Women's Ritual Dance with Laura Shannon
17 - 29 March 2022
The Venue Well known for magical meaningful holidays, excellent food and exceptional staff, the award-winning set up relocated in 2020 to a stunning sustainably-run Ecolodge beside the town walls with a pool and permaculture gardens. Enjoy the sun all year round as well as exceptional menu of local healthy food. Located on the south side of the ancient town walls of Taroudant, it enjoys the best winter climate in Morocco due to its southerly setting in the fertile Souss Valley.
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 option to support 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 25 years’ experience of Morocco.
Optional activities include crafts, cookery, language, visits to charitable projects, walking, wildlife, massage and several other choices run by the amazingly knowledgeable guides.
“A wonderful holiday. Its reputation is well-established, but it is now based at an amazing new sustainable, purpose-built ecolodge. .. exceeded our expectations (plus we are not normally fans of organised/group holidays!). Fabulous team, delicious food (including vegan), amazing accommodation, wonderful activities! Taroudant was a brilliant location to get a feel of authentic Morocco.” J Elmes, January 2020.
Summary
Cost: To be confirmed
Includes:
- Airport transfers from/to Agadir at one designated time
- Accommodation in en suite twin or double bedroom
- Substantial breakfasts and vegetarian evening meals (meat or fish at extra cost)
- Lunches as shown on itinerary
- Tutored workshops
- Activities as shown on the itinerary
Excludes:
- Flights (often under £70 return if booked early)
- Single occupancy supplement about £20 per night
- Travel insurance (required)
- Tips
- Meat or fish supplement
- Tourist Taxes (roughly £2 per person per night)
- Taxis on arrival & departure if you need to be transported to/ from a different place or at a different time
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 different times or places) at fair costs
Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice 2020
Voted Top 10 in the World: Lonely Planet Eco Stays 2014 & VegeNews Vegetarian Holidays 2005
Responsible Tourism Trophy for Community Project Work 2009
Green Key Certified from 2012
Photo: Laura Shannon
Laura writes:
“This holiday is open to women who have danced with Laura before & will be delivered in English. Our tour includes authentic cultural experiences such as visits to the hammam and souk, excursions to villages to observe traditional crafts such as embroidery, pottery, basketry, soap making & bread baking, walks and dancing in places of natural beauty, and 3 nights in the Anti-Atlas mountains. In our free time we can soak up the sun, explore alone, relax, or enjoy cooking lessons, massage, swimming and other activities.”
This unique holiday features traditional women’s ritual dances from the Balkans & Armenia, plus Berber women’s dance, live Moroccan music, many cultural activities and a three-night stay in the stunningly beautiful Anti-Atlas Mountains.
My innovative approach to traditional dance brings a spiritual focus and aims to illuminate ancient symbols encoded in the dance steps, such as the sun, spiral, zigzag, Tree of Life and the hidden Goddess. In Morocco these symbols are everywhere: in henna patterns, embroideries, carpets, and the ancient culture of the Berber people, as well as in the dances.”
Read more about Laura here.
PRACTICALITIES Flights from the UK: most guests use flights from Gatwick to Agadir with EasyJet, but there are also other options from Manchester & Dublin – please enquire.
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)
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.
PROVISIONAL ITINERARY (12 nights)
The price includes accommodation in twin/double rooms (option of single rooms for a supplement, cost to be confirmed by Jane Bayley). Option to pay in Euros (choose Euros option on booking form). Includes: full board (apart from 3 lunches on free days when lunch is an optional extra); 20 hours of dancing with Laura plus an informal lesson in Berber and Arabic women’s dance styles with local dancers; 2 or 3 live music events with Moroccan Berber, Sufi, and Ahwash women’s bands; one village excursion; guided visit to the hammam; horse-drawn carriage tour of Taroudant; one gentle walk in an oasis; our 3-night tour with full board; accommodation in Tizourgane and Tafraoute in the Anti-Atlas mountains. The price does NOT include air fare; lunches; tips (an important part of Moroccan culture); any unforeseen increase in tourist tax; any optional additional activities you arrange individually or we decide to do as a group; airport transfers. Drivers from La Maison Anglaise will pick you up and take you back to Agadir airport for a fair cost (approx. £12 – £25 per person each way). If you arrive or leave alone, cost can be up to £50 per taxi. Please enquire about possible arrangements from Marrakech.
Please note that the itinerary may be subject to modification on account of health advice or regulations in place in March 2022.