Coherence Retreats | Morocco Travel Guide 🇲🇦

- by Kimberly Kennedy, Founder of Coherence Retreats

In November 2025, we hosted our first Coherence Retreat in Morocco, and it was one of the most unique, expansive, and culturally rich experiences I have ever created. We explored Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains, Taghazout Bay, and the Agafay Desert. It was a week filled with color, adventure, ancient energy, and so many sensory moments.

Morocco is not on our 2026 roster, but we are already looking at dates for 2027! Until then, here is everything I learned during my time there. Consider this part travel diary, part honest guide, and part list of things I wish someone had told me before I arrived.

Now let us dive in.

🕌 Landing in Marrakech

I arrived very early in the morning, around 6 a.m. The city was still quiet. The air was cool. The souks were calm. It felt like I got to watch the city wake up.

Before the retreat began, I stayed in a traditional riad for a few days, and I highly recommend that you do the same.

🏡 Why You Should Stay in a Riad

If you are visiting Marrakech, staying in a riad is essential. A riad is a traditional Moroccan home with a central courtyard that is usually renovated into a boutique hotel. They are beautifully designed, intimate, and full of character.

Most riads are located inside the medina.
Here is a quick breakdown of these terms:

Medina means old city.
Souks mean the markets inside the medina.
Riads are the traditional homes and small hotels inside the medina.

Staying in the medina means everything is walkable, the energy is alive, and you feel fully immersed in the culture. I stayed at Dar Zelda, and it was adorable, peaceful, and perfectly located.

Important note

Cars are not allowed inside the medina. When you book your riad, make sure to tell them when you land and arrange your airport transfer ahead of time. A staff member will meet you at the medina entrance with a cart to carry your luggage through the alleyways. Do not try to drag your suitcase alone.

🛍️ Exploring the Souks

The souks are huge, colorful, chaotic, inspiring, overwhelming, and magical. I walked through them for days and still did not see everything.

Safety as a solo woman

I traveled alone before the retreat began, and I felt very safe. I kept my headphones in, my Google Maps open, and walked with purpose. That was enough.

Navigation

Google Maps works incredibly well inside the medina. I have T-Mobile, and it showed even the tiny alleyways.

💰 How to Haggle in the Souks

Haggling is expected. It is not rude. It is part of the culture. Think of it as a game.

Here is my rule:
Whatever price they give you, cut it in half. Minimum.
You can even offer thirty percent of the original price and land around fifty percent.

You can haggle in the stalls, the small shops, and even the upscale rug stores.

The biggest mistake to avoid

Once you agree on a price, do not let the excitement carry you away. They will bag the item quickly, so you forget to check it. Before you leave, check everything. Look for scratches, loose threads, holes, or misaligned stitching. I made this mistake a few times. Do not be like me. Look closely.

🌿 Where to Shop

Rugs

Lahandira Rugs
Ask for Issam. Tell him Kimberly Kennedy sent you.
This was the best rug shop I found.

🧿 Pricing Guide, Based on My Experience

These are the prices I paid or saw after bargaining:

Genie lamp medium size: 80 to 120 MAD
Medium lamps: 300 to 350 MAD
Studded bag: start at 180 MAD, land around 200 to 300 MAD
Plain leather bag: around 200 MAD, more for large/high quality ones
Studded belts: start at 100 MAD, land at 120 MAD
Ceramic cups: 20 to 40 MAD
Ceramic candle holders or vases: 60 to 120 MAD
Slippers or shoes: 150 to 200 MAD
Perfumes and oils: 40 to 50 MAD
Moroccan dresses: 100 to 150 MAD
High quality linen clothing: around 300 MAD
Earrings: 20 to 100 MAD
Rugs: cut the price by sixty percent and aim to land around a forty to fifty percent discount

🪬 For Rug Lovers

I visited multiple rug shops in Marrakech, and Lahandira Rugs was my absolute favorite (not sponsored!). The quality felt amazing and the rugs genuinely looked and felt like art. The staff did not pressure me to buy, and they were very flexible with pricing.

If you go, ask for Issam and tell him Kimberly sent you.

Buying a rug in Morocco is not a quick experience. It is a ritual. Plan at least one or two hours for this. You will sit down, drink tea, and watch them pull out rug after rug. Tell them what colors you want, what size you want, what thickness you prefer, and they will put on a full rug show for you.

I left Morocco with five rugs, four for myself and one for a friend. If you want a Moroccan rug, dedicate real time to this, because it is a once in a lifetime experience. Yes, they take card and can ship to you directly.

☕ Where to Eat and Drink in Marrakech

Here are my top food spots:

Nobu Marrakech
Les Jardins du Lotus
Sahbi Sahbi
La Trattoria
Naranj

Rooftops to watch sunset:

L’Mida
Dardar
Kabana
Otto

Dinner with a show:

Safran
Comptoir Marrakech

Safran was a massive highlight. Make reservations weeks in advance. We booked an 8 p.m. table. The show started around 9 p.m. and we stayed for hours. It was nonstop entertainment and incredible food.

My honest take on Bacha Coffee

It is inside a museum. The museum was lovely. The coffee shop itself felt like a tourist trap. I waited in line, missed the first seating, and the next wait was two hours. I toured the museum instead. I ended up buying a bag of coffee for 40 dollars, which felt excessive, and chose to skip the cafe itself. Coffee is available everywhere, so you are not missing much. But the museum was great and great photo ops!

💆 The Best Spa Experience

If you want a luxurious hammam, go to the Royal Mansour Spa. The hotel is owned by the king and is considered one of the nicest hotels in the world. I booked a hammam a month in advance, used the amenities for the entire day, relaxed by the pool, and it was worth every penny.

If not, here are some other spa options:

WA spa
Les bains du lotus
La sultana
Le bains de marrakesh
Yemaya spa
Marajah spa
Bon Sejour
Dior institut au spa du palace es Saad

🏔️ Atlas Mountains Day Trip

A huge highlight of the retreat. We visited a traditional Berber family, shared an incredible homemade lunch, and explored the mountain villages. The scenery was stunning and the cultural experience was beautiful.

🌊 Taghazout Bay, The Surf Capital

After the intensity and stimulation of Marrakech, Taghazout Bay felt like a soft exhale. We stayed at a beautiful hotel with a private beach. The bay is full of surfers, beach cafes, hammams, and simple, chill energy.

On the beach, you can ride a camel or a horse for about five dollars for a short ride. The animals here looked healthier than the ones near the desert, so many of the women felt comfortable riding them.

Restaurants I recommend in Taghazout Bay:

World of Waves
Windy Bay
Amouage
Seaside Taghazout
Munga Guesthouse
Surf Berbere
We also had dinner one night at the Fairmont Hotel, which was lovely.

🏜️ Agafay Desert, Our Final Stop

We ended with glamping tents in the desert. We rode ATVs as a group, had a beautiful final dinner, and watched the sun set over the hills. I wish we had more time here. It was peaceful, soft, and stunning.

This retreat was created in partnership with another company.

They designed most of the itinerary. When we return in 2027, we will be designing a completely new version of the Morocco retreat that feels even more aligned for our group.

❤️ Final Thoughts

Morocco is not for everyone, but it was for us! It is intense, rich in history, full of sensory stimulation, chaotic in some places, peaceful in others, and ancient in its energy. I could easily spend a week in Marrakech alone. I felt safe as a solo woman. I felt inspired by the culture. And I left with memories that I will never forget.

We cannot wait to return in 2027.

Coherence Retreats Blog