We’re still finalizing the full schedule, but here’s a taste of what’s in store:

• Guided meditation under the Saharan night sky. Picture this: a blanket of stars stretching further than you’ve ever seen them, total silence except your own breath, and absolutely zero light pollution to ruin the moment. This isn’t your average meditation app session.
• Group breathwork. We’ll use the breath to shake loose what needs shaking loose. Bring an open mind, leave the rest at the door.
• Guided group discussions. Real talk, real connection, the kind of conversations that don’t happen back home over a glass of wine, because they don’t need one.
• The Divine Connection. Feet in the sand, head in the stars, breath connecting you to something bigger than yourself. Hard to explain, easy to feel.

The workshops are great, but they’re not the main event. The friendships you build in the trip’s small groups are. You’ll laugh more than you expect, connect more than you planned for, and leave with people who feel like family.

Like every Recovery Elevator retreat, fun is non-negotiable. There’s also plenty of free time built in to relax, wander the markets, and just soak in where you are.

This trip covers a lot of ground, and a few days involve significant time in the vehicle: Marrakech to Chefchaouen runs about 8 hours, and Fes to Merzouga clocks in around 9. These aren’t wasted hours, though. The landscape transforms in front of you, from arid plains to mountain foothills to desert dunes, and there are stops built in along the way to stretch, refresh, and take photos.

Think of these drives the way you’d think of a long stretch on the Camino: less a hurdle, more a chance to talk, reflect, and watch Morocco shift outside your window. Bring a playlist, a journal, or just an open mind.

This is a fully alcohol-free retreat, full stop. The good news is Morocco makes that easy, it’s a predominantly Muslim country and alcohol is far less central to daily life and dining culture than in many Western destinations. At the Sahara desert camp, dinner is served with non-alcoholic drinks (soda, juice, tea) built right into the experience, so there’s nothing to navigate or avoid. Same goes for the other group dinners along the way.

Comfortable, modest, and practical is the name of the game. Morocco is a conservative country, especially outside the bigger cities, so loose, breathable layers that cover shoulders and knees go a long way, both out of respect for local culture and because they’re simply more comfortable in the medinas and markets. A scarf or light wrap is useful for women, both for modesty in religious sites and as a sun layer in the desert.

Temperatures swing hard here. Days can run hot, especially in Marrakech and the Sahara, while desert nights and mountain evenings (Chefchaouen, Dades Valley) get genuinely cold. Layers are non-negotiable: breathable clothing for daytime, a warm layer for nights, and comfortable walking shoes that can handle medina cobblestones, dusty trails, and sand.

Plan on bringing some spending money for meals not included in the package. Breakfast is covered every day, and several group lunches and dinners are built in along the way, but you’ll still want cash for meals on your own, drinks, snacks, and souvenirs in the souks. Budgeting somewhere around $200-300 USD for the trip covers this comfortably, plus a little extra if you fall in love with a rug or some Moroccan leather goods (it happens).

Morocco’s currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD), and it’s a closed currency, meaning you generally can’t get it before you arrive. The easiest option is withdrawing dirhams from an ATM once you land, or exchanging cash at the airport or a local bank. Major credit cards are accepted at hotels, riads, and larger restaurants, but smaller shops, cafés, and souk vendors often run cash-only, so having dirhams on hand makes daily life much smoother. It’s a good idea to call your bank and let them know you are traveling so international ATM withdrawals are not declined.

Yes. Morocco is one of the more stable, tourism-friendly countries in North Africa, and millions of travelers visit every year without incident. Like any trip abroad, a little awareness goes a long way, stay alert in busy markets, keep valuables secure, and use common travel sense, but this is not a destination where safety should be the thing holding you back.

On this trip, you’re never navigating it solo. A local guide is with the group full-time across every region and city we visit, handling logistics and local know-how so you can stay present in the experience instead of worrying about the details. Add in the built-in community of fellow sober travelers walking this with you, and you’ve got layers of support most visitors to Morocco don’t have.

March is one of the sweet spots for visiting Morocco, you’re catching the start of spring without the punishing summer heat. It depends heavily on where you are on any given day, that’s part of what makes this itinerary interesting. Marrakech sits in the comfortable 70s°F (low-to-mid 20s°C) during the day, while Chefchaouen’s mountain elevation in the Rif keeps things noticeably cooler and crisper, sometimes with a lingering chill in the early part of the month. The Sahara hits its sweet spot too, warm, pleasant days perfect for exploring the dunes.

Nights are a different story everywhere. Desert nights drop sharply once the sun goes down (think 40s°F), and mountain evenings in Chefchaouen and the Dades Valley can get genuinely cold, so don’t let a warm afternoon fool you into leaving the warm layers at home.

The golden rule for Morocco in March is the same as any season here: dress in layers. You’ll likely shed and add clothing more than once a day, light layers for daytime exploring, a warm fleece or jacket for evenings, and good walking shoes that can handle medina cobblestones and desert sand alike.

This retreat is for someone who wishes to connect & travel with others who have also ditched the booze. This trip is for those seeking to grow mentally, physically and spiritually in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The average sobriety time on this retreat is usually around 6-12 months. The retreat is not 12-step based, and we believe there is no right or wrong way to quit drinking, and remain alcohol-free.

If you are hoping to establish deeper connections with others, yourself, the planet, the birds, the ocean, stars and more, then we’ll see you there. 

If this event isn’t for you, check out our events page for other types of events.

**This retreat is not a replacement for treatment or other detoxing services.**

All of our travelers must have Emergency Medical Travel Insurance that will cover the dates of the tour. This policy must meet the following criteria: (1) Medical Expenses coverage, (2) includes an emergency evacuation benefit, and (3) includes repatriation to your home country. The medical expenses, evacuation, and repatriation benefits must, when combined together, cover for at least $200,000.00 USD per traveler.

Several travel insurance companies provide this service, and you may find a cheaper provider than the ones we recommend below. Please budget anywhere from $125-250 for this depending on your level of comfort.

BattleFace is the travel insurance company that most of our travelers use. This company is usually the most affordable and a policy can be obtained in less than 15 minutes.

John Hancock Ins. Agency offers three different plan types (Gold, Silver, Bronze) that meet our mandatory requirements and provides you with the best protection based on your budget. They offer toll-free, 24/7 multilingual emergency assistance services to help arrange any care you may need while away from home.

NOTE: The Cancel For Any Reason Option must be purchased with the Gold, Silver or Bronze Plan within 14 Days of confirming your tour to qualify for the change of mind benefits. The Cancel For Any Reason Option allows you to cancel your trip, no less than 2 days prior to the scheduled departure date, and get back 75% of the prepaid, non-refundable payments or deposits for the covered trip arrangements. The Cancel for Any Reason option is not available in New York State.

Accommodations are shared. Single rooms are available for an additional price. Email info@recoveryelevator.com to request a single room. 

On this trip, you’ll experience a real mix of Morocco’s accommodation styles over the 11 days, comfortable hotels, traditional riads, and one unforgettable night under canvas in the Sahara.

In Marrakech, you’ll stay at the Grand Plaza Hotel (or similar), your home base both at the start and end of the trip. In Chefchaouen, it’s the Esmeralda Hotel (or similar), tucked into the famous Blue Pearl of the Rif Mountains. In Fes, you’ll experience a traditional riad, Riad Fes Ziyat (or similar), the kind of place with courtyards, mosaic tile, and serious old-world charm.

Then comes the Sahara: one night in a desert camp (Merzouga Experience or similar) under a blanket of stars, with a traditional Moroccan dinner and music around the campfire. From there, it’s the Hotel Xaluca Dades (or similar) for two nights in the Dades Valley, surrounded by dramatic rock formations and kasbahs. Your final overnight before returning to Marrakech is another riad, Riad Tamdakhte (or similar), near the legendary Aït Benhaddou.

A quick heads up: all listed hotels are “or similar,” meaning they’re indicative of the standard and style you’ll experience, but specific properties are subject to availability and could shift to a comparable option. Rooming is twin share throughout the trip (two people per room), and a single supplement is available if you’d prefer your own room. Either way, you’re getting a genuine taste of Moroccan hospitality in every region you pass through: hotel, riad, and a night that very few travelers ever get, sleeping in the Sahara itself.

Good news: you don’t need to overpack for this one. Here’s the short list.

On your body

• Comfortable, breathable layers, light fabrics for daytime heat, a warm layer (fleece or light jacket) for cold desert and mountain nights
• A waterproof or windproof shell, just in case
• Modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, both out of respect for local culture and because it’s simply more comfortable in medinas and religious sites
• A scarf or light wrap (especially useful for women, both for modesty at religious sites and as a sun/wind layer in the desert)
• A warm hat and gloves for chilly desert nights and mountain evenings
• A sun hat and sunglasses for daytime

On your feet

• Comfortable walking shoes that can handle medina cobblestones, dusty trails, and sand
• A second pair of shoes or sandals for evenings

On your back

• A daypack for water, sunscreen, and layers during day excursions
• A reusable water bottle
• A basic first aid kit (blister care, any personal medications)
• Travel-size toiletries and any prescriptions in your carry-on

For the soul

• A journal, you’ll want one, especially after a night in the Sahara
• Whatever small object grounds you, a photo, a token, a reminder of your “why”
• An open mind and zero expectations about how this is supposed to go

Don’t forget

• Your passport (valid 6+ months past your travel dates) and a photocopy of the photo page
• Evidence of travel insurance, this is required before you can join the group
• Cash in dirhams for markets, small cafés, and tips

Leave at home

• Anything you wouldn’t want to carry through a souk or a sand dune
• The instinct to overpack “just in case.” Morocco has a way of providing.

Recovery Elevator podcast host Paul Churchill is the retreat leader. Paul has been hosting sober retreats internationally since 2018, and he’s the first to tell you that distance is part of the medicine. Getting far from your normal routine, your normal stressors, and your normal excuses helps people truly “drop into” the experience in a way a weekend retreat closer to home just can’t match.

Paul got sober in 2014 and has spent the years since turning that experience into Recovery Elevator, a podcast with over 600 episodes and 10 million downloads, and Café RE, a nonprofit alcohol-free community thousands of people call home. He’s the author of Dolce Vita and the upcoming This Is How We Quit, and he’s walked his own version of this path long enough to know exactly the kind of space people need to feel safe being themselves without alcohol.

Warning: if you end up sitting next to Paul on one of those long drives, be prepared to learn more than you ever expected to know about Nigerian Dwarf goats, get a passionate ukulele pitch, and hear an unshakeable defense of pineapple on pizza. Consider yourself warned, and welcomed.

You’re also in good hands logistically. In addition to Paul, you’ll have an English-speaking local leader with the group throughout, plus specialized local guides joining for the Marrakech medina, Chefchaouen, Fes, and Dades region.