Morocco
Mandalas of the Medina
April 2 - 11, 2027
A journey into the sacred geometry and soul of Morocco, unfolding through the art and architecture of Marrakech, the mountains of the High Atlas, the legendary Aït Ben Haddou, and the oases of Skoura and Fint — bringing together contemplation, drawing practice, culture, nature, and meaningful encounters in an experience of discovery and creation.
With Tiffani Gyatso
Mandalas of the medina
An Artistic Journey through the Sacred Geometry of Morocco
Islamic geometry in Morocco is much more than a decorative language: through repetition, symmetry, proportion, and rhythm, it transforms mathematics into beauty and creates a sense of harmony that permeates architecture, zellij mosaics, plasterwork, carved wood, and gardens.
During this journey, we will approach this tradition in a living way: traveling, discovering, studying, appreciating, and marveling at the monuments and landscapes of Marrakech and southern Morocco, observing closely the patterns and knowledge that have shaped this art, and then sitting down to draw them while sipping a good mint tea during peaceful afternoons at our Riad.
With Tiffani’s guidance, we will transform what we have seen into mandalas and drawings, exploring how simple forms can generate complex structures, and how the act of drawing can quiet the mind, deepen attention, stimulate creativity, and cultivate a state of presence and contemplation.
More than simply learning a technique, drawing a mandala is a way to slow down, organize our gaze, and experience through our own hands the relationship between order, movement, and balance. Through stories, meditations, music, poetry, discoveries, flavors, and new friendships, we will create an atmosphere of exchange and wonder — an artistic and human experience in which the group itself becomes a living mandala, and each person adds their own colors, forms, and stories to the collective drawing.
Beyond Marrakech, we will cross the Atlas Mountains heading south, passing through Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and ancient ksar connected to the desert trade routes, until we reach the oases of Skoura and Fint. Among kasbahs, palm trees, rivers, fruit trees, and evenings gathered around the fire, we will discover a quieter, more ancestral dimension of Morocco, deeply connected to the land.
No previous experience with art, geometry, mandalas, or Moroccan culture is required. Everyone is welcome. We come simply to look, discover, experiment, and marvel.
What We Will Experience:
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Practical geometric drawing sessions inspired by our visits to monuments, guided by Tiffani.
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A workshop with local artist Youssef in the traditional Moroccan art of zouak wood painting.
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A traditional henna body-painting ritual.
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On-site drawing of biomorphic ornamental patterns inspired by Islamic architecture.
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Guided visits to the Medina, madrasas, palaces, and gardens of Marrakech.
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Eight nights in Marrakech and three nights in the Atlas Mountains.
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Delicious traditional meals prepared especially for our group at a beautiful Riad.
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Sharing circles, meditation, poetry, music, and dance.
Travel with:
Tiffani Gyatso is a Brazilian artist whose journey was born from the encounter between art, spirituality, and different cultural traditions. Between 2003 and 2006, she lived in India, where she specialized in traditional Tibetan Thangka painting at the Norbulingka Institute, becoming the first Western woman accepted as a student there. She later deepened her studies in Sacred Geometry at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London. Between 2007 and 2012, she created the paintings for Lama Samten’s temple in Viamão, Brazil, and holds a degree in Visual Arts from Dulcina de Moraes University in Brasília. In 2020, she founded the online school Mandalas do Mundo.
Throughout her journey, Tiffani realized that her search through art inevitably led her toward different cultures and ways of understanding the world. Thus were born her art journeys and pilgrimages, exploring places where visual language is deeply connected to beliefs, spirituality, and the way each culture understands existence.
Today, Tiffani leads art retreats and journeys at Atelier YabYum, her center in the mountains of Brazil, and in destinations such as India, Tibet, Bhutan, Morocco, and Turkey. For her, traveling is a way of studying the world through what has been inscribed in its forms — temples, paintings, textiles, symbols, rituals, and landscapes. Her journeys are paths of investigation and transformation, where art becomes a language for expanding perception, creating encounters, and discovering new ways of being in the world.
Traveling to see, seeing to understand, understanding to create — and creating to transform the way we inhabit the world.
Breve Itinerário - faça download do roteiro em PDF completo AQUI
Short Itinerary - download the full itinerary pdf here
April 2 — Arrival in Marrakech
Arrival in Marrakech · Riad Noga · Welcome dinner · A first immersion into the atmosphere, flavors, and encounters that will begin our journey.
April 3 — Ben Youssef Madrasa & El Bacha
Architecture, patterns, and ornamentation · Lunch · Drawing session at the Riad, transforming into lines and forms what our eyes discovered that morning · Free evening to explore the Medina.
April 4 — Bahia Palace
Courtyards, gardens, colors, and the delicate beauty of Moroccan craftsmanship · Lunch · Drawing session inspired by the details, rhythms, and forms found throughout the palace · Free evening.
April 5 — Workshop with Local Artist Youssef
An encounter with Moroccan craftsmanship and its knowledge passed down through generations, with local artist Youssef · Lunch · Majorelle Garden · A day immersed in geometry, color, material, and nature.
April 6 — Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou UNESCO
We leave Marrakech to cross the High Atlas, passing through dramatic landscapes and mountain villages · Aït Ben Haddou · Continue to Skoura · Dinner and overnight stay in a traditional Kasbah.
April 7 — Skoura · Kasbah Amridil & Oasis
Among palm groves, gardens, ancient kasbahs, and small villages, we will discover the peaceful rhythm of life in the oasis · Traditional lunch · Afternoon to explore and simply be immersed in the landscape.
April 8 — Fint Oasis
A day among water, palm trees, gardens, and arid mountains · Riverside walk · Picnic in nature · Time to experience the landscape at a slower pace, away from the movement of the cities, and learn more about rural traditions.
April 9 — Skoura → Marrakech via the Atlas
We leave the oasis and cross the High Atlas once again · Mountain roads, villages, and panoramic viewpoints reveal the extraordinary diversity of Morocco’s landscapes · Lunch · Return to Riad.
April 10 — Marrakech
Free morning for final discoveries and shopping in the Medina · In the afternoon, our artistic gathering with Tiffani to share drawings, experiences, and impressions from the journey · Farewell dinner.
April 11 — Departure
Breakfast · Airport transfer · Departure, taking with you the images, encounters, and discoveries of a journey lived through art, culture, and landscape.
DETAILS
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Open to participants of all artistic skill levels.
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Places are limited, and advance booking is essential.
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Languages spoken: English and Portuguese.
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INCLUDED
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Airport pick-up upon arrival.
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All ground transportation.
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All accommodation in traditional boutique Riads.
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All meals mentioned in the itinerary.
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Entrance fees to monuments and local guides.
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Guidance by specialist artist Tiffani Gyatso.
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Basic art materials (see What to Bring).
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A special Artista Peregrina da Caravansa gift.
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Two online group meetings to prepare for the journey and introduce participants, plus a WhatsApp group for all participants.
NOT INCLUDED
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International airfare.
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Travel insurance.
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Tips for drivers, local guides, and other services.
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Personal expenses such as alcoholic beverages, additional drinks, laundry, spa treatments, and transportation outside the itinerary.
PRICES 9 nights / 10 days
April 2–11, 2027
Shared accommodation — 10 places
Early-bird rate, until October 31, 2026: €2,980
After October 31, 2026: €3,100
Single accommodation — 3 places
Single rate: €3,580
For questions, further information, or registration, please write to:
arteperegrina@gmail.com
If you wish, you may also schedule a complimentary
online meeting to ask questions and learn more about the journey.
Download the [FULL ITINERARY HERE]
To pay your reservation deposit, click the button below to pay by credit card, or contact us for bank transfer details.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations made on or before February 1, 2027, are eligible for a 20% refund. After this date, no refunds will be issued, as all reservations are made in advance.