Morocco Culinary & Wellness Retreat (Agadir)
LOCATION: Agadir and surrounding Atlantic coast region, Morocco
GROUP SIZE: Intimate small group (typically 10–12 guests)
WHO IT’S FOR: Food lovers, solo travellers and couples seeking culture, connection and gentle movement
EXPERIENCE INCLUDES: Pilates sessions, hands-on Moroccan cooking, market and producer visits, coastal and inland excursions, shared long-table meals and time for rest and relaxation.
AIRPORT: Agadir Al Massira Airport (AGA)
STYLE: Fully curated, small-group culinary and wellness retreat with authentic Moroccan hospitality
ACCOMODATION: Riad-style boutique hotel set within the peaceful Golfland district of Agadir
Revitalise body and spirit in Morocco
This retreat brings together mindful movement, nourishing food, and the quiet pleasure of being well looked after. Set just outside Agadir, our home for the week is a peaceful villa surrounded by gardens and open skies — a place where days unfold gently, and where there is time to reconnect with your body, your appetite, and your sense of ease.
The rhythm of the week balances Pilates, shared meals, exploration, and rest. There is no pressure to perform, no need to rush, and no expectation to arrive as anything other than yourself. You are invited to slow down, be supported, and enjoy the simple luxury of time.
A considered way to travel
There comes a point when travel is no longer about seeing as much as possible, but about being properly looked after while you are away. About warmth, reassurance, and a sense that someone has quietly considered every detail on your behalf.
This week in Morocco is designed for that way of travelling. From the moment you arrive, you are met, guided and supported. There is no pressure to keep up, no need to plan or decide, and no sense of being hurried from one experience to the next. The days unfold at a humane pace, allowing you to enjoy where you are without having to hold everything together.
Why Morocco, and why with me
I first travelled to Morocco in the early 1980s, and over more than forty years it has become a place I return to out of affection rather than novelty. Through time and repeated visits, I have been welcomed into homes and kitchens, and formed relationships that allow me to move through the country with understanding and respect.
What I share with you during this retreat comes from those years of return. This is not a version of Morocco designed for tourists, but the Morocco I know — generous, layered, and deeply rooted in everyday life. My role is to offer context, to open doors gently, and to help you experience the country in a way that feels natural rather than staged.
Food that nourishes and delights
When you are not moving, you are being nourished — both at the table and through shared culinary experiences. I will guide you through olive oil and honey tastings, offering insight into quality, flavour, and how these ingredients support well-being. Alongside the villa’s talented chef, we also prepare and enjoy classic Moroccan dishes — including tagines and vibrant salads — cooked with care rather than complexity.
Meals are generous, balanced, and deeply satisfying. They are designed to support the Pilates practice, but also to bring pleasure, warmth, and connection. Food here is not restrictive or prescriptive; it is joyful, grounding, and shared.
Cultural exploration
Agadir may have a modern appearance, having been rebuilt after the 1960 earthquake, but its roots remain firmly anchored in Moroccan tradition.
During the week, we explore beyond the villa with carefully chosen excursions. These include a visit to Agadir’s lively souk, its historic kasbah, a nearby coastal village, and landscapes that shift from fertile valleys to pre-Sahara dunes. We pause often — for tea, for conversation, for meals prepared and shared with care.
Each outing is guided and unhurried, offering context rather than information overload. The aim is not to see everything, but to understand more deeply.
Where we stay
Our home for the week is a charming villa tucked away in the golf land of Agadir. Surrounded by lush gardens and opening towards palm-lined views, it offers privacy, comfort, and a sense of calm that is felt immediately.
Indoor lounges and outdoor seating areas invite you to settle in — whether with a book, a drink at sunset, or easy conversation with fellow guests. Bedrooms are en-suite and thoughtfully designed, blending Moroccan character with modern comfort. A small number of suites offer additional space and are available on a first-come basis.
The villa is staffed with loyal and welcoming professionals who are there to ensure that every requirement is met fully and efficiently.
The rhythm of the week
Days follow a gentle, reassuring flow.
There is time for Pilates, time for food, time for excursions — and equally important, time to rest. Afternoons may be spent by the pool, reading in the gardens, enjoying conversation, or simply doing nothing at all.
For those who wish, nearby options include a world-class golf course and a five-star spa offering hammam treatments and massage, which can be arranged during the week.
This balance between movement and stillness is intentional. It allows the retreat to feel restorative rather than full.
Exploring, sharing and time to be
With the services of a long established travel agency and their trusted drivers and guides, we will discover Morocco’s first capital, Taroudant, pausing to marvel at the argan trees, wander the lush Oasis of Tiout, and savour a leisurely lunch in a kasbah perched high above the valley;
we will explore Agadir’s Kasbah, dive into the bustle of the souk, and enjoy lunch at one of the city’s most iconic local restaurants;
we will journey through a neighbouring national park and past banana plantations before reaching the pre-Sahara dunes, where a warm Berber welcome and home-cooked meal await;
we will visit the charming fishing village of Taghazout, ride camels along the beach, sip cocktails with your toes in the sand, and capture the fiery red sunset over the Atlantic, and
we will end the week on a high enjoying an unforgettable evening on the terrace of a favourite restaurant of mine.
My role as your host
Throughout the week, I am present to hold the structure so that you do not have to. I guide, interpret and support, noticing when you need company and when you would prefer space. I bring my professional experience as a MasterChef winner, my love for all things Moroccan and my passion for olive oil, honey and all great produce. But above all, I bring care and attention.
The group is intentionally small. This allows for genuine connection, thoughtful conversation, and an atmosphere in which everyone feels seen and at ease. Many guests travel alone and quickly find that companionship arises naturally.
What I take care of
Your stay includes seven nights accommodation, all meals, airport transfers, excursions, experiences and entrance fees, cooking sessions and tastings with me, a cocktail on the sands of the Atlantic coast and gratuities. From arrival to departure, every practical detail is handled for you.
What you arrange separately
Flights, airport transfer tips, personal shopping, drinks and travel insurance are for your account.
Required Investment
Shared room: £2,450 per person
Single room: £2,950 per person
A 25% deposit secures your place, with the balance payable 8 weeks before arrival.
A monthly payment option is available — please ask for details.
Before confirming your place
Places on all retreats are confirmed personally, to ensure that the experience is right for you and for the group as a whole. For this reason, I ask that you wait for confirmation of your place before booking flights.
The registration form and full terms and conditions are available on this page and can be read at your leisure before making any commitment. Once your place is confirmed, further practical information will follow, including a detailed itinerary shared approximately eight weeks before departure.
This retreat, like all my others, is intentionally limited to a group no larger than 15 guests, allowing for a calm, personal and well-held experience throughout the week.
If you would like further details, or to discuss whether this retreat is right for you, please email irini@irinicooks.com. I am always happy to answer questions before you decide.
