Ride a camel & camp in the desert in Morocco. Visit ancient castles, grand palaces and secret initiation wells in Portugal. Stroll through the colorful souks (markets) of Fes El Bali, and cross from Europe to Africa via the Strait of Gibraltar.
On this 2 week adventure, we'll explore the exotic lands of Morocco, the mountains & plains of Portugal and the sun-baked coastal towns of Spain.
A dream trip to Portugal, Spain & Morocco, specifically curated for adults with Asperger's, Autism, Anxiety & ADHD (Diagnosed or not). We'll stay in calmer areas so we can venture into the crazy amazingness of our exotic destinations, but also get plenty of time to decompress and chill.
Day 1
Arrive between 3-4 PM to our hotel near the airport. Our guides are happy to pick you up from the airport upon request, or you are welcome to take the free hotel shuttle from the airport to our hotel on your own. We may depart out of Newark, JFK or La Guardia depending on flight prices.
Orientation
Welcome Dinner
Day 2-6
Arrive in Lisbon, Portugal then take a short light rail ride to the hilly town of Sintra, Portugal. Sintra is known for having castles, palaces and even gardens with secret passages and a Knights Templar initiaion well. We'll spend our days enjoying the fine foods of Portugal while exploring the surrounding town. It is truly a sight to behold and one of our favorite places on earth to visit.
There will be plenty of down time as well, where your WanderRock guides will be available to help coordinate activities that the group chooses, so if you have something you've always wanted to do in Sintra or Lisbon, you will have the time to do it.
Highlights include...
Pena Palace & The Ruined Castelo dos Mouros
The Initiation Wells of Quinta De Regaleria
Explore The Hills & Neighborhoods of Lisbon
Day 7-8
Continue onward by train and a quick 1.5 hour flight to Cadiz, Spain, a quick stop-over on the way to Morocco. This is a great place to rest, enjoy some very fresh seafood, and relax before our journey into the top of Africa.
Highlights include...
Relax By The Sea
Sunset Boat Cruise
Days 9-15
Continue by train to Tarifa, Spain, and then hop on a ferry to cross over the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier, Morocco, where we'll be picked up for a 2 hour drive into the mountains of Morocco.
We'll be staying in Chefchaouen before riding camels to the desert, where we will be camping for the night and finishing our trip in Fes.
Highlights include...
The Blue City of Chefchaouen
Riding A Camel To A Desert Camp And Stay Overnight
The Exotic Old Town of Fes El Bali
A Moroccan Cooking Lesson
The WanderRock Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to follow our main ethos: Putting more life in our travelers lives. We believe that travel is one of the best ways to gain real world skills that will last a lifetime.
Those skills include...
Travelers will learn & gain confidence in the practical application of logistical skills that they can take into every day life. These skills aren't something that can be taught in a classroom or by reading, so we emphasize practical experience whenever possible.
For example, travelers might have to research dinner options, negotiate with peers, check to see if the restaurant fits within their budget for the week, and plan how to get there on public transportation.
Sequencing and Processing
Time & Money
Problem Solving
One of the great things about travel is that by experiencing different cultures, it gives our travelers a new sense of perspective & a greater wisdom as they go about their daily life. Our program uses deep cultural immersion & the physical environment to give our travelers a greater understanding of themselves, their worldview and the people around them.
Building Empathy & Creating Tolerance
Re-Aligning Personal Stories
Becoming More Flexible
Being out on the road teaches our travelers a lot about their basic needs, and our program highlights those needs and helps our travelers make good decisions about eating, relaxation, sleep, hydration & more, based on their own felt sense of checking in with themselves.
Emotional Capacity & Vagal Tone
Deep Relaxation
Bodily Needs
Our travelers will have many, many opportunities to connect with their peers and the people of the various communities we visit, which will allow them to practice social skills & community engagement in a safe, welcoming way.
Sharing & Advocating
Interpersonal Skills
Building Motivation
What's Included With My Program Fee?
Our programs are all-inclusive (including flights). The only extra cost you need to plan for is getting to our start point in the US, and any souvenirs you wish to purchase.
Specifically, your program fee covers...
Your fee covers all travel activities during the itinerary. Unlike 99% of the group tour operators out there, we don't upsell you or try to sell extra experiences. We are all-inclusive.
Nightly accommodations
All Planned Activities & Attraction Tickets
Food & Snacks
All Transportation (Including International Flights)
Our guides have a deep love for taking people on trips to new places. They're experienced travelers, speak multiple languages, have been trained in first-aid and CPR and understand the unique challenges that come with taking neuro-diverse individuals abroad.
No One Gets Lost
Empathetic & Caring
Neuro-Diverse Themselves
Our curriculum involves much more than just travel. With journal writing, group discussions to process the day and ice-breaking events to help everyone get to know each other, our program is designed to be impactful, empowering and one of the best experiences you'll have in a very long time.
New Skills & Practical Applications
New Friends
Pre & Post Trip Follow Up
Advice, Wisdom & Coaching
We require that all potential travelers go through our application process to ensure that there is a good fit amongst the people in the group and that everyone is going to have a good time. We don't want anyone to get to our destination and then say "Oops this was a bad idea to come."
This short application is where we'll learn more about you, your concerns and what you are most excited for during the trip. It should only take a few minutes to fill out.
On our call together we'll answer any questions you may have, make sure you are a good fit for our trip and walk you through the itinerary.
Once we determine that you are a good fit, we'll take payment in the form of a 60% deposit. (Full payment due 60 days out). We accept credit card & check and you can see our cancellation policy here.
Apply Now
Our programs are all-inclusive (including international flights) and run often, however we make no promises on repeating a certain program itinerary, so if you see something you like, apply as soon as possible so you don't miss out!
Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Contact us.
We're happy to chat and answer any questions you have about our program.
Call, text, email, fill out our contact form, or use the live chat in the bottom right to get in touch.
2443 Fillmore St. #380-2362
San Francisco, CA 94115
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Please read these important trip notes as they contain details and guidance on important things like passports, Covid restrictions, border entry requirements & more. By applying to join us on this trip, you are signaling that you have read, understood and agreed to these notes.
We expect all travelers to fully comply with any restrictions that may be put in place by our destination countries, such as social-distancing, wearing a mask or showing proof of vaccination to enter the country.
A valid passport with an expiration date AT LEAST 6 months out from the END of the trip is required. Please make sure the name on your passport is your full legal name & matches the name on any airline tickets you book separately (such as to/from our start or ending destinations).
Please make a copy of your passport and other important documents, and bring 1 copy with you, leave 1 copy at home, and email yourself 1 copy.
United States Citizens do not require a Visa to travel to any destination on our itinerary, but there are duration limits that apply for how long you can stay in each country in a given year period, so if you have previously been to any of the countries we are visiting within the past 365 days before the trip start date, please let us know.
Ultimately, you are responsible for ensuring that you meet and comply with foreign entry requirements, health requirements and that you possess the appropriate travel documents. Contact us if you need assistance.
Due to conditions such as weather, transportation schedules, public holidays, availability or other factors, we may make changes to this itinerary before or during the trip. We will advise you of any such changes as soon as possible.
You will have roommates on this trip. You will be sharing a room with at least 1 other person (sometimes more than 1). We'd recommend bringing earplugs & an eye mask in case they snore.
We'll do our best to make sure your roommates are the same sex as you and in 99% of times that will be the case, however sometimes due to logistics outside of our control, we cannot guarantee this. (On a past trip we arrived at a hotel in Paris, on the hottest day on record ever, to be told that all the rooms with 3 beds in them didn't have working AC. So we had to choose between different sleeping arrangements than planned... or no Air Conditioning.)
We will be staying in a wide variety of accommodation types during our trip. It's important to be aware that our accommodations may differ very significantly from what you are used to at home, as we tend to stay in local style accommodations in order to experience the local culture.
Please read the below descriptions of our accommodations in detail to avoid surprises. Depending on transportation schedules, we may need to stay the night in a hotel by an airport or train station as well.
Los Angeles, CA: We'll stay in a standard, chain hotel such as a Hilton.
Sintra, Portugal: We will be staying in a modern, western style hotel. Note that European hotels, while nice, are a bit smaller than US hotels. All rooms have a full private bathroom.
Cadiz, Spain We'll also be staying in a modern European hotel.
Chefchaouen, Morocco: We'll be staying in a Riad, a traditional type of Moroccan accommodation with an interior courtyard. Your room will have normal beds & and a full private bathroom.
Camping In The Desert We will be in tents, fully camping for one night in the Moroccan desert. All gear will be provided.
Fes, Morocco We will be staying in a different Riad, but your room will have normal beds and a private bathroom.
Life on the road means that you may not get as much privacy as you are used to back home. You'll be sharing a room with at least 1 other traveler and will be expected to keep your sleeping area neat (ish). You may only have a locker to put your things in at times (depending on the accommodation type). You'll also be expected to practice daily hygiene (brush teeth, shower, deodorant) so that you don't cause discomfort to your fellow travelers.
Our daily itinerary is split into morning/afternoon/evening periods and we aim to allow for daily downtime during one of these periods every day (excluding travel days of course). This is your time to do laundry, call home, play games with your fellow travelers, explore the area, do some shopping or whatever else suits you.
This trip involves flights to and from Europe/Africa, which is on average 11.5 hours long each way. You'll be in Economy class and there may or may not be entertainment options available on the flight, so plan accordingly. On the ground, we will be on the move fairly frequently via a wide variety of modes of transit including car, train, plane, boat, and camel. Some of these trips have multiple 2+ hour segments. You should be in good health and easily able to sit for multiple hours at a time.
A WanderRock trip includes daily expenses such as food, snacks, lodging & transportation, but you should still bring some extra cash for emergencies, shopping & optional activities. We also highly recommend not bringing one large sum of money, but having some cash on hand and access to an ATM card to withdraw more as necessary.
We plan for every known contingency, but unexpected things can and do occur when traveling. If such emergencies occur, we'll do our best to resolve the situation. This may include re-routing part of our itinerary due to natural disaster or health concern, extending or shortening the length of our stay in certain locations or other remedies as the situation requires.
Whatever happens, you can be assured we'll keep everyone traveling with us (and family back at home) advised of the situation, and will communicate as much as possible. Please see "Problems & Emergency Contact Info" below for more details about personal issues such as Illness, Meltdowns or Injury.
Unlike 99% of the tourism & travel industry, we do not get commissions from local vendors for bringing our travelers to them for purchases. This allows us to recommend activities based on genuine fit, rather than who will make us the most money. Our all inclusive pricing model means that the way we make our living is up front and honest. We aren't going to upsell you during the trip at all.
We require all of our travelers to pack for Carry-On only, which means no checked bags are allowed. You should plan on packing 7 days worth of clothes, as there will be plenty of laundry opportunities along our itinerary. That means that we require you bring a backpack of no more than 40L in size as your main bag. You'll find it much easier to handle a backpack than a rolling suitcase and we will provide guidance on specific brands, sizing & more in our packing guide, which will be sent to you after enrollment.
Laundry services may not be available every day of the trip. Your guides will advise you on the best days & times to do laundry, and assist as needed.
You should plan for 50's and 60's (farenheit) while we are on our trip. It can be quite cold at night in Morocco (40's) so make sure you pack accordingly. There will be opportunities to buy sunscreen once we arrive in Portugal. Because it has the possibility to rain, a lightweight and packable raincoat is recommended. We aren't going to stop just because it is raining!
Our WanderRock guides are here to help you have the best trip you possibly can. They come from many walks of life, from yoga instructors to outdoor adventure guides to people who have worked helping college kids be more independent, and bring their expertise with them to help guide you through the trip.
Unlike a tour guide, they are not deeply knowledgeable about specific touristic attractions & the history of an area, but are trained in things like first aid & CPR, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and basic outdoor survival.
On travel days, you will be split into different groups, each with 4 travelers and 1 guide, and you are expected to follow their instructions on trains, planes, buses and other modes of transit.
We expect all travelers to behave in a way that is respectful of the cultures, places & people that we are interacting with, and to be respectful of the other travelers and their preferences. Should issues arise, our guides are trained in conflict resolution and will do their best to diffuse and resolve the situation.
In extreme situations where a travelers behavior is a consistent and major disruption to the group, or in cases of concern for the health & safety of any of our travelers, our guides may, at their discretion, remove a traveler from the group, without a refund. In that case, we will escort the traveler to the nearest international airport and assist them with arranging for transit back home.
Abuse & Bullying: Everyone has the right to feel safe & accepted when on our trips. For that reason, verbal abuse, physical abuse, bullying and sexual harassment focused on any person (whether thats a fellow traveler, guide or local person) will not be tolerated, and our trained guides will deal with those situations swiftly. Should a traveler be found to be in violation of this policy, they will be removed from the group and escorted to the nearest international airport once arrangements have been made for them to travel back home.
Sexual Relations: No sexual relations are permitted between guides & travelers. We also highly discourage developing intimate relationships with your fellow travelers until you arrive back in the United States.
Sex Tourism: Patronizing sex workers isn't tolerated on any WanderRock trip. Anyone who is found to be in violation of this policy will be removed from the group and escorted to the nearest international airport once arrangements have been made for them to travel back home.
Drugs & Alcohol: Use or possession of illegal drugs (as determined by the laws of the country we are in) is not tolerated on any WanderRock trip. If you choose to drink alcohol, you must be at least the legal age to do so in that country, and we expect you to do so in a responsible manner.
Recklessness: We expect all of our travelers to maintain situational awareness and keep themselves safe. Any traveler who has consistently demonstrated an extreme lack of judgement when it comes to keeping themselves safe will be removed from the group and escorted to the nearest international airport once arrangements have been made for them to travel back home, for their own safety.
Note that we are talking about "walks out into the middle of traffic repeatedly" type recklessness, not "forgets to lock the hotel room door".
International travel can be a stressful & amazingly exciting experience at the same time. All travelers need to make sure they are ready to handle the rigors of jet lag, long plane flights, and disruptions to their normal routine, and need to be healthy enough to go on the trip.
Flexibility is a key trait that will help you have a great time. You may have to let go of some preferences you have back home, as we may not be able to accommodate your requests, and may have to change our itinerary at the last moment due to unforeseen circumstances.
When traveling with us, you'll experience the vast array of food available in the world. Some of it will be extremely foreign, and some extremely familiar. We'll do our best to work with your preferences and make sure that you always have something that you can eat, but can't make any guarantees.
If you have certain food allergies, we'll work to the best of our abilities to help you eat food that is safe for you, but can't make any guarantees for many reasons, including language barriers, lack of control of the supply, cultural differences, and lack of choices. If having a certain type of food is a life or death situation for you, this probably isn't the trip for you.
That being said, the locations we are going to are big enough to generally provide as much choice as you are used to at home.
On this trip, you'll need to take the same sort of precautions you do at home. Make sure to wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer, and maintain proper hygiene.
Please consult your doctor and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) website for guidance on specific vaccines you may need.
We are traveling to areas that have little to no violent crime, and very little petty theft, but it is still important to be aware of your surroundings, especially in cities and on public transportation. We recommend carrying a safety whistle and a lock for your bag, as well as a money belt.
The use of illegal drugs is not permitted on any WanderRock trip, and is grounds for immediate removal from the program without a refund. If you choose to drink alcohol, we expect you to do so in a responsible manner and in line with the laws of the country we are currently in at the time. You will be expected to respect all laws of the country that we are currently in.
Should problems arise, whether that be an illness, injury, emotional overwhelming event, or lost baggage, the WanderRock guides accompanying you on your trip are your first place to turn to for help. If, for some reason, you don't feel safe turning to them for help, you may call our Stateside Support phone number for assistance, where someone from the WanderRock office will be standing by to help resolve your issue.
