THE MOROCCO ART OF ALIVENESS RETREAT WAITLIST

Morocco is situated in the North-East corner of Africa, just south of Europe. Morocco borders three countries: Spain, Algeria and Mauritania, and has coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean sea. It is home to the Sahara Desert in the south, the highest mountains in North Africa in the center, and fertile plains and mountains in the north.

Morocco’s official languages are Arabic and Berber. Berber is the language of its first inhabitants and the language used by the majority of its citizens. French is widely spoken except in the Northern regions, where Spanish is spoken. English is understood in the larger cities and tourist areas of Morocco, but knowing a few local phrases is recommended. We will help you with this!

The currency in Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, and the exchange rate usually hovers around 10 Dirhams = 1 US Dollar. There are money exchange counters as well as ATMS in Marrakech. We will also have someone come to the hotel on our first day to exchange money and put sim cards in your phone if you would like. (More detailed information about money and phones will be sent upon registration.)

We recommend downloading the currency app XE on your phone so you can easily have the latest exchange rate.

You will fly into Marrakech Menara International Airport (RAK). Royal Air Maroc is the only airline that has direct flights from the US to Morocco, from both JFK and Washington Dulles.

Foreign visitors traveling to Morocco need a passport that is valid for at least 180 days beyond the time they are planning to be abroad. Most visitors do not need to apply for a visa. Visit this website for more information.

(We will send more information about traveling to Morocco upon registration).

Morocco has been called “home” by many different people throughout the centuries. In addition to the indigenous Amazigh (Berbers), the country has hosted a variety of cultures coming from the East (Phoenicians and Arabs), the South (Sub-Saharan Africans), and the North (Romans and Spanish Andalusians – both Muslim and Jewish) throughout history.

Today, the majority of the population identifies as Berber or Arab and the country’s official language is Arabic. Morocco is a Muslim country, with 99% of its population identifying as Sunni Muslim, but religious minorities are widely respected.

Moroccans are very welcoming and tolerant towards different cultures, ideas and ways of life. Moroccans typically greet with a handshake and sometimes two kisses (starting with the left cheek) but this only occurs when the two people greeting are of the same sex. In any greeting that takes place between a man and a woman, the woman should extend her hand first if she wants to be greeted – if she does not do this, a man should bow his head in greeting.

Public displays of affection in Morocco should also be kept to a minimum, as this is a conservative culture. Any gesture you make in Morocco should be done with your right hand (yes, even if you’re traditionally a lefty!). The left hand is considered impure and is saved for bathroom duties and cleaning chores. Always keep tissue on you!

April is spring in Morocco with average daily temperatures between 55 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Weather in Morocco is predictably unpredictable, so be sure to check on the estimated conditions the week before you travel. It can be quite warm by day, it is usually quite cooler at night so pack clothes that you can layer.

Morocco is a Muslim country and women generally dress more modestly than in the US or Europe. Like elsewhere, dress codes are gradually becoming more lax and there is a lot of tolerance for tourists, but wearing modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees shows cultural respect, good taste, and common sense.

We recommend lots of layers! Cotton pants, light long skirts/dresses, long sleeves, and/or wraps and large scarves over tank and tee shirts, plus a sweater and light jacket for chilly nights. Your most important fashion asset: comfortable shoes!

All meals will be provided featuring local flavors. If you have specific allergies (i.e. peanuts, wheat, gluten, dairy, etc.), it will be harder, but not impossible, for you to find food that suits your needs. We are unable to cater to any specific dietary issues – you will need to manage this on your own. All meals will have vegetarian courses.

You are required to get travel and medical insurance for this trip. There are many companies out there that offer insurance for travelers, including World Nomad.

Please check the CDC website for recommendations for traveling to Morocco.

While Covid vaccination is not mandatory for entering Morocco, you will need proof of a negative Covid test within days of traveling into and out of Morocco.

Transportation from the airport to our hotel will be provided in the morning and afternoon of April 18th. If you’d like to arrive earlier, you will be responsible for your own transportation fees. We can help you arrange your transportation and extra nights if required.

Painting, drawing, photography and daily creativity practices will be woven throughout our time together, but we will not be painting every single day. Our three long painting days will happen when we arrive in the Sahara, however we will be incorporating other forms of creativity and self reflection exercises throughout the entire retreat.

All your art materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring additional supplies you love to work with (ie your favorite pens, etc).

A detailed packing list will be sent upon registration.

You will have access to wifi at our hotels and some restaurants, but the connection can be slow at times. We encourage you to take as much time away your devices as possible to recharge 🙂 Also, be sure to turn off “roaming” before you land in Morocco to avoid large international cellular fees. We will give you more details about this upon registration.

Yes. It’s important that everyone is present for the entire retreat to create a safe and inclusive container, and we will be traveling across the country as a group. Each day of the retreat will build upon the next in a cumulative fashion.

Please arrive in Marrakech by the afternoon of April 18th, and plan to depart no earlier than the morning of April 29th. Additional excursions will be available if you with to stay in Morocco longer.

This retreat is quite physically active. Between daily movement sessions, walking through the Medina and adventures out in the desert, we will be on the move!

You have the option to select a payment plan that works for you at checkout with our partnership with Affirm. Affirm will only work for US customers – for international payment plans, please email [email protected] for information.

If anyone drops out a retreat (it does happen), we will notify everyone on the wait list. The open spot will go to the first person who responds to the notification email and confirms registration!

Yes! Michelle has a variety of “add on” packages available and is more than happy to help you plan extra excursions. If you are interested, we will put you in contact directly with Michelle.

Yes! You will both need to register and pay separately for the retreat, but we are happy to put you in a shared accommodation if you let us know who are you traveling with.

We are unable to “save spots” for friends.

All participants of the retreat need to be over 18 years of age.

Once you’ve paid your deposit, you will receive a short confirmation email. A more detailed email regarding travel to Morocco, packing lists, and other ways to prepare for our time together will follow in the coming weeks. Please feel free to email any questions to [email protected]. We are here to help!