Why Morocco?

Morocco invites you to connect with a place through all your senses—and to be fully present to what you encounter.

In Marrakech, colour, pattern, architecture, craft and movement are everywhere—from the intricate details of the medina and the energy of the souks to the quiet geometry of courtyards, gardens and tiled interiors.

As we travel beyond the city, the landscape changes dramatically. Mountains, valleys, kasbahs and oasis landscapes lead us toward the Sahara, where light, texture, silence and vast horizons offer an entirely different way of seeing.

This isn't a journey of simply moving from one attraction to the next.

Throughout the journey, we'll create intentional pauses to notice, photograph, make and reflect. These creative pauses invite you to connect more deeply with your surroundings, follow your curiosity and respond to what you encounter in your own way.

Morocco becomes not just a place to photograph, but a place to experience, explore and create from.

What Makes This a Mindful Eye Journey?

You'll have the security and local expertise of an established travel company, combined with a small-group creative experience led by photographer and educator Anna Wilson.

G Adventures handles the journey. Mindful Eye shapes the experience.

Alongside exploring Morocco, you'll have opportunities to connect with place through attention, participation and creativity.

We'll certainly look, listen and learn—with the help of knowledgeable local guides who can share the history, culture and traditions that give each place its meaning.

But we'll also do, make and interact.

We'll cook, create, photograph, walk, taste, sketch, collect and experiment. These included hands-on experiences invite you to engage with Morocco rather than simply observe it, creating a more personal connection to the places and people you encounter.

Connect

Begin with simple practices that help you arrive in the present moment and become more attentive to the place you're visiting. Through hands-on experiences, creative activities and meaningful encounters, you'll have opportunities to engage with Morocco through more than just looking and listening.

Photograph

Explore light, colour, composition, texture and visual storytelling—from the details of Marrakech to the changing light of the Sahara.

Make

Use simple, portable materials to respond to what you're experiencing through drawing, collage, writing or other forms of creative expression.

Reflect

Use your journal to pause and consider what you're noticing, what is shifting, and what you want to carry home with you.

Share

Come together throughout the journey for informal image sharing, creative conversations and reflection—with opportunities to learn from one another as well as from Anna.

You don't need to be an artist or an experienced photographer. You simply need to be curious.

A Journey to Collect...

Think of the journey as gathering material.

A photograph of a shadow.
The pattern of a textile.
The colour of a spice market.
A line in your journal.
The texture of desert sand.
A sketch made while waiting for tea.

You don't have to know what these fragments will become.

Together, they form a visual and sensory record of your experience—and they may become the beginnings of a photographic series, handmade book, collage, sketchbook or new body of work when you return home.

The creative adventure doesn't end when you leave Morocco.

Your Creative Companion Deck

BREATHE → CREATE → JOURNAL

Your Creative Companion is a simple framework for experiencing the journey more intentionally.

Every participant receives a Mindful Eye Creative Companion Deck, journal and mini art kit to use throughout Morocco.

BREATHE
Pause. Arrive. Notice what is around you.

CREATE
Respond to what you notice through photography, drawing, writing, collage or another creative medium.

JOURNAL
Reflect on the experience and capture ideas, observations and discoveries to take home.

Along the way, Anna will offer creative demonstrations, photography guidance, hands-on exercises, image sharing and informal technical support—with plenty of room for you to follow your own curiosity.

There is no expectation that you create a particular kind of work. The invitation is to pay attention, experiment and discover what emerges.

No previous art experience is required.

See the Creative Companion in action

On our 2026 Spain Journey, participants used mindful seeing, photography, writing and creative exercises to connect with the places they visited and experience the journey in their own way.

Explore the Spain Journey →

What Participants Have Said About Mindful Eye Experiences...

"The Alchemy of Light retreat in Spain has transformed the world into a place of wonder and magic for me. Having dedicated time to be creative and being surrounded by like-minded creative women has reignited my photographic practice and instilled a connection to mindful practices." - Mina M. (Spain 2026)

“I feel so fortunate to have been part of the mindful photography retreat this past summer. It was an experience unlike any other I’ve had. It encouraged me to slow down, be present, and truly reconnect with who I am as a photographer.

I’ m deeply grateful for Anna’s guidance and support throughout the journey. I came home with beautiful memories, and I’m still reflecting on how mindfulness has supported - and continues to support - my photography. Thank you Anna.”

⁃ Jo Gomes (Italy 2025 )

“ I had the pleasure of attending a photography workshop led by Anna Wilson. It was an unforgettable experience. The workshop began with a grounding lakeside meditation, setting the perfect tone for creativity and connection (...) I learned how to capture this beauty with my camera. By the end of the workshop, we were all so proud of what we had captured!

It was an inspiring and uplifting experience that left me wanting to spend more time capturing the beauty of nature through photography. ”

⁃ Oresta Korbutiak (Haliburton, Ontario 2024)

From Marrakech to the Sahara — and Back Again

MARRAKECH

Begin with the colour, texture and energy of Marrakech. Experience a traditional hammam and gather for an opening workshop.

OUARZAZATE & THE SOUTH

Cross the landscape toward Ouarzazate and explore Atlas Film Studios, where Morocco's dramatic landscapes have provided the backdrop for generations of filmmakers. As we travel farther south, the landscape begins to transform.

THE SAHARA

Then comes the desert. We'll spend two nights in the Sahara, experiencing the changing light of the dunes, walking or riding by camel through the desert and gathering around the fire as the sky fills with stars.

There will be opportunities for sunset photography, sunrise meditation, night photography and light painting—with plenty of time to simply be there.

OASIS & SKOURA

From the desert we'll travel back through oasis country, spending time among palms and water before continuing to Skoura.

The journey becomes an invitation to notice how dramatically the landscape, light and colour change as we move through Morocco.

BACK TO MARRAKECH

Our final days return us to Marrakech for a stay at a traditional Riad.

We'll explore Moroccan food and markets, photograph the preparation of tanjia, visit Jardin Secret, Bahia Palace, Ben Youssef Madrassa, and participate in a hands on art workshop.

And we'll rise before dawn for a hot-air balloon flight over the Marrakech landscape, followed by an Amazigh breakfast and closing workshop.

Although we cover a lot of ground, the itinerary has deliberately built-in creative pauses, free time and unstructured moments.

Your Journey in Nine Days...

DAY 1 — ARRIVE IN MARRAKECH: 

Hammam · Opening Circle · Welcome Dinner

DAY 2 — MARRAKECH → OUARZAZATE
Creative exploration · Cross the Atlas · Journey south

DAY 3 — OUARZAZATE → THE SAHARA
Atlas Film Studios · Desert walk · Sunset · Fire · Stars

DAY 4 — SAHARA → BERTAM OASIS
Sunrise · Camel or desert walk · 4x4 · Oasis · Fireside evening

DAY 5 — DESERT → SKOURA
Sunrise photography · Return through the desert · Oasis landscape

DAY 6 — SKOURA → MARRAKECH
Food & market exploration · Tanjia · Rooftop tea · Creative reflection

DAY 7 — MARRAKECH
Medina · Gardens · Palaces · Tanjia lunch · Art workshop · Free evening

DAY 8 — MARRAKECH
Sunrise balloon flight · Amazigh breakfast · Free exploration · Closing Circle · Farewell

DAY 9 — DEPARTURE
Marrakech · Airport transfer

BOOK YOUR MOROCCO JOURNEY
Ready to join us? Begin your booking process and schedule a discovery call with Anna. You’ll receive the Detailed Itinerary, including hotel information and everything you need to know about this creative adventure.

Meet Your Creative Guides

I'm Anna Wilson, a Canadian photographer, artist and educator and founder of Mindful Eye Photography. I've spent more than 25 years exploring photography as a way of paying attention to the world. Read more about me HERE or in this recent interview

My approach to photography has never been simply about making better photographs. It's about seeing — curiosity, presence, experimentation, reflection and finding your own way of responding to what you see. Read more about Mindful Photography HERE

Through Mindful Eye, I lead mindful photography retreats and photography journeys for women, combining photography with creative exploration, reflection, art-making and community.

After leading my creative journey through Spain, I'm excited to bring this approach to Morocco — and to expand the creative experience with the addition of a special guest artist.

Guest Artist: Sandra Koberlein

I'm delighted to welcome Sandra Koberlein, an artist, educator and creative mentor, to the Morocco Creative Adventure.

Sandra guides women into deeper artistic connection through curiosity, reflection and playful exploration. With decades of experience in arts education and eco-conscious studio practice, she brings a warm, intuitive approach to collage and mixed-media art.

During our journey, Sandra will lead a hands-on mixed-media art workshop in Marrakech, inviting you to transform impressions from Morocco — colours, textures, patterns, light, found materials and memories — into layered visual stories.

But Sandra's creative guidance won't be limited to the workshop. She'll be part of the creative experience throughout the journey, encouraging you to notice, collect, experiment and respond to the places we're visiting in your own way.

Her facilitation style is gentle, encouraging and rooted in the belief that creativity flourishes in a supportive community.

Learn more about Sandra →

What We'll Experience

Planned experiences included in the itinerary:

Hammam Spa— Experience the traditional Moroccan hammam spa ritual, another important aspect of Moroccan culture.

The Desert — Travel beyond Marrakech to experience Morocco's dramatic desert landscapes, expansive horizons and extraordinary light, over a three-day desert journey, including camel and 4x4 travel.

Traditional Riad — Experience the intimate atmosphere of a Moroccan riad, a place to gather, rest and connect.

Marrakech & the Medina — Explore the Red City through its markets, museums, architecture, courtyards, food, colour, pattern and everyday life.

Moroccan Cooking — Learn about Moroccan ingredients and culinary traditions through a cooking experience and shared meal.

Markets, Artisans & Craft — Explore the souks and discover the materials, techniques, patterns and traditions behind Moroccan craft.

Art workshop — Work with the visual materials you've collected throughout the journey to create a piece of artwork inspired by Morocco.

Hot-Air Balloon Experience — See Marrakech and the surrounding countryside from above during a planned balloon experience, weather and operational conditions permitting.

Creative Practice — Throughout the journey, photography, art-making and journaling become ways of responding to the places, people, colours, textures and stories we encounter.

Your Journey Includes:

✓ 8 nights unique accommodation
✓ airport transfers
✓ private transportation

✓ dedicated local guide for our group
✓ desert camp
✓ camel and 4x4 experience
✓ hammam
✓ cooking experience
✓ balloon flight
✓ museum admissions
✓ 2 hour art workshop
✓ Creative Companion Deck
✓ journal + art kit
✓ photography instruction
✓ creative exercises
✓ Anna's guidance throughout
✓ specified meals

✓ gratuities

Not included

✗ international airfare
✗ travel insurance
✗ alcoholic beverages
✗ personal purchases

The Adventure Side of Morocco

This is a creative journey—but it is also an adventure.

You'll travel by private vehicle and 4x4, walk through the desert, ride by camel, sleep under desert skies and experience accommodation that ranges from hotels, to desert camps, to a traditional Moroccan Riad. 

The second desert night is intentionally more rustic, with basic camp facilities.

In other words: this isn't a luxury resort holiday.

It's an opportunity to experience a little more of Morocco's landscape, culture and rhythm from the inside.

And then, after the desert, we'll return to the comfort and beauty of our Marrakech Riad.

Photography & Art Journeys for Women

Mindful Eye Creative Journeys are immersive travel experiences for women who want to experience a destination through more than sightseeing.

You might be a photographer, artist, writer, maker—or simply someone who wants to make more space for creativity in your life.

Whether you're travelling together as a creative adventure, celebrating a milestone or simply looking for meaningful time together, Morocco offers an extraordinary setting for shared discovery, conversation and creativity.

You don't need to be a professional photographer or identify as an artist. You just need to be curious.

We'll share meals, creative experiments, conversations and discoveries along the way. Community is part of the creative experience.

Is this Journey for You?

This women's creative retreat in Morocco is for you if you:

• love photography but want to move beyond simply taking travel snaps
• are curious about other forms of creative expression
• want to travel with women who share your curiosity
• enjoy meaningful cultural experiences as much as beautiful places
• want some structure and inspiration, but plenty of freedom to explore
• are drawn to colour, texture, landscape, food, architecture and story

You don't need to be a professional photographer or an experienced artist.

You just need to be willing to look closely, play, and be inspired.

This may not be for you if…

• You want a luxury resort holiday.
• You want a highly technical photography workshop.
• You prefer completely unstructured independent travel.
• You don't enjoy early mornings, walking or some rustic conditions.
• You have limited mobility

MOROCCO: A Creative Journey for Women

9 days of seeing, making, exploring and experiencing Morocco. 

A small-group Photography & Art Journey for Women through Marrakech and the Sahara, during Ontario Spring Break. 

We'll experience Morocco not only through what we see and learn, but through what we do, make, taste and encounter along the way.

$4,899 CAD per person

Early Booking Bonus: $4,749 CAD

Single Room Supplement: $329 CAD

$850 deposit

Places are limited to only 12 guests - A deliberately small group so there is room for conversation, creative exploration and personal guidance.

BOOK YOUR MOROCCO JOURNEY
Ready to join us? Begin your booking process and schedule a discovery call with Anna. You’ll receive the Detailed Itinerary, including hotel information and everything you need to know about this creative adventure.

The itinerary, accommodations and included experiences are subject to change. Planned experiences, including the hot-air balloon experience, are subject to weather and operational availability.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What makes this different from a regular Morocco tour?

G Adventures provides the local expertise, transportation and logistics that make the journey possible, while Mindful Eye shapes the creative experience around it. This is not a traditional photography workshop or conventional sightseeing tour. Alongside knowledgeable local guides and cultural experiences, you'll photograph, cook, make, experiment, journal, share and reflect. Anna will provide photography guidance, creative prompts, hands-on exercises and opportunities for conversation and image sharing throughout the journey.

The result is a way of experiencing Morocco that goes beyond sightseeing. Creative practice becomes a way of paying attention, connecting with place and responding to what you experience, with opportunities to participate, create and connect with the places and people you encounter.

Do I need to be an experienced photographer or artist?

Not at all. No previous photography or art experience is required but an interest in photography or creativity is recommended.

You might be an experienced photographer looking to reengage with your creative practice, a lifelong maker, someone returning to creativity after a long break—or simply curious about exploring Morocco in a more creative way. Anna's photography guidance and creative exercises are designed to meet you where you are, whether you're refining an established practice or discovering a new one.

What is included in the $4,899 CAD price?

Your journey includes 8 nights of accommodation, airport transfers, private transportation, a dedicated local guide, desert camp, camel and 4x4 experiences, hammam, cooking experience, hot-air balloon flight, museum admissions, a two-hour art workshop, the Mindful Eye Creative Companion Deck, journal and art kit, photography instruction, creative exercises, Anna's guidance throughout the journey, specified meals and gratuities.

International airfare, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages and personal purchases are not included.

How many people will be in the group?

The journey is limited to a maximum of 12 guests, with most groups being smaller and closer to the required minimum of 7 participants.

Keeping the group small creates space for conversation, creative exploration and personal guidance while still giving us the energy and camaraderie of travelling together.

What kind of accommodation will we stay in?

You'll stay in a mix of locally run hotels, traditional Moroccan riad and two nights of desert camping.

The riads are traditional Moroccan houses, often built around courtyards or gardens, and are part of the experience of staying in Marrakech. The hotels and riads vary somewhat in their facilities and character, but are chosen for their location and local character.

The two desert camps offer very different experiences. The first is a more developed camp with simple showers, toilets and a restaurant. The second is a more remote, temporary desert camp with pop-up tents, portable toilets and no showers.

Accommodation is comfortable but not luxury throughout, and part of the adventure is embracing the character and occasional quirks of travelling in Morocco. Confirmed accommodations will be provided before booking.

What is the desert experience like?

The Sahara is one of the highlights of the journey, and we'll spend two nights camping in the desert—with time to make photographs and connect with the landscape through Mindful Eye creative programming.

On our first day in the Sahara, we'll walk for approximately two hours through the dunes to our camp, photographing along the way, with our luggage transported separately by 4x4. We'll have tea, capture the sunset, enjoy dinner around the fire and spend the night beneath the stars, exploring night photography.

The following morning begins with a sunrise gazing meditation followed by photography and breakfast at camp. You'll then have the choice of walking or riding a camel for approximately two to three hours to our lunch stop. From there, we'll travel by 4x4 to a more remote, temporary camp at the Bertam Oasis, where we'll experience another desert sunset, enjoy dinner around the fire, and spend another night under the stars.

The desert camps are intentionally more rustic than our accommodations in Marrakech. The experience is about being immersed in the landscape—not luxury —and you'll want to be comfortable with basic facilities for these two nights.

How physically active is the journey?

G Adventures rates this journey Physical Grading 2 – Light, meaning it involves light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels, with nothing considered particularly strenuous.

That said, this is an active journey rather than a resort holiday. You'll spend time walking through the Marrakech medina, exploring sites and markets, and walking on sand in the desert. The desert portion includes approximately two hours of walking on the first day and a choice of a two- to three-hour walk or camel ride the following day. There are also some early mornings and longer travel days by vehicle.

You don't need to be especially athletic, but you should be comfortable walking for extended periods and navigating uneven surfaces and sand. If you have mobility concerns, we'll be happy to discuss the itinerary with you before you book.

Do I have to participate in all of the creative activities?

No. The creative activities are invitations, not assignments.

Throughout the journey, Anna will offer photography guidance, creative prompts, demonstrations, hands-on exercises, image sharing and opportunities to make and reflect. You are welcome to participate in whatever resonates with you.

You might spend an afternoon photographing, sketching, journaling or making—or simply exploring, having a conversation, enjoying a meal or taking in the experience. There is no expectation that you produce a particular kind of work. The goal is to encourage curiosity and give you opportunities to discover your own creative response to Morocco.

I'm travelling alone. Will I know anyone?

Many women who join Mindful Eye journeys travel on their own, and you won't be expected to arrive knowing anyone.

From our opening circle and shared meals to creative activities, conversations and informal image sharing, there will be plenty of opportunities to get to know the other women in the group. The small group size is intentional, it creates space for connection and community while still giving you room to follow your own interests.

You may arrive as a solo traveller, but you'll be part of a small group experiencing Morocco together.

What information will I receive before I book?

You won't have to make a decision based on the information on this page alone.

Before registration opens, waitlist members will receive the detailed guest itinerary, including planned accommodations, meals, transportation, included experiences and activity information. You'll also receive the booking information and Terms Agreement outlining payment and cancellation terms.

This gives you the opportunity to understand what you're signing up for, ask questions and make an informed decision before submitting your deposit.

Additionally, our travel partner Ashley Michelle of Martin Heart Travel will be available to assist you in securing your booking.

What is the payment and cancellation policy?

An $850 CAD per person deposit is required to reserve your place. Of this deposit, $350 CAD will be processed through G Adventures and $500 CAD through Mindful Eye. Your booking is not confirmed, and no contract exists, until the deposit has been paid and you have agreed to the Terms and Conditions.

The remaining balance is due on or before January 13, 2027. The tour price includes the retreat, destination transfers, taxes and service fees for the travel dates of March 13–21, 2027. It does not include international flights, additional hotel nights, meals or excursions not listed as included.

If you cancel 60 days or more before departure, the G Adventures and Mindful Eye portions of your deposit will become Lifetime Deposits and remain on file for future eligible travel with the respective provider. If you cancel between 30 and 59 days before departure, the G Adventures portion becomes a Lifetime Deposit, with a 50% loss of the final payment; the Mindful Eye portion becomes a Lifetime Deposit. If you cancel within 30 days of departure, the G Adventures portion becomes a Lifetime Deposit and the final payment is forfeited; the Mindful Eye portion of the deposit and the final payment are forfeited.

Please review the full Terms Agreement and your travel insurance policy carefully before booking. There are no refunds for an unused portion of the journey.

Are international flights included?

No. International airfare to and from Morocco is not included in the journey price.

Your package does include airport transfers in Marrakech, along with the accommodation, transportation, experiences, creative programming and other inclusions listed on the journey page.

You are responsible for arranging your own international flights and travel insurance. Our travel partner, Ashley Michelle Martin of Martin Heart Travel, can assist you with selecting flights and booking pre- or post-trip travel if requested.

BOOK YOUR MOROCCO JOURNEY
Ready to join us? Begin your booking process and schedule a discovery call with Anna. You’ll receive the Detailed Itinerary, including hotel information and everything you need to know about this creative adventure.