Choosing your week
How to choose a women’s surf retreat in Morocco
The right retreat starts with a good match between your expectations and the actual programme. A lovely house and photographs of long waves are a starting point. The useful details are who the week is for, how the coaching works and what your budget needs to cover.
Essentially Gem guides5 min read
Start here
Compare the whole week: your surf level, the coaching arrangement, room privacy and the costs outside the advertised price.
Start with your experience and the group’s focus
Women-only tells you who the retreat is for, but it does not describe the level, pace or atmosphere by itself. Ask whether the week welcomes people taking their first lesson, occasional surfers returning after a break, or people already catching unbroken waves. Those needs can overlap, but they should not be treated as identical.
Essentially Gem is built around women who started surfing as adults and want more time to practise. Beginner and progressing surfers are welcome; ideally, guests have surfed at least once and know they enjoy it. If you have never tried it and are still deciding whether you like surfing, ask Gema whether this particular week is a good match.
Separate the host’s role from the instructor’s role
A host can bring a group together and help organise the week without being the person who teaches you to surf. Ask who leads the sessions, what their current coaching and rescue qualifications are, how they assess guests and how they adapt plans to the conditions. Do not infer qualifications from a friendly photograph or a retreat's name.
The International Surfing Association describes a coaching pathway for beginner and early intermediate instruction, including practical and rescue requirements. That gives you useful questions to ask; it does not establish any particular retreat's credentials. For Essentially Gem, Gema is the host and local instructors lead the surf lessons. Ask directly if you need more detail about the coaching team.
Count coached sessions, not just days near the sea
An eight-day trip does not necessarily contain eight lessons. Arrival, departure, rest and optional activities all take time. Look for a session count, group size, equipment arrangement and a clear distinction between included activities and paid extras. Ask how changes are communicated if the timetable needs to move.
This retreat includes five coached sessions across six full surf days, a maximum of five surfers per coach in groups by level, two video analysis sessions, one Pilates class and a Timlaline sandboarding excursion. Surf equipment is included on coached surf days. Extra lessons, surfskate and longboard workshops are optional and cost extra. A hardboard or longboard upgrade also carries an additional charge.
Put the advertised price beside the exclusions
Compare like with like before deciding which price works for you. Write down what you will still arrange or pay for outside the package. The point is to see the cost of the week you actually want, rather than comparing the lowest number on each website.
Essentially Gem starts from €590 for the shared stay. The package includes seven nights, daily breakfast and two group dinners. Flights, airport transfers, other meals, personal expenses and optional extras are not included. Transfers can be arranged from Agadir or Essaouira and are priced per car. Gema will try to group compatible arrivals where possible, but a shared car and a split fare are not guaranteed.
Choose the room that helps you enjoy the group
Coming alone does not mean you have to share a bedroom, and choosing a private room does not mean you want to miss the social part. Think about sleep, your morning routine and how much quiet time you like after a busy day. Ask what is shared and what is private before paying.
At Shaka Ashore, this retreat has shared and private room options. The included surf programme, activities and meals are the same whichever accommodation package you choose; the room is the difference. Current room options and availability are shown on the booking page, so use that information when making your final choice.
Look at the place, then understand the next step
Morocco's national tourism office frames responsible tourism around respect for local people, culture and the environment. Useful questions include who delivers the activities locally and how the group treats shared spaces. These are practical considerations, not reasons to assume that any retreat holds a sustainability certification.
For the 27 Feb – 6 Mar 2027 Essentially Gem week, read the programme, exclusions and payment terms, then choose your room on the booking page. You can reserve with a 30% deposit or pay in full, without an invitation. You can also request the brochure or ask Gema any questions before booking. A clear answer is more useful than trying to guess what a package description means.
Sources
External sources support the destination and general guidance. Retreat dates, inclusions and booking details follow the Essentially Gem programme.
- International Surfing Association: courses
Background on coaching education and the questions to ask about instruction; no credential is attributed to this retreat.
- Moroccan National Tourist Office: responsible tourism
Tourism guidance on respect for local people, culture and the environment.
