I Am Home
An immersion in the Moroccan Sahara
Ouarzazate, March 26 to April 3, 2027
What happens when we stop filling the mind?
We live surrounded by a constant stream of information, images, voices, and ideas. In the desert, we practice doing less. We walk, breathe, listen, and allow the mind to become spacious. In that space, something may begin to emerge: a forgotten question, a new way of seeing, a creative impulse that was quietly waiting beneath the noise. We do not go to the desert to find more. We go to make room for what is already here.
Thich Nhat Hanh taught us that every breath and every step can bring us home to the present moment. This journey is an exploration of what it means to arrive: in the body, in the breath, in silence, in the landscape, in awe and in loneliness, in our relationships, in our own life, and to feel at home with all of it. We will learn that from seeking, we can arrive. That we can truly inhabit the present moment. The journey will take us somewhere. But the practice may reveal that the deepest destination is nowhere else than here, now — because we can only ever be alive now.
You are invited to a hiking immersion in the Sahara
Going as a River
We will walk together — as a practice community, within the community of our guides and support team, and the larger community of all who call the desert home. We may arrive carrying ideas and habits that want to control. Slowly, we let the desert, the silence, and the community transform that impulse into a capacity to flow, to trust, to adapt.
Living together gives us the chance to see ourselves more clearly — to listen deeply, and with compassion.
We hope to offer concrete practices so this quality of presence can continue to grow long after we return to our busy lives and our relationships.
Guides & Facilitators
Caromai Bouquet
Mindfulness and meditation practitioner and teacher. She spent 18 years as a monastic in various Plum Village international practice centres.
During her years there, she led retreats and provided training for people from diverse sectors including educators, health practitioners, ecologists and social activists in the Americas, Asia and Europe. She has also done a lot of work with children and adolescents and has a particular interest in promoting inclusivity (racial and for the LGBTIQ+ community in particular).
She is currently working in Switzerland where she gives mindfulness workshops and trainings in hospitals, schools, as well as in corporation, and therapeutical settings for both adults and children. She regularly organises and leads retreats in Europe.
She is studying to become a chaplain. Website
Mindfulness practitioner in the Plum Village tradition and a newly ordained member of the Order of Interbeing. Founder of Mindful Immersions, co-founder of At Home in the World nomadic sangha, and author of A Mindful Tea. Based between Colombia and Morocco, she accompanies the group throughout the journey with care and presence.
Retreat OrganizerJoanna Riquett
Désert et Montagne Maroc
Local HostA local, family-run organization with decades of experience leading mindful, respectful journeys through the Sahara. Their desert guides bring deep knowledge of the land, warm hospitality, and the wisdom of nomadic traditions.
The Erg Chgaga offers a rare kind of space: wide, elemental, undistracted.
Here, the absence of excess becomes its own form of support. As we walk through dunes, plains, and ancient formations, the nervous system begins to settle. Attention sharpens. Perception refines.
The land asks nothing of us but it reveals everything.
The Experience
9-day guided immersion
7+ days walking through the Sahara with a nomadic support team
Daily practices: sitting meditation, walking meditation, mindful eating, deep listening,
Periods of silence, balanced with sharings, tea meditations, and creative expression
Community-based experience with intentional group curation
Post-retreat integration support
You might recognize yourself here
if you are…
Longing to live with more presence, clarity, and connection in daily life
Wanting to deepen your meditation or personal practice in a grounded, practical way
Navigating a transition, sensing the need for space to listen more deeply
Feeling creatively blocked or full, needing to empty the mind so something new can emerge
Curious how silence, nature, and simplicity support inner clarity
Drawn to shared experiences that hold both introspection and meaningful connection
Ready to step away from constant stimulation, toward a slower, more intentional rhythm
The Program
Day 1 - Arrival in Ouarzazate on March 26, welcome, and opening circle. Sleep in Dar Daif Hotel.
Day 2 - Transfer to Chgaga Desert and begin walking retreat
Days 3-8 - Silent walking pilgrimage (3-5 hours/day) with mindful meals, Dharma sharing, evening conversations, and rest under the stars
Day 8 - Return to Ouarzazate, sleep at Dar Daif
Day 9 - Depart Ouarzazate on April 3rd
Cost
€2,400
Shared room/tent
€2,900
Private room/tent
The teachings and facilitation are not included in the price. You are invited to offer dana to the teacher before or at the end of the retreat.
Included
Transfers from/to Ouarzazate airport or bus station to our partner hotel
2 nights at Riad Dar Daïf, Ouarzazate
6 nights in the desert, in shared nomadic tents
8 -10 cm mattress
All meals, dinner Day 1 through breakfast Day 9 (vegetarian)
Camel caravan for baggage transport and assistance
All group equipment (tents, mattresses, kitchen tent, WC tent, shower tent)
Not included
Volunteer dana for the teacher
Flights and travel to Ouarzazate
Travel insurance (mandatory — please provide proof of coverage before arrival)
Optional extras (private camel, extra nights, warm-temperature sleeping bag, walking sticks, etc.)
FAQs
Retreat guidelines, information on what to pack and how to prepare will be shared once registered. Here are some of the common questions we receive.
You can email us to mindfulimmersions@gmail.com for any additional information.
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We will spend seven days walking through the desert at a comfortable pace. Some days are shorter and more gentle, while others involve longer distances walked at a steady pace, depending on the route and weather conditions. This is not a trekking expedition or an endurance challenge, but participants should feel comfortable walking between 3 to 6 hours each day.
The rhythm of the journey is spacious and supportive. We stop regularly for water and snack breaks, and each day includes a long midday pause to rest, enjoy lunch, and take shelter during the warmest hours. Camels carry all luggage and camping equipment, so participants need only carry a small daypack with water and personal essentials.
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Yes. Participants of many ages have completed this pilgrimage. The most important consideration is not age but your ability to comfortably walk for several hours each day over varied desert terrain and under the sun. If you have any concerns about your mobility or endurance, we encourage you to contact us before registering so we can help you determine whether the retreat is a good fit. A private camel is also available to hire for those who would like additional support during the walking days.
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We will have one emergency camel available for unexpected circumstances that may arise during the journey. However, if you know in advance that you tire easily, have concerns about your stamina, or would simply appreciate the flexibility to rest whenever needed, we strongly recommend hiring a private camel for the duration of the retreat. This allows you to alternate between walking and riding at any point during the day while remaining with the group. Email mindfulimmersions@gmail.com with your request.
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Accommodation is simple and designed to support the spirit of the retreat.
In Ouarzazate, participants may choose between private or shared rooms (2 to 3 people), depending on availability.
In the desert, we sleep in traditional nomadic tents. Private tents generally accommodate 1 ****to 2 people, while larger communal tents accommodate 5 to 8 people. We will do our best to honor accommodation preferences, although exact room and tent assignments depend on the final group composition and selection.
You will be provided with a 10cm mattress and a warm sleeping bag, so you won’t be sleeping on the floor.