Location
Essaouira is a charming little port on the Atlantic coast between Agadir and Casablanca, about 160km west of Marrakech. Known for its laidback atmosphere, long beach and blue fishermen’s boats. During this yoga holiday Essaouira, you really have the time to explore this funky little town.
Strolling around in the 18th-century UNESCO-listed, rampart-encircled medina, discovering tiny little art galleries and pretty hidden squares. Shopping for your spices in the fascinating souks, which are still as much for locals as they are for tourists. This colourful town has a very bohemian feel and moves at the perfect pace for our yoga retreat. Things are relaxed here and in no way can one even begin to compare Essaouira to big sis, Marrakech.
Essaouira is becoming increasingly more popular but luckily it is still relatively untainted by tourisme. So no worries about scams, harassment or any of that. For one, because I can advise you on where to shop for your leather goods, argan oil, rugs, pottery, etc. And also, because people are just so very friendly in Essaouira!
Il n’y a qu’un certain château que je connais, où il fait bon d’être enfermé, il faut plutôt mourir que de rendre les clés, c’est Mogador en Afrique – There is only one tower where I know I’d live and be locked up forever, even to die there rather than return the keys – Paul Claudel
Villa Maroc, simply the best choice in town
For the Revealing Vajra Yoga Holidays, I go for venues with a high level of service, a specific ambience, good beds, rooms that offer all you need, good food and a staff that makes you feel at home. Even with 200 something riads and hotels in Essaouira, there is only one that combines all of these elements: Villa Maroc.
Its location is truly unique.
A 2 minute walk from the beach, at the same time in the medina, offering insanely beautiful views but, not having the usual noise that comes from a bustling medina.
Rooms are traditionally styled with eye for detail and there’s wonderful art work in every single room. Every room is different, and every single room is worthwhile and decorated with style.
Open fires will be led every evening to create that typical magical Moroccan atmosphere. You might never want to leave…
More of a city and/or Mountains person? Then check out our Marrakech retreat! On this retreat, you will also get a really nice taste of Morocco as you will experience a combination of the majestic High Atlas Mountains and enjoy the hustle and bustle of vibrant Marrakech.
The energy of Morocco is amazing!
Rachel had every detail covered. The meals, the yoga, visiting the market, off site lunch, massages. Really everything was perfectly timed, despite ‘Moroccan time’.
Also, Rachel’s personal travels and her retreat hosting experience positively influence her retreats.
KIM SCHROEDER, NYC, USA – Morocco, July, 2016
If you are in doubt, shoot me an email and I will be happy to help you out, picking out the location that suits you best at the moment.
A Culinary Feast
On this yoga holiday Essaouira, we are in for a festive food party. So, you can start dreaming already about tajines, zaalouk, fish pastillas, harera, delicious salads, refreshing mint teas and so much more.
Moroccan cuisine is very diverse thanks to the interaction with many other cultures. It has the most rich and flavourful dishes. Using only fresh and local ingredients. One thing is for sure on this yoga retreat, you will not go hungry at any point.
To discover Moroccan gastronomy even more, we will invite you for an awesome cooking workshop. In this half day workshop, we will prepare a traditional meal that can easily be reproduced at home. We will take you through the spice markets and give you plenty of tips on the do’s and don’ts. Even if you’re not a kitchen princess or prince, this will be really fun!
You might know the blue fishing boats that are so typical for Essaouira? Consequently, we have the most delicious seafood you can imagine! Difficult to find it any fresher than here.
One the many things that make this holiday different is that you can eat in the coolest places in town, and, we have the privilege of calling Villa Maroc our home away from home. Villa Maroc has an incredible cuisine. Hard to beat even. I know, as I live here 🙂 From Karavan Cafe to Ocean Vagabond and Umia, you can try them all and it will be all inclusive in your package.
If you don’t eat this or that, no to worry, let me know in advance and the chefs will do their utmost to work around it.
Vegetarian, gluten and dairy free is not a real problem. Please do realise that this country is not entirely used to these requests quite yet. If you’re celiac, please check in with me before you book.
Alcohol is not served during our lunches and dinners together, except from our dinner on Friday evening, where the wine will be included. If you would like to have wine or alcohol, no problem, it’s just at your own expense.
To find out more or book your place...
Please contact Rachel at rb@revealingvajra.com if you would like to ask any questions about this retreat or how to book and pay for your place, she will be more than happy to get back to you!
You can also book and pay securely online here. Payments via Paypal, Credit Card or Bank Transfer
Your Host and Yoga Teacher, Rachel Bonkink
You will go home after this week, with a mental back pack, filled with practical tools to help you maintain and cultivate Balance in your daily life.
I have been teaching for several years now and I do what I do because it is who I am – it is what I love to do.
Traveling the world and inspiring people in anyway I can.
THESE YOGA HOLIDAYS ARE DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER HOLIDAY OUT THERE!
What I bring across is so much more than bending forwards and backwards. As I have a worked both as a COO and consultant before founding Revealing Vajra, I know what stress is. I know what deadlines are, real deadlines, handling huge budgets-with a lot of zeros, pleasing your C-level customers, keeping your corporate tribe happy- our tribe had 100+ people on the payroll.
Combine this with many years as a personal life coach, my shiatsu practises and ongoing yoga teacher trainings and personal retreats.
And, you get someone in front of you who is able to organise retreats that are very different.
It is this unique combination – a deep understanding of corporate life and the corporate ladder, alongside a vast experience of mind-body trainings and many personal retreats, plus the expertise of organising over 50 of my own yoga retreats – that gives my yoga holidays and retreats a very POWERFUL edge.
I will help you to focus on enjoying your practice and gaining new insights into your body, mind and the yoga philosophy.
In conclusion, these holidays are so much more than just a getaway. These retreats can be truly life changing and empower you to become a more healthy and happy person.
DIFFERENT YOGA STYLES
I will teach different styles of yoga, and offer several guidelines/techniques for meditation during this week.
Starting slowly with Hatha, Yin, and Yin/Yang. Building it up towards a more Vinyasa inspired class. At least one class will focus on alignment and one class is Kundalini yoga.
All levels are welcome, I know how to adjust all poses.
I don’t take life all too seriously, nor do I see yoga as the most serious thing in the world. It’s very possible that I even make a joke here or there during our classes together…
Pranayama (breathing), meditation and yoga philosophy are part of all my lessons.
Asana wise, I started my own journey about 10 years ago with Ashtanga. Later on, I got very inspired by Iyengar trained teachers like Gustavo Ponce and John Stirk. Over the years, I’ve taken several 100 and 200 hour teacher trainings in India, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada and Thailand. Currently, I enjoy receiving teachings by Sarah Powers, Bernie Clark, Paul Grilley and Alan Wallace. Every year, I go on at least two to three retreats myself to recharge, rejuvenate and broaden my knowledge on yoga and meditation.
I am happy to discuss your expectations and see if this holiday is right for you. I welcome any and all questions or concerns you may have and invite you to email me at: rb@revealingvajra.com or just give me a call on +32 476 204 121.
You can read more about my story and starting Revealing Vajra here …
Transportation
Transfers from and to the airports of Essaouira, Agadir and/or Marrakech are included in the price of the retreat on the 20th and the 27th of October, as we like you to fully relax and not worry about a thing anymore, after your arrival at the airport.
The airport to fly into can be Marrakech-Menara (RAK), Agadir or Essaouira.
From there, transfers will be arranged for you.
When you are flying into Marrakech, a driver will be waiting for you with a sign of Revealing Vajra Yoga Holidays. It’s an easy ride to Essaouira of about 2,5 hours with a nice little tea stop half way.
Flying into Agadir is also an option. Agadir is only 187 km away but it will take you about 3-4 hours to get to Essaouira. It’s a bendy road, beautiful during the day, not really advised when you arrive late in the evening.
Flying into Essaouira is the easiest option but there are only a couple of direct flights from Luton, Charleroi, Lyon and Paris at the time of writing. The airport is just 20 minutes away.
Depending on your country of departure, there will be different airlines available to fly into Morocco.
US and Canadian participants will have to fly into Casablanca first. It might be an idea for us to pick you up in Casablanca. It’s a 5 hour drive (and an extra cost) but it might be more relaxing than taking another flight into Marrakech, also these flights get cancelled quite often.
In Europe: Ryanair, EasyJet, Iberia and Vueling usually offer very competitive rates, so please check on their website for fares from your country of departure.
Good to know! It takes between 1 and 3 hours to get out of the airport on arrival. And you will need at least two hours prior to departure for passport control and security checks. Afternoon departure flights are therefor advised.
If you would like us to pick you up/drop you off somewhere else than the airport, we will charge extra, depending on where it is. Transfers are included on the start and end date of the retreat and during our retreat. We can assist you with transfers of course when you come early and/or leave later but these transfers are NOT included in your retreat package.
Depending on availability, you can stay at our Riad before and after the retreat, or I can advise on other cool places to stay.
What to do next? Booking this “Yoga Holiday Essaouira”
Prices include all meals, accommodation, all yoga lessons, a workshop, a guided walking tour, a pool day, a private session, one full-length treatment a hammam, ….
1750€ per person for shared accommodation for one week
1950€-2450€ per person for private accommodation for one week
Cancellation Policy
The 500 Euro deposit is non refundable.
There are no partial refunds for late arrivals or if you need to leave the retreat early.
Balance refunds depend on the timing of your cancellation:
A 90% refund will be provided on cancellations, up to 60 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
A 50% refund will be provided on cancellations between 30-59 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
No refunds will be provided on cancellation between 29-0 days prior to the start date of the booked retreat.
A Real Holiday in every sense of the word. A holiday to remember forever.
I didn't have to think about anything this week, it was all been taken care of for me. Yoga on the beach and on that magnificent rooftop of Villa Maroc was simply fantastic. I'm a beginner but I could follow all the classes.
Rachel takes you along on a journey through different styles of yoga. It's never boring and ever so surprising what it does to you. I have really enjoyed spending time in the little town of Essaouira.
Rachel made sure that we saw a lot and that we could really experience Morocco. And, I just have to mention the food, too good almost!
I'm going home feeling relaxed, without having that awful pain in my shoulder that I came with. Mission so very accomplished, thank you so much Rachel!
Mirjam Bestebreurtje, the Netherlands
I came to the Revealing Vajra retreat in Morocco with an overwhelming amount of stress and anxiety. As the days unfolded and Rachel guided us through the meditations and yoga classes, it all shifted. The retreat gave me such inspiration to make some necessary changes in my life. It was also fun and completely relaxed. I can’t recommend this retreat enough! Thank you Rachel for an incredible journey. I will be back !
Rachel Haller, Canada
If you are looking for a yoga holiday that is very different than all others out there, this holiday in Essaouira is the place to go to! Close to the beach, wonderful staff, nice people, beautiful venue, yoga at the beach or on the rooftop. Not too many tourists find their way to Essaouira which makes it nice and special, and very authentic. The Moroccan cuisine is fantastic, very tasteful and you will for sure get plenty of food! My 6th Revealing Vajra Yoga Holiday!
Marie-Louise Kok, the Netherlands
I booked this yoga retreat in Morocco to carve out some time and space for myself and to relax fully. I am leaving fully rejuvenated, both emotionally and physically. Rachel is a great teacher, coach and support on this journey. Assisting me to to build up my connection with my body, mind and spirit again. When booking, I thought it was a bit pricey but it is so worth it and definitely value for money! This retreat is hands on the best gift you can give yourself!
Juste, Denmark
So much more than I expected!
This Revealing Vajra yoga retreat was so much more than I expected. Peace, companionship, good food, but most important, an overall sense of reaching a new plateau in re-starting a flexible yoga practise (as we learned different yoga styles) and time to quiet the chatter in the mind. I will return!
Charlene Mc Kain, USA
Revealing Vajra is the real deal! The accommodations are first class, the yoga classes are varied and good, and Rachel is a great leader. You will leave feeling refreshed, happy and committed to your yoga practice.
Sherri Levy, NYC, USA
I just did my 6th yoga retreat with Rachel ! Now you might wonder why...
There is so much variation in all yoga holidays, that it makes it worth going more than once. The yoga classes are just amazing! It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or someone who has been practicing yoga all his/her life of if you suffer from an injury. Rachel will give all the space to go as far as you would like to go. I also love the excursions she puts together, looking around in small villages, sniffing up the local culture, funky museums: great experiences.
What I also like is that, whatever you do, it is oke. If you join every single yoga class or just several: it is all fine and that makes me feel that I can feel free and be completely free on my holiday. If you are looking for the best yoga holiday ever? Stop searching, this is it. You will have a great time with like minded people around you and the best guidance you can imagine.
Korine Den Blanken, the Netherlands
Book this retreat
Please contact me directly on rb@revealingvajra.com if you have any questions.
You can also use the form or call me on +32 476 204 121 if you have any questions about the yoga holiday Essaouira.
So why should you join the yoga holiday Essaouira?
Simple, this is the PERFECT environment to Unwind, to Relax,to take some Time off and Recharge.
We promise that everything will be included in the retreat price.
We are convinced that you will love every single day.
We know that this venue is so special, you will never want to leave.
But, when you do leave, you will leave feeling loose, stretched, stronger and more peaceful.
Furthermore, you will feel rejuvenated and most of all, Happy.
