UK Tel: 01209 211 800
Intl Tel: +44 1209 211 800
CESA House
Pennance Road
Lanner
Cornwall
TR16 5TQ
Great Britain
t: 01209 211 800
Intl t: +44 1209 211 800
f: 01209 211 830
Founder member of the Year Out Group and the International Association of Language Travel Agents.
Social Activities in Rabat
There are two local excursions included every week for all Arabic courses taken at our centre. These excursions are led by an Arabic speaking tutor and include relevant vocabulary lists and a site tour.
Eight sites are visited on monthly rotation:
Chellah: Believed to be the earliest human settlement on the Bou Regreg, Chellah was established in Phoenician times before eventually becoming a Roman city. At the fall of the Roman empire, it was abandoned until approximately 900CE when the Arabs repopulated the area. The city was finally abandoned in the late 12th century.
Kasbah of Oudaya Sometimes referred to as Chellah's "sister" fortress, the Kasbah of Oudaya was built by Moulay Yacoub Al Mansoor, an Almohad Caliph. Inside the walls students visit an ancient military prison, gardens, museum, and the famous blue and white rues of Oudaya.
Hassan Tower/Mausoleum Mohammed V When construction began in 1195 CE, Hassan tower was intended to be the tallest minaret in the world. However, the project was never completed. While the massive structure is amazing by itself, the site also provides amazing views of both Rabat and Sale. The tower is also located about 100m from the Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
Royal Palace Rabat's royal palace is an impressive site. It was built in 1864. It is surrounded by huge walls and the compound includes many buildings like the Masjid Ahl-Fas, where the King leads Friday prayers.
Souks of Rabat
Rabat's central souks are located in the Medina Kadeema (old city) and are a great place to interact with true Moroccans and also a great place to shop. The wide rues of the Rabat Medina make it a comfortable and hassle free place to do this type of visiting.
The National Archaeological Museum
Built in 1932 and enlarged a few years later to display the finds resulting from intense archaeological research, this museum has housed the National Museum collections since 1986. The prehistoric section brings together human remains from the middle Palaeolithic period (probably Neanderthals) to the Neolithic (4000 B.C.), proving the continuity and size of the population at this time. The Islamic archaeology section is constantly growing with finds coming from the excavations of VIIIth and IXth century sites.
The Beach – visits are always popular!
Arabic Cultural Activities
Cultural Activities and weekend excursions are planned on a regular basis at the school. Participation is optional, but highly encouraged! Most activities are free (except for food) and weekend trips are planned with the idea of making them as affordable as possible. The following are just a few examples of activities and trips in which students regularly participate.
Calligraphy: "The Geometry of the Spirit" Calligraphy class is held in bi-weekly sessions, each two hours in length. Calligraphy instructors speak no English so its another great opportunity to practice language skills and increase vocabulary. For the artistically inclined, it is truly a fantastic exercise. Each session is free of charge.
Musical Showcase: From time to time we invite guest musicians to come to the centre to play their instruments and speak about their trades. Our favourite of these spectacles is the soothing and ethereal music of the Oud.
Guest Speakers When we find students have a particular interest in topics regarding the politics, the religion, the culture, and the history of Morocco we often invite Guest speakers to create an educational roundtable discussion. Lectures usually take place in English or else a translator is provided.
Excursion: Merzouga and the Moroccan Sahara 3 day, 2 night trip to camp in the desert. Students take a two-hour camel trek to Berber campsite. Cost 1000dh (including transportation, hotel, safari and some meals). Can go any weekend, minimum 8 students to go.
Excursion: Tangiers, Tetuoan, Chefchaoun 3 day, 2 night trip to visit Morocco's upper atlas mountains and Mediterranean coastline. Final destination Chefchaoun, a tiny mountain village of breath-taking beauty. Cost 800 dirhams (including transportation, hotels and some meals). Can go any weekend, minimum 8 students to go.
Excursion: Casablanca Day trip to visit Morocco's industrial capital. Visit the 3rd largest Mosque in the world, have ice cream at an ocean-side cafe, visit the souks, and eat lunch at Rick's cafe. Cost 120 dirhams (not including meals) minimum 8 students to go.
Excursion Meknes Day trip to visit Moulay Ismail's imperial Capital. Tour the dungeons, souks, palace, masoleum, palace stables, grainery and more. Cost 150 dirhams (not including meals) minimum 8 students to go.
Excursion Fez 2 day, one night trip to Morocco's religious and cultural capital. Tour the old city and all major imperial sites. Stop en route at the Roman ruins of Volubilis. Cost 600 dirhams (including transportation, hotel and some meals) minimum 8 students to go.
Return to: Learn Arabic in Rabat