Sept 2016 – Marrakech Revitalizing Retreat with Jayme Barrett

INFUSE YOUR SPIRIT IN MARRAKECH 

SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 3 2016

Would you like to be luxuriating in Marrakech on September 26th? For the past five years, I’ve been leading magical retreats with my husband, a native to Morocco, and this year we’re going back to Marrakech. Having been nine times before, I’ve put together a wonderful Moroccan trip filled with amazing adventures and we can’t wait to share them with you. See highlights from a prior retreat here.

We have only 12 spots and it is first-come, first-served with a deposit. If you are serious about joining us, email us here as soon as possible to secure your space. (Retreat fees and special pricing below)

If you want to expand your horizons and be energized in an exotic locale, this is the perfect retreat for you! Be ready to open your heart and have fun with like-minded new friends.

You’ll stay in a beautifully restored 18th century Moroccan mansion (Riad) in the old city of Marrakech for five nights and a stunning villa in the countryside for two nights. In this alluring city, you’ll enjoy delicious gourmet meals, practice yoga and learn positive ways to call in your heart’s desires with feng shui. You’ll relax on the rooftop garden of our mansion or by the pool at our country villa, learn to cook traditional Moroccan food in a half-day cooking class, shop and eat street food in the world famous outdoor souks, and take day trips to the beautiful coastal city of Essaouira and the Atlas mountains where you’ll walk amidst waterfalls and eat lunch in a Berber village.

Included in 7 night/8 day Retreat Package:

• 5 Nights/6 Days accommodation in Marrakech Riad
• 2 Nights/2 Days accommodation in Country Villa
• 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 6 Dinners (w/wine at times)
• 5 Feng Shui & Life Enhancement Classes
• 5 Yoga Classes
• Airport transfers
• Private Transportation on all Day Trips

Special Retreat inclusions: 

• Welcome Mint Tea & Pastry Reception
• Guided Cultural tour of Historic Marrakech & Palaces
• Day trip to Coastal town of Essaouira & Argan Oil Co-op
• Day trip to Ourika Valley (hike amongst waterfall & lunch in Berber village)
• Moroccan Cooking Class (includes lunch)
• Shopping Day in the Famous Souk – Jemma el Fna

Optional Activities:

• Hammam Spa and Massages
• Henna Hand & Feet Designs
• Yves St. Laurent’s Garden Marjorelle Visit
• Afternoon Tea at the famous La Mamounia Hotel

 A Unique Opportunity!  Instead of visiting Morocco like a tourist, you’ll have the rare chance to experience life in the vibrant ancient city guided by Jayme’s husband, a native Moroccan. As a special bonus, Zouhir will help bargain with local merchants, getting you the “Moroccan price” instead of the “tourist price” for your Moroccan goodies…saving you hundreds of dollars!

Not Included: Flights, Travel Insurance (Highly Recommended), Tip to Hotel, Alcoholic Beverages, Yoga Mat

Click to see the highlights and reviews from our prior Marrakech retreats here and here! Video reviews from our guests straight from our Riad are here. 

————————————————————————————————————————————

Your Accomodations in Marrakech

Les Trois Palmiers El Bacha Riad is a magnificently restored 18th century riad (traditional Moroccan courtyard mansion) in the heart of the medina (old walled city) of Marrakech, a 10 minute walk to the famous Jemaa-El-Fna square. We’ll stay here for five wonderful nights.

Restored by a lovely French couple, Patrick and Caroline, the riad has many dining and lounge areas, two dipping pools, and two rooftop terraces with great views of Marrakech and the Atlas mountains. The guest rooms are all different, luxurious, spacious and air-conditioned. They are equipped with separate bathrooms, extra large towels, bathrobes, a hairdryer and a safe. The riad has free Wi-Fi.

Al Mendili Kasbah – Country Villa

For the final two days, we’ll be staying at Kasbah Al Mendili, an authentic and luxurious villa decorated in traditional Moroccan style, in a stunning location nine miles outside of Marrakech. Surrounded by lush gardens and pool, you’ll be filled with serenity as you take in the view of the Atlas mountains while enjoying mint tea and pastries. The owners, Catherine and Alain, have truly created a paradise; a perfect place to unwind and relax.

Each guest room is elegant and offers a private terrace with beautiful views of the garden and mountains. You’ll find bathrobes, slippers, hair dryers and welcome products in your marble and tiled bathrooms. You’ll also be able to enjoy a hammam spa treatment and massage if you wish. Wifi is available as well. Single and double rooms are available.

Local Area and Flavor

Marrakech is made up of an old walled city (Medina) and a new city (Gueliz) where there are hundreds of shops, cafés and gardens to enjoy. Staying in the medina, you will experience the polarity of life in Morocco. Moroccans are very friendly. They speak French, Moroccan Arabic and some English. The currency is Moroccan Dirham.

The famous Jemaa El-Fna square is the most exciting spot at sunset where you’ll see hundreds of food stalls as well as snake charmers, monkeys, henna artists and musicians!

Meals

Every morning you will be served a delicious breakfast at the Riad or Villa. The included lunches and dinners will be split between the Riad, Villa, restaurants and Jemma El Fna square. The food on this trip is magnificent and mouth-watering! Foodies will be in heaven. Nothing compares to local, home-made Moroccan meals.

Feng Shui/Life Enhancement Classes with Jayme Barrett

Jayme Barrett’s feng shui and life enhancement classes will be held at our riad and some will be given on location during our outings. You will learn how to: 1) energize your spaces for health, wealth and love 2) use inner feng shui to harmonize your mind, body and spirit 3) employ manifestation techniques to bring your goals into reality and 4) integrate the beauty of Moroccan culture, architecture and spirituality in your daily life. All classes are optional. If you would like a private feng shui consultation with Jayme during the retreat, let Jayme know beforehand.

Yoga Classes with Karen D’Abrosca – All levels welcome!

You’ll enjoy five morning yoga classes with Karen D’Abrosca. She beautifully integrates all yoga levels into the practice. We will be practicing yoga on the rooftop garden.

Zouhir – Originally from Casablanca, Zouhir has worked in management for many of Morocco’s finest 5-star hotels with his longest tenure at the famous El Minzah Hotel in Tangier. His knowledge about Moroccan culture, hospitality and Marrakech make him the perfect co-leader on this retreat. Fluent in English, French and Moroccan Arabic, Zouhir will guide and take care of participants on daily outings. Zouhir has been living in Los Angeles with his wife Jayme since 2009.

In addition, check out Jayme and Zouhir’s natural beauty care line, Zweena Argan Beauty Elixirs, based on organic argan oil from Berber women’s cooperatives in Morocco, visit www.zweenabodycare.com.

Yoga Teacher – Karen D’Abrosca

This is Karen D’Abrosca’s fourth retreat with Jayme and Zouhir and the 2nd time back to Marrakech! We are so thrilled to have her with us. Karen empowers students to create balance and joy in life, to tap inner wisdom and to minimize stress related imbalances. Practicing yoga for 18 years and teaching for 10, yoga helped Karen recover from hip surgery in 1998. Her Hatha Yoga instruction style guides students through a rejuvenating, strengthening yet relaxing yoga experience. This style offers a practical, accessible approach to asana (postures), pranayama (breath work) and mindfulness, suitable for all ages, body types and fitness levels. She has witnessed students’ practice provide relief from anxiety and sleep disorders and support healthy lifestyle choices. Karen lives in Saunderstown, RI with her husband and golden retriever.

Click to see Highlights and Video Reviews of the 2012 Marrakech Retreat!

To see more amazing photos, visit our Beautiful Morocco board on Pinterest!

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Travel and Flights to Marrakech

You will be responsible for booking your own travel and flights. 

You can fly into Marrakech Menara Airport and the airline code is RAK. Popular airlines flying into Marrakech are listed below. Participants from the United States will need to fly on September 25th in order to get to Marrakech on September 26t^h for the start of the retreat.

1. Royal Air Maroc (www.royalairmaroc.com)
2. Iberia Airlines (www.iberia.com). Partners with American Airlines (www.aa.com ). Change planes in Madrid Barajas. Madrid is the closest European airport.
3. Air France (www.airfrance). Partners with Delta Airlines (www.delta.com ).
4. Go to www.skyscanner.com and put in your details. It tells you every flight available

Less Expensive Option – Secure the best airfare or use miles to fly round-trip to Europe (Madrid, Milan Malpensa, Paris Charles de Gaulle or London). Then book a regional Iberia, Easy Jet, Ryan Air or Royal Air Maroc flight into Marrakech.  Madrid is the closest city to Marrakech and is usually the least expensive flight. Make sure you leave enough time to go through customs and immigration in the European city and you may need to change terminals to get your connecting flight to Marrakech. You will also go through immigration and customs once you arrive in Marrakech. On the way home, most likely, you will have to spend the night in the European city after getting the flight out from Marrakech on Oct 3rd.

Airport transfers from and to the Marrakech airport are included in the retreat fee.

——————————————————————————————————————————-

Travel Documents, Passports, Visas  

You will need a passport valid through May 2017. (6 months past your travel dates). United States citizens do not need a Visa to enter Morocco.

Note: The visa and passport requirements to Morocco vary according to the nationality of each traveler and may change at any time for reasons beyond our control. Although we endeavor to provide you with accurate information about these requirements, it remains the responsibility of each traveler to verify that he or she has the appropriate travel documents for his or her nationality. Jayme Barrett is not liable for any expenses or costs arising from any traveler being prohibited from entering Morocco or any other country visited in connection with this trip.

Medical Issues and Travel Insurance

No immunizations are necessary for Morocco. If you have any medical issue that will require professional care while on your trip, you must bring and be responsible for all necessary items and treatments related to your condition. It is strongly recommended that you obtain medical and dental insurance that will cover the cost of any medical or dental assistance you may require during your trip. Before travelling with Jayme Barrett, we strongly recommend you review your personal insurance and health insurance to ensure you have coverage appropriate to meet your needs, and the needs of your family and dependants, in case of any loss of property or illness, injury or death. Health information for Morocco – http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/morocco.aspx

Insurance: The trip price does not include any insurance coverage, and Jayme Barrett strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance to protect your trip investment in the event of medical emergencies, lost bags, a cancelled trip or any other unforeseen trip or pre-trip related event. You can get travel insurance through www.worldnomads.com, www.csatravelprotection.com or call your travel agent.

———————————————————————————————————————————————

Cancellation Policies: 

 • Your deposit is non-refundable. Full payment is required within 60 days of departure. Cancellation from 60 days prior to 45 days prior: cancellation fee is 50% of total trip cost per person. The trip is nonrefundable inside of 45 days. If a replacement is secured, travelers will get a refund less $250.00.

• If you wish to cancel the trip outside of 45 days, a written cancellation request is necessary. No refund for unused portions of the retreat, including but not limited to, missed meals, hotel nights and sightseeing.

Cancellation by Jayme Barrett: Jayme Barrett reserves the right to cancel the trip at any time for any reason, including if there are too few participants, or if the quality of the trip or the safety of travelers is judged by Jayme Barrett in her sole discretion to be compromised. In such cases, a refund of payments received by Jayme Barrett shall constitute full and final settlement. Jayme Barrett is not responsible for any loss incurred on account of non-refundable or non-transferable air tickets. If there is an official warning regarding travel to Morocco, you will receive a full refund.

Travel insurance is highly recommended.

——————————————————————————————————————————-

 QUESTIONS AND BOOKING

If you have any questions about this retreat and/or would like to sign up, email us here as soon as possible to secure your spot. We will send you a registration form as soon as your place is confirmed. You can pay your deposit by check or with a credit card on Paypal. Please include a short paragraph on why Marrakech is calling your name this year.

**EARLY BIRD SPECIAL – If you pay in full by May 1, receive $100 off!

**BRING TWO FRIENDS SPECIAL – If you bring two friends, all three of you receives $100 off!

** YOU’VE COME ON A PRIOR RETREAT SPECIAL – $100 off!

Offers cannot be combined.

 

To visualize daily life with all the vivid colors, foods, architecture, nature and marketplaces in Morocco, visit our Beautiful Morocco board on Pinterest!

Email us for more information!

—————————————————————————————————————————-

To watch Participant Video Reviews from our beautiful Riad, click here and click here .

We love this review from Karen, who was amazed at the goats in the trees:

I was there, I lived it, and I LOVED it!. As others have said, Morocco is a wonderfully colorful locale whether one is talking about the kind people, or the varied and beautiful sites we visited. It’s safe to say, it was a trip of a lifetime for all of the participants. What was also amazing to me was how we quickly embraced our new “home” through the careful planning by Jayme and her husband, Zouhir. It just flowed, Feng Shui workshops were enlightening and are with me as I am writing this. I was travelling solo and knew it was going to be some adventure even mysterious, a step into another world. It surely was…within a day I was caught up in the wonder that was around every corner in the Medina. I found “my way” figuratively and literally!

Today, just a few weeks later, I can transport myself to the earthen alley-ways, smell the fragrance of spices, bread and cooking found in the souks, ponder a Moroccan recipe and think about the wonderful days and evenings sharing our thoughts and our meals as one great group of people. We all came for different reasons from the U.S. and abroad and found “another home” during our Magical Retreat with Jayme and Zouhir in Marrakech.

Email us to book your Marrakech adventure this September!