Throughout our time together there will be a plethora of excursions and activities to help us get to know this city and its creative, culinary, cultural and shopping scene better. I want you to enjoy the people, places and activities that made me fall in love with this amazing city.

From a lesson on scents which will culminate with you making your own custom eau de parfum to take home, to a guided meal and walk through the maze of food stalls in the Jemaa el Fna square, every effort has been made to build an itinerary that allows you to experience many of the “must dos” while visiting Marrakech.

HERE IS A PREVIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN YOUR RETREAT TUITION:

• Pre- Retreat, an online orientation to Marrakech/Morocco with a North American ex-pat who owns a business in Marrakech.

• Several guided outings to local historical palaces and riads in the Marrakech medina under the guidance of Abdul, Carolyn’s friend and local guide. Entrance fees to museums and historical sites, as included on the retreat itinerary are included.

• One “Taste of Morocco” Cooking Lesson at a women’s centre where they train impoverished women and equip them to work in the culinary industry.

• An orientation visit to the souks and markets of Marrakech with Abdul, to set you up for success when you venture out to find some treasures to bring home.

• One perfume making lesson where you will learn about fragrance, and then under the guidance of one of their staff you will make your own custom perfume, featuring your favourite scents.

• A visit to one of the most breathtakingly beautiful coffee houses you will ever see – Josephine Baker and Winston Churchill even met in the building for an Arabic coffee!

• One “From Market to Table” cooking lesson with Mohamed and his team.

• A day trip to Essouaira. Located on the Atlantic coast, this town will add a seaside stop to your introduction to Morocco. During our visit we will explore local food and explore the medina under the guidance of Abdul.

• Dinner crawl in Jemaa el Fna square, the heart of the old city. You will be amazed at how vibrant it becomes in the evening once the food stalls and minstrels set up for the night!.

• A visit to a local market outside of the city centre where you will see everything for sale; food, clothing, sundries, tools, animals, etc.

• A day of pure relaxation outside the Medina at a beautiful property where we will enjoy the pool and an outdoor lunch, weather permitting. Should you wish, you can book an optional visit to their hamam, or a quad or horse riding adventure, for an additional cost.

• Free time to shop the souks to find the perfect treasures to bring home.

During free time you can also take advantage of the following actives, for an additional cost:

• A massage or hammam. Our first venue has a small spa room and staff who can accommodate this request, and there is also a fantastic high quality spa less than a minute walk from our first retreat venue.

Each activity, guide and host has been carefully chosen to maximize your enjoyment during our time together. I can’t wait to share these adventures with you.