Marrakech · Chefchaouen · Fès · Essaouira
Imperial Winter
Morocco's four iconic destinations. One extraordinary eight-day circuit. Winter season.
The retreat
Winter is Morocco's finest season. The light is golden and low. The medinas breathe. The mountains carry snow on their peaks while the valleys stay warm. Imperial Winter was designed for this window.
Eight days across four of the most extraordinary destinations on earth, beginning in Marrakech, moving through the blue labyrinth of Chefchaouen, pausing in the medieval grandeur of Fès, and finishing on the Atlantic edge of Essaouira. A circuit that is, in itself, the experience.
Eight to fourteen guests. One retreat. Category exclusivity guaranteed for studio partners.
Duration
8 days, 7 nights
Guests
8 to 14
Season
December to February
Investment
On request
The circuit
Marrakech
2 nights
Begin in the medina. Private riad accommodation, hammam ritual, souk immersion, Atlas mountain excursion. The ancient city in winter is a different world.
Chefchaouen
2 nights
The blue city in the Rif Mountains. Movement on mountain trails, meditation in alleyways, silence so complete you can hear the fountains in the square.
Fès
2 nights
The oldest and most complete medieval city in the world. The tanneries, the medersa, the sounds of craftsmen at work. An education in civilisation.
Essaouira
1 night
Finish on the Atlantic. Wind-swept ramparts, the smell of the ocean, a last morning of breathwork with the waves below. The circuit closes here.
Included
Hammam & Moroccan rituals
Traditional hammam in Marrakech and Fès. Steam, kessa, argan oil. The oldest longevity protocol in North Africa.
Guided medina walks
Navigate the four medinas with expert local guides, from Marrakech's Djemaa el-Fna to Fès el-Bali's 9,000 alleyways.
Atlas winter excursion
From Marrakech, a half-day ascent into the snow-capped Atlas. Cold, altitude, silence, a contrast that resets the nervous system.
Mountain movement
Rif Mountain trails above Chefchaouen, morning yoga or breathwork on the hillside with views across the valley.
Atlantic edge
Essaouira's ramparts at sunset. Clifftop breathwork with the Atlantic below. The journey ends where the continent meets the ocean.
Cultural immersion
Leather tanneries, zellige workshops, Gnawa musicians, artisan cooperatives, Morocco's living culture as the backdrop to every day.
Getting there
The circuit begins and ends in Marrakech, served by direct flights from London, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Zurich, and most major European cities. From the US, Royal Air Maroc operates direct flights from JFK and Miami to Casablanca, with onward connections to Marrakech.
Winter flights to Marrakech are frequent, affordable, and short. From Paris: 3 hours. From London: 3.5 hours. From New York: 8 hours. Morocco in December and January is one of the most accessible extraordinary destinations on earth.
All ground transport between the four cities is fully arranged. Private vehicles, experienced drivers, and a logistics team that has done this circuit many times.
These weeks run with a partner
This retreat is not on open sale. We build it with a studio, a club or a clinic that brings its own group, and we open a date around their season rather than ours. Tell us who you would bring and when, and we will come back with a week.
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Where you stay
Superior accommodation, chosen on the ground by our own experts.
Nothing on this site was booked from a catalogue. Every riad, camp, kasbah and guesthouse was found, visited and slept in by one of our experts before it was ever offered to a guest. The standard is superior throughout, and the reason is practical: after a day of walking, surfing or altitude, comfort is not a luxury, it is what makes the next day possible.
Visited before it is offered
Our team travels the country year-round. If one of us has not slept there, it does not go into a programme.
Original, never generic
Private riads, our own exclusive-use camp in the dunes, restored family kasbahs, guesthouses in Berber villages. Places you cannot book from a screen.
Comfort as a working tool
Real beds, hot water, quiet rooms, proper food. Recovery is part of the programme, not an afterthought.
Groups & circles
Coming as a group?
Six of you or more, and the whole retreat can be arranged around your circle. Tell us the size and the dates, and we prepare a proposal for you.
Request a group proposal→A departure for your circle alone
A private date set aside for your group, at the pace and in the season that suit you.
One group at a time, never mixed
You are never placed among strangers. The camp, the table and the guides are yours.
Group rate and privatisation on request
For six guests or more we prepare a tailored proposal. Simply ask.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Imperial Winter retreat?
- The Imperial Winter retreat is an 8-day private journey through Morocco's four imperial cities: Fes, Meknes, Rabat, and Marrakech. It combines cultural immersion, medina walks, hammam rituals, traditional Moroccan cuisine experiences, and guided visits to UNESCO heritage sites with yoga and mindfulness practices.
- When does the Imperial Winter retreat run?
- The Imperial Winter retreat is designed for the December to February season, when Morocco's imperial cities are at their most atmospheric and uncrowded. Winter temperatures in the medinas are mild during the day, around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.
- Is the Imperial Winter retreat physically demanding?
- The Imperial Winter retreat is primarily cultural and immersive rather than athletic. Each day involves 3 to 5 hours of walking through medinas and historic sites. It is suitable for all fitness levels who can walk comfortably.
2027 Season · December to February
Four cities. Eight days. One winter that stays with you.
Enquire about Imperial WinterOr write directly to retreats@umnya.co