OVERVIEW

We’re back in Marrakech for a full week of drawing, painting, and exploring this magical city and its spectacular surroundings. Each day will include art lessons at our stunning location just outside the city center, and the creativity continues in all of the other activities throughout the week. We will be spending time in the lively souks, soaking up the magical athmosphere, photographing and sketching the colourful open-air market stalls.

Some of our outings which are sure to spark your creativity include a trip to the famous YSL museum and Majorelle Gardens, a visit to the sites in the Medina like the ornate Ben Youssef Medrasa, and even a trip to the nearby desert area to have lunch in this visually spectacular scenery on the dunes with the Atlas Mountains in the distance. There we will enjoy camel rides before lunch in a luxury Berber tent. This is one of everyone’s favourite places to get the quintessential ‘Moroccan photograph’. Plus after a week of having our creative juices flowing, we can unwind at a luxurious hammam for treatments and pampering.

Besides our daytrips we also enjoy the incredible location of our home for the week, Peacock Pavilions where we’ll enjoy an onsite henna party by the pool, an evening of outdoor cinema in the olive grove, and sumptuous meals around the garden and dining tent. As we will have the property exclusively for the week there are endless vignettes and scenes to take in for inspiration.

GIVE BACK RETREAT

This retreat is a GIVE BACK program where we will donate at portion to our partner in Marrakech; PROJECT SOAR, which works with underprivileged communities and young women to empower them through education, design, clean-up projects, and creative ventures.

ACCOMMODATION

This fantastic retreat will take place at the fabulous Peacock Pavilions boutique hotel. Located in Marrakech on 8.5 acres of land, including 5 acres of olive grove, this stylish and eco-friendly abode has been featured in worldwide publications, including National Geographic Traveler.

Breathtakingly beautiful and luxuriously designed, the living quarters where guests will stay during the retreat feature gorgeous fireplaces and a glamorous bathroom in each room. Pavilions have private terraces - "just the right place to enjoy a minty tea or a zingy cocktail!”

The entire pavilion property has been decorated with care and "loaded with art, special fabrics, and exotic good stuff from all around the world...A swanky place to relax, the salon/great room has a stunning lacy plasterwork that took weeks to complete. There are also seating and dining areas for intimate discussions and cozy meals. A spiral staircase leads to a catwalk high in the air, where you can sit on vintage embroideries and admire the view." Not only is this place gorgeous, but it's also eco-friendly. Observing "green" building and gardening techniques, you'll feel good about the organic bounty served to your plate, and the hot water you use heated by the solar panels! Spend some free time at the lovely, inviting pool and patio, join us for a henna and cocktail party in the painted tent, and an outdoor cinema night in the olive grove.

Peacock Pavilions is owned by Maryam and her husband Chris, both recently featured on HGTV's House Hunters International. Chris is an architect, and Maryam a freelance photographer, travel and lifestyle writer, and the author of the award winning blog, My Marrakesh. Both make a perfect team in putting this amazing estate together.

CUISINE

Healthful, local food is part of the retreat experience, including daily breakfast, selected lunches and dinners, either hosted at Peacock Pavilions or out and about in town. The cuisine is simple, delicious and Moroccan, using fresh ingredients from the on-site organic gardens or local markets. Selection may include tempting dishes and libations like stuffed dates, almond couscous, vegetable terrine, avocado dip, leek tarts, mint tea, rose water, and more. Selection is seasonal, and you can guarantee to love and appreciate each bite. We'll also be enjoying a lunch in the luxury tent in the desert on one of our daytrips, as well as a henna party during a pool-side lunch, and an evening tea + snack session in the olive grove one night in the outdoor cinema. We’ll venture to one of the city’s chicest hideaways for dinner in an open-air riad courtyard.

SURROUNDING AREA + ACTIVITIES

Guests will not only enjoy the grounds of Peacock Pavilions - the outdoor areas include a lovely pool, patio, private terraces, and covered yoga platform - but the retreat also includes some amazing day trips to the surrounding sites. A guided day in Marrakesh will lead guests through an introduction to souks, artisans, and the medina while filling our eyes with Moroccan architecture and design. We’ll visit the Garden Majorelle and YSL Museum, as well as a separate visit to another area of the Medina for an evening at one of the chic riad restaurants.

A day will be spent exploring the nearby Afagay Desert at a beautiful luxury berber tent with a camel trek, followed by a lunch. This is truly a magical day - we get out of the city and see the vast expanse of the desert with the Atlas mountain ranges in the distance. The final full day entails a trip to a famous Moroccan hammam (a luxurious spa facility), where guests will be pampered to their heart's content with a program of treatments. What better way to wrap up a week of creativity than a day of pure relaxation!

ART

As with all of our retreat away from the studio, we will be working in travel journals and on small canvases in pen, ink, watercolour, and acrylic. We use this time to gather ideas, photographs, and information for any larger scale pieces. Materials will be supplies, but you are of course welcome to bring any specific items with you if prefer to work in another medium. Instruction will be provided in any medium. There will be opportunities for classic studio drawing, plein-air drawing, working with design and illustration ideas, and still plenty of time to simply paint.

Our courses are carefully designed for complete beginners with no previous experience as well as intermediate artists who would like to improve their skills/techniques, and, of course, practicing artists looking for a new challenge. Julian, the host and instructor, has nearly 30 years of experience teaching students of all ages and abilities, and always strives to create a friendly and relaxed studio atmosphere. Read more about his story on the ABOUT page. We offer a variety of custom-made art courses in order to build confidence and inspire you across a range of themes and disciplines. These unique courses also reflect the culture and history of the area and are interwoven with excursions that provide inspiration, variety and interest throughout the week. Above all, this is a real opportunity for developing artists to work in small groups alongside an experienced teacher.

* Participation in classes and activities is optional throughout the retreat. All levels welcome!

DETAILS / PRICING

• 7 days / 6 nights (Mar 3-9, 2024)

• Inclusive Retreat Price = £2,295 (shared room*), +£650 (single room supplement), +£1050 (deluxe single room - double room for single use)

• Deposit to hold space = £750

• Max # Guests = 12
  * Guests traveling alone can choose the shared room and we match up based on guest profile. Rooms are spacious with separate beds and private bathrooms.
  ** Final balance due 45 days before retreat start date.
  Read full cancellation policy in our Terms & Conditions.

INCLUDED*:

• Villa accommodation (spacious bedrooms, each with private bathrooms)

• Daily Breakfast at Peacock Pavilions

• Select dinners and lunches at Peacock Pavilions or in town

• Welcome Reception

• Daily art classes (supplied provided)

• Use of estate premises (terraces, pool, etc.)

• Walking tour of the Medina & Souks

• Visit to Ben Youssef Medrasa

• Poolside Henna Party & Lunch

• Outdoor Cinema night in olive grove

• Moroccan Magic, Signs & Symbols presentation

• Day trip to Agafay Desert (camel ride on dunes, lunch in luxury berber tent, on-site creativity class)

• Afternoon at Jardin Majorelle + YSL Museum

• Dinner at one of the city’s chicest riad garden restaurants

• Spa Treatments at a luxurious hammam

• Entrance fees to sites in Marrakesh

• Airport Transfers (on start and end days of retreat)

• Transportation to/from day trips

• Tour guide on various day trips

• Taxes

* airfare not included
* activities subject to change based on weather and unforeseen circumstances

TRAVEL:

13km outside the old city (Medina) of Marrakesh Nearest airports: Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) Nearest train station: Marrakesh. Transfers between Marrakesh airport or train station and the villa will be provided. After signing up, we will guide guests on best options for flights and travel to Marrakesh.

SUGGESTED PACKING:

Besides the basic packing and travel needs, here are a few things to think about bringing with you.

• Art supplies will be provided

• Smartphone or digital camera

• Bathing suit (on-site pool, spa)

• Layers of clothing for weather changes

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Plug adaptors / converters