This retreat will be a special and intimate experience lead by Nicole Griffin and hosted by Maison28 Marrakech. Throughout our 10-days and 11-nights together, you will enjoy exclusive, off-the-beaten path tours to discover the creative heartbeat of Morocco.
This trip begins at Maison28, in the heart of the Marrakech medina, and then winds down south through ancient cultures and kasbahs, and culminates under the stars in the Sahara Desert.
During our trip, we will visit and learn from local artisans and stewards of Morocco's famous craft culture. You will enjoy private tours, opportunities to learn and deeply connect with Moroccan culture, and hands-on creative workshops.
We will be in Morocco during the holy month of Ramadan, which offers a unique and intimate opportunity to experience Moroccan Islamic traditions firsthand.
If you are a creative, curious, and adventurous traveler looking for a special and highly-curated experience, you are in the right place.
While this is not a yoga retreat, there will be mindfulness elements infused to nourish our bodies and souls as we explore and expand (see more below).
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination is not required for this trip, but you will need to comply with Moroccan entry requirements (currently, they are lifted).
Please contact Nicole if you have any questions or would like to chat!
Website: https://nicolegriffinwellness.com/
Email: nicole@nicolegriffinwellness.com
IG: @nicolegriffinwellness
Phone: 510-250-7242
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 artisans. A portion of the proceeds of this retreat will be donated to benefit the artists we interact with.
Nicole has a BA in Art History with a concentration in Islamic Art History as well as an International MBA. She lived in Morocco during grad school while she was studying Arabic and fell in love with the country. Nicole is passionate about creating opportunities for Americans to experience the beauty and wonder of the Islamic world while offering support throughout the journey. On her retreats, meaningful cultural immersion and mindful travel are emphasized. Nicole is also a board-certified health and wellness coach and a trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness instructor.
Nicole’s retreats are designed to infuse a sense of purpose, belonging, community, and mindfulness. They are based on the belief that travel expands our minds and hearts, sharpens our perspective, deconditions our prejudices, and catalyzes our growth.
According to a poll done by Booking.com, 79% of travelers reported that travel helps their mental and emotional wellbeing more than other types of self-care.
The National Wellness Institute defines wellness as “an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.”
Nicole believes that wellness encompasses our sense of purpose, belonging, and resilience, as well as our values and vision. It represents an integration of mind, body, spirit, and soul. As such, travel has the potential to contribute to our wellness in ways that few other things can.
Read more here: Re-thinking Wellness Travel
Each morning, we will spend about 30-minutes together before heading out for our daily adventures. This time will consist of some gentle mindful movement (example here) as well as breathwork and mindfulness practices. No change of clothes or experience is required! This time is meant for us to come together intentionally as a group and to support our bodies, minds, and nervous systems as we travel.
$200 per booking will go to support the following charities:
To secure your spot, place a $995 deposit; final payments will be due by January 21, 2023.
Please only book double accommodations if you are booking with someone you know since we only have one double room available.
Tell a friend!
Bring a friend and save $100 each with the code HABIBI (please leave me a note in your booking form so I know who you are booking with).
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.
Cancellation Policy: 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 alternate payment plans as we are happy to make them available.
*The itinerary and daily schedules may change slightly.
Excluding one dinner and one lunch on own in Marrakech
Thursday March 23
Arrivals and transfers to Maison28
Welcome Circle
Dinner at Maison28
Friday March 24
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Private historical tour of the medina (the old city) with a guide and a professional photographer. Stops will include a traditional fire burning hamam (steam bath), Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Koubba, and Badi Palace
Free time
Dinner at Terrasse des Epices
Saturday March 25
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Visit a women’s weavers cooperative in the Atlas Mountains
Guided hike of medium difficulty
Home-cooked tagine lunch
Lalla Takerkoust Stop on the way back
Free time
Dinner together at Maison 28
Sunday March 26
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Souq (traditional markets) tour that focuses on meeting artisans
Lunch included
Visit Le Jardin Secret
Some time for shopping
Free time
Dinner on own
Monday March 27
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Free time in morning
Painted wood (Zouak) workshop with artisans
Hammams/massages at Hammam de la Rose
Traditional Iftar dinner (breaking of the fast during Ramadan)
Evening visit to the Koutoubia Mosque to hear singing of Quranic verses
Tuesday March 28
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Drive through Tizi N Tichka pass
Visit Telouet Kasbah
Visit Ait Ben Haddou, a world famous UNESCO heritage site
Sleep near Ouarzazate
Wednesday March 29
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Lunch and guided tour at Kasbah des Caids
Stop at Amezrou Kasbah
Visit traditional potters at Tamegroute
Private concert by Daraa Tribes (a fusion of ancestral tribal music and Saharan Blues)
Sleep at Kasbah Aitisfoul
Thursday March 30
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Morning/afternoon at Aitisfoul
Drive into the desert camp
Sunset camel ride
Live traditional music around the campfire
Yoga Nidra under the stars
Sleep in in luxury tents in the Sahara
Friday March 31
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Watch the sunrise in the Sahara
Leave Sahara
Stop at Foum Zguid, a prehistoric lake
Lunch + carpets shopping in Tazenakht
Sleep nearby
Saturday April 1
Mindful mornings + breakfast
Drive back to Marrakech
Free time and lunch on your own
Farewell dinner + closing circle at Maison 28
Sunday April 2
Breakfast + airport transfers
Plan to leave anytime after breakfast
