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Photo of Greenshaw High School students in Morocco in 2026
13 April 2026
Read time: 3mins
‘Students encounter a wide range of geographical themes, from desert environments and traditional settlements to questions of development and inequality. Seeing these topics in context allows students to connect classroom learning with real places and people.’
Bethan Beddow
This February, students from Greenshaw High School travelled to Morocco for a geography trip that brought classroom learning to life.
Led by Deputy Head of Geography Adam Barnes, the tour combined physical geography, cultural exploration, and community engagement. Over the course of the trip, students encountered environments very different from those in the UK.
From travelling through desert landscapes to spending time in a local village community, the itinerary offered opportunities to observe geography in action. For many students, it was their first time interacting with a desert environment or travelling so far from home.
A desert arrival to remember
One of the most memorable parts of the trip took place in the desert near Zagora Desert.
Students completed the final stage of their journey to the desert camp by camel. As they climbed the surrounding dunes, the vastness of the landscape stretched out around them.
Reflecting on the moment, Adam described arriving behind the students and seeing them gathered along the ridge: ‘I think the moment where this hit me was when we arrived at the Zagora desert camp by camel just before sunset. I arrived last behind the students, and it was great to see them all atop a sand dune watching the sun set behind the dunes.’
As evening fell, the group spent time with their Bedouin hosts, sharing music and dancing around a fire beneath the desert sky.
Photo of Greenshaw High School students in Morocco in 2026.
A sunrise in silence
The following morning began before dawn; the group set out once more, climbing the sand dunes to watch the sunrise. For Adam, it was another moment that captured the value of the experience.
‘I also thought this again in the morning when we all woke up at 6am to climb the sand dunes to watch the sunrise over the horizon,’ he says. ‘The silence was deafening as students just watched a sunrise – something I’m sure they’ve never appreciated the beauty of before.’
Standing together on the dunes, students were able to observe the desert environment in its most peaceful state. It was a simple experience, yet one that encouraged reflection and appreciation for the natural world.
Geography through real encounters
The educational value of the trip extended beyond the landscapes. During their time in Morocco, the group spent a day working within a local village community. Students helped with practical tasks before spending the afternoon playing football and games with local children.
For the teaching staff accompanying the group, this part of the trip offered some of the most meaningful learning opportunities.
‘For myself as a teacher this was the most powerful moment of the trip. It provided perspective – not through textbooks, but through lived experience. Students left with a deeper appreciation of opportunity, privilege and global inequality,’ Adam comments.
These reflections helped connect their geographical studies to the wider world beyond school.
Why Morocco works for geography students
With its striking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, Morocco provides an exceptional setting for geography fieldwork.
Students encounter a wide range of geographical themes, from desert environments and traditional settlements to questions of development and inequality. Seeing these topics in context allows students to connect classroom learning with real places and people.
Through experiences in the desert, within local communities and across unfamiliar landscapes, the school trip demonstrated how impactful geography becomes when students can experience it first-hand.
The trip was organised by the school in partnership with Rayburn Tours, enabling students to take part in the international experience.
Visit Rayburn Tours website here: www.rayburntours.com
Written by Bethan Beddow, Copywriter & Digital Content Creator at Rayburn Tours.
©Bethan Beddow and the Geographical Association, 2026.
