8 Day Iyengar Yoga Retreat in Morocco including Meals and Activities
Morocco Yoga Retreat
Join Monique for a one-week yoga and wellness holiday at Bab Zouina, a peaceful and unique yoga retreat center built in a traditional Moroccan style in the Ourika Valley, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. Unwind from your daily life and enjoy a transformative holiday!
Meet the instructors
Read more
Highlights
- Daily 30 minute morning meditation
- 2 yoga classes daily, all props included
- Iyengar yoga for all levels of experience
- A day trip to Marrakesh or a hike in the Atlas mountains
- A 2 hour walk to neighboring villages
- 7 nights' accommodation
- Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner with unlimited water, tea, coffee, fruit and dried fruit
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Yoga styles
8 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
Facilities
- Spa
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Tennis court
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Garden
- Lounge
- Meditation garden
- Restaurant
- Special menu request
- Terrace
- Yoga shala
- Free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room
- Tour assistance
During this retreat, you will stay at Bab Zouina, a peaceful retreat center surrounded by lush olive trees, with panoramic views overlooking the Atlas Mountains. A unique, enchanting place in harmony with nature. Bab Zouina features several eco-friendly buildings spread across its vast grounds, with a total of 24 rooms. Their buildings are inspired by beautiful traditional earthen architecture. Their vast grounds feature several terraces and peaceful areas where you can relax. Accommodation is in single, double, or triple rooms.
All rooms have an en suite or adjacent bathroom with a shower and complimentary towels for your comfort. They ensure your stay feels like a private oasis. The retreat center has a swimming pool, a bowling court, and a tennis court, which is a clay court. Bring your own racket and appropriate shoes for the clay courts. There are two shaded terraces with panoramic views where you can relax or practice yoga facing the magnificent Atlas Mountains, amidst the chirping of birds and the golden light of the Moroccan sun. At night, there is a lovely space for relaxing around a fire. From the rooftop terraces, you can admire the sunrise and sunset, while at night, you can admire a clear, starry sky.
Wi-Fi is available in the reception area, and water, tea, coffee, and fresh and dried fruit are available throughout the day. Bab Zouina strives to preserve and improve its immediate environment. This involves clean agriculture that respects ecosystems, the choice of local and organic products, responsible and efficient resource and waste management, energy conservation, and the use of renewable energy wherever possible.
The yoga shala is fully equipped with mats and all the necessary equipment for your practice, including blocks, ropes, belts, blankets, Iyengar chairs, and more. A perfect destination for yogis who need a tranformative holiday for body, mind, and soul. The peace and quiet of this retreat center allows you to reconnect with your authentic self.
Program
It takes a lot of courage these days to choose to be joyful. People everywhere are experiencing so much pain and suffering. And there are so many dysfunctional things happening in our world. To intercept the waves of low-frequency negativity flowing around and affecting you, it takes courage and determination. But you are the changemakers! Free your body, calm your mind, and nourish your soul. The yoga classes are for all levels, from beginners to experienced yogis who want to deepen their practice. Included daily is a morning meditation and yoga class, a late afternoon restorative yoga class with pranayama, breakfast, lunch, dinner, accommodation, a cultural day trip to Marrakesh including a visit to a souk (market) or a hike in the Atlas Mountains, a walk to neighboring villages, and enough time left to enjoy the many activities this venue has to offer or just relax on one of their terraces or at the swimming pool. A wellness week just for you!
- Daily 30-minute morning meditation
- Daily two yoga classes, all props included: one 90-minute asana class and one 60-minute relaxing restorative class with pranayama
- Iyengar yoga for all levels of experience
Classes will be given in English. Yoga classes will focus on correct alignment and the connection between the body, mind, breath, and soul. Props will be used (pillows, blankets, and belts) to adapt the postures to your level. Small groups, a maximum of 15 people, ensure enough personal attention and correction. Everybody works at his or her level. The atmosphere is friendly and non-competitive.
The stunning and peaceful location brings a whole new experience to your yoga practice. Take a week to be inspired and reconnect with yourself. This yoga retreat is taught by a highly qualified and internationally recognized instructor with 25 years of experience. The yoga classes are for all ages, bodies, and levels, from beginners on the mat for the first time to experienced yogis who want to deepen their practice.
Daily sample schedule
- 30 minutes of morning meditation
- Breakfast
- Yoga asana practice (one and a half hours)
- Lunch
- Afternoon activities or free time (day trip, hike, massages, hammam, or workshops)
- Early evening deeply relaxing restorative yoga (one hour)
- Dinner
Included excursions
You will take part in a day trip to Marrakesh or a hike in the Atlas mountains, and a two-hour walk to neighboring villages. The day trip to Marrakesh includes a visit to cultural sites and a souk (local market). Transport to and from Marrakesh and the guide are included.
A visit to the museum is optional, museum tickets are not included and can be purchased by participants on the day. The hike in the Atlas mountains is an easy to medium hike of 2 to 3 hours. Transport to and from the mountains is included as well as a lunch or snack at a guesthouse.
The excursion day and walk will be decided closer to the time, it is included in the price.
Instructors
Monique Weschta
Monique Weschta was born in the Netherlands and moved to South Africa at the age of 22. She has practiced Iyengar yoga since 1997 and became a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher in 2009. In 2010, she practiced at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, India for a month and was blessed to receive yoga tuition from members of the Iyengar family.
Retreat location
The yoga retreat will be held at Bab Zouina, a peaceful and unique yoga retreat center built in a traditional Moroccan style in the Ourika Valley, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. Experience a transformative retreat at this peaceful oasis. At Bab Zouina (meaning "beautiful door" in Moroccan) yhey live by three core commitments: human balance, community impact, and sustainability.
As you stroll through their garden, your senses will be charmed by the purity of the air, the invigorating scents, the birdsong, and the red earth dotted with different shades of green. The stone paths, framed by rosemary and lavender hedges, lead you among rose bushes, agaves, and exotic flowers. During the day, the garden magically transforms with the changing light. It is a very safe destination, also for women alone.
Distances
- Atlas Mountains - 20 minutes drive
- Marrakesh - 40 minutes drive
- Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) - 40 minutes drive
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
Click to see more vegetarian-friendly Yoga Retreats
Food
Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the package. All meals are lovingly and carefully prepared using local produce from the garden at Bab Zouina, exuding a pleasant aroma of oriental spices. They offer stunning Moroccan, Berber, and Middle Eastern cuisine that caters to all dietary needs, including those of vegans, gluten-free, and lactose-free individuals. Each dish is prepared as a therapy of healthy and delicious foods to nourish your body.
Their bread is baked daily in a traditional Moroccan earth oven. And their kitchen staff squeeze delicious fruit juices to provide you with a healthy dose of vitamins. In addition, tea, coffee, and fresh and dried fruit are available throughout the day. A balanced and healthy diet is at the heart of their culinary approach.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
- Lactose Free
- Yogic
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
Activities with extra payment
- Cooking classes
- Bread making
- Calligraphy sessions
- Pottery workshops
- Hiking
- Henneh ceremony
- Hot-air balloon ride
- Quad biking
- A visit to local Berber markets
- Half-day excursion into the desert
Spa treatments
Wellness activities include hammam, oil massages, and Shiatsu sessions. The hammam is a true tradition in Morocco, a place of relaxation par excellence. It is an essential purification ritual in the rich culture of this country. The hammam at Bab Zouina is a gentle invitation to immerse yourself in an ancient ritual, lit by candlelight reflected in the glass inlay of the vault. This timeless space is a hymn to well-being. They offer a 60-minute session including soaping, scrubbing, body wrap, and oil hydration. All products used in the hammam are prepared on-site with high-quality natural ingredients and a touch of love. All these are available with additional cost.
What's included
- Daily 2 yoga classes
- Daily morning meditation
- A day trip to Marrakesh with a visit to cultural sites and a souk (market) or a hike in the Atlas mountains
- A 2 hour walk to neighboring villages
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Tea, coffee, water, fruit, and dried fruit
- Transfers to and from the retreat centre to the airport in Marrakesh
- All yoga props
- Free Wi-Fi
What's not included
- Airfare to Marrakesh
- Insurance
- Additional activities and spa treatments
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer included
Marrakesh Menara Airport
30 km away from your destination
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
Reviews
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookYogaRetreats.com. All major credit cards supported.