past to present

November 7-14 2025

Come with us as we dive into the ancient traditions of Moroccan art and search for experiences on the cutting edge of old and new.

Marrakesh is a city bursting with beautiful contrasts. In this cultural hub for art, design, fashion, and tradition, the Marrakshi people live with one foot in the past and one in the present, bringing their traditions with them into the 21st Century.

At Mektoub, our focus has always been Moroccan women’s art and traditions, with henna art, beauty culture, parure, and daily ritual at the core. We’ll branch out from there to explore the contemporary Moroccan art, fashion, design, and culture that make Marrakesh such an exciting and unique destination.

Dates and location

Marrakesh Past to Present will be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, November 7-14, 2025. The event is 6 days, and 7 nights.

Trip Cost

The cost of attendance ranges from $1950-2400 USD and is based on your choice of room. Below are details on what is included in this price. Airfare is not included.

accommodations

You will be staying in Riad Farah, a historic, beautifully appointed villa in a quiet but convenient district of Marrakesh. Many of our activities will take place in the riad.

Classes and experiences

Marrakesh Past to Present includes a full schedule of daily classes, workshops, excursions, and experiences in and around Marrakesh. Every day starts with breakfast in the riad; you will join other attendees in the riad courtyard for a continental breakfast, featuring coffee, tea, Moroccan baked goods, and more!

  • Classes with Moroccan henna artists: You will learn and practice Moroccan henna from our expert Moroccan teachers/artists, Khadija, Souad, and Nadia, each with their own style of art.

  • Classes in jewelry, beauty culture, and Moroccan textiles: You will learn from Mektoub hosts on these inter-related Moroccan cultural topics, including experiential visits to souks, ateliers, and apothecaries to complete the experience.

  • Studio and atelier visits: You will join us for visits to studios of several young Moroccan artists working in fashion, visual art, and photography to learn about what they do and how they fit into the Marrakshi art scene.

  • Souk visits and exploration: You will be guided through the narrow alleys of Marrakesh’s famous souks, where you can experience the vast array of traditional and contemporary artisanal locally-made. You will quickly learn to find your way around the souks so you can venture out alone.

  • Visits to the Jardin Majorelle, Pierre Bergé museum, and the shops of Marrakesh’s Ville Nouvelle: You will visit the famous Jardin Majorelle, the former home of Yves Saint Laurent, and the Berber Museum on the grounds of the garden. You will get a walking tour of the Ville Nouvelle (new city) to visit the shops of young artisans who are creating contemporary pieces with roots in Moroccan traditional arts.

  • Photography discussion and photo shoot: You will explore the history of photography in Morocco from the colonial era of Morocco to the photographers currently working in Marrakesh. You will also be part of a Mektoub photoshoot toward the end of the week, to incorporate the various things we have learned during the trip.

  • Half day trip to nature exploration: To give you a change of perspective, we will get out of the city and into nature. You will get to relax in this lush paradise filled with art and beauty, and explore a part of Marrakesh that tourists rarely see.

This is the full itinerary for our 2025 trip. Some of the finer details may change depending on local conditions and timing.

what’s included

  • 6-night stay at Riad Farah: A comfortable and luxurious retreat in the heart of Marrakesh, Riad Farah is a 9-bedroom traditional Moroccan villa. You can choose the room type that fits your budget when you register.

  • Full schedule of activities: We have a full slate of activities including classes and lectures led by Moroccan artists, visits to museums, souks, gardens and artist studios/workshops, musical performances, and more.

  • Class supplies and welcome gift: All class materials will be provided, and every guest receives a welcome goody bag with local Moroccan items.

  • Group meals: Share a Moroccan-style continental breakfast each day in the riad dining room, and convene as a group for additional restaurant meals.

  • 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.

  • Expert guidance: Mektoub hosts are expert navigators with many years of experience guiding new travelers in Marrakesh, founded on decades of their own travel experiences in Morocco. This is a trip for travelers with any level of experience, and a great introduction to traveling in Morocco.

  • Trip Preparation Zoom Calls: We schedule several Zoom calls (which will be recorded and shared with attendees) to cover all the details of travelling to and within Morocco, what to pack, how to dress, customs, language, haggling, trip activities, and weather. There will be time to ask questions. We will also have a Zoom call shortly before the trip to share last-minute logistics.

More Details

  • We are offering a discount for anyone who refers someone to our trip. Both you and the person you refer will receive $50 off your bookings, up to $100 total.

    Your unique Ambassador code, found lower down in the confirmation email, allows you to earn a discount on your registration when your friends use your code to register. 

    For each person who joins using your code, you'll each get $50 off your registration! Limited to 2 discounts per person, a total of $100 off your registration.

    If you used an Ambassador code during your registration, your discount is listed below your registration details.

  • 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. Most European cities (and some US cities have) have direct flights to Marrakesh. Otherwise, you can fly into Casablanca and get a local flight to Marrakesh.

    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.

  • 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 trip 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.

    Mektoub is a woman and queer owned travel company and our trips are welcoming to individuals of all genders and sexual orientations.

  • Payment plans are available for this trip. 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. You can also share a link with friends who might want to contribute financially to your trip.

Not seeing the information you need here? Reach out with any questions. Contact us

Riad Farah

Riad Farah, our home in Marrakesh, is a 9-bedroom villa nestled in Marrakesh’s quiet and convenient Kennaria neighborhood.

Managed by our friends Aziza and Karim and their dedicated staff, the house is our perfect home base for the trip. Bedrooms are decorated and appointed in traditional Marrakshi style, each with ensuite bath.

The villa features an airy courtyard with a small pool, a large roof terrace, comfortable sitting rooms, dining room where we will eat breakfast together daily, our classroom for all group classes, and many beautiful details. Our long relationship with the families who run this home means you will be well taken care of during your stay.

teachers and hosts

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Jenpa, co-founder of Mektoub with Kenzi, is an artist, tattooer, jeweler, and traveler based in Brooklyn NY.

  • Kenzi, co-founder of Mektoub with Jenpa, is a henna artist based in Brooklyn NY, USA.

  • Monique is a Detroit based esthetician and beauty expert as well as a henna artist and perfumer.

  • 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.

Ready to join in?

Registration for this trip opens spring 2025. You can sign up for our mailing list to receive a special early bird registration link only for subscribers. Sign up here