Special Events

Conference Side Events

• Sep. 23 – 28, 8^th edition of Ifrane’s Astronomy Festival (a week full of astronomy related activities: public conferences, exhibitions, competitions, workshops, planetarium, sky nights, etc..)
• Sep. 24 Visit to the nearby Cedar forest, Atlas monkeys near Arz Gouraud, and the nearby berber city Azrou (17 km).
• Sep. 25, Presidential lecture at Al Akhawayn University “The New Cosmos: The XXIst Century Version” by Prof. Jamal Mimouni, AfAS president.
• Sep. 25, visit to Al Akhawayn Observatory and Gala Dinner at the university faculty club
• Sep. 27, Official ceremony of the astronomy festival of Ifrane (recognition/prizes ceremony)

Post Conference trips

• Sep. 28 One Day trip to one of the oldest cities in the world, FEZ (12 centuries old)
• Sep. 29 One Day trip to Volubilis (Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins) and the imperial city Meknes
• Sep. 28 - 29 Two day trip to discover the Moroccan desert (Sahara of Merzouga)

Brief Information about the post conference trips

One Day trip to the oldest city in Morocco FEZ

Fez, about 60 km far from Ifrane, is the holiest and imperial city in the Islamic world after Mecca and Medina. Founded at the beginning of the 9th century by Moulay Idriss II. Fez is the best surviving example of an ancient Arab city, Fez is comprised of a new city, established in the 12th century, and the unchanged 2,000-year-old medina.

Tour Fez el-Bali (Fez the Old) and its medieval medina (old town), a UNESCO world heritage site crammed with narrow, winding streets, where donkeys laden with goods trawl alongside buyers through the ancient market.

A fascinating maze of lanes, blind alleys, bustling souks, and artisan workshops, the atmosphere assaults the senses with fragrant spices, exotic delicacies, brightly colored carpets, and fine handmade goods bursting from endless stalls. Visit centuries-old mosques and universities, see the multi-colored vats of the open-air tanneries, tour the ceramic workshops that create prized Moroccan mosaics, and shop for traditional goods made from copper, ceramics, and leather.

One Day trip to Volubilis, Moulay Idriss Zerhoun and Meknes

Start your day with a pickup from your Ifrane accommodation. Then, head out to explore the ancient imperial city of Meknes, known as the “Versailles of Morocco”. At its peak of glory, Meknes had over 50 palaces, 20 doors, and a city wall that measured around 45km.

See historical sites such as the impressive ramparts, monumental gates, and the Mausoleum Moulay Ismail.

Following lunch in the medina of Meknes, visit Volubilis, an areas consisting of impressive and well-preserved Roman ruins, not to mention spectacular mosaics.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most important Roman sites in North Africa.

Travel through the holy city of Moulay Idriss, perched dramatically against the slope of Mount Zerhon, and immerse yourself in the dramatic landscape of Morocco.

At the end of your tour, head back to your accommodation in Ifrane.

Two Day trip to Merzouga (Sahara)

Highlights of the trip:

• Experience the wide range of Morocco's landscape and culture as you travel through the Atlas Mountains into the Sahara
• Venture into the desert on a camel
• Watch a desert sunrise over nearly 500-foot-tall dunes
• Watch a desert sunset and the beautiful night sky and spend a night in a tent
• Enjoy diverse regional cuisine along the way.