Accommodation

For the duration of this adventure and yoga and art retreat, you will be staying in boutique hotels for 6 nights and camping in the desert for two nights. You will be staying either in double or shared occupancy basis.

You will be spending the first - third nights in Marrakech, the third night in a village outside the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou in the village of Agdz, fifth and sixth nights you will be camping in a Berber camp in the Sahara Desert, seventh night in Ouarzazate, and the eighth night you will return to Marrakech.

Please note that if you are traveling alone, you will be paired with someone of your own gender. You'll be paired with a roommate unless you request your own room. Note that during the two nights in the desert, all bookings will be double occupancy (paired by gender) due to the limited amount of structured tents in the camp.

Program

Are you feeling stagnant in your life? Have you ever wished for a sacred space to combine adventure and inspiration with healing and transformation? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this retreat is for you. This 9-day Morocco retreat combines the culture and stunning landscapes of Morocco with rejuvenating movement and personal development.

The route starts in Marrakech, teeming with souks in the ancient medina. You head to the UNESCO-protected village of Aït Ben Haddou as you make your way across the Atlas mountains. Then you continue into the Sahara Desert complete with a camel ride, oasis excursion, and music under the stars. En route back to Marrakech, you stop at Berber women’s textile co-op to learn about how their artisan craftsmanship shapes their community.

Throughout you’ll have either daily yoga or development workshops to focus on the theme of your trip while gaining a deep understanding of traditions within the Moroccan way of life.

Trip highlights

Personal transformation and holistic healing in an adventurous setting
Connect with a Berber women’s textile co-op
Sleep under the stars in the Sahara
Experience the souks of Marrakech and UNESCO sites
Adventure with like-minded, growth-oriented people

Activities

Daily yoga sessions (mats provided) or workshop sessions, according to retreat theme
Visit to the UNESCO site of Aït Ben Haddou
Sahara desert excursion with 2 nights all-inclusive camping complete
Camel ride, stargazing, traditional music and food and an oasis outing
Marrakech souk tour
Entry to Bahia Palace and Madrasa ben Youssef

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Marrakech

Arrive at Marrakech Menara Airport by 4 p.m. and be transported to your riad style accommodations complete with vibrant mosaics and atrium gardens. Rest up and meet your roommate before your evening yoga or workshop followed by their welcome dinner.

Meals - Dinner

Day 2 - Marrakech Medina

After morning yoga or workshop and breakfast, you will kick off a packed day of discovering the Red City, so be sure to get your energy up!

You'll depart not-too-early for a full day of guided tours of the ancient old town (medina) of Marrakech - including visits to the opulent Palais Bahia, the Madrasa ben Youssef, Jemaa al Fna (big square of Marrakech), a local spice market, artisan markets (souks) and much, much more. You'll make time to stop for lunch to enjoy some modern Moroccan cuisine. The tour will end around sunset and they'll give you all of their recommendations for the best dinner spots!

Meals - Breakfast

Day 3: Marrakech free day

After your morning yoga or workshop, it’s a day to choose your own adventure! You can explore on your own or go for the traditional Morocco treat: hammam! And in the afternoon explore Marrekech further or try your hands at a Moroccan cooking class learning the techniques and ingredients of this delicious cuisine.

Meals - Breakfast
Add-on options (possible to do both!): Moroccan hammam experience with massage, 2-3 hours; Hands-on cooking class

Day 4: Ait Ben Haddou

Wake up feeling refreshed and ready for a road trip! After your morning yoga or workshop, you depart in their SUV 4x4's for a trip across the High Atlas Mountains, retracing the steps of the ancient trade caravans from Timbuktu.

You will follow the “Valley of 1000 Kasbahs” and explore ruins and fortified cities, including the infamous Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou (a UNESCO site), where you'll stop for lunch and a short walk. The day ends in the palm oasis of the Draa Valley, in the village of Agdz (aptly named "resting place"), where you'll spend the night in the middle of the oasis and enjoy some good food, wine and company.

Meals - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 5: Sahara Desert excursion

You'll start your day with a sunrise yoga session or workshop, then depart after breakfast to continue the journey south. The scenery begins to change as the mountains fade into the background and the desert scenes become more prominent.

You'll pass through the last village on the map (afternoon yoga or workshop and lunch stop included) before taking the cars off-road for a 2 hour jaunt through the desert to your camp, nestled in the biggest dunes of the Moroccan Sahara - Erg Chegaga. You'll be greeted with Moroccan tea - Sahara style - and take some time to unpack and settle in for the next two nights. Dinner and campfire await!

Meals - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 6 - Sahara Desert

After sunrise yoga or workshop and breakfast, tie on your turban because you're heading back out for an afternoon adventure to visit a traditional nomad family. See how locals live in the Sahara and learn about their traditions and customs, including how they make their tea using sap from the Acacia tree and how they make bread using an oven made from sand.

You'll return to the camp for lunch, some afternoon down time, and then close out the evening with a sunset camel ride, some dune surfing, dinner and campfire.

Meals - Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7 - Berber Textile Co-op

Wake up to catch an unforgettable Sahara sunrise. You'll then say farewell to your desert camp behind and heading back on the road towards the village of Taznakt. You'll stop to visit their Community Partner, a women's weaving co-op where you'll learn about crafting traditions that these groups work so hard to preserve while boosting the livelihoods of women throughout the area.

You’ll see the artists behind the looms working on amazing textiles while getting a solid understanding of the Moroccan carpet industry, many different styles or rugs - and even shop for one that you can have shipped to your home! There’s nothing better than buying directly from the source.

After lunch, you'll continue the drive to the city of Ouarzazate, where you'll spend the evening in a beautiful hotel with a swimming pool, some evening Yin yoga or another workshop, and a delicious dinner. Also - a great opportunity for a hot shower to wash off all that Sahara sand!

Meals - Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 - Back to Marrakech

After breakfast, you'll hit the road for the final hours of your "Southern Loop" trip back to Marrakech. Once arriving back to the villa where you started, you'll have some time to settle back into your room, take a dip in the pool or join in for a solid evening yoga practice or workshop.

This evening will be the grand finale of your yoga experience or workshop sessions together as you integrate all you've experienced throughout the week before your Farewell Dinner together.

Meals - Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 - Departure

Depart any time today from Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK). Your airport transfer is included. Or choose to add on a few days for a self-guided, fully planned Fes and Chefchaouen excursion.

Included excursions

Explore the landmark sites of city of Marrakech
Visit to Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
Learn traditional crafting at a Berber women's textile co-operative
Camel ride, stargazing, traditional music and food and an oasis outing
Marrakech souk tour
Entry to Bahia Palace and Madrasa ben Youssef

Instructors

Kim Jeffs

Kim Jeffs has been a psychotherapist, teacher, healer and mental health entrepreneur for nearly 20 years. Kim's background and training is in somatic psychotherapy and transpersonal psychology and her specialty is helping people heal from trauma and move them to triumph in both their personal and professional lives. She has post graduate trainings in several different nervous systems therapies. Kim is the co-founder, with her husband Dr. Patrick Jeffs, of Soma & Soul and The Resiliency Solution in Chapel Hill, NC. Her goal is to help people who are suffering feel at home in their bodies, co

Retreat location

This camp is based in Marrakech, Sahara Desert, and Taghazout in Morocco.

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Food

This trip includes daily breakfast, 5 lunches, and 7 dinners. Traditional, healthful meals with accommodations for vegan and vegetarian needs.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Dinner

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Vegan
Regular (typically includes meat and fish)

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

Hammam spa and massage - 130 USD: Traditional hammam and massage, a true Moroccan experience! About 2 hours
Cooking class - 95 USD: 3-4 hour experience with vegetarian options and wine pairing available
Fes and Chefchaouen 3-night extension: For the complete Moroccan experience, you can choose an optional 3-night add-on to Fes and Chefchaouen. Here you'll discover luxury riads in Fes as well as the vibrant colors of "the Blue Pearl" of Chefchaoeun

Add on Fes extension

Day 9

After breakfast, get an early start and hop the train to Fes, a beautiful, ancient city full of hilly riads, art and architecture. You can pack snacks or get lunch on board before arriving mid-afternoon to the ornate riad located in the medina with panoramic terrace views. You’ll relax with afternoon tea and treats and have time to watch the sunset on the terrace and a chef-prepared 3-course Moroccan dinner.

Meals - Breakfast and dinner

Day 10: Fes Artisanal Souk explorations

Today you’ll explore the ancient medinas of Fes with the local guide who will show you the incredible craftsmanship of the town, from tile making and pottery to metal working and textiles. You’ll see the spice souks and tanneries and have time for a stop at a local hammam (spa). You’ll have lots of places to choose from for lunch and dinner, either eat-as-you go street tastings or full-on Moroccan family style meals.

Meals - Breakfast

Day 11: Chefchaouen

You’ll head out after breakfast for the “Blue Pearl of Morocco,” the magical blue city nestled in the Rif Mountains. You’ll have the full afternoon to explore the Old City and Medina, do some shopping and snacking, take photos, or rest up in the local riad.

Meals - Breakfast

Day 12: Departure from Tangier

After an early breakfast, you’ll head out to the Tangier airport (TNG), about 2 and a half hours from Chefchaouen. Plan your departure flight for after 1:00 p.m.

Meals - Breakfast

Costs include

995 USD Fes and Chefchaouen (3 nights), price based on double occupancy. (295 USD single supplement)
65 USD upgrade to full day artisan tour, per group
75 USD Fes cooking class, per person
135 USD Fes pottery workshop, per person

What's included

8 nights accommodation (boutique riad style guesthouses and desert camping in permanent structure tents with real beds)
Transfers to/from airport
Private ground transit between Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou and the Sahara
Daily yoga sessions (mats provided) or workshop sessions, according to retreat theme
Excursion and overnight in Ait Ben Haddon Kasbah (fortress village)
Sahara desert excursion with camel ride, stargazing, traditional music and food and an oasis outing
Marrakech souk tour
Daily breakfast, 5 lunches and 7 dinners
Small group trip, maximum 12 people
Visit to a traditional Berber textile women’s co-op and donation to their organization
Dedicated retreat leaders and local guide
Traverse representative assisting you from booking to departure

What's not included

Airfare
Additional meals, excursions, and activities not listed
Tips to your local guide, Traverse guide, drivers, etc.
Alcohol, unless specified
Travel insurance

How to get there

Recommended Airports

RAK

Marrakesh Menara Airport

5 km

Transfer included

Airport: Marrakesh Menara Airport Airport transfer included: Marrakesh Menara Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 60 days before arrival.

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