At the end of February (after what felt like the longest winter ever), I jumped on a plane to Morocco to join the Happy Freelancers Work + Play Vacay – a digital nomad retreat designed for freelancers and business owners who want to travel while still getting work done.
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work remotely while travelling, this type of trip makes it easy. You spend the week exploring somewhere new, while also having dedicated time for coworking and running your business.
As a travel content creator who wants to explore ways of combining work and travel, I was curious to see how a digital nomad retreat in Morocco would actually work in practice.
Why I Chose a Work + Play Vacay in Morocco
Happy Freelancers runs multiple work + play vacay’s a year, however it was Morocco that stood out to me. Somewhere I’d never been before, I wanted to visit, and didn’t necessarily do it solo. I was free the week the trip was running, and it seemed like a no brainer – who doesn’t want to escape to a warm country in the depths of a UK winter?
The idea of a work and play vacay really appealed to me as well. I don’t really take advantage of the flexibility my work gives me, and none of my friends have that same flexibility. So the opportunity to connect with other business owners and traveling to a new country was really exciting.
What a Typical Day Looks Like on a Digital Nomad Retreat
Each day was very different, however there was a similar set up;
breakfast at Outsite, followed by a few hours co-working (or free time to explore), lunch, then an afternoon and evening activities.
What was great was there was always a chunk of work time, followed by something really fun – whether it’s belly dancing, a food tour or a trip to the desert.
If you didn’t want to do something, or had a call you couldn’t miss, the schedule was flexible enough to make it work. Some people had some quite client heavy days, whereas some of us had a lighter schedule, and we took advantage of the extra free time to explore the souks of Marrakesh.
Highlights from My Marrakesh Digital Nomad Trip
In short, I adored Marrakesh. I was nervous that I would find the city overwhelming and chaotic however I didn’t feel that way at all. I loved the colours that you saw everywhere, and the creativity you could see around the city.
Over the four days I was there, we fit in a lot of exploring around work. I’ll be sharing a full itinerary and must visit places next week, but some absolute highlights of the trip were;
- Marrakesh Food Tour – after sunset, we met our tour leader in the big square and headed on a unique food tour of the city. 3 hours later, with my belly so full, we’d been to some of the most hidden gems in Marrakesh. A Moroccan woman making the most incredible savoury pancakes out of a random hatch, freshly grilled chicken skewers cooked on an open grill on the street, the most amazing shakshukka I’ve ever had, which was hidden down a tiny alleyway. We were taken to places I would never or found (or chosen) to eat at, but absolutely everything was delicious.
- Le Jardin Secret – behind one of the many doors within the Medina, you’ll find Le Jardin Secret. This garden is a calm oasis hidden in the centre of the souks, and is an Islamic Garden filled with quiet spots, exotic plants and flowers, and telling the history of the city. It’s beautiful and a must visit
- Belly Dancing Lesson – on the rooftop of our hotel, we had a one hour belly dancing lesson and it was so much fun. I never realised just how difficult belly dancing was, it was a real workout! But it definitely bonded our group, and we had so much fun shaking and dancing and laughing!
-
How to spend 4 days in Marrakesh (a long weekend guide)
If you are looking for a city break with almost guaranteed sunshine, a real sense of adventure, and…
-
Africa | Morocco | travel | Travel Guide | Weekend Breaks
Everything you need to know about visiting Marrakesh
As one of Morocco’s four imperial cities, Marrakesh is also known as the red city. A city break…
-
Outsite Marrakesh Review: A Remote Work Hotel in the Heart of the Medina
Tucked in one of the many side streets of side streets in the heart of Marrakesh’s Medina is…
How Happy Freelancers Makes a Digital Nomad Retreat Easy
Happy Freelancers make the whole trip super easy. It’s one of the reasons I decided to book – I’ve never done international solo travel, and I thought as a way of dipping my toes into the water, this was a stress free way to do it.
Yes, it means that it’s slightly more expensive than if I’d booked it all myself, but at the same time I really valued a) the ease but b) the fact I was getting to travel with likeminded people.
When you book, it covers your accommodation and all of the activities you go on. All you have to do is book your flights and bring your spending money!
Digital Nomad Retreat Morocco FAQ
Is Morocco good for digital nomads?
Yes, Morocco is becoming increasingly popular with digital nomads, particularly in Marrakesh where there are coworking spaces, riads and digital nomad accommodation.
What is a digital nomad retreat?
A digital nomad retreat is a trip designed for remote workers where accommodation, coworking and activities are organised so you can travel while continuing to work. They’re great ways to connect with fellow digital nomads as well, and grow your business community!
Can you work remotely in Morocco?
Yes, many freelancers and remote workers spend time in Morocco, particularly in cities like Marrakesh and Essaouira (especially for the beach vibes!).
Would I Recommend This Work + Play Vacay?
100% yes, in a heartbeat. I’m already looking at when I can fit in another Happy Freelancer trip, and doing my own solo writing trip.
Not only is it a great way to see the world and still be able to work alongside, you also get to meet some incredible people al the same time. So yes, expect to see more Happy Freelancer trips on the blog sometime soon!
If you’re looking for the perfect base for a digital nomad trip, make sure to check out Outsite. You can find our full four day itinerary for visiting Marrakesh here.
