An Adventure Through the Desert and Your Inner Self

At the beginning of April 2024, I was invited by Daniela, my retreat host, to join what she would call the best of her Moroccan retreats and her favorite one. In her own words, it was “an experience, which you’ll see, you’ll never forget.” Daniela and I met on my first retreat in Marrakech, which was my first contact with Moroccan culture—an experience that intrigued me and made me wish for more. When Daniela explained that the desert retreat was the real immersion into Moroccan culture, I had to try it.

Daniela and I at her villa in Marrakech

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

On our first day in Marrakech, the whole group, consisting of nine people, met at a touristic resort close to the Medina, where our retreat host did the opening circle. I found Daniela’s approach rather peculiar, as she often appealed to the sentiment of letting go and living in the moment rather than providing a complete schedule for each of us. We quickly realized that this was a bit of a challenge, especially for a corporate brain with a long-term fixed agenda (guilty!), but something to be grateful for. I was intrigued that Daniela wanted to keep some details to herself and surprise us along the way—which I can now say was totally worth it!

Our group exceeded my expectations in terms of diversity of age, gender, race, and nationality. I have been to a number of retreats, but this was by far one of the most diverse ones.

Day 2: Departure from Marrakech

As we approached the hotel entrance hall, three modern 4x4 jeeps were waiting in front. We were introduced to our drivers, who were going to be our trusted guides and soon-to-be friends for the next eight days. The drivers, initially a bit shy, did not engage in conversation unless asked. It was obvious that they had a lot of experience with tourists and didn’t want to be intrusive. They soon learned that we were dying of curiosity to learn more about their lives in Morocco. On the first day, we learned that all our drivers were from the desert and had led nomadic lives in childhood, which was truly fascinating.

Group picture in the Atlas Mountains

Ait Benhaddou

As we headed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou, we drove through the High Atlas Mountains with the highest main road pass in Morocco (2260m) and enjoyed the stunning nature and valleys of traditional Berber villages. We took the route to Telouet (to Kasbah Glaoui) and then followed the course of the beautiful Ounila Valley to explore a panoramic view of Ait Benhaddou. We stopped for a picnic in the lush forest and ended the day in our first Kasbah hotel with a rooftop yoga session and a generous meal.

Day 3

We had our first encounter with camels and the vastness of their habitat. I barely remember the number of WOWs coming out of my mouth. I was starting to realize what this tour had in store for me when Daniela whispered that this was just the beginning, and it was going to get even better. And it did!

View of the Dra Valley Oasis from the old Kasbah

Our next stop was a private Kasbah. The owner, a descendant of the original pasha, gave us a tour. The Kasbah, also operating as a B&B, welcomed families and kids willing to embrace a simple lifestyle and learn about the local community. A few artists were stopping there to help with the restoration of the Kasbah. I loved the ethical tourism component, which I learned was present at every step of our tour.

I also learned that Kasbahs were typically built close to an oasis, providing inhabitants with the precious resource of water in such dry destinations. The largest oasis we crossed in Morocco was the Draa Valley. Apart from being stunning, it taught us about the importance of water and the dryness of our planet. The Draa River

hasn’t had water in the last couple of years. We can only hope the place will maintain its beauty and liveliness in an ocean of dust.

The day ended at one of the most beautiful Kasbah hotels I’ve ever been to. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

First camels encounter

Pool view Kasbah Accommodation

Day 4

We started the day with a yoga flow and got ready to embrace probably the most exciting and unexpected day of our trip. We were preparing for an unforgettable road trip and two nights in the desert.

While we had seen desert landscapes for the last two days, nothing compared to the sand dunes. We easily recognized we were in the desert by the fine sand and the absence of roads. How on earth were we getting to our camp in the middle of nowhere?

Our drivers Mohammed and Ibrahim

That’s maybe when our first true lesson of letting go and trust happened. We were there and in the good hands of our Bedouin drivers and friends, who knew the desert with their eyes closed. As we laughed while Mohammed, our driver, made drifts with desert music playing in the background, we were mesmerized by the infinity of the landscape and realized that time and the purpose of life had a completely different meaning. As we arrived at our camp two hours later, the silence of the place was almost shocking, as if you could hear your own thoughts.

The two days in the desert were full of surprises. I won’t disclose everything but will mention two of the most memorable moments—I had the best non-asana-

related “yoga” and lived the best form of

“non-guided meditation.” And yes, that is possible.

with my lovely camel

I danced around the fire in the middle of

the desert to tambourines and Sahara live music, and I rode a camel in the middle of the night, stargazing at the most primordial sky. It is hard to put into words the power such an experience has. You’ll have to live it to understand it.

Our desert camp

Day 6

We knew little would be able to impress us compared to the last couple of days, which were the peak of our tour. However, Daniela and our drivers had more surprises in store for us. I visited the oldest bank in the world, which, in case you didn’t know, was storing not money but grain—the first form of payment! Also, I was a Moroccan princess for a day. Yes, you read that right. We were invited for lunch by an Amazigh family (the Native people of Morocco), and on top of their kindness and hospitality, they allowed the ladies of the group to try on some of the most beautiful traditional outfits.

Day 7

As we were approaching the end of the adventure, our drivers had a surprise for us. Before saying goodbye to the desert for real, we stopped at the dry Lake Iriki, where we danced as if there was no tomorrow. The experience was so liberating.

Day 8

Our last stop before Marrakech was near the city of Agadir. For the first time on our tour, there was a feeling of being back in Europe, which speaks to the impressive landscape diversity of Morocco. We quickly learned we weren’t in Andalucia, Spain, but experiencing a one-of-a-kind view—the Argan forests, which are unique to Morocco. We slept in a beautiful B&B right in the middle of the Argan trees.

Day 9

On our way back to Marrakech, we made a few stopovers, including a women's argan oil cooperative. We arrived in the evening at our starting point, said our goodbyes, and prepared for our departure the next day. We were exhausted because of the intensity of the events, not just the physical but also the mental journey. We processed the experience and its learnings for many days, weeks, and months to come.

Visiting a ceramic producer, wearing a traditional jellaba

I have purposely excluded many other events from this story, as I wish for you to enjoy the spontaneity of the moments and activities this retreat offers. If this little testimonial made you curious about Morocco, message me, and I’m happy to help you plan your own journey to the desert and your inner self…

Disclaimer: This blog post describes a personal experience and is in no way accounting for the satisfaction of other guests attending this retreat, as we are different individuals with different desires and expectations.