2019 DCIS Spain & Morocco Program

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2019 DCIS Spain & Morocco Program!  We have created two webpages dedicated to this once in a lifetime experience so that travelers are as informed as possible throughout the process. The first page, Pre-Enrollment, is meant to share exciting details, highlights, and pertinent info, that participants will want to know before enrolling. Once enrolled, the Post-Enrollment page is intended to prepare travelers for participation on the adventure ahead. Please be sure to review the information on the appropriate page thoroughly and get excited for Spain and Morocco!
Travel Dates: March 21, 2019 - April 1, 2019
Group Organizer(s):
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $3,050 USD - or - $2,950 USD with discount if paid in full
Airfare not included in program tuition
Confirmed Airfare: $999
Deadline(s): Final payments are due March 15, 2019

Tuition Calculator

There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan.  Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.

Program Tuition: $3,050

Pay in Full

Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:

$2,950.00

due today

Payment Plan

Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:

$43.23

per month

* This is an approximate price. Your exact total will be confirmed when your enrollment is processed.

All prices in United States Dollars.

Spain Cultural Journey South

The smell of paella, the rhythmic tapping of flamenco, the rugged peaks of the Pyrenees, the soft waves of the Mediterranean, the world class museums, the Moorish palaces, the medieval villages, and the people who seem to have more lust and passion for life than anywhere else; this is Spain!  Whether you’re hiking along the Camino de Santiago, exploring the colorful streets of Barcelona or sketching in front of a piece at the Prado, this gem of a country is sure to leave you wanting more.

 

Cultural Journeys

Cultural Journeys

Cultural Journeys allow travelers to gain insights into the heritage, history and modern realities of their destination by offering a broad diversity of experience. We rely on the expertise of our local staff to plan itineraries which not only explore the prominent sites but also make time for the lesser-known local gems and are intentional about regular interaction with local people.

Program Highlights


Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!

Tour a family-run olive farm in Seville for a tour and tasting

Learn to make traditional Spanish cuisine during a cooking class

Travel across Andalucia, a region in Southern Spain home to many of the countries greatest cities.

Wander through The Alhambra, a majestic palace and fortress from the 13th century

Attend a flamenco dance performance in Granada

Bike through quaint coastal towns

The Itinerary


We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group. 

DayLocationDescriptionLodging
March 21USA - Madrid, SpainToday the group will travel from the USA to Madrid, Spain.Airplane
March 22MadridOn our first day in Madrid, we will tour our neighborhood and enjoy a snack near Plaza Mayor, which is really close to our hostel. From there we will walk to the Royal Palace to see the grounds, the statues of old Visigoth kings and tour the palace (if we arrive early enough). From there we will walk to the Templo de Debod and enjoy our first evening and sunset together!TOC Hostel
March 23Madrid & MarrakechAfter our morning flight to Marrakech, the group will start their Morocco portion of the program! We will check into our Riad. Lunch will be served at Nomad, a rooftop terrace that overlooks the Spices Square in the old medina. Afterwards the group will be picked up and transferred to ride camels! When our afternoon activity finishes, we will head back to our Riad where we will dine and enjoy live Gnawa music.Marrakech Riad
March 24MarrakechGroup will take breakfast on the rooftop of the riad and get ready for their last day in Marrakech. Everyone will be picked up by a local guide for their half a day medina tour. We will visit Badi Palace, Saadian Tombs and Bahia Palace. This will be a great opportunity to reflect on the similarities between Moroccan and Spanish arcitecture. Our guide will leave everyone in Jemaa el-Fna (the main square), where we will head across the street to view Koutoubia Mosque. Our afternoon will end there where we will discuss the history of Marrakech’s tallest arcitecture. The night train to Tangier that the group will be taking departs at 9pm, therefore we will head to the train station for dinner in advance.Sleeper train
March 25TangierWe will arrive in Tangier in the morning and check into our hotel. The rest of the morning and early afternoon will be spent on a day trip to the Caves of Hercules. The afternoon will end with the group having Moroccan tea at Cafe Hafa (a simple cafe that has a beautiful view of Tarifa’s coastline). Afterwards the group will dine at Le Saveur du Poisson. Once back at the hotel, the program leaders will hold a reflection in order to get everyone ready for the Spain portion of their trip the following day!Tangier Hotel
March 26Tangier & SevilleAfter breakfast we jump on a ferry and cross the Straight of Gibraltar, entering Europe again. Upon arrival in Seville, we'll have lunch and then visit the cathedral to see the Giralda and tombs of Columbus and Ferdinand III, both of whom shaped and were shaped by the Reconquista. We will continue with an orientation tour through the old Jewish quarter in Barrio Santa Cruz and the picturesque Calle de Agua. We will end the night in the Alameda de Hercules for dinner. Hostal Plaza Santa Cruz
March 27SevilleWe will start the day in the Real Alcazar, which features a mix of Arabic, Mudejar, and Gothic architectural styles, and learn about the legendary rulers there – which might seem familiar to Game of Thrones fans. We will have lunch at the Mercado de Triana, which sits in an old Moorish fortress and later seat of the Spanish Inquisition or the Mercado Lonja del Barranco, a fish market along the river that was converted into a modern food market. After lunch, we're off to Parque Maria Luisa for a look at the Plaza de España with special attention to the regional decorations that feature scenes of the Reconquista. After that, students will enjoy unstructured time to explore the gardens, including opportunities to visit the Mudejar art museum and Seville’s museum of archeology that contains impressive Roman art and ruins salvaged from Italica.Hostal Plaza Santa Cruz
March 28Seville & CordobaAfter breakfast in Seville we will take the train to Cordoba for a day-long visit to the enchanting city. Our first visit will be the iconic mezquita. As a church that was then a joint mosque, to only mosque, maintained by Jewish architects and engineers, and then converted into a church, there is no better monument to the conflict and cooperation between Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Andalusia. After lunch (which must include the Cordoban specialties salmorejo and tortilla), students will go on a “patio hunt” to try to find the best examples of Cordoba. We'll return to Seville this afternoon/evening for dinner.Hostal Plaza Santa Cruz
March 29Seville & GranadaAfter breakfast we're off to Granada. Upon arrival we check into the hotel and then strike out for the Granada cathedral, which took so long to build that its art and architecture reflect many changing styles in Europe. We will visit the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, who completed the Christian conquest of Spain. If time allows we will also visit the Centro de Lenguas Modernas, part of the University of Granada for students to get an orientation on options for a longer study abroad experience. In the evening, we will tour the beautiful and historic streets of the Albaicin, and end the day watching the sunset over the Alhambra from the mirador San Nicolas. Hotel Macía Monasterio de los Basilios
March 30GranadaAfter breakfast, we will visit the Alhambra, the last pinnacle of the Islamic era of Spain. In the evening, we will enjoy dinner and a flamenco show caves of Sacromonte, as well as a guided tour of the Albaicin.Hotel Macía Monasterio de los Basilios
March 31Granada & MadridToday we head back to Madrid to visit the Parque de Buen Retiro and its surroundings so that students can relax and enjoy unstructured time to explore before our final farewell dinner. TOC Hostel
April 1Madrid & USAFly home! Your own bed, eventually!

Accommodations


In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.  We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.  

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your trip, subject to availability. 
TOC Hotel Madrid

TOC is a spacious and hip hotel located in the heart of Madrid, just minutes away from the metro and major tourist attractions. This is a modern and hi-tech hotel with a friendly staff and a great breakfast! Travelers will have their own beds, distributed between double, triple and quadruple rooms. 

 

 

Monasterio Basilio

Monasterio Basilio is located in the center of Granada and provides an ideal location from which to explore the city. This cozy hotel can accommodate up to four students per room with ensuite bathrooms and the quirky aesthetic that defines this hotel makes for a memorable stay.

Grand Hotel Villa de France Tangier

This four star hotel was built in the eighteenth century and is located in the historic center of Tangier. The architecture of the Grand Hotel Villa de France, along with its fountains, pool, terraces and gardens, today create a convivial, relaxing atmosphere in one of North Africa’s most magical cities. Students will have internet access in order to stay connected, and will be grouped in double or triple occupancy rooms according to gender.

Sleeper Train – Marrakech to Tangier

The overnight train is a popular and time-effective way to travel from Tangier to Marrakech. The ONCF overnight train has one couchette car with eleven 4-berth compartments. Each bed is provided with pillow, sheet and light blanket. The car is air-conditioned, the compartment doors lock securely and it is a safe, comfortable and time-effective way to travel!

Riad Star

Riad Star offers the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech – a little slice of luxury in the heart of the medina. Students will be roomed in double, triple or quadruple rooms based on gender. Wifi is available throughout the hotel. Breakfast will be provided on the rooftop.

Hostal Plaza de Santa Cruz

Hostal Plaza de Santa Cruz is located in the heart of Sevilla, making it ideal for getting around easily on foot. The three star hotel comes with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and breakfast served on the terrace each morning. Students will be split between gender between double, triple or quadruple rooms depending on availability.

Safety and Support


 EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

I thought all in all it was a great experience and wonderful program!! My daughter speaks about her experience daily. She had a ball!!

April
Parent of Jaylah, traveler on 2017 Program to Costa Rica

Your Adventure Includes

Estimated Airfare

In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel. 

Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.

 

Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.

Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more.  There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!

Learn more here.

WTT coffee
Resource center

Resource Center

Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.

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