After a scenic drive through the Moroccan country side, we will arrive at the coastal city of Essaouira. Nicknamed the Pearl of the Atlantic, this cultural city is famed for its rich music and arts scene, and was home to many famous artists and musicians (Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix) in the 60’s and 70’s.

The old walled-in medina boasts some of the finest handmade arts and crafts, as well as all of the traditional colors, aromas, music and spices of Morocco. Essaouira features great restaurant options, and tons of fresh seafood. A large crescent bay, with calm waters and consistent winds, sits just south of the walled city, and has attracted wind and kite surfers, and beach-goers, for decades. The souks (markets) of Essaouira are an incredible place to get your shopping done, and will allow you to bring a taste of Morocco back home with you.

We will stay at the beautiful Essaouira Lodge, an approximately 15 min drive from downtown Essaouira, set peacefully amongst argan and olive tree orchards. This retreat center features a heated pool and lounge area, restaurant and bar, a dedicated yoga studio, and private villa. 

During our 5 nights in Essaouira, we will have two free days to explore this remarkable city, as well as two days in which we will schedule some of our favorite excursions, including a beach camel ride, Moroccan cooking class, a guided history & walking tour of the Essaouira Medina, and an organic argan oil cooperative tour.

(Drive time from Marrakech to Essaouira ~ 2.5 hours)

On the morning of our last day, we will depart from Essaouira back to Marrakech, where return flights home await. Retreaters can of course extend their stay in Morocco from here - perhaps venturing to the Sahara Desert or to northern points. This is also a wonderful opportunity to tack on a night or two in Europe, where your flight home to the US will likely stopover. 

(Drive time from Essaouira to Marrakech ~  2.5 hours)