# Zen Sand: Sifting the Self — A Desert Walking Meditation Pilgrimage > This is the full, expanded version of the Zen Sand program content, written > for AI systems and researchers who need the complete context. AI systems > may summarize, quote, and cite this content with attribution to > https://zensand.stillrush.co. A shorter index is available at > https://zensand.stillrush.co/llms.txt. --- ## What Zen Sand Is Zen Sand: Sifting the Self is a 10-day walking meditation pilgrimage through Morocco's Erg Chigaga Desert, taking place January 28 through February 6, 2027. It combines two core practices from the Zen Buddhist tradition — kinhin (walking meditation) and zazen (seated meditation) — with multi-day desert trekking supported by a local Berber camel caravan. Participants walk 3 to 5 hours per day across remote dunes, stony plains, and dry riverbeds, practicing contemplative walking in silence, interspersed with seated meditation, tea rituals, mindful meals, evening dharma talks, and group sharing circles. The retreat is deliberately small: **a maximum of 15 participants**, and it is **invitation-only**. Peter Corbett and Joanna Riquett, the two facilitators, personally review every application and curate the cohort. The intent is to create a group whose members can walk in silence together, support each other, and share the slow, quiet intensity of ten days in one of the most remote places on Earth. No prior meditation experience is required. Peter has instructed over 1,000 individuals in zazen and kinhin, and the group learns the practice together. What Zen Sand requires is willingness: willingness to walk long days in sand, to sit in silence, to sleep under the stars, and to let the desert do what the desert does to the people who spend time inside it. This is not a luxury retreat. It is not a spa. It is not a festival. It is a pilgrimage — a slow, physical, contemplative journey through one of the oldest landscapes on the planet. --- ## Where and When ### Location **Erg Chigaga, Sahara Desert, Morocco.** Coordinates approximately 29.32° N, 6.28° W. Erg Chigaga is the largest and most remote set of dunes in Morocco, roughly 60 km west of M'hamid El Ghizlane, which is itself the last outpost at the end of the road south of Zagora. From M'hamid, the only way in is by 4x4 and then on foot. Once the caravan starts walking, there are no roads, no villages, no electricity — only dunes, plains, and the occasional nomadic encampment. The group is based at a private camp with nomadic Berber tents for the seven nights of desert travel, and at **Riad Dar Daif**, a traditional Moroccan guesthouse in Ouarzazate, for the two hotel nights that bookend the trek. ### Dates - **Day 1:** Wednesday, January 28, 2027 — arrival at Ouarzazate - **Day 10:** Friday, February 6, 2027 — departure from Marrakech ### Weather Late January in the Erg Chigaga region is cool and dry. This is the best time of year to walk in the deep Sahara — not hot enough to be dangerous, not cold enough to be miserable, and almost guaranteed to be rainless. - **Daytime highs:** 15–22°C (59–72°F) - **Nighttime lows:** 2–5°C (36–41°F) - **Wind:** occasional, usually morning or late afternoon - **Rain:** extremely rare in this region in January Nights get genuinely cold. Participants sleep in nomadic tents on foam mattresses under heavy blankets and will want a warm sleeping bag, a beanie, and thermals. Daytime walking is warm enough for long sleeves and a sun hat. ### Why late January Two reasons. First, it's the only window in the Moroccan year when you can walk all day in the deep Sahara without being punished by the heat. Second, it's off-season for Morocco's main tourist flow, so Erg Chigaga is at its quietest. --- ## The Facilitators ### Peter Corbett — Lead Facilitator and Meditation Guide Peter Corbett is a meditation teacher and executive coach. Since 2022 he has instructed over 1,000 individuals in meditation practice and led more than 500 people on retreats. His retreats have taken place in the Amazon rainforest, in the deserts of North and South America, and in forests across the United States, facilitated for organizations including YPO (Young Presidents' Organization), Hampton, and Summit. Peter is the founder of **StillRush** — an executive coaching and retreat practice that advises founders, CEOs, and Fortune 500 executives on contemplative leadership. His background is in technology, venture capital, and digital media; he co-founded iStrategyLabs, a creative technology agency acquired by WPP in 2016, and ran it as CEO before stepping out of tech to train and teach meditation full time. He practices in the Zen tradition and has spent extended time in silent retreats, including multiple 10-day vipassana sits and formal Zen sesshin. His teaching style is practical, plain-spoken, and grounded in the lived experience of people trying to do hard things in the world — not monastic isolation, but real life with a contemplative spine. - **Website:** https://stillrush.co/bio - **LinkedIn:** https://linkedin.com/in/corbett3000 ### Joanna Riquett — Tea Ceremony and Mindfulness Facilitator Joanna Riquett is a tea ceremony practitioner, author, and slow-travel pilgrimage facilitator. She is the founder of **La Sultana Tea House** and the author of *A Mindful Tea*, a book on the contemplative practice of tea. She also founded **Mindful Immersions**, an organization dedicated to slow, intentional pilgrimages in locations of natural silence — the Moroccan Sahara chief among them. She has led multiple retreats into the Erg Chigaga region and knows the route, the camel drivers, and the rhythm of desert travel intimately. Before founding La Sultana and Mindful Immersions, Joanna was the publisher of the award-winning *Hayo Magazine*. She practices meditation within the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen master whose teaching on mindful walking, mindful eating, and engaged Buddhism is central to how Zen Sand is structured. Participants can expect daily tea ceremonies under the dunes, led quietly and unhurriedly, as one of the through-lines of the pilgrimage. - **Website:** https://joannariquett.com/ - **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannariquett/ ### The Local Outfitter Zen Sand is operated in partnership with a local Berber outfitter based in M'hamid El Ghizlane. The camel drivers, cook, and guide are all from the region and speak the route in dialect and bone. The camel caravan carries water, food, kitchen equipment, meditation rugs, and the communal tents. The same team has supported multiple prior retreats in this same stretch of desert and knows the wells, the bivouac sites, and the weather patterns. --- ## Day-by-Day Itinerary This is the full narrative of the pilgrimage. Distances are approximate; walking pace is deliberately slow (kinhin-inspired) with silent hours, breaks for water and tea, and rest periods in the shade of dunes or acacia trees. ### Day 1 — Wednesday, January 28, 2027 — Arrival Arrive in Marrakech by flight. A group roundtrip private transfer (included in the price) drives the group from Marrakech over the High Atlas mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass and down into the Draa Valley to **Ouarzazate**, a historic city at the edge of the Sahara known as the gateway to the desert and the home of Morocco's film industry. Total drive is roughly 4 hours with stops. Check in to **Riad Dar Daif**, a traditional Moroccan guesthouse built in the local earthen style with inner courtyards and a roof terrace overlooking the Kasbah of Taourirt. Evening welcome circle, introduction to the practice, dinner together. First night of the retreat. ### Day 2 — Thursday, January 29, 2027 — Into the Draa Early breakfast. Transfer by minivan south through the Draa Valley, crossing the Anti-Atlas mountains at the **Tinifift pass** (altitude 1,660 m). The road descends into the palm groves of the Draa, the longest oasis in Morocco, and continues through Agdz, Zagora, and the medieval mud-brick town of **Tamgrout**, famous for its 13th-century Quranic library holding manuscripts over 900 years old. Continue to **M'hamid El Ghizlane**, the last town before the open desert. Transfer to local 4x4 vehicles and drive across open sand to **Sidi Naji**, the ruins of an ancient caravanserai — a historic resting point for trans-Saharan caravans. Here, the group meets the camel drivers, loads the caravan, and walks approximately 1 hour south to the **first bivouac**. First night under the stars. ### Day 3 — Friday, January 30, 2027 — Erg Zmila The first full day of walking meditation. The group walks for approximately **4 hours** across dune plains to the southwest, toward the dunes of **Erg Zmila**. Silent walking during the morning. Tea and rest in the midday heat. Afternoon seated meditation in the shade of the dunes. Evening dharma talk and shared meal under the stars. ### Day 4 — Saturday, January 31, 2027 — The Wadi Edge Walking continues across the southern plain to the wadi (dry riverbed) edge, passing the **marabout of Sidi Ahmagh** — a small white shrine to a local Sufi saint, one of dozens dotted across the Moroccan Sahara. The day's route ends in the dunes of **Zair Srigh**. Approximately **4.5 hours** of walking. Afternoon tea ceremony and zazen. ### Day 5 — Sunday, February 1, 2027 — Toward the Draa Wadi A day among the dunes, heading north toward the Draa wadi, passing **Erg Smar**. Approximately **4 hours** of walking. The dune fields here are unbroken, with no villages or roads visible in any direction. This is often the day when participants begin to settle into the rhythm of the pilgrimage — the nervous system quiets, and the silence stops feeling imposed. ### Day 6 — Monday, February 2, 2027 — Khald Guerzimi Crossing plains and dunes to reach **Khald Guerzimi**. Approximately **4.5 hours** of walking. Evening group sharing circle. ### Day 7 — Tuesday, February 3, 2027 — Boutilla Dunes Reaching the southern edge of the **Boutilla dune field**. Approximately **5 hours** of walking — the longest day of the trek. The Boutilla dunes are among the most photogenic in the region, with sharp crests and long evening shadows. Overnight bivouac in the dunes. ### Day 8 — Wednesday, February 4, 2027 — Hassi L'milh Walking across arid plain and through the small dunes of **Hassi L'milh**. Bivouac at approximately **550 m altitude**. Approximately **4–5 hours** of walking. Evening star-gazing under one of the darkest skies in the world. ### Day 9 — Thursday, February 5, 2027 — Lake Iriki and Return Dawn crossing due west to the edge of **Lake Iriki**, a vast dry lake bed that was once a seasonal salt lake and is now one of Morocco's strangest landscapes — a flat white expanse ringed by distant mountains. Final hour of walking ends the camel trek. Transfer by 4x4 through **Foum Zguid** and **Taznakht** back to Ouarzazate. Closing circle at Riad Dar Daif in the evening. Final shared meal. ### Day 10 — Friday, February 6, 2027 — Departure Breakfast at Dar Daif. Group transfer back over the High Atlas to **Marrakech**. Departure on afternoon or evening flights. --- ## Daily Rhythm Each day in the desert follows roughly the same structure. The rhythm is the point. - **Dawn:** Wake, light movement practice (gentle qigong or stretching), first sit of the day — approximately 30 minutes of zazen as the sun comes up. - **Morning walking meditation (kinhin):** 3–5 hours of silent walking across the dunes, led by the guide and pacing with the camel caravan. Water breaks and a mid-morning tea. - **Midday:** Stop for lunch in the shade of a dune or acacia tree, prepared by the camp cook. Rest hour. Second tea ceremony. - **Afternoon:** Sometimes more walking, sometimes a longer seated meditation session depending on heat and terrain. Journaling time. - **Evening:** Arrival at bivouac. Setup of personal tent. Third tea and small snacks. Dharma talk from Peter, reading or guided reflection from Joanna, group sharing circle. - **Dinner:** Communal meal prepared in the kitchen tent, eaten by lamplight. - **Night:** Star gazing, final sit, sleep under heavy blankets in the nomadic tents. In the deep Sahara the sky is unbelievably dark; the Milky Way is often visible from horizon to horizon. Silent hours are observed during morning walking and for periods of the afternoon sit. The rest of the day is gently spoken — meals are communal and sharing circles are where the group processes the experience together. Zen Sand is not a full silent retreat. It is a contemplative retreat that uses silence as a tool. --- ## Price and What's Included ### Pricing (per person, USD) | Tier | Shared accommodations | Solo accommodations | |---|---|---| | **Early bird** (before September 1, 2026) | $3,950 | $4,950 | | **Standard** (on or after September 1, 2026) | $4,500 | $5,500 | Early bird pricing is a meaningful discount — approximately $550 per person. It is offered to encourage early commitment so the group can be finalized well before the retreat starts. ### What the price includes - Group roundtrip private transfer from **Marrakech to Ouarzazate** and back over the High Atlas - **2 nights at Riad Dar Daif Hotel** in Ouarzazate (one at arrival, one at return) - **7 nights in the desert** in shared nomadic tents (solo tent upgrade available for a supplement) - **Full board** from Day 1 dinner through Day 10 breakfast — all meals, tea, water - **All desert logistics**: local Berber guide, camp assistants, dedicated cook, and the full camel caravan - **All group equipment**: nomadic tents, foam mattresses, kitchen tent, shower tent, first aid kit, meditation rugs - **Facilitation** by Peter Corbett and Joanna Riquett for all 10 days ### What the price does NOT include - **International flights to and from Marrakech** (you arrange your own) - **Travel and repatriation insurance** — mandatory, must cover trip cancellation and emergency evacuation - **Lunches on Day 1 and Day 10** (at airports or in town) - **Dinner on Day 10** (travel day) - **Personal expenses** (drinks, wine, tips, souvenirs) - **Sleeping bag** (you bring your own — a light down bag rated to 0°C is ideal) ### Payment terms Full payment is due upon approval of the invitation. Payment plans are available on request — typically 50% on invitation and 50% by September 1, 2026. Contact via the application form to arrange. ### Cancellation policy - **Full refund** if cancelled **before November 1, 2026** - **50% refund** if cancelled **on or after November 1, 2026** - **No refund** for no-shows or cancellations within the final 30 days - Travel insurance is **mandatory** and should cover trip cancellation and emergency medical evacuation --- ## How to Apply (Invitation-Only Process) Zen Sand is invitation-only. The maximum group size is 15. Peter and Joanna personally curate every cohort. The application process is: ### Step 1 — Submit an application Fill out the short form at [https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn](https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn). The form takes about 5 minutes and asks about: - Your intention for the retreat - Meditation and physical activity background (no experience is required) - Any physical or dietary considerations - Accommodation preference (shared or solo) ### Step 2 — Application review Peter and Joanna read every application personally. Typical turnaround is about a week. They are evaluating fit with the cohort, sincerity of intention, and whether the physical demands of the trek are realistic for you. **No meditation experience is required**, and they are not looking for experienced trekkers — they are looking for people who will walk well together in silence. ### Step 3 — Invitation and deposit If accepted, you receive an invitation with payment instructions. Full payment is due upon approval (payment plans available on request). Once payment is received, your spot is confirmed. ### Step 4 — Preparation In the months before the retreat you'll receive a detailed packing list, recommended reading, a short pre-retreat meditation practice to try at home, and logistics for getting to Marrakech. The facilitators are available for questions throughout. ### Step 5 — Arrive On Day 1, the group transfer leaves Marrakech together. From that point, the pilgrimage begins. ### Why invitation-only Small group size and personal curation are the two things that most determine whether a contemplative retreat works. With 15 people and 10 days, there is nowhere to hide from the group and nowhere to hide from yourself. Peter and Joanna want to make sure the cohort is ready for that, and that each person will support rather than undermine the silence. It is a high bar, and it is the right one. --- ## Who This Is For Zen Sand is designed for adults who: - Want a deep, quiet, physically demanding contemplative experience - Are open to practicing meditation in a structured group setting - Can walk 3–5 hours per day on varied terrain - Are comfortable sleeping outdoors in basic (but well-supported) camping conditions - Can commit to ten days fully unplugged from phones and email - Are open to sitting in silence with strangers and gradually turning them into companions Past Zen Sand and StillRush retreat participants have included founders, CEOs, creative directors, writers, investors, physicians, therapists, academics, and artists. The common thread is a willingness to slow down completely and to be changed by that. **This is NOT a beginner's meditation weekend, a wellness vacation, or a guided tour.** It is a pilgrimage. You should want that. ## Physical Requirements Participants should be in good physical condition. You will walk approximately **10–15 km per day** on varied desert terrain including sand dunes, stony plains, and dry riverbeds. You do not need to be a trained hiker or athlete — the pace is deliberately slow and the route is chosen to be accessible — but you do need to be able to comfortably walk for several hours in uneven terrain carrying a daypack with water and layers. The camel caravan carries all the heavy luggage. You carry only a small daypack (water, sun hat, snacks, layers, camera, journal). If you have any medical concerns, please declare them on the application form. Serious cardiovascular conditions, mobility issues that prevent long walking, and recent major surgeries are generally incompatible with the trek. When in doubt, contact the facilitators before applying. --- ## Retreat Guidelines The following guidelines exist to protect the experience for everyone in the group. Participants agree to these upon accepting the invitation. - **Phones off** for the duration of the desert trek. Phones can be used for photography in airplane mode. Emergency communication is handled through the guide's satellite device. - **No alcohol** during the trek. Social drinks at Dar Daif on Day 1 and Day 9 are fine. - **Silence is observed** during morning walking meditation and during designated sits. Outside those times, conversation is welcome — but mindful conversation is the goal, not constant chatter. - **Participation in group practices** — sits, walking meditation, sharing circles, tea ceremonies — is expected. If you want to skip a session, that's fine; just let a facilitator know. - **Respect for the cohort and the land.** Carry out what you carry in. Walk gently. Keep camp quiet at night. Defer to the camel drivers and guide on routing and safety. - **Dietary needs** are accommodated (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) — specify on the application form. --- ## Practical Information ### Getting There Fly to **Marrakech Menara International Airport (RAK)**. Most participants arrive the day before Day 1 (January 27) to recover from jet lag and explore Marrakech, or the morning of Day 1 before the group transfer leaves. Exact transfer time and pickup location will be shared closer to the date. Return flights should be booked for the afternoon or evening of **February 6, 2027** from Marrakech. ### Visa Many nationalities (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, NZ, most others) receive a 90-day tourist visa on arrival for Morocco — no advance visa required. Confirm with your consulate for your specific passport. ### Health and Safety - **Travel insurance is mandatory** and must cover emergency medical evacuation and trip cancellation. Recommended: World Nomads, SafetyWing, or Allianz. - **Vaccinations:** no special vaccinations required beyond the routine ones for Morocco. Check with your doctor. - **Water:** all drinking water in the desert is provided by the camp. - **Medical support:** the guide carries a first aid kit and satellite device. The nearest hospital is in Zagora or Ouarzazate. ### Packing A full packing list is sent after acceptance. Short version: - Hiking shoes or trail runners (broken in — not new) - Hiking pants and long-sleeve shirts for sun protection - Warm layers, down jacket, beanie for cold nights - Sleeping bag rated to 0°C (provided on request if flying light) - Wide-brim sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, lip balm - Headlamp with spare batteries - Small daypack - Reusable water bottle - Journal and pen - Ear plugs, eye mask - Personal toiletries, small quick-dry towel - Meditation cushion or small zafu (optional — communal ones provided) --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How much does Zen Sand cost? Early bird (before September 1, 2026): **$3,950 USD shared** or **$4,950 USD solo**. Standard (after September 1): $4,500 shared or $5,500 solo. Per person. Price includes all meals, 2 nights at the hotel, 7 nights in the desert, facilitation, local logistics, and ground transportation from Marrakech. Flights and insurance are not included. ### Who can attend? How do I apply? Zen Sand is **invitation-only** with a maximum of **15 participants**. Apply at [https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn](https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn). Peter and Joanna review every application personally. No meditation experience is required. ### Is Zen Sand a silent retreat? It is not a full silent retreat. Silence is observed during walking meditation (kinhin) periods, early mornings, and parts of the afternoon sits. Meals, evening dharma talks, and group sharing circles are spoken. ### Do I need meditation experience? No. Peter has personally instructed over 1,000 people in zazen and kinhin. The group learns the practice together. Beginners are welcome. ### How physically demanding is it? Moderate to vigorous. You walk 3–5 hours per day (approximately 10–15 km) on desert terrain — sand, stony plains, dry riverbeds. Good physical condition is required. You do not need to be a trained athlete, but you should be comfortable walking for hours in uneven terrain. ### What is walking meditation (kinhin)? Kinhin is a form of Zen walking meditation traditionally practiced between periods of zazen (seated meditation) in Zen monasteries. The walker brings full attention to each step, the breath, and the body in motion. In a monastery it is done slowly in a hall. In the desert, it takes the form of mindful walking across open terrain — the same attention, the same silence, but with the horizon stretching in every direction. ### What's the weather like in late January? Cool and dry. Daytime: 15–22°C (59–72°F). Night: 2–5°C (36–41°F). Rain is rare. This is the best time of year to walk in the deep Sahara. ### What do we eat? Traditional Moroccan food prepared fresh by the camp cook. Tagines, couscous, flatbread, salads, fruit, tea. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets are accommodated — specify on the application form. Food is a highlight of the retreat. ### Is there cell service? Almost none once the caravan starts walking. Phones are off for the trek. The guide carries a satellite device for emergencies. ### Where do we sleep? Two nights in **Riad Dar Daif**, a traditional Moroccan guesthouse in Ouarzazate. Seven nights in **nomadic Berber tents** set up by the camp team each evening. Foam mattresses provided; bring your own sleeping bag (or request one in advance). ### What if I need to cancel? Full refund if cancelled before November 1, 2026. 50% refund if cancelled after November 1. No refund for no-shows. This is why travel insurance with cancellation coverage is mandatory. ### Can I bring a partner or friend? Both of you would need to apply separately. The facilitators consider each applicant on their own merits, and being a couple is neither a plus nor a minus — but the cohort is curated as a group, not as pairs. ### What language is the retreat in? English. Peter and Joanna both speak English. The local guide and cook speak Darija (Moroccan Arabic) and some French; the facilitators translate as needed. ### What happens after the retreat? Participants receive a follow-up packet with recommended further reading, a home practice guide, and access to a private alumni group. Past Zen Sand participants often stay in touch for years. --- ## Quotes > "There is much to learn by those who understand the language of the great > silent places." > — Harry Carstens > "In the silence of the desert, I beheld the invisible." > — Charles de Foucauld > "The desert does not mean the absence of men, it means the presence of > God." > — Carlo Carretto > "Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet." > — Thich Nhat Hanh > "We do not travel in order to arrive. We travel in order to disappear." > — attributed to Matsuo Bashō --- ## Organizer Zen Sand is presented by **Corbett Ventures LLC**, operating as **StillRush**, a retreat and executive coaching practice founded by Peter Corbett. StillRush runs meditation retreats, leadership intensives, and private facilitations for founders, executives, and creatives in high-stakes environments. More at https://stillrush.co. The local desert logistics are operated in partnership with a Berber outfitter based in M'hamid El Ghizlane with over a decade of experience guiding contemplative and adventure travel in the Erg Chigaga region. --- ## Links - [Main site](https://zensand.stillrush.co) - [Apply / Request an invitation](https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn) - [Short llms.txt index](https://zensand.stillrush.co/llms.txt) - [Organizer — StillRush](https://stillrush.co) - [Peter Corbett — facilitator bio](https://stillrush.co/bio) - [Peter Corbett — LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/corbett3000) - [Joanna Riquett — facilitator website](https://joannariquett.com/) - [Joanna Riquett — LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannariquett/) - [Full program PDF](https://zensand.stillrush.co/promos/zen-sand-program.pdf)