NSLI-Y 2009 scholars stop for a photo as they cross the High Atlas Mountains on their way to Zagora, following in the footsteps of ancient caravans transporting goods from Marrakesh to Timbuktu.

NSLI-Y participants took their language learning on the road to Zagora, a small town in the Draa Valley. Twenty American students participated in the six week intensive Arabic language program in Morocco. During their stay in Zagora, students had the opportunity to ride camels and sleep under the stars. The group’s high point was the visit to Ait Ben Haddou and its Kasbah (the best preserved in Morocco), a designated UNESCO world heritage site.