Ashtanga Lanka

Morocco Ashtanga Yoga Retreat

March 30 to April 9, 2025

Morocco Ashtanga Yoga Retreat

March 30 to April 9

2025

Experience the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert in Morocco while deepening your practice.

Special Guest Teacher: Kathy Cooper

Join us March 30 to April 5 (or 9th), 2025 for a special Ashtanga Yoga Caravan with Kathy Cooper.  Kathy has been practicing since 1976 and she was the first woman to learn all of the series from David Williams.  We are very excited she is joining the Caravan and will share her wisdom and insight from a lifetime of yoga.  To learn more about Kathy click here.

The first six nights of the Ashtanga Yoga Caravan will be at Irocha, a very special guesthouse in the Atlas mountains.  The next part of the caravan trip goes into the Sahara desert for 3 nights.  Then we will return to Irocha for one more night.  In the morning we will have one final Mysore class and depart for Marrakech after breakfast.  You can join the first six nights or all 10 nights.

Irocha is located on the southern slope of the Atlas mountains where the high peaks give way to wide canyons with high mesas.  Irocha, which means “rock” in the local Amazigh language.  It’s a beautiful venue constructed in the traditional Berber style by a local man from the village.  

Magnificent mountain views, fresh air, starry nights and plenty of space makes this the perfect place to rest and recharge.  This event is limited to 14 students so sign up early.

Details & Schedule:

Sunday, March 30th is the arrival day.  If you are in Marrakech that morning we will meet at noon and share a large van to the venue.  If you arrive separately please be at Irocha by 3:30PM.  We can also arrange a taxi from the airport directly to Irocha.
 
We will have an opening gathering at 5:30PM on the 30th followed by dinner.  The first Mysore class will be on Monday the 31st.  There will be 5 morning practices that week and multiple afternoon workshops.  After breakfast on Saturday, April 5th you can either depart the retreat OR continue with us into the Sahara desert.
 
The morning practices include meditation and pranayama before the asana practice. 
After class a big brunch is served on the terrace overlooking the mountains. 
 
During the week we will organize multiple outings and walks.  You can explore the old casbah above Irocha (1 hour), go treasure hunting for gem stones across the river, and for serious hikers you can climb the mesa across the valley (5 hours return).
 
We’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage site: Ait Benhaddou.  This city is located on the ancient caravan route through the Ounila valley that linked sub-Saharan Sudan with Marrakech in the north. The buildings are well preserved and it’s a pleasure to stroll through its many historic alleys and lanes.   Many famous movies have been filmed here too.
 
Our wish is to create a nourishing and restorative holiday, while also giving you a real taste of southern Morocco and the Berber culture of the Atlas mountains.
 
Multiple afternoons we will also have workshops to support your practice. Topics may include breathing, the vinyasa, inversions & arm balances, alignment, pranayama and more.  We will customize our offerings based on who joins the event.

This is your week to rest and recharge.   We will not take attendance and if you choose to miss something so you can chill by the pool or nap we totally get it.   We’re there to support you in any way we can.

Optional 3 night Sahara Trip

Have you dreamed of walking through the Sahara desert and sleeping in traditional nomadic tents?  On April 5th we will depart Irocha after practice and brunch to drive 5 hours south into the Sahara.  We will set up a base camp deep in the Sahara for the nights of April 5th and 6th.   

On the 7th we might change locations to another desert camp.   There is an option to walk, ride a camel or use a jeep to get to the second camp.   On the afternoon of the 8th we will drive back to Irocha. 

This trip can be customized to people at all levels.  For those who want to walk a lot it’s possible.  For others who can’t do that we will have alternatives.    Ahmed, who owns Irocha is helping set up this adventure and it will be very special.  It will be full of surprises and not a “cookie-cutter tour” experience.

In the Sahara everyone will be assigned to a tent with one other person.  The prices listed on this page are for a shared double tent during the three nights in the Sahara.  If you need a single tent in the Sahara (100%) it is possible but will incur an additional surcharge of 375 euros.

When we return to Irocha on the 8th we’ll have dinner and sleep there.  On the 9th there will be a Mysore class in the morning followed by brunch.  The retreat will end at noon on the 9th.    We will help arrange transport to Marrkach on April 9th for everyone. 

During the desert trip we may offer some yoga classes depending on the set-up.

Price per person (Euros):

March 30th to April 5th ONLY.  Six nights at Irocha with all meals and yoga classes:

  • Single room:  1050 euros.
  • Shared Double room:  750 euros.

March 30th to April 9th.  Ten nights of lodging, all meals, yoga classes PLUS the Sahara trip.

  • Single room at Irocha PLUS Sahara Trip: 1895 euros.
  • Shared Double room at Irocha PLUS Sahara trip:  1495 euros.

All bedrooms have an en suite private bathroom.  These prices include the classes, workshops, brunch, dinner, Wifi and full use of the venue.   We rented the entire hotel so you can make yourself at home.   

Double rooms can be shared by friends or a couple.  If you’re coming alone and would like to share a room we will try to match you up with another student of the same gender.  If you have the room by yourself, however, we will need to charge you the single room rate.

We ask for a 250 Euro deposit to confirm your booking.  The balance is due on arrival and needs to be paid with cash.   

Cancelation policy:

If you cancel before March 1, 2025 we can refund you the deposit minus a 50 Euro processing fee.  

If you cancel after March 1, 2025 your deposit is not refundable PLUS you are responsible and required to pay the full remaining balance that is due.

You can, however, transfer your place to another person.   

Getting to Irocha...

The airport with the most flight options is Marrakech Menara airport (RAK).  It’s a about a 3 hour drive to Irocha and a taxi is approximately 75 euros.   All taxis need to be paid in local currency cash to the driver.   
 
If you arrive a day or two early you can also explore Marrakech. There are plenty of nice places to stay in the Medina for any budget.  You can explore the souks (markets) and discover many surprises in this exotic city.
 
On Sunday, March 30th we’ll arrange a minibus for people who want to carpool to Irocha from Marrakech.  We will depart from the Medina (main square) at noon on March 30th.
   
If you don’t join the Sahara trip the retreat ends after breakfast on Saturday, April 5th.  We can help arrange transport for you to Marrakech.   If you join the Sahara trip, the retreat will end after breakfast on April 9th.  
 
There is also an airport in Ouarzazate (OZZ) which is about 50 minutes from Irocha.  Ryanair services it but there are limited options.  Most people fly into Marrakech. 
 
*** Transport to and from Irocha is not included in the price.*** 

Join us May 11 to 18, 2024 for a special Ashtanga yoga experience in the Atlas mountains.  Our venue is Irocha, located on the southern slope of the Atlas range where the canyons widen and spread towards the Sahara desert.  Irocha, which means “rock” in the local Amazigh language, is a beautiful venue constructed in the traditional Berber style.  

Magnificent mountain views, fresh air, starry nights and plenty of space makes this the perfect place to rest and recharge.

This event is limited to 12 students so sign up early.

Details & Schedule:

Saturday, May 11th is the arrival day and check-in begins at 3pm.  We will have an opening class at 6PM followed by dinner.
 
The first Mysore class will be on Sunday the 12th.  There will be 6 morning practices and multiple afternoon workshops.   The retreat ends after breakfast on Saturday, May 18th.  
 
The morning practice includes meditation and pranayama before the asana practice. 
After class a big brunch is served on the terrace overlooking the mountains. 
 
During the week we will organize multiple outings and hikes.  We can walk up to an old casbah above Irocha (1 hour), go hunting for gem stones across the river, and for people who want a longer hike we can climb the mesa across the valley (2.5 hours up).
 
We’ll also visit the UNESCO heritage site: Ait Benhaddou.  This city is located on the ancient caravan route through the Ounila valley that linked sub-Saharan Sudan with Marrakech in the north. The buildings are well preserved and it’s a pleasure to stroll through it’s many historic alleys and lanes.   Many famous movies have been filmed here too.
 
Our wish is to create a nourishing and restorative holiday, while also giving you a real taste of southern Morocco and the Berber culture of the Atlas mountains.
 
Multiple afternoons we will also have workshops to support your practice.
Topics may include breathing, the vinyasa, inversions & arm balances, alignment, pranayama and more.  We will customize our offerings based on who joins the event.

This is your week to rest and recharge.   We will not take attendance and if you choose to miss something so you can chill by the pool or nap we totally get it.   We’re there to support you in any way we can.  

Price per person (Euros):

  • Large single room: 1350.
  • Standard single room:  1050.
  • Shared Double room:  750.

All bedrooms have an en suite private bathroom.  These prices include the classes, workshops, brunch, dinner, Wifi and full use of the venue.   We rented the entire hotel so you can make yourself at home.   

Double rooms can be shared by friends or a couple.  If you’re coming alone and would like to share a room we will try to match you up with another student of the same gender.  If you have the room by yourself, however, we will need to charge you the single room rate.

We ask for a 250 Euro deposit to confirm your booking.  The balance is due on arrival and needs to be paid with cash.   

Cancelation policy:

If you cancel before April 11th we can refund you the deposit minus a 75 euro admin fee.  

If you cancel after April 11th your deposit is not refundable PLUS you are 100% responsible and required to pay the full remaining balance that is due.

You can, however, transfer your place to another person.   No matter what the full amount is due for any cancelations after April 11.     

Getting to Irocha...

The nearest airport is in Marrakech (RAK) airport and we can arrange a taxi pick-up for you.   It’s a 2.5 or 3 hour drive to the venue.  The cost of a taxi is approximately 800 MAD (70 euros) for the one-way journey and needs to be paid in local currency to the driver.
   
If you arrive a day or two early you can also explore Marrakech. There are many nice places to stay in the medina for any budget.  You can explore the souks (markets) and discover many surprises in this exotic city.  
 
On Saturday the 11th we will arrange a minibus for people who want to carpool to Irocha from Marrakech.   We will depart from the Medina at noon and share the cost of the minibus.
   
The event ends on Saturday, May 18th after breakfast.   On that day we can arrange taxis to the airport and/or a shared minibus to Marrakech.
 
*** Taxi/Minibus transport to/from Irocha is not included and needs to be paid in local currency cash on the day of transport.