas Mountains you will link up with the inspiring girls and staff from Education for All, learning more about how they are trying to support rural girls into education and the traditional Berber culture. For the first half of your trip your home is the beautifully restored Kasbah Du Toubkal, located within the Imlil Valley, from here you will have a day and overnight trek into the mountains and spend time skill sharing with the students from EFA and discovering village life. Your expedition finishes with two nights spent in the hustle and bustle of Marrakech to discover the markets, culture, history and incredible food.
This women only trip is an incredible chance to learn more about life in the High Atlas Mountains, partner with an incredible education for girls organisation, trek in this stunning region of North Africa and finish with the cultural burst of Marrakech.
Highlights
Arriving at the Imlil Valley and walking up to Kasbah Du Toubkal, high in the Atlas Mountains.
Village life and meeting the local Berber people who work at the lodge and are such an integral part of the hospitality centre.
Meeting the staff and students at the Education for All centres. Using your skills, learning, collaborating and partnering with this inspiring organisation.
Visiting the Tin Mal Mosque.
Trekking in the High Atlas and sleeping at the beautiful Azzaden Trekking Lodge.
Meeting back up with some of the girls from EFA and spending an evening delving deeper into girls educations and lives in this region of Morocco.
Your stay at the Riad Les Yeux Bleus and discovering Marrakech- the highlights and hidden gems- local style.
The Purpose
Very few girls from rural communities in Morocco get the opportunity of continuing their education after primary school. To help tackle this, Education For All, a Moroccan NGO, is building and running girls’ boarding houses near secondary schools, so girls from rural families can continue their education.
Education For All (EFA)
Education For All (EFA) was established to help provide the opportunity of a secondary education for girls from the High Atlas mountain region. They build and run high-quality boarding houses for girls from 12–18. Everything is provided for free. They offer 3 nutritious meals a day, hot showers, cosy beds, access to computers, study support via an international volunteer programme and dedicated, local housemothers. The overall environment makes it easy for the girls to settle in and thrive in their studies. They have seen an average of 90% pass rate across all years and now have 50 EFA girls enrolled at university!
Your role
On Day 4 of your trip you will be spending the day with an EFA guide and visiting three of their houses. There will be time to meet with the students and hopefully deliver some career style workshops, with themes around how to present yourself at interview, your career journey, female empowerment and general business. Before you travel we will have time to prepare your talks and meet with EFA to find out more about what would be useful for the girls. On Day 5 some of the older students will be joining you for a short walk and supper back at Kasbah Du Toubkal, a chance to get to know the girls better and hopefully form lasting links with this inspirational organisation.
Further Information…
We try our best to include everything for your time in Morocco. The cost of the Women’s Partnership Expedition is £1,650 which includes all transport and guiding in Morocco, meals (accept lunch on day 1, 2), accommodation (twin sharing), bespoke activities (including a spa treatment) and skill sharing. (Single supplement available at Riad Les Yeux Bleus: £180 subject to availability)
International flights, drinks, visas, tips and items of a personal nature are excluded.
Payment: We try and offer really good payment plan options and advise re fundraising. To get your company or business involved in part-sponsorship of your expedition as a professional development opportunity please see further information here.
Maximum group size: 10 women.
Day 1: Arrive and transfer 20 mins from Marrakech airport to Riad Les Yeux Bleus. If we arrive early enough there will be an option to take a guided walk to acclimatise before a first night dinner at the Riad. Riad Les Yeux Bleus
Day 2: Morning guided tour (or explore on your own) of the old Medina and Jmaa el Fna where snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats, medicine men and musicians compete for your attention. A great chance to explore the markets, buy some gifts and soak up the culture. In the afternoon you may choose to opt for a spa treatment at the Riad or take a motorbike tour around central Marrakech. Riad Les Yeux Bleus
Day 3: Leisurely departure and a 90 minute journey to the High Atals Mountains and the Imlil Valley. Settle into the beautiful Kasbah du Toubkal (1800m). Introductory walk followed by dinner at the Kasbah du Toubkal. Kasbah Du Toubkal
Day 4: Day spent at the Education for All houses. Meeting the girls, delivering workshops and learning about this incredible organisation. Stop off at the Tin Mal Mosque. Kasbah Du Toubkal
Day 5: Life in the High Atlas. Walk with a guide from the local area who will introduce you to the beautiful Imlil Valley and the Berber people. Kasbah Du Toubkal
Day 6: Rise early and trek 4-6 hrs into the Azzanden Valley, stopping on route for a picnic lunch. Overnight at the simple but stunning Azzanden Lodge. (Shared basic accommodation)
Day 7: Descend back to Kasbah and meet up with the EFA girls for lunch and a walk together as a group. A great chance to build on the relationships from Day 4.
Day 8: Depart for International Flight
This is simply a meeting of minds, social communication from one culture to another, which is brilliantly inspiring, it is a way to raise each other up. To be empowered and inspired by the strength an courage of others
— Kate Webb (Owner Orbis Expeditions)
