past to present

November 7-14 2025

Marrakesh is a city bursting with beautiful contrasts. In this cultural hub for art, design, fashion, and tradition, the Marrakshi people live with one foot in the past and one in the present, bringing their traditions with them into the 21st Century. Come with us as we dive into the ancient traditions of Moroccan art and search for experiences on the cutting edge of old and new.

At Mektoub our focus has always been Moroccan women’s art and traditions, with henna art, beauty culture, parure, and daily ritual at the core. We’ll branch out from there to explore some of the contemporary Moroccan art, fashion, design, and culture that makes Marrakesh such an exciting and unique destination.

Dates and location

Marrakesh Past to Present will be held in Marrakesh, Morocco, from November 7-14, 2025.

Trip Cost

The cost of attendance ranges from $1950-2400 USD and is based on your choice of room. We offer a variety of options from a single bed in a shared room to a full bed in a private room.

accommodations

Trip attendees will be housed in Riad Farah for the 6-day 7-night stay. Riad Farah is a historic 9-bedroom villa in the quiet and convenient Kennaria district of Marrakesh.

Classes and experiences

Marrakesh Past to Present includes a full schedule of daily classes, workshops, excursions, and experiences in and around Marrakesh including:

Classes with Moroccan henna artists: Learn from Khadija, Souad, and Nadia, three expert henna artists each with their own style of art.

Studio and atelier visits: Visit the work spaces of several young Moroccan artists working in fashion, visual art, and photography to learn about what they do and how they fit into the Marrakshi art scene.

Classes in jewelry, beauty culture, and Moroccan textiles: Mektoub hosts will lead classes in these three inter-related Moroccan cultural areas, including experiential visits to souks, ateliers, and apothecaries to complete the experience.

Souk visits and exploration: Visit Marrakesh’s famous souks, with expert guidance, where you can experience the huge variety of traditional and contemporary artisanal goods which are made in Marrakesh.

Photography class and photo shoot: Explore the history of photography in Morocco from the past to now, and have fun with a photo shoot of your own design at the end of the week.

Visits to the Jardin Majorelle, Pierre Bergé museum and le MAP: Visit three institutions of art and culture in Marrakesh to explore the stunning gardens, enjoy the architecture, and learn about Moroccan culture.

Half day trip to Anima Garden: A short drive from Marrakesh is the Anima sculpture garden, a lush paradise filled with art and beauty.

Full itinerary and schedule of activities for this trip will be updated in spring 2025!

what’s included

6-night stay at Riad Farah: A comfortable and luxurious retreat in the heart of Marrakesh, Riad Farah is a 9-bedroom traditional Moroccan villa. Choose from a variety of room options when you register.

Full schedule of activities: Engage your creativity with classes led by Moroccan artists, museum, souk, and garden visits, musical performances, and more.

Class supplies and welcome gift: Enjoy a selection of class supplies and local Moroccan specialties as a welcome gesture.

Group meals: Share a Moroccan-style continental breakfast each day in the riad dining room, and convene as a group for four additional restaurant meals.

Payment for instructors and guides: We ensure fair compensation for our Moroccan teachers and local guides.

Airport transportation: On arrival day, our professional drivers will pick you up from Menara Airport and drop you off with us in the medina, with a Marrakesh taxi provided for the return journey on departure day.

Expert guidance: Mektoub hosts are expert navigators with many years experience guiding new travelers in Marrakesh, founded on decades of their own travel experiences in Morocco. This is a trip for travelers with any level of experience, and a great introduction to traveling in Morocco.

More Details

  • Marrakesh is served by Marrakesh Menara International Airport, a beautiful and modern airport welcoming flights from all over the world. You can book your ticket easily on any number of international carriers.

    Additionally, if you’re already in Morocco, Marrakesh is the last stop on the excellent ONCF Moroccan railway line, running from Fes to Marrakesh with many stops in between.

    Get yourself to Marrakesh by air, rail, or car, and we will meet you at your arrival to take it from there.

  • Marrakesh is a very safe city to travel in. As the unofficial tourist hub in Morocco, major efforts have been made in recent years to ensure that Marrakesh is a welcoming destination for all kinds of travelers.

    During the trip you’ll have time to explore on your own, as well as guided excursions with your hosts and guides. We’ll be right there with you if you need us, and our trusted network of friends and helpers all over Marrakesh is there for us too.

    Mektoub is a woman and queer owned travel company and our trips are welcoming to individuals of all genders and sexual orientations.

Payment plans are available for this trip. Just pay a 30% deposit to secure your spot, and then make payments toward your balance at any time in any amount. As long as you’re paid up by the due date, you’re all set.

Not seeing the information you need here? Reach out with any questions. Contact us

Riad Farah

Riad Farah, our home in Marrakesh, is a 9-bedroom villa nestled in Marrakesh’s quiet and convenient Kennaria neighborhood.

Managed by our friends Aziza and Karim and their dedicated staff, the house is our perfect home base for the trip. Bedrooms are decorated and appointed in traditional Marrakshi style, each with ensuite bath.

The villa features an airy courtyard with a small pool, a large roof terrace, comfortable sitting rooms, dining room where we will eat breakfast together daily, our classroom for all group classes, and many beautiful details. Our long relationship with the families who run this home means you will be well taken care of during your stay.

teachers and hosts

  • Khadija is a henna artist specializing in her own highly developed take on Fessi style henna designs. Khadija’s expertise in her field is unmatched. Find her on Instagrm @galerie_henna

  • Souad is a henna artist from Meknes, from a family lineage of women artists. Her firsthand experience as a recipient of generations of artistic knowledge puts her in an excellent role as a teacher. Find her on instagram @souad_na9acha

  • Brothers Fouzi and Aziz are merchants with a decades long presence in the medina of Marrakesh. Operating a traditional apothecary and a jewelry shop, they are happy to share their cultural expertise with travelers to Marrakesh.

  • Nadia is a henna artist from Marrakesh. One of only a handful of artists left in Morocco who have a detailed understanding of the Marrakchi style of henna art, her work holds a special place in our hearts.

  • Jenpa, co-founder of Mektoub with Kenzi, is an artist, tattooer, jeweler, and traveler based in Brooklyn NY.

  • Kenzi, co-founder of Mektoub with Jenpa, is a henna artist based in Brooklyn NY, USA.

  • Monique is a Detroit based esthetician and beauty expert as well as a henna artist and perfumer.

  • Leila is an Ibiza-based henna artist with extensive hospitality industry experience. Originally from Casablanca, Leila’s cultural knowledge and language skills are an indispensable part of Mektoub trips.

Ready to join in?

Registration for this trip opens spring 2025. You can sign up for our mailing list to receive a special early bird registration link only for subscribers. Sign up here