Only 2 more spots left!!
Spend 8 days and 7 nights in the stunning Ourika Valley, about 45 minutes south of Marrakesh. We will stay in a beautiful retreat center that offers striking mountain views, an expertly landscaped garden, and a fully-equipped yoga studio. Eat delicious homemade Moroccan food, drink as much mint tea as you'd like, relax, renew, and immerse yourself in Morocco's beauty and hospitality.
Throughout your stay, you will enjoy daily yoga classes (appropriate and accessible for all levels of experience), carefully curated cultural activities, and opportunities to interact in meaningful ways with the diverse people of Morocco.
Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is required to book this trip.
Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to chat!
Website: https://nicolegriffinwellness.com/
Email: nicole@nicolegriffinwellness.com
IG: @nicolegriffinwellness
Phone: 510-250-7242
We will have 1-2 movement sessions each day. Our morning sessions will include mindful yoga and short meditations and our evening sessions will include yin and restorative yoga. While a basic level of yoga is very helpful, all movement sessions are appropriate for all levels of experience.
Our retreat center has a fully stocked indoor yoga space, with props, mats, and beautiful views of the property. They also offer an outdoor yoga terrace.
In attending this retreat you will benefit the local economy of Morocco in many meaningful ways. We are intentionally including opportunities to support local communities and non-profits. A portion of the proceeds of this retreat will be donated to benefit these organizations.
Nicole lived in Morocco during grad school while she was studying Arabic and fell in love with the country. On her retreats, meaningful cultural immersion is the centerpiece while yoga provides the container to process the trip.
You will have the option of adding on a Sahara Desert extension trip for an additional 5 days. Sleeping under the crystal clear night sky, watching the sunrise over the dunes, riding camels and learning about local Bedouin cultures is an experience not to be missed!
See all the details and book here:
To secure your spot, place a 30% deposit; final payments will be due by August 15, 2022.
Trip insurance is required to protect against any unforeseen circumstances. Plan to budget about $200-300 for insurance. Squaremouth is a great resource for comparing different plans. I highly recommend selecting a plan that has a “cancel for any reason’ upgrade and purchasing travel insurance within 14 days of booking this trip to maximize your coverage options.
Your deposit is non-refundable. The remaining fees are fully refundable (minus any unrecoverable transaction fees) 91 days in advance. Cancellations 61 to 90 days in advance are eligible for a 50% refund of fees above the deposit. Payments made in the 60 days prior to the retreat are non-refundable. If you are able to find a replacement, we will refund your payment less your deposit and any non-recoverable fees.
This policy exists because we need to ensure that we can meet financial obligations to our venues and in-country partners. This is why trip insurance is so helpful (and required)!
If the trip is canceled due to COVID-19 or other unforeseen circumstances, all payments, minus the deposit will be fully refunded. Deposits are transferrable to a rescheduled trip.
Please inquire about payment plans as we are happy to make them available.
*The itinerary and daily schedules may change slightly.
Excluding one dinner out in Marrakesh
Plan to fly in and out of Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK)
of Kora and Diqqa traditional music
A sunrise adventure over local Amazigh villages
To the local charities we interact with during our trip
Saturday Oct. 15
-Arrivals to Marrakesh Airport
-Transfer to retreat property outside of Marrakesh (45 minute drive)
-Plan to land by 3:30 pm in order to arrive in time for dinner
6:30 pm - Welcome dinner and restorative yoga practice to follow.
Sunday Oct. 16
7-9 am - Morning yoga session
9-10 am - Breakfast
10-11:30 am - Drive to Azaden to visit + picnic lunch with women's carpet weavers. Afterwards, drive to Imlil for a hike near Mount Toubkal.
During the hike, we will stop by the women's co-operative carpet shop in Imlil, which is the perfect place to buy a Moroccan carpet. On the way home, we will stop to have drinks at the beautiful Kasbah Tamadot.
Dinner at Bab Zouina
Monday Oct. 17
7-8 am: Morning yoga session
8 -9 am: Breakfast
9-10 am: Drive to Marrakesh
10-3 pm: A guided visit of Marrakesh historical sites, including the Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Mella (Jewish Quarter), the Koutoubia Mosque, Jemaa al-Fnaa (the main square) and the souqs.
Lunch included at Le Nomad.
3-4 pm: Tea at the world famous La Mamounia Hotel
(We will be joined by a photographer from 10 am to 4 pm)
4-6 pm: FREE TIME
6-8 pm: Dinner in Marrakesh (not included in cost)
8-9 pm: Drive back to Ourika
Tuesday Oct. 18
7-9 am: Morning yoga session
9-10 am: Breakfast
Day 4 will continue with an exploration of the Atlas region.
We will peruse a local Amazigh market and will have lunch at an Education for all Morocco boarding house in Ourigane .
Education for All Morocco is a non-profit that expands access to education for girls in rural communities in Morocco. Very few girls from the rural communities of the High Atlas Mountains get the opportunity of continuing their education beyond primary school. Secondary schools, mostly several kilometers away in larger towns, are not accessible to them because:
-Their parents cannot afford to pay for lodgings or transport near secondary schools
-Their parents do not have the confidence in existing facilities to entrust their daughters to be away from home.
A portion of the proceeds of this retreat will be donated to support EFA-Morocco.
Dinner at Bab Zouina
Private concert of traditional Kora music.
Wednesday Oct. 19
7-9 am: Morning yoga session.
9-10 am: Breakfast
After breakfast, we will take a walk near the property, will visit a local saffron farm as well as the famous Anima Gardens, and will enjoy a relaxing hamam spa session back at Bab Zouina..
Afterwards, we will return to the property for a bread making workshop. Throughout the day, we will have plenty of downtime to relax and enjoy the property's gardens and pool.
Dinner at Bab Zouina
Thursday Oct. 20
7-8 am: Breakfast
8-9 am: Drive to Marrakech
9:30-1:30: Amal Women's Center cooking class. During our cooking lesson, we will have the opportunity to learn about the important work that the Amal Women's Center does to support disadvantaged women in Morocco. A portion of the proceeds from the retreat will go to benefit this amazing non-profit.
2:00-3:00: Visit the world famous Yves Saint Laurent Gardens and Museum
3:00-6:00 pm: FREE TIME to shop and explore in Marrakesh
6:00-7:00 pm: Return to Ourika
7:00-8:00 pm: Dinner
8-9:30 pm: Restorative yoga practice
Friday Oct. 21
5-6 am: Drive to the hot air balloon launch site
6-6:30 am: Breakfast
7-8 am: Hot air balloon ride
After the hot air balloon ride, we will return to the retreat center to relax and enjoy some down time.
We will end the day with a farewell yoga session + closing circle, dinner and another private concert, this time of traditional Diqqa music.
Saturday Oct. 22
After breakfast, guests will be transferred back to the airport or will depart on the Sahara Desert extension trip.
