Boutique yoga retreat, near Marrakesh, Morocco

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.

'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 Federica and one yoga-free day. Each day will begin with a two hour morning yoga class of meditation and a flowing asana practice to gently open the body and attune the mind to the breath. The classes will be suitable for all levels and yoga experience.

The afternoon class will be a more restorative class to delve deeper into the postures. There are two yoga spaces. A covered roof terrace with stunning views of Marrakesh across the plains and an indoor room that is light and airy with a log burner for cooler days.

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.

Things to do

The rest of the day 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 hammam, 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 square Jemaa el Fna 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. Music lovers may have heard of the Festival d'Essaouira which hosts four days and nights of African gnawa music, world music and jazz. 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 en-suite bathrooms and a traditional seated area. Many of the bedrooms have fireplaces and private terraces.