What to pack for a yoga retreat in Morocco
By Charlotte Schoeters · · 5 min read
Most guests overpack the clothes and underpack the patience. A practical, honest packing guide for a week at the riad in Essaouira: what you actually need, and what you can leave behind.
Every retreat I watch guests arrive with bags that are too heavy and anxieties that are too specific. By day three the bags are unpacked and the anxieties have dissolved. This list is an attempt to save you the first part.
Clothes
Essaouira in retreat season runs warm by day, comfortable in a t-shirt from mid-morning, and noticeably cooler in the evenings once the sun drops. The wind is present all week. It is not cold wind, but it is consistent and strong enough that you want a layer for the roof terrace in the mornings and for walking through the medina at night.
- 3–4 yoga outfits (we practise twice daily; you will sweat)
- 1 light layer for morning practice and cool evenings: a thin hoodie or linen shirt works well
- 1 warmer layer for the occasional cold night: a fleece or knit jumper
- Comfortable clothes for the afternoons: light trousers, a dress, whatever you move easily in
- 1 slightly nicer outfit if you want it for dinner out in the medina
- Sandals for around the riad and medina; trainers or closed shoes for longer walks
- A light scarf, useful for wind, medina visits, and doubling as a beach wrap
You do not need much. The riad has laundry facilities for longer stays, and the medina has shops if you forget something essential.
Yoga gear
The riad provides mats, blocks and straps. You do not need to bring your own mat unless you have strong preferences about the feel of it. Some guests do, and that is fine. What to bring:
- A yoga towel if you run hot; the roof terrace classes can get warm once the sun is up
- Any props you genuinely rely on: a specific block height, a meditation cushion, a strap you trust
- Grip socks if you use them (optional; most guests practise barefoot)
For the hammam
One of the weekly activities is an afternoon at a traditional hammam in the medina. You will be scrubbed down with a kessa mitt and black soap. Everything you need is provided there. What helps to bring:
- A swimsuit or shorts; some guests prefer these to the towels provided, both are fine
- Flip flops for the changing area
- Old underwear you don't mind getting damp
- A spare hair tie if your hair is long
Leave your expensive moisturiser at the hotel. The hammam attendants will apply argan oil after the scrub. Your skin will not need anything else that evening.
Practical things
- Sun protection: SPF for face and body, a hat for afternoon activities in direct sun
- A reusable water bottle (the riad keeps filtered water available all day)
- Any prescription medication you take, plus a small first-aid kit if you travel with one
- Earplugs if you are a light sleeper; the medina has a 4 a.m. call to prayer that is beautiful the first morning and occasionally less so at the end of the week
- A journal or notebook; most guests end up using one even if they didn't plan to
What to leave behind
Your laptop, if you can. A retreat week is seven days; most things can wait. If you cannot fully disconnect, set an out-of-office, block two hours in the evenings, and leave the rest. The riad has wifi. The temptation to use it beyond the necessary is the main obstacle.
Formal clothes. You will not need them. The riad dinner is relaxed, the medina restaurants are casual, and anything that requires ironing will spend the week at the bottom of your bag.
Questions about what to expect or what to bring? Email charlotte@yogavibe.eu. I answer these personally and always will.