OVERVIEW

MINDFUL MOVEMENT

This retreat will combine daily yoga and meditation with cultural visits in and around Marrakesh. Our beautiful home for the week is in a peaceful olive grove outside of the bustling city center and gives guests a chance to really retreat from their hectic day-to-day. With daily yoga classes to move our bodies, as well as various restorative classes and meditations throughout the week, including a special soundbath meditation, we will be able to move more inward into peacefulness and connection with ourselves. And at the same time while we are traveling, seeing a new place, experiencing the exciting sites of Morocco, our senses will be stimulated and our minds open as we move outward. Each day will allow for this balance of inward and outward reflection - culminating in a week full of memories and new experiences which we can take back home with us afterwards.

ACCOMMODATION

This fantastic yoga retreat will take place at the fabulous Peacock Pavilions boutique hotel. Located in Marrakesh on 8.5 acres of land, including 5 acres of olive grove, this stylish and eco-friendly abode has been featured in worldwide publications, including National Geographic Traveler.

Breathtakingly beautiful and luxuriously designed, the living quarters where guests will stay during the retreat feature gorgeous fireplaces and a glamorous bathroom in each room. Each bedroom also has its own private terrace - "just the right place to enjoy a minty tea or a zingy cocktail"!

The entire pavilion property has been decorated with care and "loaded with art, special fabrics, and exotic good stuff from all around the world...A swanky place to relax, the salon/great room has a stunning lacy plasterwork that took weeks to complete. There are also seating and dining areas for intimate discussions and cozy meals. A spiral staircase leads to a catwalk high in the air, where you can sit on vintage embroideries and admire the view." Not only is this place gorgeous, but it's also eco-friendly. Observing "green" building and gardening techniques, you'll feel good about the organic bounty served to your plate, and the hot water you use is heated by the solar panels! Spend some free time at the lovely, inviting pool and patio, or join us for a henna and cocktail party in the painted tent, or perhaps an outdoor cinema night on the lawn.

Peacock Pavilions is owned by Maryam and her husband Chris, both recently featured on HGTV's House Hunters International. Chris is an architect, and Maryam a freelance photographer, travel and lifestyle writer, and the author of the award winning blog, My Marrakesh. Both make a perfect team in putting this amazing estate together.

CUISINE

Healthful, vegetarian food is part of the retreat experience, including breakfast and dinner daily with selected lunches, either hosted at Peacock Pavilions or out and about in town. Some even come with a side dish of belly-dancing! The cuisine is simple, delicious and Moroccan, using fresh ingredients from the on-site organic gardens or local markets. Selection may include tempting dishes and libations like stuffed dates, almond couscous, vegetable terrine, avocado dip, leek tarts, mint tea, pomegranate martini, rose water, and more. Selection is seasonal, and you can guarantee to love and appreciate each bite.

ACTIVITIES

Guests will not only enjoy the grounds of Peacock Pavilions and the outdoor areas (including a lovely pool, patio, private terraces, and covered yoga platform), but the retreat also includes some amazing day-trips to surrounding sites. A guided day in Marrakesh will lead guests through an introduction to souks, artisans, and plenty of architectural gems. A day will be spent exploring the desert outside of the city where we’ll experience camel rides on the dunes and a coursed tasting lunch! We will of course visit the famed Jardin Majorelle, YSL Museum and Berber Museum. During the week, we’ll enjoy activities on-site such as a henna party, massage treatments, a special evening with Moroccan entertainment, and even a presentation to learn more about our giveback partner, Project Soar. The final full day entails a trip to a famous hammam (a luxurious spa facility), where guests can be pampered to their heart's content with a full program of various treatments. What better way to wrap up a week of yoga than a day of pure relaxation.

GIVE BACK RETREAT

This retreat is part of our GIVE BACK initiative, where EPM will donate at least 10% of profits to a humanitarian partner in the community where each retreat is held. Our partner in Marrakesh is PROJECT SOAR who works with underprivileged communities and young women to empower with design, clean-up projects, and creative ventures.

WELLNESS

Daily yoga classes and somatic body work will be offered in a way to relax, stimulate, and help guests grow in their own personal practice. Classes are open to all levels, beginner to practiced, and can range from gentle, restorative, and more vigorous vinyasa flow and ashtanga styles.* Style and class levels will be determined and moulded to fit participating students' needs, and with a small intimate retreat class size, students will be able to get personalized attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice. Depending on each retreat location, classes will be held in a dedicated indoor yoga space and some also offer outdoor options as well for us to use if the weather is agreeable. There will be a time for yoga and meditation each day working through various themes in the week.

ALEXA DERIGGS

This retreat will be led by our EPM guide, Alexa DeRiggs. Dedicated to taking her practice on and off the mat, Alexa is a student and teacher of Yin, Power, Hatha, and Vinyasa yoga. Drawing from her own practice of mindfulness and embracing the everyday imperfections of life, Alexa radiates within the space of gentle strength, self-inquiry, and radical self-love. A next-generation teacher Alexa blends Classic yogic principles originating in India and real-world experiences with breath, vibration, movement, and reflection – creating an accessible practice that is intuitive, challenging, grounded, and unforgettably wild. She acknowledges that yoga has been extremely commodified in the West and aims to uphold the initial intentions and sacredness of this spiritual South Asian practice.

Alexa is currently working as crew on a charter yacht sailing through France and the Mediterranean, and calls the world her home. Alexa holds a BA in sociology and women’s studies from Colgate University, holds a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and is a certified scuba diving instructor.

* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!

WHAT PAST GUESTS ARE SAYING

DETAILS / PRICING

• 6 Days / 5 Nights (Mar 16-21, 2025)

• Inclusive Retreat Price = $2,895 (shared room*) +$665 single room supplement

• Deposit to hold space = $950

• Max # Guests = 12
  * Guests traveling alone can choose the shared room and we match up based on guest profile. Rooms are spacious with separate beds and private bathrooms.
  ** 50% final balance due 120 days before retreat start date, and remaining 50% due 60 days before retreat start date.
  Read full cancellation policy in our Terms & Conditions.

INCLUDED*:

• Accommodation (spacious bedrooms each with private bathrooms, linens)

• Daily Breakfast at Peacock Pavilions

• Select dinners and lunches at Peacock Pavilions or in town

• Welcome Reception

• Airport Transfers

• Transportation to/from day trips

• Daily yoga classes

• Meditation classes

• Use of estate premises (terraces, pool, etc.)

• Tour guide on various day trips

• Walking tour of Medina & Souks

• Daytrip to Luxury Desert Camp for Tasting Lunch

• Camel Rides in Desert

• Henna Party

• Special evening with Moroccan entertainment

• Massages on-site

• Spa Treatment day at luxury hammam

• Afternoon at Jardin Majorelle + YSL Museum + Berber Museum

• Taxes

* airfare not included
** all meals are vegetarian. special dietary restrictions can be accommodated
***activities may change based on weather or unforeseen circumstances

LOCATION / TRAVEL:

13km outside the old city (Medina) of Marrakesh Nearest airports: Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) Nearest train station: Marrakesh Transfers between airport or train station and villa will be provided. After signing up, we will guide guests on best options for flights and travel to Marrakesh.

SUGGESTED PACKING:

Besides the basic packing and travel needs, here are a few things to think about bringing with you.

• Yoga mats and some props are provided

• Bathing suit (on-site pool, spa)

• Layers of clothing for weather changes

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Plug adaptors / converters

• Journal