Ecoprinting with Caroline Nixon & 7 night Tour
6 - 20 September 2025
From £920 plus about 8500 MAD (about £680) paid locally
Book soon to get good prices on tickets
“The whole ambience at La Maison Anglaise is magical – from the beautifully decorated rooms, the lovely surrounding gardens, the delicious meals prepared with such care and the delightful efficient team all made for a memorable and happy seven days… and the added options of the cultural tours meant we all learnt a little more about the extraordinary and fascinating country that is Morocco.” Jane Stanley 2024
This brochure provides you with lots of information about the venue, the bedrooms, the activities, how we design your holiday to meet your needs, your tutor, the likely itinerary and what is included in the cost. Please read on to the end!
The Venue Well known for magical meaningful holidays, excellent food and exceptional staff, this award-winning set up relocated in 2020 to a stunning sustainably-run eco-lodge with a chlorine-free pool and permaculture gardens. Located on the south side of the ancient town walls of Taroudant, which enjoys the best winter climate in Morocco. Enjoy an exceptional menu of local healthy food.
“It’s just brilliant. I love it – the whole vibe in the well-designed garden, the buildings, and the sustainable aspect of it all. The staff are incredible, all caring, kind, diligent and willing to do whatever it takes to make your stay perfect. The food is truly delicious, fantastic for vegetarians and meat-eaters too, as well as offering tea/coffee at any time by helping yourself. Relaxed, with the smell of the beautifully planted garden at night, and a well-stocked library so I can read all day long by the pool. Heaven!” Jane Duncan Rogers January 2024
Bedrooms The comfortable, beautifully appointed rooms are cleverly designed to be cool in summer and warm in winter. All have en–suite bathrooms, their own terrace and garden and can sleep two or more. A limited number are allocated for single occupancy. More details of rooms here
Heartful Holistic Holidays which offer a wide choice of authentic activities run by amazingly knowledgeable English-speaking guides. Explore the fascinating culture and landscapes, use our library, our small spa, swim or simply laze in the sun.
Optional activities include cookery, walks, visits to local families and charitable projects, wildlife, massage, shopping and several other choices. Little visited by tourists, the local souks offer an exotic traditional atmosphere.
Located within 30 minutes’ drive of the contrasting mountain landscapes of the majestic High Atlas and the extraordinary Anti-Atlas (beyond which lies the Sahara). We are also only an hour’s drive from the Atlantic coast.
Feel safe and cared for thanks to the care of loving, experienced English-speaking staff, good medical facilities, excellent WiFi, safe drinking water and being on the edge of a small, relaxed and friendly town with few tourists.
“La Maison Anglaise is really beautiful, impeccably kept and nurtured by you and your delightful Moroccan team there. All of the staff, without exception were wonderful – helpful, courteous and so very happy all the time. They looked after our every need, and nothing was too much trouble for them. The gardens are a real delight, the pool is gorgeous, and the meals were all delicious. The trips out and other activities that the staff took us on were a treat, and we all felt very safe with your careful drivers and guides”. L Turner, May 2023
Why choose a holiday with us?
We have been organising group holidays since 1998. Our venue has a variety of lovely spaces including the tiled circle in the gardens, the spacious 64 sq metre activity room and a very large tiled roof terrace, lovely at sunset and sunrise.
“I have organised, attended and facilitated many group events in a myriad of locations around the world over the last forty years…I found the ideal setting. It is small enough to maintain intimacy whilst having the spaciousness to accommodate privacy. The bespoke planning and vision which created this venue, inspired by Jane’s deep knowledge of the needs and requirements of small group holidays and workshops is evident in the care paid to every detail.” Tutor Katy van Haeften
Your Tutor
Photo of your tutor Caroline Nixon
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 a small initial deposit to secure your place).
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.
About the course
Morocco is a feast for the eyes. Everywhere you look there is vibrant colour. We will be recapturing the same vibrant colours in our ecoprinted textiles. Using natural dyes, tannins, indigo, mordants and modifiers you will learn to extend your colour palette, for stunning results. We shall have a wide variety of exciting foliage to experiment with, and you will learn how to assess an entirely unfamiliar leaf, to bring out it’s best printing potential.
Your tutor Caroline is renowned for her clear teaching, her crisp colourful prints, and for innovative new techniques. Working in either indoor or outdoor spaces we will forage a rich and exciting array of plant material from the well-stocked garden, or from further afield, with the help of our knowledgeable local botanist Said.
This workshop is for experienced printers. If you are bundling confidently, getting clear prints, and understand how to use carrier cloths, then this will be the workshop to take your printing to the next level. If you are a beginner but would still like to attend, an option is to take Caroline’s online foundation skills course, which will give you the essential skills and techniques needed for this course.
We will work with a variety of dyes and tannins, alone and in combination, and we will spend time understanding how mordant dye and leaf influence each other. We will also spend time understanding how you can investigate a tannin or dye that is new to you, to learn how to use it to its maximum potential. We will work with both protein and cellulose fabrics.
Teaching will be geared to your own wishes and level of experience, and personal projects are encouraged and supported.
You can work on scarves, yardage or garments etc but we will not be working with paper. A detailed materials list will be provided.
Each day there will be half a day of formal teaching, with the other half free for independent studio time or to get involved in an exciting array of other activities.
We will work with a range of natural dyes and tannins, on both protein and cellulose fabrics. Teaching will be geared to your level and your needs, and individual projects will be encouraged and supported. You can work on scarves, yardage or garments etc. A detailed materials list will be provided.
You are welcome to bring a friend or partner who does not wish to print – there are extensive opportunities to do other activities.
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME In Taroudant
Each day there will be half a day of formal teaching and an option to continue with your ecoprinting or choose one of the many cultural experiences and activities on offer here.
Anything listed as “optional” means it is payable locally and not included in the price. Please see our price list for costs.
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 to an oasis on the edge of the Anti Atlas Mountains.
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. Lunch in town.
Day 8 Farewell to Ecolodge staff. Depart for the tour after breakfast.
WHAT DOES THE 7 DAY TOUR COMPRISE?
You will be reassured to know that all the people & places involved are well known to us and we know they can be trusted to deliver a great experience. Last year we had excellent reports of it.
You will be accompanied by Rachid or Said, our driver/guides so transport will be available when required by the group for outings from each place.
Coast, City & Atlas Mountains
Day 8- 11: 4 hour scenic drive from Taroudant over Tiz N Test Pass to Ouirgane Ecolodge. Stay in the High Atlas mountains (3 nights and 2 days to relax or walk and swim or go on outings by minibus, for example to Imlil at the foot of Mt Toubkal, the highest mountain in N Africa, from your base at Ouirgane)
Day 11-13: 1 hour drive to the city Marrakech at a traditional riad – a courtyard house (2 bustling days)
Day 13-15: 2.5 hours’ drive Essaouira, a walled town with a picturesque fishing port, staying at a lovely Riad. (2 days to explore or relax). A 3 hour drive back to Agadir airport for a morning flight on the last day.
COST OF THE TOUR includes:
TRANSPORT
1) from Taroudant to Ouirgane at the start of the week
2) to places of interest en route and near Essaouira & Ouirgane (but not in Marrakech where official guides are suggested for complex routes)
3) dropped at Agadir airport at the end of the week
MEALS bed, breakfast & evening meal. NB We have not included lunches but there will be the option of picnics provided by us on the first day at 60 MAD (under £5)
SOME GUIDING
Our driver/guide accompanying you (but not in Marrakech where you should use an official guide if you need one to do a long route through the souks – the riad in Marrakech can locate a good one for you).
Summary
Cost: £920 per person in shared twin/double room plus about 8500 MAD (about £680) paid locally. Supplement of £20 per night for single occupancy. There is also a £75 materials charge payable directly to Caroline.
Includes:
- Transfers from/to Agadir Airport at one designated time
- Accommodation in en suite twin or double bedroom; single occupancy on request
- Chlorine-free pool
- Substantial breakfasts and vegetarian evening meals (meat or fish at extra cost) for the first 7 nights
- Lunches on the first 6 days
- Tutored workshops – an average of 4 hours per day for the first 7 nights
- During 7 night/8 day tour including accommodation, transport, guiding, breakfast and meat/fish/vegetarian evening meals and transfer back to Agadir airport on the last day. Full details are given in the itinerary above
Excludes:
- Flights (often under £100 return if booked early)
- Single occupancy supplement £20 per night
- Travel insurance (required)
- £75 payable directly to Caroline for materials and online tutorials specific to this course
Payable in Morocco:
Best Wellbeing Retreat 2024: Health & Wellbeing Awards
Best Holistic Ecolodge in Morocco 2023
Tripadvisor: Number 1 in the Taroudant Region
Voted Top 10 in the World: Lonely Planet Eco Stays 2014 & VegeNews Vegetarian Holidays 2005
Responsible Tourism Trophy: Community Project Work 2009