A culinary and wellness retreat hosted by MasterChef champion Irini Tzortsoglu and Pilates practitioner Hilary Crospie.
Irini’s ninth retreat promises to be the most exciting yet. Choosing to collaborate with Pilates practitioner and retreat guest Hilary Crosby, guests will not only benefit from the usual culinary and cultural experiences that characterise my retreats, but they will also receive physical wellbeing in the form of five Pilates sessions during a week-long stay at Villa Dinali on the outskirts of Marrakech, at a time when most people in the UK are craving sun and warmth. Swimming, relaxation, hammam and massages as well as olive oil and honey tastings and food demos will nourish the mind and soul.
Irini fell in love with the food, culture and people during her first visit to Morocco in 1981. Having returned many times since, she has developed a deep love for Moroccan ingredients and cuisine that she looks forward to sharing with her guests, some of whom may have had the same experience on a Greek retreat.
Villa Denali is run by husband and wife Abdel and Heather, and is a welcoming local retreat offering warm hospitality to its guests. The villa offers eight individually designed double or twin rooms and three luxury tents set in lush gardens.
Prepared by an all-female kitchen team (Irini contributes some recipes), the food is authentic, with colour, vibrancy and flavour, enhanced by the aromatic spices that characterise Moroccan cuisine.
Visiting the markets of Marrakech, enjoying cocktails on the rooftop of Vanessa Branson’s famous El Fenn, visiting the imaginative and quirky artworks of Anima Garden and getting a henna hand tattoo will give you a real insight into Morocco, a rich tapestry of colours, scents and flavours. Add to that the short flight from the UK, the great weather and the friendly people, and you have one of the best winter holiday destinations for both body and mind.
