Luxury Christmas yoga retreat at Tigmi, near Marrakesh, Morocco

21 - 26 December 2019

Cost from £705

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. 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. All classes will be suitable for all levels.

A breakfast of delicious home-made juices, honey, yoghurts, 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 Christmas eve there will be a special dinner with live entertainment and for Christmas day a wonderful gathering and delicious lunch. 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

Just to say we had a fantastic Christmas break at Tigmi. Raquel is a great teacher and struck the right balance for a wide range of abilities. Great combination of meditation, nidra and dynamic moves. Really diverse and interesting and I feel human again. Tigmi - Jean Paul and his team cannot do enough and we are missing it, the location and the horse riding already - one day back.
Amanda
I had the most wonderful time at Tigmi. I think its safe to say that we all enjoyed our stay very much. Wonderful people who will remain good friends. Tigmi was an oasis of calm and the most beautiful setting in that little Berber village, with the Atlas mountains in view. It was such a special tranquil place, I definitely will visit again! Raquel was charming and such a brilliant teacher, full of poetry and insightful teaching, philosophical and I learnt so much about the spirit of yoga.
Minnie
I really enjoyed my Xmas break at Tigmi. Everything went smoothly from pickup to departure.The hotel and its facilities was excellent. The food and service was of a very high standard. I especially enjoyed the Moroccan delicacies at breakfast and the celebratory meal on Christmas eve.

Raquel was a wonderful warm teacher, willing to share all her knowledge. She ensured that the classes were adapted to all levels and were all different and challenging. The group was very friendly and overall the experience of a first Christmas away and of Yoga on a Shoestring was extremely positive. I will not hesitate to recommend this holiday.
Kay
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

Press Reviews

psychologies-magazine - YOAS holiday reviews
 Tigmi - YOAS Yoga Retreats

The Relaxing Yoga Break

Psychologies Magazine, February 2018

YOAS at Tigmi, Morocco

‘Dive into the grooves, cracks and crevices, and explore the unfolding of the “waves” and breath from within,’ says Lara Stapleton during her immersion week of Scaravelli yoga at this laid-back hotel near Marrakech. Space, breath and gravity are key, as the body is expanded. Classes focus on holding postures to release the fascia and loosen the spine so it becomes something more like Lara’s ‘waves’. Morning and evening sessions fly by, interspersed with chanting, pranayama and meditation. Days are free for the delights of the hotel, which has sweeping desert views and enchanting spots to sit beneath swathes of bougainvillea. There are two pools to cool off in after a walk into the lunar landscape of the Atlas mountains, or the sensory overload of a trip to the souk half an hour away, and a little hammam where you can have a scrub and massage.

Be swift to the buffet lunch of vital, colourful ingredients. Supper is a la carte, with whole fish or spiced lamb or chicken tagines – specify in advance any dietary requirements. Expect to leave feeling ‘taller’, with open hips and shoulders and a renewed enthusiasm for life.

Luxury Christmas yoga retreat at Tigmi, near Marrakesh, Morocco, 21 - 26 December 2019

Costs

Sharing a twin or double Berber room - £705 per person
Single occupancy Berber room - £955 per person

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

Cost includes: accommodation, breakfast, salad buffet lunch, evening meal, a special Christmas eve dinner, Christmas day lunch and two yoga classes per day.

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

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required on booking and the balance is due 6 weeks before you travel.

Travel Arrangements

Arrival is anytime on 21 December and departure is anytime on 26 December. Easyjet, BA and Ryanair all fly direct to Marrakesh from London.

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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.