Hand to Hand: Weaving Through Morocco is a special opportunity for weavers to gather in a shared cultural, community, and inspired learning experience.
Retreat dateS:
Future dates TBD
Connecting Cultures Through Craft
Weaving is one of Morocco’s most significant cultural expressions: connecting the past with the present, utility with artistry. Moroccan rugs, hand-woven by Moroccan women in their village communities for hundreds of years, are still used in almost every home here-and are now revered and sold worldwide.
These women’s strength of character and community, inherent creativity, and ability to create functional, extraordinary works of high art in the most ordinary of circumstances is inspiring and humbling.
Purpose
This retreat invites you to spend some time sharing in their work, lives, and processes. Through two full days of immersion, we will go from “live” wool preparation through cleaning, carding, and spinning, to setting up a large rug loom. Explore and experience the symbolism and rituals that are integral to the practice of weaving in Morocco to add protection and provide meaning to the finished pieces.
Side by side, we will learn the techniques that go into the creation of the intricate Hanbel or “Glaoui” style rugs of the Tazehakht region. These highly prized carpets include a combination of weaving techniques including flat weave, knotting, embroidery, and Zanafi patterns. They are full of color, texture, pattern, and storytelling.
After learning about the process of wool preparation, dyeing and spinning alongside the women weavers we will carry their shared knowledge and inspiration with us as we weave along the rest of our journey through the mountains, desert, and palm oasis of southeastern Morocco, exploring and experiencing the beauty and culture of this rich, warm country.
Videos from our last Weaving Through Morocco Retreat!
Scroll Through Our Journey Together
Travel, experience, explore the heart and soul of Morocco with us for 12 full days.
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After arrival day and a welcome dinner, we will begin with 3 days exploring the sights and souks of the Marrakech Medina. Discover local artisans in their ateliers, including woodworkers, zouak painters and weavers, the dyer’s souks and the local wool markets, as well learning basic weaving techniques as we complete 2 keepsake projects.
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![Ait Ben Haddou-a Unesco Heritage Site]()
Heading east across the scenic route of the Tizi N’Tichka pass we will visit an important Kasbah along the former trade route before arriving at Ait Ben Haddou-a Unesco Heritage Site where you can tour and hike as you like. This begins our 2-night stay at a spacious and private Riad in a village with a view over the valley.
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From Ait Ben Haddou we will travel to spend a day with a local carpet weaving cooperative in their villages, providing us a uniquely special opportunity to participate in the traditions and culture of women weavers as their share their warmth and wealth of weaving experience with us. Back at our private riad we will share dinner and our own community weaving experience* practicing samples together on our travel looms.
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![Sunset camel ride]()
From here we spend the next days slow traveling through scenic Draa valley and palm oasis to spend 2 nights in a beautiful, peaceful location on the edge of the Sahara. Along the way we will visit a 14th century restored Kasbah and the famous pottery village of Tamegroute.
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![Morocco palm oasis]()
We will go off-road through the scenic gateway to Erg Chegaga in the Sahara Desert, visiting nomads and having a picnic lunch in a cool desert oasis along the way. We will arrive at our luxury desert bivouacs in time for a camel right through the dunes to watch the sunset from the highest dune in the area. After our camp dinner we will listen to the sound of the drums, while stargazing under the desert sky.
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We’ll return to Marrakech via a new scenic route, with a stop in the important carpet center of Tazenakht to visit another cooperative and spend the night in a beautiful location in the Atlas Mountains.
After a good sleep we return to Marrakech by midday where you can enjoy the next day and a half relaxing, weaving, sightseeing or indulging in a spa experience as you wish.
*This retreat has been thoughtfully designed to provide a slower-paced trip through Morocco and give ample time for evening community weaving sessions.
**The detailed retreat itinerary will be provided after registration
What Makes This Trip Special
This retreat is designed for weavers, fiber artists, or simply curiously creative people looking to deepen their connection to their craft through shared cultural experiences and exploration of traditional Amazigh weaving techniques. Morocco, with its centuries-old history of handwoven textiles, inspiring textures and colors, and rich culture is the perfect place to do just that.
You will learn, practice, and create 3 of your own weaving keepsakes along our way.
For our hands-on learning connection with local weavers, we are partnering with Salam Hello - a Moroccan based company with both American and Amizigh ties that works directly with women weavers to create beautiful rugs that go directly from artisan's hands to homes around the world. The women’s cooperatives that they support will host our weaving immersion day.
Experiences & Inclusions
Full day of immersion into Amazigh carpet weaving processes and techniques with local women weavers.
Gift of locally made and specially carved looms + fiber packs for creating samples and small weavings along our slow-paced travels.
3 & 4 star accommodations throughout, including privatized riads and an overnight in a Luxury Sahara Desert Camp.
All breakfasts, lunches and dinners with the exception of 1 lunch and dinner on your own.
Entrance and tours through ancient Kasbahs and museums in Marrakech.
Cocktail party with Welcome and Closing Celebrations.
Private vehicle transportation throughout, including airport transfers.
Tips and Gratuities for hotel staff, drivers, and weaving associations. (But please feel free to tip extra as our support team is top-notch!)
Not included:
Airfare and Mandatory Travel Insurance (Check out World Nomads)
Money spent on shopping and personal items
Personal alcohol purchases
Your investment:
$4,995 USD with private queen room with ensuite bath
$4495 USD for a shared room with ensuite bath.
A non-refundable deposit* of $1,000 is required to reserve your space.
The remaining balance will be due over 2 additional equal payments. You will be emailed an invoice for each payment 2 weeks prior to the due date.
Cancellation Policy: Your deposit and subsequent payments are a commitment and each payment becomes non-refundable at the time it is received.
*By registering for this trip with your deposit, you agree to the above Cancellation Policy and to purchase your own trip insurance.
About Your Hosts
Melanie Royals has been designing and leading retreats in Morocco for curious and creative travelers since 2009. A lifelong artisan and designer, she has a passion for creating experiences that highlight and connect her guests to the heart and soul of Morocco-the artisans! Since 2017 she has been welcoming private retreat groups to her own Marrakech Medina guest house, Maison 28.
Salam Hello is an ethical, Moroccan-based rug company that works directly with women artisans to design and create exquisite one-of-a-kind rugs all while maintaining price transparency. Every piece is created with the intention of bringing the tradition and peace of Morocco into the home of its buyer and having the buyer understand the story that lives in their home.
