Hey You Wonderful Nurse! Let's connect!

Come to Morocco for the trip of a lifetime with trusted professionals and your fellow nurses to have an unbelievable escape and adventure.  You will get an opportunity to unwind, reflect, and transform.  You see, Morocco chooses what it has in store for you.  

Both Courtney and myself have been forever changed in this magical land in northern Africa.  We hope you too can have a transformational and rejuvenating experience. 

Come join us for a Cultural, Rejuvenating, and Educational  Retreat for Nurses! 

When: 

May 2027

Where: 

Marrakesh, Agafay Desert, and Essaouira, Morocco

What:

You will spend three days and nights in the magical city of Marrakesh visiting its vibrant markets, sacred spaces, and historical sites.  Each day will incorporate meditation and tailored lectures.   

Lodging :  

Riad Al Jazira

A traditional riad, which is an historically stately home converted into a garden hotel, which preserves the distinctive Maghribi aesthetic (see pictures below).

You will spend one night  far away from the bustle of city life, under a blanket of stars,  in the beautiful Agafay Desert. 

Lodging: 

Le Pause

A traditional luxury desert camp. 

You end your Moroccan journey with three days and nights in the blissful beach town of Essaouira known for its rich musical heritage.  Each day will include yoga and other self care for nursing professionals (including one day of pool time).

Lodging:

Villa Maroc

A gorgeous traditional riad, within the walls of the medina overlooking the ocean.   

We will spend a day at Jardins de Villa Maroc and experience a traditional hammam,  have a delicious lunch, sunbathe and relax.  This will be a day to contemplate the journey you have had and the journey to come.   

Pricing:

Details coming soon

Includes transport from to and from the airport, seven nights of mid-upper range lodging, most meals, excursions, lectures with CEs, meditation, and yoga ( three days of practice).  The lodging is based on double occupancy.  If a single room is desired, a single supplement of $700.00 is available.  

**This does not include airfare, travel insurance, and some meals.  

Ask to be put on the waitlist for details - email nicole@unwoundretreats.com

Treat yourself to this beautiful and intoxicating Moroccan Retreat led by trusted and experienced professionals!

Your Group Leaders  - 

Courtney Erwin is an American-born lawyer, religious scholar and host of her own Arabic TV show, "Hello Morocco with Coco."   A Sufi living in Rabat, she co-leads tours throughout Morocco.  She is fluent in Arabic and French.

Nicole Johnson is a Seattle based nurse, with a background in Critical Care. She is a nursing wellness advocate and curates retreats for nurses.  She is certified in "Happiness at Work" through the Greater Good Center of UC Berkley, completed a course mindful based stress reduction, certified in pyscholocial first aid from John Hopkins, and has received debriefing facilitator training.

***All participants must agree to the Terms and Conditions supplied by Unwound Retreats available for review at the bottom of the page***

Check out FAQs and the Photo Gallery.

Who is this retreat for?

• Who can come on the program? The program is open to nurses.  At this time, we are offering this as a women's retreat. The most important criterion is “fit.”   This retreat is intended for nurses who are seeking a cultural, spiritual, and educational experience in a country that offers an immersion in a heady mix of history, literature, religions, art, spirituality, and politics different from one’s own. It is a retreat for those seeking the adventure of both an inner and outer journey. Participants should be in good physical and mental health.
• Do I have to be in the United States to participate? No. Participants from countries around the world are welcome. If you do not wish to start in North America, you can meet us at the beginning date in the program. 
• Is there an age requirement? Yes, we invite participants 22 and older to join the retreat.  
• Do I receive CEs for the trip? Yes. We offer around 6 hours of CEs.

Entering  into Morocco

• Do I need a visa?  As a USA citizen , you are given a tourist visa upon arrival.  Please be sure to have a passport that is not due to expire within 6 months of arrival to Morocco.

• What is Morocco’s currency? Morocco uses the dirham (dh), which exchanges at a rate of 10 dirhams to $1.
• How much will meals cost? $5-$40 (50-400 dh). Expect to pay $5 for street food and up to $40 for the fanciest of fancy meals, with most meals averaging around $25.
• Should I get cash ahead of time? Plan to bring American USD or use an ATM card or debit card and take out cash once you arrive at the Marrakech airport. Most vendors in the markets only accept cash, but our hotels should all accept cards for any charges you send to the room (like spa treatments, room service etc.). Larger retailers and fancier restaurants accept credit cards as well! Many credit cards now waive fees on international transactions, so see if that’s the case for your card. Check with your bank if they have fees on ATM withdrawals.
• How much Moroccan cash (dirhams) can I withdraw from a Moroccan ATM? Per day you can take out a total of 4,000 dirhams ($400) in two, separate withdrawals of 2,000 dh each.
• Do I need to tip? Yes! Morocco is a tipping culture, much like the US. You could tip a taxi driver $2-$5 (20-50 Moroccan dirhams), depending on the length of the trip. For a porter who carries your bag, you would tip $1-$2 (10-20 Moroccan dirhams). We ask everyone to bring $50 USD to create a pool of tips. Courtney and I will distribute that money to all our tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff as appropriate, so you don’t have to!

• Can I drink the tap water? You can. But we would recommend drinking bottled water throughout your stay. Most salads are cooked veggie salads (thing eggplant + tomato salad, carrot salad, etc) so you won’t have to worry about salad greens that are washed in the water.
• Can I run in Morocco? Yes. Navigating the winding streets of the Marrakech medina might be challenging, so we recommend running on the corniche in Essaouira or in the desert.
• Is Morocco safe? Compared to the United States, the rate of violent crime is significantly lower in Morocco, particularly due to the fact that guns are illegal. There is some petty crime (pickpocketing) so be careful with your belongings, especially your phones. Foreigners, and especially women, do attract attention, both benign and sometimes a little more invasive, so it is helpful to be respectful but firm: hand placed on heart accompanied with “la shoukran” or “no thank you” and continue walking. Also, if you are lost or need assistance, it is advisable to ask someone who is “anchored” i.e., the proprietor of a store, or a woman. Young boys will often tell you that an alley is “closed” or that they can take you to your destination and then demand payment. 
• Can I make eye contact with people? Be aware of your surroundings. Feel comfortable looking around. Sustained eye contact is often seen as an invitation for conversation, so use your best judgment.
• Can I smile at strangers? Yes. Smiling and showing your teeth while smiling is perfectly fine and not culturally offensive. However, much like eye contact, smiling at strangers (especially men) is often seen as an invitation. 
• Can I take pictures of local Moroccans? 
• It is polite to ask people that you don’t know if they mind whether you take their picture or not. Some people become very upset if you take their photo without asking first.

• How do I get to our riad in Marrakech when I arrive? We will organize two, private transfers for the whole group to accommodate most people’s arrival times. If you arrive earlier or later than either of those two transfers, we can coordinate a separate, private transfer to you that you would pay for separately. An airport transfer would cost approximately $25 USD. Once you arrive at the gate of the medina of Marrakech someone from the hotel will meet you to personally walk you to our riad. Porters will carry your bags for you.
• What city should I fly into and out of? We recommend you fly in and out of Marrakech. If you fly into Casablanca or Rabat, look into connecting flights to Marrakech. You could take a train or a ‘grand taxi’ from both Rabat or Casablanca to Marrakech. If that’s your preferred route, you may want to arrive a day earlier than everyone else to give yourself extra time to route over to Marrakech. It will be easier for you to fly into Marrakech to arrive the afternoon of Saturday. On the day  of departure, we will arrange two private transfers for the whole group from Essaouira to Marrakech. This journey is about 3 hours so we calculate departing 5 hours before your flight. Many of you will have morning or mid day flights on Sunday but we recommend no earlier than 10am departure. For those who would need an airport transfer outside of the designated group transfers, we can arrange a separate, private transfer which would be around $80. 

• Do I need to wear a hijab (headscarf)? No, not unless you enter a mosque. Only Muslims are allowed to enter mosques in Morocco, with the exception of the Grand Mosque in Casablanca, so you should not need to cover your hair in Morocco.
• What languages are spoken in Morocco? Morocco has a rich linguistic heritage. The main language on the street is the Moroccan dialect of formal Arabic, called darijah, though many Moroccans also speak French. In the North, Spanish is also spoken, and across the country, in certain communities, indigenous Amazigh (Berber) languages are spoken. Most Moroccans understand formal Arabic. More and more, Moroccans are learning English, though it is not as common as French. A few words in darijah, formal Arabic, or French go a long way.
• What is religion in Morocco? Morocco’s predominant religion is Sunni Islam. There is an indigenous Jewish population, located mainly in Casablanca with historical centers in Fez, Marrakesh, Tangier, Chefchaouen, and Essaouira. Christian communities are comprised mostly of Europeans and Sub-Saharan Africans. 
• What should I wear?  September will be warm in Morocco, so wear loose clothes you can layer. Dress a little more conservatively than you might at home in pieces that cover your shoulders, cleavage, and knees.
• Do I need to cover up more than I would at home in the USA? You’ll see tourists in Morocco wearing everything and anything. We recommend you dress in modest, breathable layers. T-shirts that cover the shoulders and aren’t super low cut are great. Pants or skirts that meet at or below the knees are ideal. Essaouira is a little more relaxed so you can wear whatever you like while walking or running on the Corniche by the beach.
• When we practice yoga can I wear my usual yoga outfits? We practice yoga in the privacy of our hotels, so you should feel comfortable wearing exactly what you’d wear at home to practice yoga in. We’d recommend changing into something looser and a bit more covered for when we leave our hotels to explore the city.
• What shoes should I bring? Can I wear sandals? Comfortable shoes are really important because we’ll be navigating cobblestone streets throughout the medina. We would recommend flat-soled sandals with a strap (like tevas or chacos) or comfortable tennis shoes. We don’t recommend high heels.

• What’s the food like? Moroccan food is varied and vegetarian friendly.  There are a lot of tangines and couscous dishes.    Moroccan food is delicious and heavily meat, fish, and bread based. It is usually made from scratch and with healthy, local ingredients.  It is not often spicy (even though there is a famous hot sauce called ‘harissa’) but many dishes do combine sweet and savory ingredients. Moroccan mint tea (with or without sugar) is served throughout the day and coffee is always served in the mornings (though many Moroccans enjoy a “gouté” or afternoon coffee and sweet). 
• Can I accommodate my vegan, vegetarian, pescetarian, or gluten-free diet in Morocco? Yes. Let us know ahead of time so we can plan accordingly. Breakfasts are traditionally very bread heavy, so the non-bread options are often yogurt, fruit, and eggs. 
• Can I drink alcohol in Morocco? You can drink alcohol in Morocco. Most hotels and restaurants that cater to tourists serve alcohol. However, many nice restaurants in the medinas (walled old cities) do not serve alcohol. More traditional spaces, like our riad in Marrakesh, also do not serve alcohol (whereas our riad in Essaouira does have a small bar). Your retreat cost does not cover alcohol, though, so budget for yourself and your intake as you see fit (alcoholic beverages in the fancier restaurants and larger hotels are often more expensive than in the US). 

• Don’t forget to pack these items
  • Passport & bank cards 
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Bathing suit
  • Hat and/or sunglasses
  • Book(s) (the riads do not have TVs in the rooms)
  • Washcloth (1-2)
  • Ear plugs and eye mask (for noise and light at night)
  • Plug adapter, 2 round prongs like this one
  • 1-2 rapid COVID tests, just in case
  • Medications/vitamins (the pharmacies in Morocco are excellent but will have different brands)
• What will the weather be like in the middle of September? Warm during the day (80s) and sunny and cooler at night (50s and 60s)
• Electrical devices: Morocco uses the same power plug as France and most of Europe (two round prongs). Bring an adapter!
• Get your beauty sleep: Bring earplugs and an eye mask. The morning call to prayer can be loud, and the Moroccan morning sunshine is bright. Earplugs are also helpful for the flight across the Pond!
• Will I be able to do laundry while on the trip? Yes. Our accommodations in Marrakech and Essaouira both have drop-off laundry services. You’ll drop your laundry off and get it back the next day. The best time to do laundry on the trip is the first day we arrive in Essaouira, just about at that mid-trip mark.
• Packing tips
• Pack so that you can handle all of your personal belongings and not have to take multiple trips.
• Checking baggage is more than fine, just put a couple changes of underwear in your carry-on bag. It is better NOT to overpack, though, as we will transfer locations multiple times across cobblestone streets, through old cities, and in the desert.

• What should I bring for our yoga practice? Wear comfortable clothes you can move in. We’ll be practicing yoga in the privacy of our accommodations, so wear whatever you prefer to practice yoga in for our daily classes.

• Music
  • Courtney's friend Sarah curated this Spotify playlist of Moroccan (Magrebi) music
• Fiction
  • For Bread Alone, Mohammed Choukri
  • Dreams of Trespass, Fatima Mernissi
  • The Sand Child, Tahar Ben Jelloun
  • The Forty Rules of Love, Elif Shafak
• Non-Fiction
  • Radical Love, Omid Safi
  • Sufism, Carl Ernst
  • Young Islam, Avi Spiegel
• Movies
  • Hideous Kinky
  • Horses of God
  • Adam
  • The Sheltering Sky
  • The Blue Caftan