5 days · 4 nights · Tetouan, Chefchaouen and Tangier
The Shadhili Path
Mountains, remembrance and reflection.
Price on requestPrivate or group · devotional or open track
Retreat · Marrakech
The Seven Saints Retreat
Marrakech, ṣalawāt and sacred heritage.
A riad-based retreat with the Seven Saints of Marrakech, visited a few at a time so there is room for rest and reflection, with devotional evenings, the city’s historic architecture, and a day out to Sidi Zouine, a village school of Qur’anic recitation.
Retreat focusThe Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt, love of the Prophet ﷺ, generosity, and the spiritual heritage of Marrakech.
- Duration
- 6 days · 5 nights
- Starts
- Marrakech airport (RAK)
- Travel
- Private, or a small group of 8 to 14
- Tracks
- Devotional or open
Highlights
- The Seven Saints, in their traditional order over four days
- Readings from al-Shifāʾ and the Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt
- The Ben Youssef Madrasa and the tomb of Yusuf ibn Tashfin
- Sidi Zouine and its school of Qur’anic recitation
Optional extensionAdd two nights in Safi on the Atlantic coast, for rest by the sea and the city’s heritage (155 km, about 3 hours).
Day by day
Day 1
Arrival
Airport welcome → your riad in the medina (7 km, about 15 minutes) → Moroccan dinner
Evening. An opening gathering of ṣalawāt.
Day 2
Sidi Yusuf ibn ʿAli and Qadi ʿIyad
Sidi Yusuf ibn ʿAli → Qadi ʿIyad → rest and reading at the riad
- Sidi Yusuf ibn ʿAliInterior for eligible guests
- Qadi ʿIyadAuthor of al-Shifāʾ, on the qualities and rights of the Prophet ﷺ.Interior for eligible guests
Evening. Readings inspired by al-Shifāʾ.
Day 3
Sidi Bel ʿAbbas and Imam al-Jazuli
Sidi Abu al-ʿAbbas al-Sabti → Sidi Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli → rest at the riad
- Sidi Abu al-ʿAbbas al-Sabti (Sidi Bel ʿAbbas)The patron saint of Marrakech, remembered for his teaching on charity.Interior for eligible guests
- Imam Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-JazuliAuthor of the Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt.Interior for eligible guests
Evening. A reading of the Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt.
Day 4
Al-Tabbaʿ, al-Ghazwani and the Ben Youssef Madrasa
Sidi ʿAbd al-ʿAziz al-Tabbaʿ → Sidi ʿAbdallah al-Ghazwani, known as Moulay al-Qsour → the Ben Youssef Madrasa
- Sidi ʿAbd al-ʿAziz al-TabbaʿInterior for eligible guests
- Sidi ʿAbdallah al-Ghazwani (Moulay al-Qsour)Interior for eligible guests
- Ben Youssef MadrasaEntry included
Evening. A quiet evening at the riad.
Day 5
Imam al-Suhayli and Sidi Zouine
Imam al-Suhayli → the tomb of Yusuf ibn Tashfin → Sidi Zouine (37 km, about 50 minutes) → back to Marrakech
- Imam ʿAbd al-Rahman al-SuhayliInterior for eligible guests
- Tomb of Yusuf ibn TashfinThe Almoravid founder of Marrakech (d. 1106).Guided exterior visit
- Sidi ZouineA village school of Qur’anic recitation founded in the nineteenth century. Access and timing are confirmed for each date.Confirmed per date
Day 6
Departure
A closing gathering → breakfast → Marrakech airport
What the labels mean
- Interior for eligible guestsSome interiors are reserved, for example to Muslim visitors, or close at prayer times.
- Entry includedEntry is part of the price.
- Guided exterior visitVisited with a guide from the outside, or on foot through the quarter.
- Confirmed per dateDepends on a host or custodian agreeing for your date. We confirm it before you book and describe any alternative.
Labels: Interior for eligible guests, Entry included, Guided exterior visit, Confirmed per date
Two tracks on this retreat
Same route, same places. You choose how you take part when you book.
Devotional track
For Muslims walking the path.
- Prayer
- The five prayers in congregation along the way
- Dhikr
- Full participation with the zawiya
- Sanctuaries
- Inside the shrines open to Muslim visitors
- Readings
- The Mashīshiyya, the Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt and the Ḥizb al-Baḥr recited together
On this retreat
- The five prayers in congregation along the way
- The Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt read together, and the tombs from inside where permitted
- Full participation in the ṣalawāt evenings
Open track
For every seeker, of any faith or none.
- Prayer
- Prayer times kept as moments of quiet
- Dhikr
- Attended as a quiet guest, where the zawiya welcomes visitors
- Sanctuaries
- A guided exterior visit where the interior is reserved
- Readings
- Readings from the Shadhili tradition in English, with time to reflect
On this retreat
- Prayer times kept as moments of quiet
- Guided exterior visits of the tombs, and readings from al-Jazuli in English
- The evenings attended as a quiet guest
A retreat here is a journey with set times for prayer, dhikr, reading and silence. It is not a formal khalwa under a sheikh.
Included
- Airport pickup on arrival and your transfer back on departure
- Five nights in a named riad chosen for quiet, confirmed before you book
- Three meals a day, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure, and drinking water throughout
- All ground transport in the programme, with a private vehicle and driver
- A local guide, and a qualified spiritual facilitator for the sessions agreed in your programme
- Time and space each day for prayer, Qur’an recitation, dhikr, ṣalawāt, journaling and rest
- Private devotional evenings with Moroccan madīḥ, where arranged
- Entry to every monument marked “Entry included”
- A local contact number throughout
Not included
- International flights
- Visas, where needed
- Travel insurance
- Personal purchases
- Extensions and day trips you add
Route and driving times
- Marrakech airport to Marrakech medina7 km · 12 min
- Marrakech medina to Sidi Zouine37 km · 48 min
- Sidi Zouine to Marrakech medina37 km · 49 min
Road estimates from OpenStreetMap, without stops or traffic.
Open in Google MapsWhere you stay
One private or boutique riad in the Marrakech medina for all five nights, named in your proposal.
Meals
Three meals a day, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure. Tell us your dietary needs when you enquire.
Dates and prices
Private
Any date you choose: just you, your family or your companions.
Small group
Join other guests on one of the scheduled dates below, in a group of 8 to 14.
Prices are calculated from the accommodation level, group size, transport and confirmed programme, and sent with your proposal.
Loading group dates…
Read before you go
- Sufi retreats in Morocco, 2026–2027: the six retreats, when to go and how to bookSix Sufi retreats in Morocco for 2026–2027: Jbel Alam, Fez, Marrakech, the Drâa valley and more. Who they are for, the best months and how dates are set.
- Morocco for Muslim travellers: a practical guideA practical guide to Morocco for Muslim travellers: mosques and prayer times, halal food, Ramadan, dress, visiting shrines, and travelling as a woman or family.
- Spiritual retreats in Morocco from the UK: a practical guidePlanning a spiritual retreat in Morocco from the UK? Which airport to fly into, entry rules, money, dress and what an all-inclusive Sufi retreat includes.
- The Seven Saints of Marrakech: a ziyara guideWho the Seven Saints of Marrakech were, the order of the traditional ziyara, the story behind it, and how to visit their tombs respectfully today.
- What is dhikr? A beginner’s guideDhikr means the remembrance of God. What it is, the common words of dhikr, how it is practised alone and in a zawiya gathering, and how to attend one.
- What does ziyara mean? Visiting the saints in MoroccoZiyara means a visit: in Morocco, the visit to the tombs of saints and zawiyas. Its meaning, its adab, the main places of ziyara and how scholars view it.
Questions about this retreat
How long is this retreat, and where does it start?
6 days, 5 nights, in Marrakech. Start: Marrakech airport (RAK).
Is it a private retreat or a group retreat?
Both. Book it privately for your own party on any date, or join a scheduled small-group date with 8 to 14 guests at a lower price per person. Group dates are listed on this page as they are scheduled.
What changes between the devotional and the open track?
Devotional track: the five prayers in congregation along the way, the Dalāʾil al-Khayrāt read together, and the tombs from inside where permitted and full participation in the ṣalawāt evenings. Open track: prayer times kept as moments of quiet, guided exterior visits of the tombs, and readings from al-Jazuli in English and the evenings attended as a quiet guest. The route and the places are the same.
What is included?
Airport pickup on arrival and your transfer back on departure, five nights in a named riad chosen for quiet, confirmed before you book, three meals a day, from dinner on arrival to breakfast on departure, and drinking water throughout, all ground transport in the programme, with a private vehicle and driver, a local guide, and a qualified spiritual facilitator for the sessions agreed in your programme, time and space each day for prayer, Qur’an recitation, dhikr, ṣalawāt, journaling and rest, private devotional evenings with Moroccan madīḥ, where arranged, entry to every monument marked “Entry included” and a local contact number throughout. Not included: international flights, visas, where needed, travel insurance, personal purchases and extensions and day trips you add.
How much does it cost?
The price is quoted on request: send your date and number of guests with the booking panel and we reply with your itinerary and price. Prices are calculated from the accommodation level, group size, transport and confirmed programme, and sent with your proposal.
Can non-Muslim visitors join the visits to mosques and shrines?
Yes, every guest joins every visit. Some interiors are reserved for eligible (Muslim) visitors or close at prayer times: Sidi Yusuf ibn ʿAli, Qadi ʿIyad, Sidi Abu al-ʿAbbas al-Sabti (Sidi Bel ʿAbbas), Imam Muhammad ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli, Sidi ʿAbd al-ʿAziz al-Tabbaʿ, Sidi ʿAbdallah al-Ghazwani (Moulay al-Qsour) and Imam ʿAbd al-Rahman al-Suhayli. At those places everyone gets a guided exterior visit.
Is the visit to Sidi Zouine guaranteed?
It depends on the custodians and on road and access conditions for your date. We confirm it before you book and describe any alternative.
How do I book?
Choose private or group, your track, your date and guests in the booking panel, then send your name and email. You receive a reference immediately and we confirm availability. No payment is taken online.
Good to know
- A retreat here is a journey with set times for prayer, dhikr, reading and silence. It is not a formal khalwa under a sheikh.
- The Seven Saints are visited in the traditional order recorded by Cadi Ayyad University, spread over four days. The guided sequence and exteriors are open to every guest; entry to tomb interiors depends on eligibility and the custodians’ rules.
- Visits inside sacred spaces, taking part in zawiya gatherings and meetings with resident teachers are confirmed individually for each date. If one cannot happen, we tell you before you book and describe the alternative.
Enquire
Plan this retreat.
Send your dates and preferences. We reply with a confirmed programme and price.
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