Luxe Glamping Desert Yoga Adventure
The word RETREAT is defined as “to pull back and go within.” What better place to take an inner journey toward yourself than wandering through the Agafay desert in Morocco!?
Ancient nomads wandered the deserts of Morocco, setting up temporary tented housing for unscripted lengths of time. Once they got their fill at a particular location, it was time to move on toward the next. Among the many lessons from nomads, a cornerstone of their lifestyle is the beautiful art of letting go and experiencing adventure.
Aparigraha
Imagine what could happen when you apply this yama fully to your life and circumstances. What might happen when you just let go? Inspired by these wanderers, our retreat journey will explore the yama of aparigraha (non-attachment), the glory of the present moment, letting go of the past, and intentional movement forward. We’ll seek to cultivate a spirit of non-attachment, non-greed, and non-possessiveness — making new-found space for joy, possibility, success, and ultimately freedom.
Yoga, Excursions,
& Adventures
A desert retreat is an unforgettable experience - with sights and sounds unlike any other!
Baked into our schedule, and as time permits, Melissa & Anayra will lead our group through an inward journey with two daily practices of yoga of varying disciplines.
And then it’s time to go outward and explore Picture yourself at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, far from the hustle and bustle of Marrakech, but close enough to ride into town and explore the city’s colorful markets.
Our retreat adventure includes:
- A day tour of Marrakech, Jemaa el Fnaa Square, Jewish Quarter and Bahia Palace
- Desert ATV rides by day and a desert camel trek at sunset
- A hike through the beautiful waterfalls of Ourika Valley, pausing at an Argan oil cooperative to learn about production, qualities, and benefits.
And of course, we’ll also have plenty of unplanned downtime to “let go” … from introspective/alone time, relaxation by communal or private pools, to cocktails/mocktails and making connections with like-minded individuals.
our retreat is not just about the destination, it’s about the inner journey
Friends, if you have been feeling tied down by life’s commitments and stressors, give yourself the gift of adventure and yoga! Join us in Morocco and take a life journey from the desert to an oasis of peace.
What’s in it for me?
At the close of your inward desert journey, you will emerge with:
- a renewed commitment to the practice of yoga.
- an appreciation for adventure.
- a refreshed energy in your physical, mental, and spiritual being.
- a dedication to continued self-care and self-exploration.
- memories that will last a lifetime!
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Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech. Transport to our luxury glamp site and check in. Evening yoga class.
Day 2: Early morning yoga followed by breakfast. Free time to explore the grounds and relax. Evening yoga session followed by dinner.
Day 3: Early morning yoga followed by breakfast. Full day tour of Marrakech and surroundings. Evening yoga class if time allows before dinner.
Day 4: Early morning yoga class followed by breakfast. Free time. Sunset camel trek. Evening yoga class followed by dinner.
Day 5: Early morning yoga class followed by breakfast. Day trip to Ourika Valley with lunch included. Return to camp for dinner.
Day 6: Early morning yoga class followed by breakfast. Free time. Afternoon ATV quad bikes through the desert. Evening yoga class followed by dinner.
Day 7: Early morning yoga class followed by breakfast. Free time. Evening GLOW YOGA class followed by dinner.
Day 8: Early morning yoga (depending on flight times) followed by breakfast.
Meet Melissa
My yoga story. My first yoga experience was in a hot studio in Hoboken in 2005. My best friend brought me to class and yoga has been part of my life since that day. Over time, I developed a deep love for the practice and trained with Dharma Mittra through the Life of a Yogi program in New York City. I completed this training when my first daughter was six months old. Having practiced through my entire pregnancy, yoga was a big source of strength during the postpartum months. I consistently practiced through all of my pregnancies and am a mom of three beautiful children. Off the mat I am in public education serving as a curriculum supervisor after working for years as a high school teacher. So, why yoga? At all stages of life, the practice is there. It can heal you, challenge you, humble you and give you new energy. I believe in consistent practice and movement as a way to maintain the mind and body. My teaching philosophy embraces moving your whole body to find inner stillness.
Accommodation:
We’ll practice wandering as modern nomads — but with a hint of glamp! The Agafay camp is dotted with luxurious tents, fully equipped to support modern day living, including electricity, air conditioning, WiFi, a fusion restaurant & bar, a communal pool, and walking/hiking trails for you to enjoy.
Early bird save $200
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Early bird save $200 〰️
ROOM TYPES AND PRICING:
Platinum Level: Glamping Loft- Redefine the desert experience in a luxurious loft glamping tent. Complete with a gorgeous private pool, a premium bed which can sleep 2 people, AC, a relaxing seating area, and a coffee station, enjoy endless views and total comfort in this secluded oasis.
0 LOFTS AVAILABLE
Single Occupancy Price: $3,506 Early Bird: $3,306
Double Occupancy (1 bed): $2,542 per person Early Bird: $2,344
Gold Level: Glamping Suite: The amenity-packed suites are equipped with comfortable bed to sleep two people, AC, an espresso machine, an aesthetic seating area, and a private bathroom.
1 SUITE AVAILABLE
Single Occupancy Price: $2,986 Early Bird: $2,786
Double Occupancy (1 bed): $2,282 per person Early Bird: $2,082 per person
Silver Level: Glamping Standard: Complete with comfortable bed which can sleep two people, enjoy AC, a private bathroom and seating area with magical desert views.
0 STANDARDS AVAILABLE
Single Occupancy Price: $2,756 Early Bird: $2,556
Double Occupancy (1 bed): $2,157 per person Early Bird: $1,967 per person
Bronze Level: Micro Tent: Stay in gorgeous, natural surroundings in a comfortable Micro tent equipped with a soft mattress, access to electricity, air conditioning, and access to a shared bathroom.
0 MICROS AVAILABLE
Single Occupancy Price: $2,353 Early Bird: $2,153
Double Occupancy (1 bed): $1,966 per person Early Bird: $1,766 per person
Beduin Tent: Shared accommodations. Embrace the authentic desert experience in our Beduin tent. Accommodating up to 20 people, become a part of our community, share living space and a bathroom, and connect with other nomads under the Moroccan sky. Tent has electricity and air conditioning.
0 BEDUINS AVAILABLE
Price: $1,798 Early Bird: $1,598
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7 night accommodation with breakfast
Airport transfers
Camel Trek
ATV
Marrakech Day Tour
Ourika Valley Day with lunch
10 group classes
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Airfare to Morocco
Lunch, Dinner and beverages unless noted
Travel Insurance
Gratuities
Additional activities/tours
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All cancellations must be made in writing via e-mail to Anayra Calderon and Melissa dos Santos and are subject to per person penalties as follows: All deposits are nonrefundable and full retreat balance is due 45 days prior to retreat start date or you will be imposed a penalty of $250. Cancellations made 90+ days in advance of retreat start date minus the deposit are refundable. Cancellations 45-89 days in advance of the retreat start date are 75% refundable minus the deposit. Cancellations less than 45 days in advance of retreat start date are nonrefundable. No shows or early leaves are nonrefundable. Bookings are nontransferable, extreme circumstances may be considered for a transfer but need to be submitted in writing for approval and subject to hotel policy. Anayra Calderon and Melissa dos Santos strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your trip.
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Anayra Calderon and Melissa dos Santos are dedicated to ensuring the safety of all participants, however participants must assume the risk inherent in travel including those from weather, wildlife, or other force majeure. The participant confirms that he/she has no physical conditions or medical precautions that would adversely affect his/her ability to take part in the yoga program or other physical activities offered. In the event that a pre-existing medical condition or medical condition arises, an authorized medical doctor's note is required for refunds less the deposit for each trip. The participant fully understands that his/her participation in the yoga program or other activities could be injurious to his/her health. The participant voluntarily assumes all risk related to such activities and releases Anayra Calderon and Melissa dos Santos from liability for accident, personal injury, illness, emotional damage, incurred travel expenses, or property damage he/she may incur as a result of his/her traveling and staying at this retreat.
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1. What about my passport/visa?
You will need a valid passport with at least six months of validity at time of entry. Passport must have at least one blank page for entry stamp.
TOURIST VISA Not required for stays under 90 days.
Visas are not necessary for US citizens.
2. When should I arrive in Morocco?
The excursion begins on November 4th, therefore your flight should arrive on the morning of the 4th. If you are traveling from the United States, this means you will have to depart on the 3rd of November to arrive on the 4th. Please make sure your flight says +1 day not +2 (which sometimes happens if you have long layovers).
3. What airport should I fly into?
You should fly into and out from Marrakesh Menara Airport, country code RAK
4. When should I schedule my flight back home?
The retreat ends on November 11th. You can book your flight to depart on the 11th of November. You may want to book an early afternoon or evening flight so that you do not have to take an early morning airport departure.
5. Is it ok for me to travel on my own?
Of course! We will have an amazing group of people with Melissa and Anayra acting as Excursion Leaders. You do not have to travel with a partner as there will also be people traveling on their own. If you choose to travel on your own you will need to take a single room option.
6. How does money work?
Cash is King. Most places prefer or only accept cash. We recommend changing money before arriving, or taking a large sum out from the atm at the airport. Most places and people will happily accept USD. Make sure that you bring small bills as people may not have change for you if you pay with large bills. We do not recommend taking money out of ATMs except at the airport; sometimes the ATMs are not properly functioning, sometimes your bank at home may flag your card for fraud and freeze it, and oftentimes the fees from the ATM machines are high and you end up paying the ATM fee, plus your bank fee, plus a money exchange fee.
7. How much extra money should I bring?
Breakfast (and one lunch with scheduled activities) are covered with your package fee; all of your ticket entrances and transportation needs are covered. However, tipping is not covered so we encourage you to bring money to tip your drivers, tour guides, and porters at the hotel. Lunch and evening meals and beverages are not included, thus you will need/want cash for payment.
If you like to shop for souvenirs you will want to bring money for that as well. The more expensive souvenirs like rugs, oils and perfumes, art and jewelry can usually be paid using credit cards, as shop owners will gladly take cash or credit card.
8. How about vaccinations or health concerns?
The following vaccines or boosters are recommended, but not mandatory for travel by the CDC: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and tetanus. You should also have your Covid Vaccines/booster.
We also recommend purchasing travel insurance that also covers Covid19 and other health issues in addition to trip cancellations, etc. We recommend insuremytrip.com which gives a selection of different policies and their prices based on your needs.
What is the food like?
Lunch and dinner will be on you. If you are ordering from the on-site restaurant your meal will be a-la-carte, there are plenty of choices of salads, rice/pastas, chicken beef, lamb, and fish. However, we must stress that this trip may not be suitable for those with celiac, or vegans. While vegetarian friendly food is available, however, when specifying dairy free, gluten free, etc., they are not very knowledgeable and we cannot guarantee that your dietary needs will be met if you follow a restrictive diet.
9. Are soft drinks/alcohol included in my package? No soft drinks or alcohol are not included but are available for purchase.
10. Do I need a power converter or adapter?
Be prepared! Remember, you’ll need an adaptor so that you can charge your phone, your camera, and any other electric needs you might have. The newer ones not only have the plug adaptor, but multiple usb ports, this allows for charging of multiple devices at the same time. In Morocco the power plug sockets are of type C and E. The standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.
11. What should I bring?
Bring your mat, comfortable clothes, for movement and exercise and sightseeing. For walking, we recommend sneakers or hiking shoes. Hat(s)/Scarves to protect your head. Sunscreen and bug repellant, chargers, battery packs, toiletries, camera. The temperature will also drop in the evenings so bring warm clothes. You tents have ac/heaters but you will want to be prepared for when you are hanging out outside.
Travel Documents – Make sure to have copies of all important travel documents, including your passport, visa (where applicable), travel insurance, etc.
Light Sweater/Jacket/Wrap – This will help protect against potential windstorms and also provide backup when the evening air gets chilly.
Health and Hygiene – Pack a basic medical kit filled with items that may not be readily available in the desert. Kits should include things like: bandages, antibacterial hand gel, pain relievers, anti-diarrhea drugs and re-hydration salts.
Travel Adapter – To charge your phone, you will need a travel adapter made for Morocco.
12. When Should I Put Down My deposit?
To qualify for the early bird pricing the first five people may purchase your package, with your deposit to claim your selected room accommodation. The early bird pricing is first come first served and only the first 5 people to register by putting down a deposit or paying in full will qualify.
Final payment will be necessary by September 19th, 2023.
If you have additional questions do not hesitate to contact us either through the form on this webpage or to MoroccoTellMeMore@gmail.com
early bird save $200
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early bird save $200 〰️
i want to make my deposit
By clicking below to PayPal you can make your for the trip with a 4% processing fee. To avoid 4% processing fees you can pay via Zelle using 2016791149 as phone number for the account or hotyogianayra@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your name, room type, and e-mail in the notes.
I’m ready to pay in full now
By clicking below to PayPal you can make your payment in full which includes a nonrefundable deposit of 25% of the trip with a 4% processing fee. To avoid 4% processing fees you can pay via Zelle using 2016791149 as phone number for the account or hotyogianayra@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your name, room type, and e-mail in the notes.