YOGA MORROCCO
7 days/8 nights
Manifesting Balance: Fire and Water
A 7 Day Adventure of Health and Wellness to Marrakech and Essaouira
Morocco covers the north-west corner of Africa, only eight miles south of Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar. Its colonial past and present economic ties ensure that Morocco will always have a close relationship with its neighbors to the north. Marrakech is steeped in history and culture and is exotic and exciting. Situated to the north of the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and fringing the famed Sahara, the bustling UNESCO-listed city is an enchanting travel destination.
Fire. Marrakech, the jewel of Morocco, is called The Red City because of its buildings and ramparts made from the simplest of materials of architecture, red earth. It’s easy to lose all sense of time in Marrakech, with its confluence of Arabian, African, and European influences, bustling squares, a maze of alleyways, towering minarets, gardens, monuments, and forts.
Our third Chakra, Manipura, is our energetic fire center. Manipura Chakra is linked to our sense of transforming ideas into actions, as well as our perseverance and willpower. When we are balanced with our Manipura Chakra, we feel confident, physically and mentally powerful, and can discern wrong from right. When unbalanced, we might experience insecurity, feel weak, and develop a lack of self-belief. Throughout the first part of the tour, we will focus on balancing our Manipura Chakra, including activating our core center, deep twists, and playful postures for all levels.
Water. Essaouira. If in Marrakech, the people find inspiration in the red hues of the desert and mountains, then in Essaouira, it is the sky and ocean. Essaouria means “little picture” in Arabic, and as the name suggests, it is a photogenic haven. Blue covers the hulls of the clustered, moored boats and adorns the shutters of every window of this Moroccan seaside port. All this blue and white, against the sea and sky, gentle charm and laid-back beach vibes is a breath of fresh air.
Our second Chakra, Svadhishthana, is connected to our sacral center. Svadhisthana is associated with the water element which connects to physical/mental flexibility, flow, freedom of expression, sensuality, and emotions. When our sacral center is imbalanced, we might experience detachment or withdrawal from others and our own emotions. When aligned, we experience connection, positive energy, desire, and pleasure. We will incorporate postures throughout the second part of our tour that will entail a breath-to-movement flow, deep hip openers, and restorative postures.
Please note that our Yoga Morocco classes are designed for all levels, with variations presented throughout the classes. Non-yogi travel companions are always welcome to join any or all of the classes, or use that time to relax around the pool, have a spa treatment, or do some more exploring.
Yoga mats and water bottles will be included in your tour price.
7 days/8 nights
Manifesting Balance: Fire and Water
A 7 Day Adventure of Health and Wellness to Marrakech and Essaouira
Morocco covers the north-west corner of Africa, only eight miles south of Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar. Its colonial past and present economic ties ensure that Morocco will always have a close relationship with its neighbors to the north. Marrakech is steeped in history and culture and is exotic and exciting. Situated to the north of the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains and fringing the famed Sahara, the bustling UNESCO-listed city is an enchanting travel destination.
Fire. Marrakech, the jewel of Morocco, is called The Red City because of its buildings and ramparts made from the simplest of materials of architecture, red earth. It’s easy to lose all sense of time in Marrakech, with its confluence of Arabian, African, and European influences, bustling squares, a maze of alleyways, towering minarets, gardens, monuments, and forts.
Our third Chakra, Manipura, is our energetic fire center. Manipura Chakra is linked to our sense of transforming ideas into actions, as well as our perseverance and willpower. When we are balanced with our Manipura Chakra, we feel confident, physically and mentally powerful, and can discern wrong from right. When unbalanced, we might experience insecurity, feel weak, and develop a lack of self-belief. Throughout the first part of the tour, we will focus on balancing our Manipura Chakra, including activating our core center, deep twists, and playful postures for all levels.
Water. Essaouira. If in Marrakech, the people find inspiration in the red hues of the desert and mountains, then in Essaouira, it is the sky and ocean. Essaouria means “little picture” in Arabic, and as the name suggests, it is a photogenic haven. Blue covers the hulls of the clustered, moored boats and adorns the shutters of every window of this Moroccan seaside port. All this blue and white, against the sea and sky, gentle charm and laid-back beach vibes is a breath of fresh air.
Our second Chakra, Svadhishthana, is connected to our sacral center. Svadhisthana is associated with the water element which connects to physical/mental flexibility, flow, freedom of expression, sensuality, and emotions. When our sacral center is imbalanced, we might experience detachment or withdrawal from others and our own emotions. When aligned, we experience connection, positive energy, desire, and pleasure. We will incorporate postures throughout the second part of our tour that will entail a breath-to-movement flow, deep hip openers, and restorative postures.
Please note that our Yoga Morocco classes are designed for all levels, with variations presented throughout the classes. Non-yogi travel companions are always welcome to join any or all of the classes, or use that time to relax around the pool, have a spa treatment, or do some more exploring.
Yoga mats and water bottles will be included in your tour price.
DAY 1: ARRIVE MARRAKECH |
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Upon your arrival to Marrakesh international airport, your driver will be waiting for you as you exit baggage claim. Your Tour Director will be waiting for you at the riad. Please try to arrive in the morning. You can inquire about pricing is you prefer to arrive a day early to relax, get rid of jet lag and be ready for our day.
March 31 - April 3. 4 nights with breakfast at our Riad Hotel. Riads are family homes that have been re-designed to serve as B&Bs, and located in and around the Medina. They are serene places, often built around an open courtyard with beautiful outdoor spaces, fountains and pools with a rooftop terrace, and are made to offer calm and tranquility.
12:00. Included lunch and Hammam Spa treatment. Soak up the sunshine beside pool and bar, set against the stunning backdrop of the mosque and rooftops. Your tour price includes time in the spa to relax in the hammam before having a body scrub, facial or massage.
Afternoon horse carriage rides and orientation tour of Marrakech. We will be offering carriage rides throughout the afternoon to get you oriented with the city.
Tonight:
6:00: Welcome Yoga Class. 60-minute Vinyasa Flow - all levels welcome! Vinyasa provides continuous movement through strong sequences of poses to build strength and endurance. Linking breath to movement creates a deeper awareness as we flow through poses allowing our physical practice to become a moving meditation. This class could include a combination of Sun Salutations, standing, balancing, seated, and supine poses. Modifications and variations will be offered throughout the sequence.
8:00: Welcome Cocktails and Dinner
The Che Bella Dinner Experience. When we gather around the table as a group, it is a celebration: A celebration of good food and wine. A celebration of culture. A celebration of friendship. Hosting this celebration is one of the joys of being a Che Bella Tour Director. We guide you to your favorite dish … or help you choose something you’ve never tried before. We choose the perfect wines and throw in some local delicacies to broaden your palate and surprise you a bit. When we are at a cooking lesson or a wine tasting, be sure to know you’ll go home with new knowledge that will draw you under its spell and increase your hunger for more.
DAY 2: A DAY IN MARRAKECH |
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7:00: Tea, coffee and water with lemon.
8:00: Yoga We will start our morning with a 60-minute vinyasa flow class for all levels. Throughout the sequence we be focusing on connecting to our Manipura chakra - our fiery center - focusing on building strength, endurance, flexibility, and concentration.
9:30: Included breakfast
10:30. Private tour of Marrakesh, including:
Koutoubia Mosque, one of the largest, most beautiful mosques in the western Muslim world. El-Bahia Palace, a winding maze of secret luxury apartments opening to inner courtyards. And Majorelle Garden and Yves Saint Laurent Museum, one of the most enchanting and mystical gardens in Morocco. A labyrinth of intersecting alleys, tangled levels and Art Deco-style Moorish buildings with bold colors, the garden is a gigantic and opulent pile of exotic plants and trees from the most distant countries, designed both as a sanctuary and as a laboratory by the French painter Jacques Majorelle from 1922. In 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, bought the Garden to save it from a hotel complex project that envisaged its destruction.
“For many years, I have found in the Majorelle garden an inexhaustible source of inspiration and I have often dreamed of its unique colors”. - Yves Saint Laurent
1:00: We’ll finish at the world’s famous Djemaa el Fna. This market has become the heart of Marrakesh. Fruit and spice sellers, basket sellers, ironmongers, musicians, story tellers, snake charmers and entertainers are a visual delight. We’ll enjoy lunch (not included) with a bird’s eye view to all of this wonderful chaos.
After lunch, we will make a visit to the herbologist for natural, organic, and ethically sourced spices, teas, skincare and beauty products, inspired by the rich traditions of Moroccan beauty rituals, which have been passed down for generations.
6:00: Gentle Flow Yoga. Through a balance of breath and movement, we will explore postures based in Vinyasa yoga in a slower setting, allowing room for self exploration and the integration of body, mind, and spirit. Longer holds with multiple options for modifications and the last 10-15 minutes of class for restorative postures and a relaxing savasana.
Tonight: 8:00: Transfer to our Included dinner.
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + below for details.
8:00: Yoga We will start our morning with a 60-minute vinyasa flow class for all levels. Throughout the sequence we be focusing on connecting to our Manipura chakra - our fiery center - focusing on building strength, endurance, flexibility, and concentration.
9:30: Included breakfast
10:30. Private tour of Marrakesh, including:
Koutoubia Mosque, one of the largest, most beautiful mosques in the western Muslim world. El-Bahia Palace, a winding maze of secret luxury apartments opening to inner courtyards. And Majorelle Garden and Yves Saint Laurent Museum, one of the most enchanting and mystical gardens in Morocco. A labyrinth of intersecting alleys, tangled levels and Art Deco-style Moorish buildings with bold colors, the garden is a gigantic and opulent pile of exotic plants and trees from the most distant countries, designed both as a sanctuary and as a laboratory by the French painter Jacques Majorelle from 1922. In 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, bought the Garden to save it from a hotel complex project that envisaged its destruction.
“For many years, I have found in the Majorelle garden an inexhaustible source of inspiration and I have often dreamed of its unique colors”. - Yves Saint Laurent
1:00: We’ll finish at the world’s famous Djemaa el Fna. This market has become the heart of Marrakesh. Fruit and spice sellers, basket sellers, ironmongers, musicians, story tellers, snake charmers and entertainers are a visual delight. We’ll enjoy lunch (not included) with a bird’s eye view to all of this wonderful chaos.
After lunch, we will make a visit to the herbologist for natural, organic, and ethically sourced spices, teas, skincare and beauty products, inspired by the rich traditions of Moroccan beauty rituals, which have been passed down for generations.
6:00: Gentle Flow Yoga. Through a balance of breath and movement, we will explore postures based in Vinyasa yoga in a slower setting, allowing room for self exploration and the integration of body, mind, and spirit. Longer holds with multiple options for modifications and the last 10-15 minutes of class for restorative postures and a relaxing savasana.
Tonight: 8:00: Transfer to our Included dinner.
Inquire about one of our Dig a Little Deeper private optional tour excursions below. Pricing will be based on the number of participants. Click on the + below for details.
NEW! Dig a Little Deeper Series
Hammam bath and massage. Enjoy 3 relaxing hours at a luxury Turkish bath, or hammam, in a peaceful setting and let the aromatic oils and traditional massage relax and rejuvenate you.
Tile Making. In this inspiring fun Moroccan Tiles Workshop, you will learn the process of making Moroccan Design Tiles known as Zellij. From molding, shaping, cutting, chiseling, and painting, this atelier will take you on an educational learning journey.
Tile Making. In this inspiring fun Moroccan Tiles Workshop, you will learn the process of making Moroccan Design Tiles known as Zellij. From molding, shaping, cutting, chiseling, and painting, this atelier will take you on an educational learning journey.
DAY 3: A DAY OF CHOICES AND COOKING LESSON |
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7:00: Tea, coffee and water with lemon.
8:00: All Levels Energizing Yoga
Tap in to your inner fire! In this 60-minute sequence, you will have the option to go deeper in the postures that we practiced yesterday morning. Don’t be intimidated! Going deeper looks different for every yoga practitioner; holding a posture longer, deepening the breath, tapping into your awareness, or physically upleveling your practice - these are all varieties of deepening your yoga practice.
9:30: Included breakfast.
Some choices for today:
Explore and shop at the maze of the Central Souks. Scents of cumin and grilled meat intermingle in alleyways where shafts of sunlight strike through palm-frond roofing and hawkers bid you hello in 10 languages to sell you their crafts.
Rug Shopping: For those who aim to buy, we will set you up at a local rug dealer.
The Water Museum, a fascinating museum that highlights the history and civilization of water in Morocco.
Lunch today is on your own.
3:00: Optional Gentle Flow Yoga This 60-minute gentle flow class will be slower paced movement, focusing on mindfulness, awareness, alignment, and breath.
Included Cooking Lesson and dinner. Tonight we are in the kitchen to follow our dada’s (traditional Moroccan cook’s) step-by-step instructions to prepare our own mouthwatering dinner.
8:00: All Levels Energizing Yoga
Tap in to your inner fire! In this 60-minute sequence, you will have the option to go deeper in the postures that we practiced yesterday morning. Don’t be intimidated! Going deeper looks different for every yoga practitioner; holding a posture longer, deepening the breath, tapping into your awareness, or physically upleveling your practice - these are all varieties of deepening your yoga practice.
9:30: Included breakfast.
Some choices for today:
Explore and shop at the maze of the Central Souks. Scents of cumin and grilled meat intermingle in alleyways where shafts of sunlight strike through palm-frond roofing and hawkers bid you hello in 10 languages to sell you their crafts.
Rug Shopping: For those who aim to buy, we will set you up at a local rug dealer.
The Water Museum, a fascinating museum that highlights the history and civilization of water in Morocco.
Lunch today is on your own.
3:00: Optional Gentle Flow Yoga This 60-minute gentle flow class will be slower paced movement, focusing on mindfulness, awareness, alignment, and breath.
Included Cooking Lesson and dinner. Tonight we are in the kitchen to follow our dada’s (traditional Moroccan cook’s) step-by-step instructions to prepare our own mouthwatering dinner.
DAY 4: BALLOON RIDE OVER THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS, A LUXURIOUS LUNCH AND ON TO ESSAOUIRA |
It will be an early morning as we say goodbye to Marrakech and travel to the launch site for our included hot air balloon ride. Take photos of the rocky valleys and peaks as our pilot steers our balloon over the foothills of the Atlas Mountains before we touch down safely back to ground and enjoy a traditional Berber breakfast.
We then head east to the seaside town of Essaouira. Enroute, we’ll make an included lunch stop at A luxury resort.
April 3 - 6 Essaouira seaside hotel with breakfast.
We will watch the sunset over the water with an evening gentle flow meditation before we head to included dinner.
We then head east to the seaside town of Essaouira. Enroute, we’ll make an included lunch stop at A luxury resort.
April 3 - 6 Essaouira seaside hotel with breakfast.
We will watch the sunset over the water with an evening gentle flow meditation before we head to included dinner.
DAY 5: A DAY IN ESSAOUIRA |
7:00: Tea, coffee and water with lemon.
8:00: Yoga This morning we will focus on our Svadhishthana chakra, our sacral center. Energetically, the second chakra focuses on creativity, emotions, enthusiasm, and sensuality. When Svadisthana energy is in balance, you can access feelings of joy, pleasure, abundance, and clear the way for creative energy to flow freely. When our Svadhisthana chakra is imbalance, we might experience chronic stress, and a disconnection to our passions in life. We will be focusing on postures that will release our stress centers; lower back, hips, neck/shoulders- additionally, flowing breath-to-movement.
9:30: Included breakfast.
10:00. This morning we head out for a private sightseeing tour of Essaouira, including: Essaouira’s medina, the panoramic views from the ramparts, the fishing port and market, souks and Bayt Adakira. We’ll finish our morning with camel ride along the ocean with the rhythmic sound of the waves as your companion.
The rest of the day is yours to explore this wonderful seaside village. Go mapless with a camera in hand and embrace the beauty of getting lost in Essaouria’s Medina. Its picturesque honeycomb streets will become your favorite past time. You’ll stumble across pretty entryways and doors, secluded art galleries, and hidden rooftop terraces.
Tonight, dinner is on your own. Enjoy this lovely village.
8:00: Yoga This morning we will focus on our Svadhishthana chakra, our sacral center. Energetically, the second chakra focuses on creativity, emotions, enthusiasm, and sensuality. When Svadisthana energy is in balance, you can access feelings of joy, pleasure, abundance, and clear the way for creative energy to flow freely. When our Svadhisthana chakra is imbalance, we might experience chronic stress, and a disconnection to our passions in life. We will be focusing on postures that will release our stress centers; lower back, hips, neck/shoulders- additionally, flowing breath-to-movement.
9:30: Included breakfast.
10:00. This morning we head out for a private sightseeing tour of Essaouira, including: Essaouira’s medina, the panoramic views from the ramparts, the fishing port and market, souks and Bayt Adakira. We’ll finish our morning with camel ride along the ocean with the rhythmic sound of the waves as your companion.
The rest of the day is yours to explore this wonderful seaside village. Go mapless with a camera in hand and embrace the beauty of getting lost in Essaouria’s Medina. Its picturesque honeycomb streets will become your favorite past time. You’ll stumble across pretty entryways and doors, secluded art galleries, and hidden rooftop terraces.
Tonight, dinner is on your own. Enjoy this lovely village.
DAY 6: BACK TO MARRAKECH WITH A WINETASTING AND LUNCH |
7:00: Tea, coffee and water with lemon.
8:00: Yoga Tapping back into our theme with Svadhishtana, we will be reconnecting with our second chakra through breath, movement, mindfulness, and awareness- ending with restorative postures and a restful savasana. You will feel refreshed and ready for a full day of adventures.
10:00. This morning we head back to Marrakech. Enroute, with a special stop at one of the region’s premier wineries for a tour and tasting and lunch.
Marrakech Hotel, 1 night with breakfast. After check-in, our yogis will meet one more time with a light, gentle flow to close our practice and prepare our bodies for our flights home or on to our post-tour excursion to Spain.
Overnight and Farewell dinner in Marrakech
8:00: Yoga Tapping back into our theme with Svadhishtana, we will be reconnecting with our second chakra through breath, movement, mindfulness, and awareness- ending with restorative postures and a restful savasana. You will feel refreshed and ready for a full day of adventures.
10:00. This morning we head back to Marrakech. Enroute, with a special stop at one of the region’s premier wineries for a tour and tasting and lunch.
Marrakech Hotel, 1 night with breakfast. After check-in, our yogis will meet one more time with a light, gentle flow to close our practice and prepare our bodies for our flights home or on to our post-tour excursion to Spain.
Overnight and Farewell dinner in Marrakech
DAY 7: FLIGHTS OUT OR ON TO OUR OUR SPAIN POST-TOUR |
Included transfers to the airport for flights to pick up your Spain and/or Portugal itinerary.
SPAIN |
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Click here for details about our 9 day Spain itinerary to Barcelona, Granada, Ronda, Seville, Cordoba and Madrid
Click here for details about our 8 day Portugal Itinerary to Lisbon, Porto and the Duoro Valley