Hands of Marrakech
From Clay to Gold
An Artisan Immersion & Cultural Wellness Retreat
Morocco • October 2–12, 2026 • 11 Days
Hosted by Samira Shuruk | Limited to 14 guests
Why This Retreat Exists
The first time I watched a Moroccan artisan shape raw plaster into intricate geometric patterns, I forgot to breathe.
He worked without a template. No ruler, no pencil marks. Just decades of practice guiding his hands through curves and angles that mathematicians would need equations to describe. When I asked how he learned, he smiled and said his grandfather taught his father, who taught him. The pattern was in his hands before he was born.
That moment changed what I wanted to offer the people who travel with me.
I’d been leading international retreats for years — beautiful trips with culture, stretching, gentle Pilates, meditation, nature and gorgeous settings. But watching those hands work, I realized I wanted to go deeper. I wanted my guests to feel what I felt: the meditative stillness that comes from creating something with your own hands, guided by someone whose family has done this for centuries. Connecting with yourself, with artisans, with love, and appreciation.
So I built an entire retreat around it. Not a tour with a craft workshop added on. An immersion into the artisan traditions that have shaped Marrakech for generations — zellige mosaic, carved plaster, traditional painting, hand-loomed rugs — taught by the master artisans themselves, in their workshops deep in the Medina.
This is my sixth time leading a group in Morocco. I know these artisans personally. I know which riads feel like home. I know which palace dinner will leave you speechless. And I know that when you sit down with clay or tile or paint, something shifts. The noise quiets. Your hands take over. And you walk away with so much more than a souvenir.
This isn’t a tour of Morocco
It’s a week and a half of creating with your hands, dining in palaces, moving your body on the rooftop terrace, and being welcomed into traditions that have inspired for centuries.
The souks aren’t a shopping stop, they’re the path to your teacher’s workshop. The cooking class isn’t a tourist activity, it’s a professional chef school that trains Moroccan women. The riad isn’t just a hotel — it was first a historic foundouk or caravanserai, beautifully restored into a spacious hotel and then was Mick Jagger’s favorite place to stay in Marrakech.
Every detail has been put together for authentic cultural immersion without sacrificing comfort or guidance.
This Retreat Is For You If…
✓ You’ve ever stopped in your tracks because a room, a tile pattern, or a piece of fabric took your breath away
✓ You’re a fashion lover, interior designer, architect, artist, or anyone who gets weak in the knees over craft and detail — Marrakech will ruin you in the best possible way
✓ You’d rather spend a morning learning from a master artisan than checking five landmarks off a list (although we will visit the biggies)
✓ You want to shop the souks with real knowledge — after learning a craft yourself, you’ll recognize quality, support genuine artisans, and know exactly what you’re bringing home
✓ You want cultural depth and genuine connection, not a tour bus and a flag-waving guide
✓ You’d love someone else to handle every detail so you can be fully present
✓ You’re ready to come home with a lighter heart, new friendships, and four pieces of art you made yourself
Your Journey
Arrival & Your Medina Home
You arrive in Marrakech and are whisked from the airport to our boutique riad in the prestigious Dar al Bacha neighborhood — one of the Medina’s most exclusive and tranquil quarters. Settle into your room. Find the pool, the rooftop terrace, the garden courtyard. Take a breath. You’re here.
Workshop Days
Four mornings, you’ll walk through the souks to a master artisan’s workshop and learn to create with your hands. Zellige mosaic. Carved plaster. Traditional zwaq painting. Hand-loomed rug weaving. Each afternoon is yours — the pool, the hammam, the souks with newfound confidence, or simply the rooftop terrace with a book and mint tea.
Cultural Outings
Three days of guided adventures into Morocco’s heart. A walking tour through the UNESCO-recognized Medina with expert cultural interpretation. A full-day cooking immersion at a professional chef school. An exploration of Majorelle Gardens, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, and an extraordinary antique shop that supplies museums worldwide.
Evenings
Dinner in historic palaces from the 16th to 20th centuries, surrounded by intricate tilework and carved cedar. Or at our riad, where the cafe serves modern cuisine with fantastic coffee and a full bar. Sunset will bring the call to prayer along with brilliant orange clouds, or the most remarkable lavender and pink wash in the sky. Post-dinner conversations on the rooftop terrace under Moroccan stars.
No two days look the same. That’s the point.
Your Daily Rhythm
Mornings:
Most mornings begin on the rooftop terrace with gentle movement; a blend of mobility stretch, yoga, and Pilates adapted to every level in the group. It’s optional, but most guests find it becomes their favorite part of the day. Breakfast at the riad, then a short walk through the souks to your artisan workshop, where you’ll spend the morning creating.
Afternoons:
Most afternoons are intentionally open.
This time is for the hammam spa — on-site or at a nearby hammam. For shopping the souks with confidence gained from your cultural immersion. For the pool. For the rooftop terrace with mint tea. For a museum visit with an optional personal guide. For a nap. For whatever your body and spirit are asking for.
I’m always around for recommendations, shopping guidance, or simply good company.
Evenings:
Optional meditation on the rooftop terrace as the city settles into evening. Then dinner — sometimes at our riad, sometimes at a historic palace where the tilework alone is worth the trip. Evenings unfold naturally: post-dinner conversations, star-gazing from the terrace, supportive chats, or quiet reading.
Nothing is forced. It’s all taken care of. Just enjoy.
What You’ll Create
Four mornings with master artisans. Four pieces of art to bring home.
✓ Zellige Mosaic — Master the geometric art of traditional Moroccan tilework, chipping and placing each piece by hand
✓ Carved Gypsum Plaster (Gebs) — Shape intricate patterns in the medium that adorns Morocco’s most treasured palaces
✓ Zwaq Painting — Discover the vibrant world of Moroccan decorative arts with brushwork techniques passed down through generations
✓ Hand-Loomed Rug Weaving — Learn ancient Amazigh weaving techniques on minature traditional looms
Each piece is designed to fit in standard luggage. You’ll bring them home as treasured reminders of our new friends and what your hands can do.
Where You’ll Stay
A beautifully restored boutique riad in the Medina’s most prestigious neighborhood. Heated pool. Traditional hammam. Rooftop terrace. Ensuite rooms with authentic architectural details and modern comfort.
A Culinary Journey Through Morocco
Moroccan cuisine warms rather than overwhelms — fragrant tagines with preserved lemons and olives, fluffy couscous with seasonal vegetables, fresh salads with herbs and citrus. For those who enjoy mild heat, traditional harissa is always on the side.
You’ll dine in historic palaces from the 16th to 20th centuries. You’ll cook at a professional chef school that trains Moroccan women to become chefs. You’ll discover both traditional dishes and contemporary interpretations by modern Moroccan chefs. And you’ll drink very good mint tea.
All meals are included except one flexible lunch in Gueliz for personal exploration. Common dietary restrictions are easily accommodated.
Your guide Samira
I’ve been leading international wellness retreats for over a decade and teaching movement for forty years. My cultural connection to the MENA region runs deep — 25 years as a professional cultural dance artist gave me relationships and understanding that no guidebook can provide.
This will be my sixth time leading a group in Morocco. I know these artisan families personally. I know which streets to turn down and which to avoid. I know how to get the most out of a souk negotiation without anyone feeling taken advantage of. And I know that the best travel happens when every detail is handled and you can simply be present.
My work as a fitness expert has been featured in CNN Health and Prevention. My student base includes NIH scientists, sports medicine professors, and physical therapists — alongside complete beginners. I adapt to every level, every body, every comfort zone. We will talk before we travel so I can plan my classes around you.
I’d love for you to experience Morocco with me.
Guest Testimonials
“So many magical moments, I don’t even know how to begin. I felt like you created this journey just for me.”
— Lindsey, Morocco
“This wasn’t just a vacation, it was a transformational experience. I didn’t just see a new country — I grew as a person.”
— Lauren, Morocco
“As Samira opened our eyes to new Moroccan treasures every day, she was ever encouraging, flexible, knowledgeable, and accommodating.”
— Leila & David, Morocco
"With such a small, intimate group, I felt cared for the whole time by you, and I feel like I've made genuine new friends. We've already made plans to get together when we get back home."
Jan, Kenya and Morocco guest
The Investment
11 days, all-inclusive. Every workshop, every meal (except one lunch), every palace dinner, every accommodation, every transfer, every wellness session. See full details in FAQs.
Double Occupancy
Starting at $4,595 per person
Early bird rate through March 1, 2026
After March 1: starting at $5,495
$1,000 reserves your place • Payment plans available
Room Options
Double Occupancy (per person):
Deluxe Room — $4,595 (all early bird)
Deluxe Room w/ Terrace — $4,795
Junior Suite — $4,995
Junior Suite w/ Terrace — $5,195
Deluxe Suite — $5,295
Deluxe Suite w/ Terrace — $5,495
Dar al Bacha Suite — $7,095
Single Occupancy
Starting at $5,195 per person
Early bird rate through March 1, 2026
After March 1: starting at $6,095
$1,000 reserves your place • Payment plans available
Single Occupancy:
Deluxe Single w/ Terrace — $5,195 (early bird)
Deluxe Room — $5,995 (early bird)
Includes
Guidebook, pre and post retreat support
Selected
accommodation
Airport transfer
to/from retreat
Painting class (Zwaq)
Guided meditations
Moroccan mosaic class (zellige)
Walking history tour of Marrakech
UNESCO World Heritage sights
Taxes
Early-bird savings!
Samira shopping and activities guidance
Traditional & modern Moroccan Cuisine
Coffee, tea
Indoor pool time
Moroccan Cooking Class
Museum entries on excursions
Movement classes
Hand loom rug making class
Carved Plaster class (Geb)
Medina Souks right outside!
Excursion transportation
Free time for iluxurious self-care
Come With Your People
Some of my favorite retreat moments happen when friends travel together; indulging and giggling in the hammam, conspiring to buy matching kaftans, sharing mint tea on the rooftop while comparing the day’s creations.
If you’re thinking about bringing a group of four or more, I offer a group rate. Reach out and let’s talk about making it happen.
Your Week
Day 1: Arrive in Paradise
Travel day. Fly into Cancún and let the included transfer whisk you to NIZUC Resort & Spa — just 10 minutes from the airport, yet a world away from everything. Settle into your suite, explore the grounds, dip into one of the pools, and meet your fellow dancers over dinner. The week begins.
Days 2–3: Train, Dance, Explore
Mornings with Samira. Afternoons with Angel. In between — NIZUC's two private beaches, the infinity pools, the 30,000-square-foot ESPA spa, or simply a quiet corner with a good book and the sound of the Caribbean. Your first two days establish the rhythm of the week: condition your body in the morning, set it on fire in the afternoon.
Day 4: Excursion Day
No classes. A full day to explore the wonders of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula together as a group. The ancient Mayan world is at our doorstep — from the iconic ruins of Chichén Itzá (one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World) to the stunning clifftop ruins of Tulum overlooking the Caribbean, from swimming in crystalline cenotes hidden in the jungle to snorkeling the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. [Final excursion selection TBD.]
Days 5–6: Train, Dance, Explore
Back in the studio. By now your body is adapting, your movement vocabulary is expanding, and you're settling into the deep work that only happens when you have this much uninterrupted time to train. The final conditioning and fusion workshops bring the week's journey full circle.
Day 7: Departure
Hugs, tears (the happy kind), exchange of numbers, and a promise to keep practicing those combos. Head home with a stronger body, new choreography, expanded skills, and memories that will fuel your dancing for months.
Select RETURN TO THE WILD below
Choose your occupancy and reserve your place
limited to 12 guests
Kenya Retreat FAQs
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This is boutique small-group travel. My retreats vary between 5 and 12 guests.
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Includes:All accommodations
All meals except 1 lunch on the last day
English-speaking driver-guide & 4WD safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for easy game viewing
Emergency Rescue and Evacuation Insurance
Park Entry Fees
Maasai Village Visit
Boat safari on Lake Naivasha & walking safari on Crescent Island
Bottled mineral water while on transit between locations or on game drives
All airport transfers as per the transfer
David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage
Karen Blixen Museum
Giraffe Centre Visit
All meditations and wellness classes/sessions
Guide booklet and meeting beforehand
Excludes:International Flights into Kenya.
Visa into Kenya
Travel insurance (required)
Optional Balloon Safari in Masai Mara: USD $510 per person
Drinks while having meals, alcoholic or non-alcoholic
Tips. (I will provide information and guidance)
Any expense of personal nature i.e., early check-in, room service, mini bar, optional activities not mentioned, laundry etc.
Spa, souvenirs
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Each day is unique, as they are guided by the rhythms of nature.
Animals are most lively at dusk and dawn, so along with the animals, our days will align with the sun: early mornings, exciting days, and ready to settle down after dinner.
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In Nairobi we will be in a Kenyan-chic modern hotel complete with pool and spa.
On safari we will enjoy gorgeous luxury lodges and luxury tented camps. All of them have a pool and spa. They take advantage of the natural surroundings and nestle into nature beautifully. You might walk with zebra on the grounds at Lake Naivasha, and you will fall asleep to the sounds of hippos frolicking in the water in Masai Mara.
Wifi is available in all accommodations. -
Single and double occupancy options are available.
If you want to travel double occupancy but do not have a roommate in mind, please contact me before registering.
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
Pay in full, or pay $2000 by July 31 to reserve your space at the early bird rate!
Payment plans are available.
PricingEarly Bird (register by July 31, 2026):
$9,595 per person, double occupancy
$11,095 single occupancy
Regular Rate (starting August 1, 2026):
$10,595 per person, double occupancy
$12,095 single occupancy
Registration & Payment
$2,000 is due at registration to reserve your space and payment amount. This includes a $500 non-refundable reservation fee. A payment plan is available
Or pay in full today.
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Below is our basic itinerary. Transportation between parks is with the group.
All activities and excursions are optional. This means your partner or friend who doesn’t want to take class can simply take a nap or a swim. It means if you are feeling tired and want to miss a game drive or a class, take some time for you!The animals dictate our schedule here. Morning and afternoon game drives get us the most exciting animal viewings.
Day 1: Depart US, overnight flight
Day 2: Arrive Nairobi, transfer and settle in | Nairobi, hotel
Day 3: Nairobi excursions — elephant orphanage, Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum | Nairobi, hotel
Day 4: Drive to Lake Naivasha via Great Rift Valley viewpoint, boat ride, walking safari on Crescent Island | Lake Naivasha, lodge
Day 5: Free day to enjoy the lake and lodge amenities | Lake Naivasha, lodge
Day 6: Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park, morning and afternoon game drives | Lake Nakuru, lodge
Day 7: Drive to Masai Mara, afternoon game drive | Masai Mara, tented camp
Day 8: Morning and afternoon game drives, Maasai village visit (optional full-day game drive or hot air balloon) | Masai Mara, tented camp
Day 9: Morning and afternoon game drives | Masai Mara, tented camp
Day 10: Return to Nairobi, lunch, departures
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The optional classes are modified for all levels. Class will be a mix of yoga, gentle Pilates, strengthening and stretching, along with meditation. Sometimes it may be a short stretch near a pond, with meditation later. Sometimes it will be a full class.
Our walking safari is on uneven surfaces and there may be mud. Our lodges and luxury tented camps have walking paths between rooms. The land rovers will be traveling over very bumpy terrain! Your FitBit will think you are getting a workout, and your core muscles will verify! -
Samira Shuruk has been teaching fitness and movement for 40 years and leading international retreats for a decade.
She is a big animal, nature, and culture lover and spent 25 years as a professional cultural dance artist. This will be her fourth time leading a retreat in Kenya. -
My events are always inclusive, and where we are going is considered safe.
Kenya is a more conservative country, and as such, ALL couples practice discretion and avoid PDAs. I go into more details in our pre-retreat meeting and welcome questions in the meantime. Please reach out and we can find a good time to chat.
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Most meals will be beautiful buffets with a wide variety of cuisine from European to Kenyan to Indian.
Typical dietary restrictions are easily accommodated, from vegetarian to vegan to gluten-free.
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Registration & Payment
$2,000 due at registration to reserve your space and payment amount. This includes a $500 non-refundable reservation fee
Balance due: Whichever comes first — 4 months after your deposit OR May 7, 2027 (45 days before retreat)
Payment plans available: Choose 3 or 6 monthly payments for an additional 4.5% of your balance. First payment begins within 6 weeks of deposit. All payment plans must be completed by May 7, 2027.
Late registration (after May 7, 2027): Subject to availability, payment in full required at registration.
Balance payments made via invoice
Or you may pay in full
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Retreat Dates: June 21 - 30, 2027
Depart US East Coast: Monday, June 21 (this may be different from other departure regions)
Nairobi Arrival: Tuesday, June 22
Nairobi Departure: Wednesday, June 30, 2027Airport in Nairobi: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
Note: Nairobi arrival date refers to your planned arrival in Nairobi, accounting for overnight flights and international travel schedules.
I arrange your hotel transfers.
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All international retreats are subject to a $500 non-refundable reservation fee.
Full cancellation details are in the Terms and Waiver, which you agree to when you make your first payment. -
Yes.
For this trip you are required to protect your investment with travel insurance. You shall send proof of insurance within 14 days of initial reservation payment.Yellow fever vaccination at least 10 days prior to travel is also required. Carry your proof of vaccination with you.
You will receive more information on both after registration.
You’ll return home with more than photographs.
A regulated nervous system. A renewed sense of wonder. Meaningful friendships. And the memory of what it feels like to move at nature’s pace.
See you on the savannah,
Samira
June 21 - 30, 2027
