Dances of Universal Peace
with Jilani
26 February - 5 March 2025
Cost £750
The Venue Well known for magical meaningful holidays, excellent food and exceptional staff, our award-winning set up relocated in 2020 to a newly-created 1 acre site beside the town walls. Featuring a chlorine-free pool and permaculture gardens, the stunning sustainably-run Ecolodge enjoys sun all year round, having the best winter climate in Morocco due to its southerly setting in the fertile Souss Valley.
The new eco lodge is fantastic, with a lush garden and a swimming pool. The rooms are authentic Moroccan style with everything that you need for a comfy stay. The staff are like a welcoming family and will guide you whether you want to find certain things in the souk or go for a short walk in the High Atlas or visit Berber villages in a safe and non-invasive manner. The food served is exceptionally good.
Places to Visit Taroudant is little visited by tourists, has shopper-friendly souks with an exotic traditional atmosphere. It lies between contrasting mountain landscapes: the majestic High Atlas and the extraordinary Anti-Atlas (beyond which lies the Sahara). And it is only an hour’s drive from the sandy, rocky and marshy habitats of the Atlantic coast.
Feel safe Thanks to the care of loving English-speaking staff, good medical facilities, excellent WiFi, safe water as well as the town being small, relaxed and friendly with few tourists.
Heartful Holistic Holidays with a wide choice of other authentic activities including supporting charitable projects. Explore the fascinating culture with the help of delightful guides; option to explore, use our library or small spa, swim or laze in the sun or shade.
The People Enjoy the support of 11 charming, experienced, mainly English-speaking, Moroccan staff and the resident tutor for your chosen week. The Holidays with Heart UK team provide substantial pre-visit information and support based on 30 years’ experience of Morocco. Read more about our team here
Optional activities include crafts, cookery, language, visits to charitable projects, walking, wildlife, massage and several other choices run by the amazingly knowledgeable guides. Read more about our activities here
Summary
Cost: £750 per person
Includes:
- Airport transfers from/to Agadir at one designated time
- Accommodation in en suite twin or double bedroom; single occupancy on request
- Substantial breakfasts and vegetarian evening meals (meat or fish at extra cost)
- Lunches every day except one, when lunch is an optional extra
- Tutored workshops
Excludes:
- Flights (often under £70 return if booked early)
- Single occupancy supplement £20 per night
- Travel insurance (required)
- Tips
- Meat or fish supplement
- Tourist Taxes 41 MAD (approx £3.20) per person per night)
Options payable in Morocco:
See details of prices and choices
- Cultural experiences
- Excursions
- Supplement for meat or fish dishes
- Feast for the Senses
- Taxi transfers at a fair cost for those travelling at different times or places
Trip Advisor
Number 1 in the Taroudant Region 2022. Travellers’ Choice 2020 & 2021
Voted Top 10 in the World: Lonely Planet Eco Stays 2014 & VegeNews Vegetarian Holidays 2005
Responsible Tourism Trophy for Community Project Work 2009
Photo: Jilani
Read more about your tutor here.
To Book or Express an Interest: Limited places available. Request a place at www.cecu.co.uk/book We will then send you the payment schedule (split into instalments with £100 initial deposit).
Book early to get good flight prices, but please do NOT book flights until we give the go-ahead!
More Information For FAQs go to www.cecu.co.uk/faqs
Contact us: www.cecu.co.uk/contact or visit www.holidays-with-heart.co.uk
We will also send detailed pre-visit information after you book.
It was a truly wonderful, wonderful week at La Maison Anglaise with Jilani. The Lodge itself is so beautiful and healing because of its natural build, its design, natural colour, gorgeous gardens and ‘community with privacy’ environment.
Above all, its beauty was balm for the soul. The food was totally delicious and plentiful. Said and Latifa, Nordine, the drivers, cooks and all are so conscious of the details that enhance and make a good stay.
Jilani was a great facilitator and her calm, allowing presence contributed much, I think, to our feeling that this was a great group that really gelled. Magic. Avril Feb 2023
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
Jilani will be offering an evening session each day, and morning practices. She proposes a retreat-holiday, which offers the opportunity to combine formal practice with everyday activities, to loosen the separation between them, and to deepen our experience of being in Morocco. By intentionally cultivating an inclusive, heartful, loving awareness, while combining periods of so called “spiritual” or “retreat” practices with periods of so called “mundane” or “holiday” activities and interactions, we open ourselves to discovering that deeper, inner realisation that there is no “spiritual” or “mundane”, no “retreat” or “holiday”. There is only Love, only Oneness, in myriad forms and permutations. And only Remembrance when we forget.
Additional spontaneous sessions at inspiring places. On days 3, 5 and 6 there will be an option of a retreat day with several sessions of dance, walking and seated practices. There could still be time for a massage, or shopping trip, or a hammam, or similar, on those days.
Each day you may choose one of the optional activities on offer below. Anything listed as “optional” means it is payable locally and not included in the price. Please see our price list for costs.
Things to consider because this holidays takes place during Ramadan
1) While the staff break their fast at sunset they can’t serve dinner (this will be after your normal dinner time so won’t affect your schedule – it is sunset about 7 pm)
2) Our female masseuse can’t massage men in Ramadan
3) Shopping times needs to be planned with staff help; there will be a limited amount of shops and cafes open in the day (but it’s great fun in the evenings).
Day 1 Arrival Day – Our drivers meet you at Agadir airport late morning. Lunch, settle in, introductory talk and tour of the site. Optional massages. Optional tour around town walls by horse-drawn taxi.
Day 2 Optional excursion: walking at one of 2 oases and possibly in the Anti Atlas Mountains with Said.
Day 3 Optional cultural experience: cookery lesson; massages; experience our on-site solar powered hammam.
Day 4 Optional excursion: High Atlas Berber Villages – an insight into daily lives of villagers in the mountains with Rachid.
Day 5 Exploring Taroudant. Optional cultural experiences: shopping in the souk; massages; experience our on-site solar powered hammam.
Day 6 Optional excursion: walking and wildlife in the High Atlas Mountains with Said.
Day 7 Optional cultural experiences: henna tattoos. Finish shopping. Optional lunch out at a restaurant of your choice (lunch not available at our Ecolodge on changeover day).
Day 8 Farewell. Depart after breakfast.