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RelaxationAfrica

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.

7 days1 countryFrom March to June and from September to November

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

1

Arrival in Marrakech: the riad and first hammam

Marrakech, Morocco

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

Rest1h

Traditional Moroccan hammam

Rest1.5h

Casual dinner at Jemaa el-Fna

gastronomy1.5h
2

Secret gardens and argan massage

Marrakech, Morocco

Discovery of Marrakech's hidden gardens in the morning and argan-oil massage in the afternoon

Visit to the Secret Garden of the Medina

Nature1h

Walk through the Marrakech Palmeraie

Nature1.5h

Argan-oil massage at the riad

Rest1h

Dinner on the terrace with Atlas views

gastronomy1.5h
3

Cooking workshop and artistic gardens

Marrakech, Morocco

Morning Moroccan cooking workshop, visit to the Anima and Majorelle gardens, and free afternoon

Traditional Moroccan cooking workshop

gastronomy3h

André Heller's Anima Gardens

Nature1.5h

Reading and tea afternoon on the riad terrace

Rest2h
4

From Marrakech to Essaouira: the Atlantic coast

Essaouira, Morocco

Transfer to the coastal town of Essaouira, visit to the fishing harbor and first dinner of fresh seafood

Scenic route from Marrakech to Essaouira

Nature2.5h

Walk through Essaouira's fishing harbor

Culture1h

Dinner of freshly landed fish at the market

gastronomy1.5h
5

Portuguese ramparts and the medina of Essaouira

Essaouira, Morocco

Exploration of the Skala ramparts, walk through the heritage medina and beach time

Walk along the Skala battlements

Culture1.5h

Walk through Essaouira's medina

Culture2h

Beach afternoon in Essaouira

Rest2h

Sunset from the Skala with Berber tea

Nature1h
6

Diabat dunes and last hammam

Essaouira, Morocco

Camel ride on Diabat beach at sunset and farewell hammam

Camel ride on Diabat beach

Entertainment2h

Visit to the ruins of the Sultan's palace at Diabat

Culture0.5h

Last hammam with ghassoul wrap

Rest1.5h

Seafood dinner on the hotel rooftop

gastronomy1.5h
7

Last morning in Essaouira and farewell

Essaouira, Morocco

Free morning for a last stroll on the beach, craft shopping and return

Last morning walk on Essaouira's beach

Rest1.5h

Shopping for well-being products in the medina

Culture1h

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