Women's Surf & Wellness Retreat with Yoga in Essaouira, Morocco

The retreat runs for seven nights in a private villa in the Ghazoua area near Essaouira. Each day is structured around a morning surf session, timed to the tides, followed by yoga or mobility work. Emma keeps the surf coaching personal—groups are capped at 12, and sometimes smaller, so she can give individual feedback in the water and on land during the theory sessions. Pool practice is also part of the program, which is useful for working on pop-ups and paddle technique in calm water before heading out. The heated pool doubles as a recovery tool after surf sessions.

What makes this different from a standard surf camp is the attention to women's health and the slower pace. There's no rush from one activity to the next. The schedule leaves generous free time, and the vibe is explicitly about rest and nourishment as much as progression in the water. Emma integrates breathwork and guided meditation into the mornings, and the group discussions around women's wellness are a real part of the week, not an afterthought. You'll leave with practical tools for self-care that you can use at home.

The villa itself is the hub—a private, comfortable space with a heated pool, kitchen, and common areas. You'll share meals there, and the staff prepares everything on-site. The location is close enough to Essaouira to walk or take a short drive into the medina, but far enough to feel peaceful. Cultural outings are woven into the week: a guided tour of the medina and souks, a traditional tea ceremony, a henna session, a hammam experience, and a visit to an argan oil cooperative. There's also a camel or horse ride along the beach, and a fire pit evening with a Moroccan BBQ.

Emma's background shapes the whole retreat. She learned to surf in 2018 and found that most surf schools didn't cater well to adult women, so she built LunaWave to fill that gap. She's trained in mobility and yoga, and has taught in Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Portugal. As an environmental scientist, she also runs the retreat with sustainability in mind—mindful resource use and educating guests on respecting the ocean and local environment. This isn't a party surf camp; it's a wellness-meets-adventure week for women who want to get better at surfing without sacrificing rest and good food.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in a private villa - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Snacks, herbal teas, and water throughout the day - 5 days of surf coaching with certified instructor Emma - Daily yoga, meditation, and pranayama classes - Pool practice and theory sessions - 1-hour treatment (e.g., massage) - Transport to and from surf spots - Group excursions: medina tour, tea ceremony, henna, hammam, argan oil tour - Camel or horse riding excursion - Moroccan BBQ and fire pit evening - Surf movie nights - Yoga equipment and surfboards - Welcome drink - Pre and post-retreat support from the team - Luggage storage - Wifi and parking at the villa

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments or spa services - Alcoholic beverages - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Gratuities