Sensory Retreat: Hammams, Spices and the Atlantic Coast
A week of sensory well-being: centuries-old hammams, argan-oil massages, hidden gardens and the Atlantic breeze of Essaouira.
Description
This itinerary is designed to switch off the senses and plunge into the art of Moroccan well-being. It begins in Marrakech, where the traveler stays in a riad with an interior courtyard, a fountain and breakfasts of freshly baked bread and orange-blossom honey. Mornings are for discovering the red city's hidden gardens: the Secret Garden in the heart of the medina, the Palmeral with its thousands of date palms, and André Heller's Anima gardens with their artistic installations. Afternoons begin with a traditional hammam — eucalyptus steam, exfoliation with beldi black soap, a ghassoul wrap — followed by an argan-oil massage. The gastronomy is a leading player: a cooking workshop for tagine and couscous, dinners on terraces with Atlas views. Midweek, the trip shifts to Essaouira, the coastal city where the Atlantic roars against the Portuguese walls. Here the pace slows even further: walks along the fishing harbor, sunsets from the Skala battlements, dinners of freshly landed fish in the fish market. On the last day, a camel ride on the wild beach of Diabat at sunset. Seven days that smell of orange blossom, sandalwood and sea breeze.
Health & safety
- Beware the sun in Marrakech even in spring: use SPF 50
Day-by-day itinerary
Arrival in Marrakech: the riad and first hammam
Marrakech, Morocco
Arrival in Marrakech: the riad and first hammam
Settling into a traditional riad with interior courtyard, first hammam and dinner at Jemaa el-Fna
Check-in at a riad with courtyard and fountain
Rest1hTraditional Moroccan hammam
Rest1.5hCasual dinner at Jemaa el-Fna
gastronomy1.5hSecret gardens and argan massage
Marrakech, Morocco
Secret gardens and argan massage
Discovery of Marrakech's hidden gardens in the morning and argan-oil massage in the afternoon
Visit to the Secret Garden of the Medina
Nature1hWalk through the Marrakech Palmeraie
Nature1.5hArgan-oil massage at the riad
Rest1hDinner on the terrace with Atlas views
gastronomy1.5hCooking workshop and artistic gardens
Marrakech, Morocco
Cooking workshop and artistic gardens
Morning Moroccan cooking workshop, visit to the Anima and Majorelle gardens, and free afternoon
Traditional Moroccan cooking workshop
gastronomy3hAndré Heller's Anima Gardens
Nature1.5hReading and tea afternoon on the riad terrace
Rest2hFrom Marrakech to Essaouira: the Atlantic coast
Essaouira, Morocco
From Marrakech to Essaouira: the Atlantic coast
Transfer to the coastal town of Essaouira, visit to the fishing harbor and first dinner of fresh seafood
Scenic route from Marrakech to Essaouira
Nature2.5hWalk through Essaouira's fishing harbor
Culture1hDinner of freshly landed fish at the market
gastronomy1.5hPortuguese ramparts and the medina of Essaouira
Essaouira, Morocco
Portuguese ramparts and the medina of Essaouira
Exploration of the Skala ramparts, walk through the heritage medina and beach time
Walk along the Skala battlements
Culture1.5hWalk through Essaouira's medina
Culture2hBeach afternoon in Essaouira
Rest2hSunset from the Skala with Berber tea
Nature1hDiabat dunes and last hammam
Essaouira, Morocco
Diabat dunes and last hammam
Camel ride on Diabat beach at sunset and farewell hammam
Camel ride on Diabat beach
Entertainment2hVisit to the ruins of the Sultan's palace at Diabat
Culture0.5hLast hammam with ghassoul wrap
Rest1.5hSeafood dinner on the hotel rooftop
gastronomy1.5hLast morning in Essaouira and farewell
Essaouira, Morocco
Last morning in Essaouira and farewell
Free morning for a last stroll on the beach, craft shopping and return
Last morning walk on Essaouira's beach
Rest1.5hShopping for well-being products in the medina
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