Marrakesh and Beyond
Group Tour
September 18-26, 2025
What
This is a different kind of group tour. We combine daily yoga practice with an immersion in the culture, history, and landscapes of Marrakesh and its surrounding region. Led by both a professional historian of Morocco and an experienced yoga instructor, we offer the best of both worlds. We see yoga as an important element of thoughtful travel–a way to reflect on new experiences and to help strengthen the body and mind while on the move. Rather than “retreat,” we will be out and about in the city and the beautiful countryside. Rather than spread ourselves too thin, we focus on a specific part of the country: Marrakesh and its nearby palm groves, rocky desert, and towering snow-capped mountains.
Our Moroccan adventure is open to everyone, regardless of time spent on the mat. Whether you are brand new to yoga or an experienced yogi, this adventure will meet you exactly where you are with optional daily yoga sessions specifically curated to help you stay calm, grounded, and open while we explore the beauty and culture of Morocco. We believe that infusing yoga with adventure travel enhances your mind, body and spirit, making this journey a more enriching and restorative experience.
When
September 18-26, 2025. Participants will need to arrive in Marrakesh on September 18. Transportation from the Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) to our group hotel will be provided. Transportation from Casablanca Mohammed V Airport (CMN) can be arranged. The trip ends on September 26 with departures from Marrakesh.
Where
A lot of itineraries to Morocco try to cram in too much in a short time. Instead, we’re focusing on one specific part of the country.
Itinerary:
4 nights in Marrakesh. We’ll stay in the old city, stroll through the markets, tour palaces, take a cooking class, sip mint and watch the sunset, and fully soak in Morocco’s most colorful city. We’ll stay at Riad BE, a lovely boutique hotel with a yoga studio and rooftop yoga space.
2 nights in the Agafay Desert. From Marrakesh, we’ll drive an hour to Agafay, a dramatic rocky plateau, where we will “glamp” at BE Agafay. We’ll ride camels, relax by the pool, and visit textile cooperatives in nearby Tameshloute.
2 nights in the High Atlas Mountains. Our last stop will be in Imlil, at the foot of Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. We’ll take guided walks to different villages and shop for Berber rugs. We’ll stay in Douar Samra, a charming, rustic bed-and-breakfast in the tiny mud-brick hamlet of Tamatert.
Sample of a daily schedule in Marrakesh
7:30 am - Morning Yoga
8:30 - Rooftop breakfast
10:00 - Visit the Jardin Majorelle
11:30 - Shop boutiques, lunch
1:30 - Relax at hotel (pool, massage time)
3:30 - Small groups explore the souks (markets)
8:00 - Group dinner at Yacout
Who
We welcome participants of all yoga levels. This is an active trip, although we have built-in down time, especially at our second stop in Agafay. We will be walking a lot. Marrakesh is quite flat but much of the old city is not accessible by car. Our walks in the High Atlas will be of moderate difficulty.
Trip Leaders
Graham Cornwell is the founder of Orangerie, along with his wife Judy. He was formerly Senior Assistant Dean at the Elliott School for International Affairs at the George Washington University, where he taught courses in the geography and history of North Africa. He holds a PhD in History from Georgetown University and has written numerous articles on Moroccan culture, history, and sports. He has lived in Rabat, Fes, and Tangier, traveled widely throughout the country, and speaks Arabic and French. He loves yoga but does not practice regularly.
Mollie Graves is a passionate yogi who loves adventure and travel. With thousands of hours of training, Mollie is an E-RYT500 Yoga Alliance teacher who has taught, facilitated, and assisted classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings since 2009. Mollie worked for The University of Georgia Study Abroad South Pacific program leading programs in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. She led adventure travel trips for teens in Costa Rica with Moondance Adventures and she also lived and worked with refugee communities in Uganda with her husband Jimbo. Throughout all of her travels, Mollie has recognized the importance of consistency and flexibility with her yoga practice and she is excited to bring her passions of yoga and travel together for you in Morocco.
Cost and Logistics
Participants should plan to arrive in Marrakesh on September 18.
$2900 Double Occupancy
$3400 Single Occupancy (single rooms are highly limited and first come, first serve)
Total cost includes and is limited to:
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All accommodations
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Breakfast and dinner every day, and 5 lunches
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Bottled water
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Yoga classes
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Entry fees
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Orangerie trip t-shirt
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Ground transportation from Marrakesh airport. Ground transport from and to Casablanca airport can be arranged at additional cost.
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Guided excursions and cooking classes.
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Tips and gratuity for hotel, restaurant, drivers, and guides.
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Pre-departure virtual orientation sessions.
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Pre-departure “Morocco in a Nutshell” briefing
Costs not included:
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Airfare to Morocco
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Ground transportation from other airports to Marrakesh
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Beverages at lunch and dinner (water provided)
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Shopping, souvenirs, etc.
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Medical or dental care
A deposit of $500 is due on January 7, 2025 and is refundable until June 1, 2025.
Questions? Write to us directly: ourorangerie@gmail.com.