A desert journey for women
Sehnsucht nach Ursprung
Who is this journey for?
Do you long for silence? Change? Abundance? Joy of life? Authentic femininity? A new perspective?
Are you looking for new meaning in your life?
Do you hear the call of the desert?
This journey is for you if you want to:
- uncover your inner core
- feel your feminine strength
- find out WHAT really moves you and WHERE your path is leading
- invite clarity, freedom and joy of life into your life
- travel authentically and simply, away from the mainstream
- experience silence, fun, fire, dancing and music in their most original form with nomads
This is a real Sahara caravan journey. Travelling authentically with nomads
This is not a typical retreat week in one place! And that is exactly what makes this journey so special: we do not stay in a camp and we do not sleep in the same place every night.
Instead, we move through the desert as a caravan. Step by step, in the rhythm of the nomads.
Being on the move, becoming free, walking on. And precisely through that, something starts to move inside us too: we let go of layers, become clearer and come closer to ourselves again.
Our next journey
9 to 19 March 2027
Further down you will find all the information on price and programme.
What awaits you on this desert journey
11 days, 10 nights · Marrakech, Atlas, Sahara
Our journey begins in Marrakech. From there we drive south over the Atlas in a comfortable small coach to M'Hamid, the gateway to the Sahara. There we arrive at the desert camp.
The next day our caravan journey begins: we move through the desert with nomads and dromedaries. Step by step, at a slow pace.
For five days we experience the pure Sahara: vastness, silence, fire and starry skies. The days are simple, clear and deeply restful. Afterwards we return to the desert camp.
Rhythm, music and conversations around the campfire: this is another part of the journey.
Qigong, a dance workshop on femininity: this is how I accompany you during our journey.
On the way back to Marrakech we spend a night in Agdz.
A day in the desert
Morning: Arriving in the body. Energy and body awareness exercises such as qigong.
Late morning: about 3 hours of walking in the desert (breaks and dromedary riding possible).
Midday: Arriving at a place where the nomads set up camp for us. Food, rest and shade.
Time for yourself: Retreat, writing, sleep, vastness, conversations.
Late afternoon: Dance, body language and expression.
Evening: Fire, food, community, dancing, listening to drums and songs. Or simply quiet.
You do not have to be athletic. It is not about performance.
We walk slowly, with breaks, and with the option of a camel if you need it.
In the desert every woman sleeps in her own tent.
Small group: maximum 12 women. The journey is held in German.
I am Nora Curcio
Dancer and mentor for women's vitality.
I first travelled to the desert more than 30 years ago and have been coming back to Morocco again and again since 2012. There, in difficult times, I found my laughter again. And I carried the calm of the silence home with me.
I have been dancing since I was seven. For more than 30 years I was on stage as a dancer, actress and choreographer. In India I learned yoga and Ayurvedic bodywork. These years have shaped the way I see. I perceive people through their bodies.
That is why I also work very physically in the desert. With dance, qigong and yoga. Of course something can change in your head too. But in the body it can take root.
And again and again I see what the desert sets in motion in people.
More than 35 years of experience in teaching and accompanying people, and as a stage dancer
- Dancer in New York
- 25 years running my own theatre (management, directing, choreography, dance and acting)
- Professional background in dance, acting, physical expression and choreography
- Body-oriented work with qigong, tai chi, yoga, bodywork and dance
- Ayurvedic bodywork: releasing blockages, deep work for body and soul
- My way of leading: clear, present, safe. No pressure, no performance. But with love.
- I trained in Germany, New York and India.
“Thank you, Nora, for your wonderful, professional way of guiding us in dance, tai chi and qigong, with a joy of life that is contagious. And all of it in unique nature, under a starry sky, with drums and laughter around the campfire in the evening. Shukran to you, your great team and the women of this group. I will come back.”
Christine, desert journey, March 2024
Eckhart Tolle once said
“When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself.”
Why we suffer
We have lost contact, connection and love for ourselves. We find less and less enthusiasm in what we do, and it has been a long time since a really hearty laugh shook us. More and more we notice that nothing really touches us any more, and we feel that life is somehow passing us by.
This is exactly what the desert journey gave me
More than 30 years ago I was in the desert for the first time myself. The vastness, the silence and the life of the nomads brought me back to life. I laughed again, felt again, felt the joy of life again. That is exactly why I pass this journey on today.
And that is exactly the point of my desert journeys with women!
To feel yourself again and move through life in a sensual, joyful and fulfilled way.
Amenokal Alhavi wrote about the wisdom of his people, the desert dwellers of Africa. Here is a short excerpt which, I think, describes our relationship to “life” simply and well, and shows us how little able we are to enjoy simple things, and how we push ourselves through the day as if “driven”.
No sooner have you sat down than you stand up again. You chew the first bite and are already thinking about the end of your meal. You set off and already want to be at your destination. You know only haste and not the value of waiting. How can you enjoy, observe and understand in peace like that?
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be athletic to come along?
No. This caravan is not an athletic challenge. We walk slowly, in the rhythm of the desert. Breaks are a matter of course, and if you need it, there are stretches where you can ride a camel.
How demanding is the walking really?
We walk about 3 hours a day. It is manageable for healthy women with a normal basic level of fitness. What matters more is openness to nature, sand, wind and the simple life, not fitness.
What happens if I notice along the way that it is too much for me?
You will not be left alone. We adjust the pace and the route, and there is also the option of riding a camel for a while. I accompany you at your pace. No pressure, no shame.
How do you sleep in the desert?
During the days in the desert every woman sleeps in her own tent, or in a large tent if she would like more company. If you want, you can also sleep under the open sky. You bring your own sleeping bag. Mattresses are provided.
Can I have time alone, or do I always have to be with the group?
Time alone is very welcome. You can be alone at any time, be silent, write, watch or sleep. Community does not come from a “programme” here, but from real freedom.
What about toilets and hygiene?
The accommodation outside the desert has normal bathrooms. In the desert things are close to nature and simple. I give you clear advice so that you feel comfortable. You get enough water to wash and feel clean. And you will be amazed how little water you need.
Are there snakes and scorpions?
We travel at a time of year when there are no snakes! Scorpions are very rarely seen.
Do I have to join in the dancing or “be a good dancer”?
It is not about technique but about expression and body awareness. You do not need any skills. You can approach it slowly and only do what really feels right. BUT you will see that dancing is exactly what is great for you.
Is the journey more spiritual or more down to earth?
Both, in a natural way. It is not a journey with dogma and it is not about religion. It is grounding, body, silence, fire, and out of that, something spiritual often arises all by itself.
What if I get ill?
If you get ill, it is always possible to leave the desert by jeep. Otherwise you bring your own first aid kit. And the nomads have their own home remedies to look after you well.
Is this journey right for me?
If the desert is calling you and you feel “something is waiting for me there”, then very likely yes.
But if you expect hotel comfort or are looking for a pure wellness holiday, this format is not for you. Here you are invited to live an adventure, and that is what happens on a caravan journey like this!
Packing list
As soon as you have booked the desert journey, I send you a detailed packing list and all the important information for your preparation. Because details can change slightly depending on the route and the weather, I only send it to women who have booked.
In a short Zoom call before the journey, you can also ask me any questions you still have.
Desert journey with Nora and team
Madou Bouhjar
Desert guide · AZEIB.MHAMID
Madou is a unique desert guide who recognises people and their needs straight away. This work, which he does in the background, sets him apart from many other desert guides. His wisdom, his sense of humour and his power are very special and valuable.
Yvonne Hitzeroth
Photographer and breath therapist
Yvonne accompanies our desert journeys. With her sensitive eye and her experience as a photographer all over the world, she knows how to capture people, animals and landscapes. She is also a breath therapist, a surfer and a person with a big heart.
My Sahara team
The nomads
It always takes the right companions to make a journey successful and beautiful. With us you are very well looked after. With good food, music and the best guidance. Shukran!
Nora Curcio: Leading and accompanying. Dance, yoga, meditation, tai chi.
Madou Bouhjar: Organises the journey in Morocco: the coach transfer, the accommodation and everything that goes with it.
Price and services
Included
- All hotel nights in double rooms including breakfast
- Full board in the desert, in a tent or out in the open if you prefer
- 2 dinners outside the desert: on the evening of arrival in Marrakech and in Agdz
- Programme with Nora
- Local tour guide from start to finish
- All transfers from Marrakech over the Atlas to M'Hamid (8 hours)
Not included
- Flight to Marrakech
- Transfer from the airport to the hotel in Marrakech and back
- Tips
- Lunch and drinks on the drive to and from the desert
- Dinner on the last evening in Marrakech
- Extra drinks (other than water)
- Hammam
- Travel insurance and all other insurance
What this journey includes
- 2 nights in a riad in Marrakech
- 1 night in the kasbah in Agdz
- 2 nights at the desert camp
- 5 nights with the caravan out in the open desert
- Full board in the desert
- Dinner together in Marrakech and our last evening together in Agdz
- Walking and riding with camels
- Retreat on the power of your femininity with dance and special exercises
- and surprises and wonders!
Our last evening together is in Agdz. The last evening in Marrakech is free. Most women want to do some shopping, stroll through the medina or simply go wherever they feel drawn. That is why dinner on that evening is not included.
The programme may change at any time!
Would you like to come along?
Do you want to join the next journey? Would you like to get in touch with me personally? You are welcome to get to know me on Zoom! Write to me without obligation and we will find a time.