MOROCCO
the
retreat
immersive writing experience
FIVE DAY
Sept. 30
Oct. 5
the
EXPERIENCE
Our days will be spent immersed in our writing practice, meditating, trekking along the Atlas Mountains trails and rivers, and connecting with our literary selves. We will also experience traditional Berber culture and couisine in an authentic Moroccan Kasbah surrounded by colors, textures and smells only found there.
the
INSPIRATION
A week dedicated solely to your art, your purpose, and your truth in one of the most stunning countries in the world. This experience will challenge you to think deeper, inspire you to reconnect with your authentic voice, push your creativity to new heights and help shape the course of your writing life.
the
INTENTION
Morocco is one of those places with the ability to shift how you look at the world. It makes you feel your feelings deeply, to reflect on who you are and how you contribute to this world we all get to share. It is a place that ignites all your senses, inviting you to uncover the mysteries and secrets that lie deep within. It’s magic, it’s poetry, it’s love.
WHY
When we talk about writing as a way to live life twice what we really mean is: writing is the most useful and beautiful tool to bring you into the present while letting your memories adorn and color your days. We write to make sense of the now, we write to understand, to cope, to heal, to dream, and often to empathize with those around us.
We hope Morocco ignites your imagination and your wildest dreams the same way it does to us. We hope you can find your voice, savor each moment, and reconnect with the part of you that wants to remember.
the brief
LOCATION
the
Back in the days, Moroccan Kasbahs were castle-like fortresses built by kings to protect the inhabitants of a village. Today, staying in a Kasbah is a special way to experience the history of a place, understand another way of life, and genuinely connect to the local culture. Our Kasbah is located in a sprawling mountain range with views of the whole Ourika Valley bordering tiny villages, a river and a national park. Situated only 45 minutes outside of Marrakech, it’s the perfect retreat away from the bustle and the doorway to a natural world only found in this part of the world.
WRITING SESSIONS
immersive
Our workshops are designed to unlock your creative potential, connect you with your authentic voice, and guide you on a journey toward yourself. Learning in a setting outside of everything you've ever known, surrounded by new perspectives, smiles, and life-changing experiences, is at the core of what makes our retreats so special.
Workshops We Teach:
The Power of Sensory Language
Owning Your Story
Travel Writing
Short Stories
The Lyrical Essay
and more…
Leslie Jamison
Leslie Jamison is the New York Times bestselling author of The Empathy Exams, The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath, Make it Scream, Make it Burn, and a novel, The Gin Closet. Her forthcoming memoir, Splinters, will be published next year. She is a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine and was the guest editor for the 2017 edition of Best American Essays. A finalist for a National Magazine Award, her work has appeared in numerous publications including The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The New York Review of Books, The Atlantic, and Virginia Quarterly Review. She is a professor at Columbia University and lives in Brooklyn with her family.
Meet our guest writing teacher
TO US
getting
You will fly into Marrakech (RAK) airport where one of our drivers will be waiting for you. Although you are welcome to head straight to us, we really recommend spending a day or two in Marrakech. It’s one of the most vibrant, eclectic cities in North Africa. There, you can meet loads of writers also on the way to us. The drive from Marrakech to the venue is about 1 hour long, and vehicles are 4x4 and air conditioned. Ask us about riads and restaurant recommendations in Marrakech.
We absolutely love Morocco!
what’s included
Accommodations for 5 nights
2 writing workshops a day
Morning yoga, meditation, and journaling sessions
All meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Hikes and exploration days around the valley
Open mic night
Optional one-on-one sessions with leaders
Arrival gift bag
Transportation to and from the venue from the airport
not included
*Airfare, alcohol, additional services
FAQs
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There is wifi at the venue, but we do mind and follow intentional phone practices. We require no phones during workshop or at any meals. We request the rest of the week that you leave your phone in your room or only use it very intentionally. We bring a talented photographer and also capture for social, and will share all content with you after the retreat. This decision has been made after years of retreats and our quest to be present during this experience.
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You will fly to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK). Our venue is a one our drive from the city.
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Your transportation to and from the venue is included in your ticket price. Those shuttles will be leaving the airport at 11 am and 2 pm. Please be sure to be at the airport for one of those shuttles. Anything outside these times is not included.
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Check in starts at 3pm on September 30. The retreat officially starts at 5pm. Plan to be at the venue early to settle in and join us for the welcome circle, opening ceremony and dinner. The retreat ends on October 5 by 11am.
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Following the decision of the Moroccan authorities, the health restrictions ( PCR or Vaccinal Pass) at the entrance to Moroccan territory are lifted.
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Travelers from many countries do not need a visa to visit Morocco for a period of up to 90 days. Currently, citizens of Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK, the EU and Canada, among many others, do not need a visa to travel to Morocco, provided they have a passport of usually six months' validity and an onward or return ticket (with supporting documents).
Make sure that your passport is stamped when you arrive in Morocco, as you may have difficulty leaving the country if your passport does not bear an entry stamp.
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Absolutely. The retreat is designed to ignite your creative potential, whether you have experience writing or not. Workshops are designed to nurture all levels.
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Yes. If you are traveling on your own and would prefer to share a room, we will do our best to match you with a roommate.