Women's Ritual Dance with Laura Shannon
In German
15 - 28 October 2025
Cost £TBC
includes 4 day tour
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 pool and permaculture gardens. 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. Also enjoy an exceptional menu of local healthy food.
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.
Heartful Holistic Holidays which offer a wide choice of authentic activities run by amazingly knowledgeable 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.
The Holidays with Heart UK team provide substantial pre-visit information and support based on decades of experience of Morocco.
Summary
Cost: £TBC
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 the last full day
- Tutored workshops (a total of about 18 hours)
- Tour of the town by horse-drawn taxi, visit to a hammam, outing to Tiout Oasis, visit to Claudio Bravo Palace & Museum with lunch and a traditional band
- Activities listed on the itinerary below except those that are listed as optional
Excludes:
- Flights (often under £90 return if booked early)
- Single occupancy supplement £20 per night
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance (required)
- Tips
- Meat or fish supplement (20 – 40 MAD (about £1.60-£3.20)
- 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
- Taxi transfers at a fair cost for those travelling at/from different times or places
Trip Advisor
Number 1 in the Taroudant Region 2022. Travellers’ Choice 2023, 2021 & 2020
Voted Top 10 in the World: Lonely Planet Eco Stays 2014 & VegeNews Vegetarian Holidays 2005
Responsible Tourism Trophy for Community Project Work 2009
What people say about dancing with Laura:
Monika M’s review of Laura’s event with us in March 2023 “I would highly recommend this place to anyone I can… I cannot thank you enough for being inspired to create this place and choosing the perfect people to help you run it. Our group repeatedly said how wonderful everything was and that your staff felt more like family than staff. They were ALL very hardworking, helpful, cheerful and accommodating and made our stay so much richer. Laura’s course was beyond my wildest expectations and I look forward to more with her in the future. I took the opportunity to do everything offered for excursions etc and I was blown away by each and every thing I partook in. I will never forget the people and places we encountered on this trip. I feel richer for having been on this trip on all fronts”
Photo: Laura Shannon
Read more about Laura here. Laura writes:
“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. This holiday is intended for women who have danced with me before, but do contact me if you have not yet danced with me but feel drawn to join us.
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. In our free time we can soak up the sun, explore alone, relax, or enjoy cooking lessons, massage, swimming and other activities.
My 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. These gifts from the ancestors communicate valuable messages and connect us to the great cycle of life.”
For questions about the course content, please contact laura@laurashannon.net
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 £150 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.
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
There will be daily tutored sessions and possibly spontaneously at inspiring places.
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.
PROVISIONAL ITINERARY (13 nights)
10 nights at La Maison Anglaise Garden Ecolodge; 4 day/3 night tour to Anti-Atlas Mountains.
Please note, programme is subject to change in case of weather or other circumstances
Days 1-7 at La Maison Anglaise Ecolodge
Day 1– Arrival, lunch, 4 pm welcome meeting, dance, dinner
Day 2 – Excursion to palmerie, picnic lunch, dinner, dance
Day 3– Visit to hammam, lunch, caleche ride, dinner, dance
Day 4 – Souk, Sufi band, dinner, dance
Day 5 – Time for rest, no excursion planned
Day 6 – Morning Dancing at La Maison Anglaise, lunch, dinner, dance
Day 7 – Time for rest, no excursion planned
Day 8 Anti-Atlas adventure begins; 1 night at Kasbah Tizourgane with Ahwash band in evening
Day 9 Anti Atlas Tafraoute adventure continues with 2 nights at Chez Amaliya in Tafroute
Day 10 Anti Atlas Tafraoute adventure continues
Day 11 Visit to Maison Traditionelle, picnic lunch, return to Taroudant, dinner, dance
Day 12 Hammam (optional), Souk (optional), lunch (optional); henna tattoos (optional); Arabic/Berber dance lesson, Berber band, dinner, dance
Day 13 10am Claudio Bravo Palace for lunch and dance; cookery lesson(optional); henna tattoos (optional); dinner; dance & completion
Day 14 Departure day! Goodbye and safe journey!
