Luxury New Year yoga retreat at Tigmi, near Marrakesh, Morocco

27 December - 2 January 2019

Cost from £720

Teacher Raquel Alves

Holiday Expired

About Tigmi

Tigmi, situated 24km south of Marrakesh is set within a magical desert landscape. On the brow of the Berber hamlet of Tagadert, its labyrinth of narrow alleyways and flat-roofed village houses has a timeless, biblical feel to it.

'Tigmi', meaning 'my house' in the local Berber dialect, was built in 1840 for the local judge. As with many North African dwellings, the interior is all: a step inside, and the peaceful beauty of Tigmi is revealed. The first impression is of a lovely garden laid to lawns and paths, with banana palms, citrus and olive trees and a swimming pool with soft, jade-coloured water. The scents and colours of orange blossom and roses assail the senses. Fifteen tortoises live in this garden, adding to the unhurried feel of this tranquil oasis.

There are two swimming pools, one of which is heated to 26 degrees throughout the year. There are sun-loungers around the pool and shaded areas in the gardens, furnished with comfortable divans for those of you who prefer to laze around out of the sun.

Daily programme

There will be two yoga classes daily with one yoga-free day. Each day will begin with a morning yoga class of of pranayama, meditation and asanas, opening the body and attuning the mind to the breath. The evening class will be more gentle and restorative. For New Year there will also be a special craft session where you will make something which represents what you desire to let go of, so you can make space for new intentions in 2019. Crafts will be thrown into the fire just before the clock strikes midnight, letting go of the old and creating space to welcome new intentions into our lives. All classes will be suitable for all levels.

A breakfast of delicious home-made juices, honey, yogurts, pancakes, cheeses, locally made breads, fresh fruit and cereals will be served after class. There will be a salad buffet lunch. All evening meals are traditionally North African dishes, with vegetarian meals also wonderfully prepared on request.

For New Year's eve there will be a banquet with Moroccan champagne. Smoked salmon, oysters and many varieties of salads will be followed by Tanjia Marrakchia, a traditional lamb dish cooked in a special pot with various spices for one full night in the ash of a traditional hamam. For dessert there will be New Year cake and cheese. Vegetarian alternatives will be available on request. It promises to be an evening of fun and celebration with live entertainment from a local three 'Gnaoua' band, similar to the bands that play in the Jemaa el Fna Square with a very rhythmic and ethnic African vibe.

Non-yoga partners are welcome to join the retreat and celebrations. Please get in touch for rates.

Things to do

Days can be spent lazing Moroccan style: lounging, reading or swimming in one of the two pools, playing backgammon or chess in one of the many gardens and courtyards or popping into Marrakesh on the hotel's free mini-bus service.

Tigmi also has its own hamam, spa treatments and massage therapists on hand. There are a few bicycles available for the more energetic to explore the local area.

Outside of Tigmi there are local sporting activities such as horse-riding and golf. Cultural treats are plentiful with mosques, museums, a visit to the famous Jemaa el Fna square with its acrobats, dancers and magicians, the Majorelle Gardens and the grove of 150,000 palm trees at La Palmeraie. A visit to one of the souks in Marrakesh's old city is an art form in itself, with busy market stalls and colourful displays of the traders' wares - local crafts, satins, silks, glittery shoes, leather wares, paintings, spices and food.

There are various day excursions further afield, arranged by the hotel such as a visit to the Atlas Mountains or coastal Essaouira. For the more energetic, subject to snowfall, skiing can be enjoyed in the small resort of Oukaimeden in the Atlas range.

Accommodation details

The bedrooms are authentically Moroccan with generous, comfortable beds, cool sheets, hand-woven covers and cushions, large bathrooms and a traditional seated area, which can double as extra sleeping-space.

Many of the bedrooms have fireplaces and private terraces.

Client Reviews

What a wonderful tonic to Christmas and a joyful start to the new year. Raquel is a kind, wise and generous teacher and we felt very blessed to have her take us through the week. The hotel is a gorgeous sanctuary, whether sunbathing under a clear blue sky during the day or huddling by the fires in our rooms at night. We had hammams, massages and pedicures at the hotel, a walk in the Atlas mountains and a day trip to Marrakesh. We came away fit, healthy, relaxed and ready for the year.
Claire
I had an amazing new year retreat at Tigmi. The hotel setting was fabulous as were the attentive staff and the wonderful Jean Paul! It was a great group of yogis, we all knitted together very well and have made many new friends. The yoga with Raquel was outstanding. Her knowledge and passion was very special and I loved that she bought a (usually lost in western yoga practices) spiritual side. She gave us so much more than required I'm sure.
Lyn
I absolutely loved the holiday...one of my best trips ever! Raquel was amazing! I loved the yoga, it was challenging yet I got into the rhythm of it, especially the use of mantras. Raquel was so generous spirited, giving us extra time with the mind mapping and helping a group of us have an amazing time in Marrakech! The setting of the house in Tigmi was out of this world and I'm having serious withdrawal symptoms. The combination of yoga, mind-mapping, creativity and yoga nidra was truly special and I'll treasure this experience forever!!!
Rosanne
Thank you so much, this was my second trip with yogaonashoestring and was fantastic (again). I have to say Raquel is an amazing teacher. She helped with the intention setting which was very insightful and a great thing to do. Not only that she made the trip in to Marrakech fantastic. She was very organised, approachable, helpful, fun, insightful and more! Words don't do the trip justice. Great setting, fabulous people, amazing venue, first class yoga teacher and unbeatable experience.
Gail
I had a great time at Tigmi, a lovely group of fellow yogins, fabulous place to stay with such attentive staff and of course the yoga was superlative. I have never met a yoga teacher so dedicated to her yoga students, Raquel went over and above what was necessary with additional classes on the day we arrived and the day we left plus all the other add ons that made the retreat so instructive and powerful.
Anne
I had a great time at Tigmi. Raquel, the teacher, is very dedicated, extremely experienced, she is willing to share as much as she can, and give an excellent class. I discovered para-yoga with pleasure and appreciated the meditation – which used to leave me undisturbed previously. The hotel is very pleasant, in a lovely setting, the food was excellent – just like my own food, plenty of fresh vegetables, the hotel team was very discrete and nice, gentle, as Moroccans always are.
Valerie
I had a wonderful time at Tigmi. The hotel was just so perfect for a yoga holiday, the accommodation great, with glorious views of the Atlas Mountains. The yoga with Raquel was of a very high standard and we were lucky to have such good teaching. I would really recommend it, and thanks to Yoga On A Shoestring for organising such a pleasant holiday in Marrekech.
Maureen
I have returned home fantastically rested and rejuvenated after a wonderful week at beautiful Tigmi. Tigmi is a very special place, beautiful environment and such friendly and kind staff. The yoga was wonderful, with inspirational and varied classes. Particularly loved the classes held on the yoga terrace. Raquel is a gifted and inspirational teacher. We have been delighted with our experience of Yoga on a Shoestring and would certainly chose to holiday with you again.
Lucy
The trip was amazing. Raquel is a fantastic and very dedicated teacher. Her classes were extremely well thought out and I know they have deepened my practice. I was very impressed with how committed she was to helping us set our intentions for the new year. She was thorough and thoughtful. She was also careful to ensure we understood the poses and took time to work with us where we needed particular guidance. I learnt a lot from her and will lookout for other sessions she does with YOAS. The hotel was also amazing. The food was fantastic and the staff extremely helpful. All in all a wonderful way to start the new year.
Sara
I had the most wonderful experience at the Tigmi Yoga retreat over New Year just outside Marrakech. Tigmi is a wonderful resort set on the hillside in a small village. It is relaxing, beautiful, with amazing views and has a real sense of place. The staff were lovely and friendly and the food was just delicious. Raquel Alves was an amazing Yoga instructor blending the spiritual with breathing and active yoga. She was very understanding of my novice abilities and the various needs of the group, catering to our different levels of experience and never making us feel wanting. A truly caring a lovely person. I would whole-heartedly recommend Yoga on a Shoestring, Tigmi and Raquel. An unforgettable experience!
Lydia
I had a wonderful week at Tigmi in Morocco with Raquel. Raquel is a hugely kind and knowledgeable teacher (and a lot of fun to be around) and I loved how she had made each class so different. Tigmi is a special place to see in the new year and I felt lucky to be part of such a lovely group. It was a truly rejuvenating retreat with lots of meditation and restful practice (as well as the more energetic morning classes) and it left me feeling ready to face the year ahead.
Lindsay

Luxury New Year yoga retreat at Tigmi, near Marrakesh, Morocco, 27 December - 2 January 2019

Costs

Sharing a twin or double Berber Room - £720 per person
Single occupancy Berber Room - £980 per person

'Mega' luxury suites are also available. Prices on request.

Cost includes: accommodation, breakfast, salad buffet lunch, evening meal, a special New Year's eve banquet and entertainment and two yoga classes per day (with one yoga-free day).

Non-yoga partners and family are welcome. Please get in touch for rates.

Travel Arrangements

Arrival is anytime on 27 December and departure is anytime on 2 January 2019.

Easyjet, BA and Ryanair all fly direct to Marrakesh from London:-

www.skyscanner.net
www.easyjet.com
www.ba.com
www.ryanair.com

Airport transfers to and from the hotel will be an added cost of 125 Moroccan dirhams (about £10) each way or 250 (about £20) Moroccan dirhams each way if transferring alone.