Why we love this retreat

Because you will enjoy shopping in famed souks of the Medina, be pampered with a spa day with Moroccan beauty treatments, and experience a welcome henna celebration complete with traditional mint tea.

Add a traditional tagine cooking class, camel rides on the beach, belly dancing, and a day trip to explore Marrakech, the Red City...

...and of course AMAZING daily yoga.

Think Moroccan beauty secrets…indulgent spas and Hammams, argan oil and black kohl, rose water baths and black soap made from black olives. Think Henna, perfumes, open-air souks filled with silks and kilim rugs, Moroccan spices and incredible cuisine…tagines, olives, couscous, mint teas, saffron, figs, dates and apricots.

This retreat has it all, from inner to outer explorations, this itinerary is packed with discoveries, amazement, fun and learning experiences.

Treat Yourself!

Book your Yoga + Exploration
retreat today!

MARCH 10 – 17, 2018 YOGA BY AMY TORTORELLA

From $2,055 - $2,675 USD per person
based on double occupancy

To book or if you have any questions please contact: 

Email: sofi@yogaadventuresworldwide.com

Website: www.yogaadventuresworldwide.com

Retreat Highlights

• Yoga: Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Restorative, Flow, Ashtanga
• Local Food - we can accommodate all food restrictions
• Spa day (Hammam)
• camel ride on the beach,
• Essaouira + Marrakesh city tours
• Cooking class
• Henna party with tea and moroccan cookies
• Lots of FREE time 

Join us in the breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site city of Essaouira, a relaxed fishing town on the coast of Morocco. (For TV series enthusiasts, episodes of Game of Thrones were filmed here.) Of late there have been many amazing press pieces on this lovely part of Morocco. Please see the latest NY Times article and NatGeo Travel just named Essaouria the fastest growing destination in Morocco. But don’t take their word for it, takes ours! We have been going to Morocco for the past 4 years and to Essaouria for the last three. It is the perfect location for a yoga retreat in Morocco as it offers a more relaxed medina and some of the best shopping in the country!

SCHEDULE

DAY ONE
Arrival & Settle-in**
3:00pm Riad check-in
5pm Grounding circle & opening stretch
6:30pm Henna designs on hands and feet with Moroccan cookies and mint tea
8pm Dinner together as a group

DAY TWO
7:30am Coffee, tea & fruit available
8:30-10am Vinyasa Hips & Hamstrings
10:15am Breakfast
11:30am Group outing to explore the Ramparts (Game of Thrones fans!!), the souks, and the Medina
1pm Lunch together at a local Fromagerie outside of town (lunch included in package); Painting & pigment mixing session with a local artist at cheese farm
6:30pm Gentle Yoga at the riad
Dinner on your own

DAY THREE
7:30am Coffee, tea & fruit available
8:30-10am Vinyasa Get Twisted
10:15am Breakfast
11am Countryside Spa Day : Enjoy a traditional Hammam black soap body scrub with eucalyptus followed by a body mask made from local plants and herbs. A one hour relaxing massage with argan oil to follow. A lovely BBQ lunch will be enjoyed poolside at the Country Club, all included*.
6-7pm Gentle flow
8pm Dinner together as a group at the riad
**Please note half the group will enjoy the cooking class on this day and come to the spa on Day Five as to optimize space and our time.

DAY FOUR
7:30am Coffee, tea & fruit available
8:30-10am Vinyasa Arm Balances
10:15am Breakfast
11am – 5pm Traditional Moroccan Cuisine Cooking Class & Market tour w/ lunch of our labors
6:30 -7:30pm Specialty afternoon workshop
Dinner on your own
**Please note half the group will enjoy the Countryside Spa on this day and come to the cooking class on Day Three as to optimize space and our time.

DAY FIVE
7:30am Breakfast
8:30am Group outing to the pulse of the country, Marrakech. Choose your adventure day : Our group will have a tour guide to take us to the famous Marjorelle Gardens owned by the late Yves Saint Laurent in horse drawn carriages, we will enjoy lunch in the gardens (on your own) then head to the Ben Youssef Madrasa Islamic College to see an incredible sample of Moroccan architecture.

We will walk through the back-alley souks where the artisans of Marrakech are busy at work dying yard, welding metal, cutting leather, and hammering out lanterns. A real insider’s visit to the best shopping the souks has to offer. We will break to do some shopping on our own and meet in the famous Jemaa el Fnaa square at 6:45pm to head to an amazing dinner on a rooftop overlooking the city. Again dinners are on your own here but we will eat together.
9:30pm Return to Essaouira

DAY SIX
7:30am Coffee, tea & fruit available
8:30-10:30am Vinyasa Conscious Flow
10:45am Breakfast
11am-7pm Free time to explore as you wish; lunch on your own. Take a kite lesson, visit a local argan oil producer, enjoy quiet beach or pool time, or check out the amazing shopping in the Medina. Make sure to catch some live music as that is one of the amazing things that Essaouria is known for by night!
Dinner on your own

DAY SEVEN
7:30am Coffee, tea & fruit available
8:30-10am Vinyasa & Inversions
10:15am Breakfast
11am-4pm Camel rides on the beach; lunch included
5:30-6:30pm Gentle flow evening practice
7:30pm Farewell Dinner together as a group

DAY EIGHT
7:30am Coffee, tea & Breakfast available
Departure Day***

Every aspect of the trip was planned out so as to take any stress/responsibilities off the guest. Christina was so approachable and easy to communicate with leading up the retreat and throughout. Nina provided the perfect combo of stretching and meditation. Well thought out practice and accommodating to special needs. The most amazing teacher!

— Carolina C. Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Thank you so much. You really have a sixth sense for beauty, for places, and for knowing what we need. I really appreciate what you all do! An all around amazing experience it was more than i could have hoped for. Thank you all involved in the organization, preparation, and service throughout. I would recommend this trip and Yoga Adventures Worldwide to anyone.

— Vanessa L. Miami, FL

Christina just makes it easy. She understands how busy everyone is and she keeps it simple with e-mails and payments. Plus, on-site they are your friends, companions on the mat and grand organizers. She knows everyone in Morocco, and it’s like visiting friends- like coming home.

— Gillian K. New York, NY

Amazing trip with like-minded individuals who know how to balance serious yoga practice with fun cultural immersion. I can’t think of a better way or excuse to travel to wonderful places! Nina is an approachable, authentic, loving instructor. Well prepared pre-departure and during trip; flexibility in schedule, welcoming and accepting of all participants, warm personalities. Yoga Adventures Worldwide picks delicious restaurants, unique experiences, and all at an affordable price. I felt full, satisfied and eager for the next meal every time.— Jackie C. Portland, ME

The Small Print

INVESTEMENT

Reserve your spot now with only $2,055usd - $2,675usd per person based on double occupancy.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• 7 nights in a massive seaside Castle turned Riad
• Traditional breakfast daily on the rooftop with seaviews
• Three, 3 course delicious dinners at our Riad including local wines from Mogador*
• Morning Vinyasa Flow Class, Afternoon Restoratives & Workshops
• Grounding circle with mint tea & cookies
• Henna designs on hands and feet
• Painting workshop with a local artist at a local cheese farm (incredible lunch included)
• Countryside Spa day : Indulge in a traditional hamman with body scrub of local ingredients & massage w/ argan oil poolside as peacocks pass by. Gorgeous Moroccan style BBQ lunch included.
• Guided Group adventure into the bustling city of Marrakech to explore the pulse of the country; includes trip to the famous Marjorelle Gardens of Yves Saint Laurent, a visit to the famous Ben Yousself Koran School, and carriage rides around the city
• Cooking class of traditional dishes with a guided adventure to the spice market for shopping (lunch included)
• A free day to explore as you wish
• Camel ride along the secluded coastline with Mogador island as our backdrop; lunch of freshly grilled sand-pit sardines, black olives, and traditional Moroccan breads included under the eucalyptus trees
• All local taxes

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Gratuities for services NOT INCLUDED. We will suggest an amount for the amazing staff that you can offer on retreat.
• International flights

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT :

There are several options for arriving in Morocco to meet the group :

1. Fly directly into Essaouira-Mogador Airport (ESU). A driver can be arranged to pick you up and bring you to the edge of the Medina just steps from our Riad. There are men with carts available to help you with luggage to the hotel once you get to the walking district.

2. Fly into Marrakech’s Menara International Airport (RAK). There are many flight daily from major cities worldwide. We recommend that you take a taxi from the airport to the “Supratours” bus station, which offers cheap bus travel to Essaouira (about 60 Dirham each + 5 Dirham per bag = US$8, 3 hours, four buses daily). The Supratours station is very close to the train station in Marrakech, so if you get lost, you can ask for the “gare de trenes”, and it is right around the corner. Supratours will take you to the center of Essaouira, right in between the Bab Sbaa and Bab Marrakech entrance to the Medina. Alternatively a driver can be arranged to bring you directly to the Riad from the airport. Travel time is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.

3. Flights into Casablanca International Airport (CMN-Mohammed V) are considerably less expensive than flights directly into Marrakech. You have two choices for taking public transport :

The simplest would be to take the train (located in the CMN airport) to Marrakech (130 dirham = about £11 or US$17, about 4 hours travel). Then, leave the main entrance to the train station, take a right on Avenue Mohammed VI, and another right when you get to the roundabout (this road is N8) You will pass Hotel Ibis, and find the “”Supratours” bus station (about 60 Dirham each + 5 Dirham per bag = US$8, 3 hours traveling, four daily). Supratours will take you to the center of Essaouira, right in between the Bab Sbaa and Bab Marrakech entrance to the Medina.

Also from the Mohammed V Airport, you can take the hourly train to the Casa Port station (about 40 dirham each, with a train change at the Ain Sebaa train station). From the Casa Port station, walk 1 km towards the “Place Zellaqa”, where you should see the “Compagnie de Transports au Maroc” (CTM) bus station. CTM is the state bus station of Morocco, and has 2 buses daily from Casablanca (130 Dirhams = about US$12, 6-7 hours traveling) to Essaouira. Alternatively a driver can be arranged to bring you directly to the Riad from the airport. Travel time is approximately 4 to 4.5 hours.

Please check out this link for more on train travel in Morocco.

If you would like us to organize a private car service for you (or try to share with others arriving at a similar time) please forward your flight itinerary and we will coordinate your ride to the Riad in Essarouira directly from the airport. We expect that most retreat participants will be arriving a few days before the retreat and spending time in Marrakech, another location of their choice, or coming directly to Essaouria. We recommend Chambres d’amis in Marrakech for a stay in the Red City and booking a room with Villa Maroc if you’d like to come right to Essaouira early. Please let us know about this and we will try to get your same room for you during your extended stay.

A private ride from RAK to Villa Maroc is around $100usd one way and from CMN to Villa Maroc $200usd one way (at the time of writing). If we have others with similar arrivals we can try to pair you together to share the ride and the cost.

AIRLINE TICKET TIPS AND TRICKS :

1. Each time you plan to search for flights you should ‘Clear Browsing Data’ from your device.  This deletes any previous searches from your computer so you get a fresh start with pricing out flights.

2. There is a sweet spot for buying airline tickets 6 weeks before your trip on a Tuesday.

3.  Google Flights is great to find the best dates and rates for travel. Check it out, you will love it!