Gather with an intimate group of fellow creatives for a revitalizing 5-day retreat in the heart of Marrakesh. You’ll enjoy daily classes on Moroccan cultural arts like henna, jewelry, textiles, beauty, and food, plus artist-led breakout sessions to dig into the sources of your inspiration. Show up with your ideas and creative sparks, and access the collective wisdom of your fellow travelers and teachers. Group visits to inspiring locations and individuals in and around Marrakesh, plus a beautiful riad as your home for the week make the trip complete.
We made a space for creatives of all kinds to come together to learn, experience, and share. Whether you’re a henna artist, a printmaker, an astrologer, a musician, a jeweler, or any other person in a creative field, either as a professional or hobbyist, this retreat is for you.
Who?
where?
The ancient city of Marrakesh is inspiration central. Continuously occupied for over 9 centuries, Marrakesh is one of the most artistic locales in the world. Positively teeming with art and artists of all kinds, the Marrakesh medina is a creative dreamscape.
Designed with creative individuals in mind, our autumn retreat is a mix of classes, visits to inspiring locations and people, and group exercises to help you invest in your own creativity and artistic growth. You’ll leave with new ideas and a renewed excitement for your practice.
what?
trip information
Dates and location
The Marrakesh Creative Retreat will be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from November 12-18, 2024.
Trip cost
The cost of attendance ranges from $1650-2000 USD and is based on your choice of room. We offer a variety of options from a single bed in a shared room to a full bed in a private room.
what’s included
6-night stay at Riad Farah: Experience luxury at Riad Farah, a stunning traditional house in Marrakesh's Kennaria district. With three floors, two courtyards, and beautiful bedrooms, you’ll live like royalty.
Full schedule of activities: Engage your creativity with classes led by Moroccan artists, palace and garden visits, marketplace tours, musical performances, and more.
Class supplies and welcome gift: Enjoy a selection of art supplies and local Moroccan specialties as a welcome gesture.
Welcome and farewell dinners, daily breakfast: Share a Moroccan-style continental breakfast each day in the riad dining room, join us for a welcome dinner on arrival, and celebrate our final night with a farewell dinner.
Payment for instructors and guides: We ensure fair compensation for our Moroccan teachers and local guides.
Airport transportation: On arrival day, our professional drivers will pick you up from Menara Airport and drop you off with us in the medina, with a Marrakesh taxi provided for the return journey on departure day.
Daily Itinerary
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At the Marrakesh airport, you will be greeted by our driver who will take you to Riad Farah, your home for the week. We will meet you at the drop-off spot and walk you to the riad and show you to your room. If you arrive before the 2 pm check-in time, you can stow your bags at the riad and explore the city. We will gather for a welcome dinner in the riad at 6 pm, and then, sweet dreams!
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Start the day with breakfast/orientation, setting the stage for a week filled with adventure. We will explore the bustling streets of the medina, ending at the enchanting Jardin Secret, a perfect spot to spark your creativity. After a delicious lunch, dive into our labs, where we'll roll up our sleeves and work towards our goals for the week. Then, our first class with master artist Khadija to round out our first day.
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After breakfast, we gather to set our daily goals and unleash our creativity with some drawing exercises. Then explore the world of southern Moroccan jewelry traditions with Jenpa. After lunch we'll visit the iconic Jardin Majorelle and Berber Museum to soak up more inspiration. Later, we visit an embroidery workshop followed by cooking demos with Leila and Khadija and wrap-up the day with our daily reflection of the day’s experiences.
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After our morning overview, join Khadija for your second class, then practice what you’ve learned. We'll visit our friends Fouzi and Aziz at their jewelry store and apothecary to learn and shop. Lunch is traditional Friday couscous, at Naima’s. Later we explore the stunning Madrasa Ben Youssef. Back at the riad, we'll prepare and work with skhab, a North African jewelry preparation made by women, and afterwards, our daily debrief.
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Start your day with your first class with master henna artist Souad. Get hands-on practice with her unique Fessi-style henna under her guidance. After lunch, we will meet for our Inspiration and Projects labs. Later we will visit Dune Gallerie to explore the world of rugs, woven by Moroccan women, and their symbolism. Then, Monique will teach us how to make the famous Moroccan olive oil soap. We wrap up the day with our daily debrief.
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Get ready for an epic final day! We kick off with our usual morning overview before diving into your second class with the incredible master artist Souad. Then, we're off to explore the majestic Badii Palace, a historic gem nestled in the former Jewish quarter, after which we'll regroup for our last lab sessions, putting the finishing touches on our week's work. We will celebrate with a celebratory farewell dinner at the riad, reflecting on our incredible week together.
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Our last day is a time for goodbyes and promises to stay in touch, to keep the conversation and inspiration going. We will enjoy our last breakfast together in the riad, and start to pack our bags. Whether you are headed home or going to your next destination, we will get you into a taxi to the airport or train station. If you are staying on in Marrakesh, we can help you find your way to your hotel/riad. We will say goodbye and see you soon!
more details
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Riad Farah, our home in Marrakesh, is a beautiful traditional Moroccan villa. With two courtyards, a roof terrace, a sitting room, a classroom, a dining room, and beautifully appointed bedrooms each with ensuite bath, the riad is our airy escape from the hustle and bustle of city streets.
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Marrakesh is served by Marrakesh Menara International Airport, a beautiful and modern airport welcoming flights from all over the world. You can book your ticket easily on any number of international carriers.
Additionally, if you’re already in Morocco, Marrakesh is the last stop on the excellent ONCF Moroccan railway line, running from Fes to Marrakesh with many stops in between.
Get yourself to Marrakesh by air, rail, or car, and we will meet you at your arrival to take it from there.
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Marrakesh is a very safe city to travel in. As the unofficial tourist hub in Morocco, major efforts have been made in recent years to ensure that Marrakesh is a welcoming destination for all kinds of travelers.
During the retreat you’ll have time to explore on your own, as well as guided excursions with your hosts and guides. We’ll be right there with you if you need us, and our trusted network of friends and helpers all over Marrakesh is there for us too.
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While our previous events have been mainly aimed at henna artists, we’re confident that anyone with any kind of artistic or creative interest will get something out of this retreat experience. You’ll be learning from our team of Moroccan henna artists as part of the retreat foundation, and what you learn from them will surely impact any creative practice you engage in. Classes and demonstrations in other areas like jewelry, beauty culture, herbalism, and food will further enrich your experience, and break out sessions led by your hosts will get you thinking creatively about your experience in Marrakesh, so you can take your inspiration home with you in a tangible way.
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We are introducing sessions called labs to enhance the creative experience of the event, they will be Inspiration and Projects Labs.
Projects Lab will involve group discussion/critiques of your projects and concepts. Similar to a crit group, this lab lets you draw on the collective expertise and feedback of your fellow creative travelers.
In Inspiration Lab, we will discuss the daily inspirations seen in Marrakesh and how they can be integrated with creative practice, so you can bring a tangible takeaway from the trip into your work.
Payment plans are available for this retreat. Just pay a 30% deposit to secure your spot, and then make payments toward your balance at any time in any amount. As long as you’re paid up by the due date, you’re all set.
Not seeing the information you need here? Reach out with any questions. Contact us
teachers and hosts
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Khadija is a henna artist specializing in her own highly developed take on Fessi style henna designs. Khadija’s expertise in her field is unmatched. Find her on Instagrm @galerie_henna
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Souad is a henna artist from Meknes, from a family lineage of women artists. Her firsthand experience as a recipient of generations of artistic knowledge puts her in an excellent role as a teacher. Find her on instagram @souad_na9acha
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Brothers Fouzi and Aziz are merchants with a decades long presence in the medina of Marrakesh. Operating a traditional apothecary and a jewelry shop, they are happy to share their cultural expertise with travelers to Marrakesh.
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Nadia is a henna artist from Marrakesh. One of only a handful of artists left in Morocco who have a detailed understanding of the Marrakchi style of henna art, her work holds a special place in our hearts.
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Jenpa, co-founder of Mektoub with Kenzi, is an artist, tattooer, jeweler, and traveler who divides his time between NYC, Boston, and Arizona.
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Kenzi, co-founder of Mektoub with Jenpa, is a henna artist based in Brooklyn NY, USA.
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Monique is a Detroit based esthetician and beauty expert as well as a henna artist and perfumer.
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Leila is an Ibiza-based henna artist with extensive hospitality industry experience. Originally from Casablanca, Leila’s cultural knowledge and language skills are an indispensable part of Mektoub trips.