# Zen Sand: Sifting the Self — A Desert Walking Meditation Pilgrimage

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## Overview

Zen Sand is a 10-day walking meditation pilgrimage through Morocco's Erg Chigaga Desert, combining Zen Buddhist kinhin (walking meditation) and zazen (seated meditation) with multi-day desert trekking. Taking place January 28 through February 6, 2027, the journey is facilitated by Peter Corbett — a meditation teacher who has instructed over 1,000 individuals and led 500+ retreat participants since 2022 for organizations including YPO, Hampton, and Summit — and Joanna Riquett, a tea ceremony practitioner, author of *A Mindful Tea*, and founder of La Sultana Tea House. Participants walk 3 to 5 hours daily across remote dunes and plains while practicing contemplative walking, seated meditation, and tea rituals. The retreat includes 7 nights camping in nomadic tents with full logistical support from local Berber guides, plus 2 nights at Riad Dar Daif Hotel in Ouarzazate. **Maximum 15 participants, invitation-only.** No prior meditation experience required.

## Metadata

- **Type:** Event, Retreat, Walking Meditation Pilgrimage
- **Industry:** Wellness, Contemplative Travel, Meditation, Adventure Travel
- **Target Audience:** Professionals, executives, founders, creatives, contemplatives
- **Experience Level:** All levels (beginners welcome)
- **Language:** English
- **Currency:** USD

## Key Facts

- **What:** 10-day walking meditation pilgrimage (kinhin) in the Sahara Desert
- **Where:** Erg Chigaga, Sahara Desert, Morocco (29.32°N, 6.28°W), near Zagora/M'hamid
- **When:** January 28 – February 6, 2027
- **Duration:** 10 days / 9 nights (2 nights hotel + 7 nights desert camp)
- **Group Size:** **Maximum 15 participants, invitation-only** — the group is personally curated by the facilitators
- **Price (early bird, before September 1, 2026):** $3,950 shared accommodations / $4,950 solo accommodations (per person, USD)
- **Price (standard, after September 1, 2026):** $4,500 shared / $5,500 solo (per person, USD)
- **What price includes:** All meals from Day 1 dinner through Day 10 breakfast, 2 nights at Riad Dar Daif Hotel, 7 nights in desert tents, full desert logistics (guide, cook, camel caravan, equipment), ground transportation from Marrakech, and facilitation by Peter Corbett and Joanna Riquett
- **What price excludes:** Flights to/from Marrakech, travel insurance (mandatory), some meals on Day 1 and Day 10, personal expenses, tips for local outfitters
- **Payment terms:** Full payment due upon approval of invitation. Payment plans available on request.
- **Experience Required:** None — beginners welcome
- **Physical Demand:** Moderate to vigorous — participants walk 3–5 hours per day (approximately 10–15 km) on desert terrain including sand dunes, stony plains, and dry riverbeds
- **Organizer:** Corbett Ventures LLC, operating as StillRush (https://stillrush.co)
- **Website:** https://zensand.stillrush.co
- **Application:** [form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn](https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn)

## How to Apply (Invitation-Only Process)

Zen Sand is an invitation-only retreat. The facilitators personally curate each group to ensure cohesion and quality of experience. To be considered:

1. **Submit an application** at https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn — takes about 5 minutes and asks about your intention, experience level, and fit.
2. **Peter and Joanna review every application personally.** They evaluate fit with the cohort, intention, and physical readiness. No meditation experience is required.
3. **If accepted**, you receive an invitation with payment instructions. Full payment is due upon approval (payment plans available on request).
4. **Cancellation policy:** Full refund if cancelled before November 1, 2026. 50% refund if cancelled after November 1.
5. **Spots fill quickly** — only 15 are offered, and early bird pricing (before September 1, 2026) is a meaningful discount.

## Facilitators

### Peter Corbett
Lead facilitator and meditation guide. Has led over 500 people on retreats and instructed over 1,000 individuals in meditation practice since 2022. Executive coach who advises founders, CEOs, and Fortune 500 executives on contemplative leadership. Founded StillRush. Past retreat locations include the Amazon, deserts, and forests of North and South America for organizations including YPO, Hampton, and Summit.
- [Website](https://stillrush.co/bio)
- [LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/corbett3000)

### Joanna Riquett
Tea ceremony and mindfulness facilitator. Founder of La Sultana Tea House and creator of A Mindful Tea. Founded Mindful Immersions, dedicated to slow, intentional pilgrimages in locations of natural silence including the Moroccan Sahara. Former publisher of the award-winning Hayo Magazine. Practices within the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.
- [Website](https://joannariquett.com/)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannariquett/)

## What's Included

- Group roundtrip private transfer from Marrakech to Ouarzazate
- 2 nights at Riad Dar Daif Hotel
- 7 nights in the desert in shared (or solo) nomadic tents
- Full board from Day 1 dinner to Day 10 breakfast
- All desert logistics: guide, assistants, cook, camel caravan
- All group equipment: tents, foam mattresses, kitchen tent, shower tent, first aid kit, meditation rugs
- Facilitation by Peter Corbett and Joanna Riquett

## What's Not Included

- Flights to/from Marrakech
- Travel/repatriation insurance (mandatory)
- Lunches on Day 1 and Day 10 / Dinner on Day 10
- Personal expenses (drinks, wine, tips)

## Daily Structure

- Dawn meditation and movement practice
- Morning walking meditation (kinhin) across dunes — 3–5 hours
- 1–2 hours of seated meditation (zazen) by day and night
- Mindful meals prepared by a dedicated cook
- Evening dharma talks and group sharing circles
- Star gazing and rest under the stars
- Silent hours observed during walking periods

## Day-by-Day Itinerary

- **Day 1 — January 28, 2027:** Arrival in Ouarzazate via group transfer. Welcome and opening circle. Sleep at Dar Daif guesthouse.
- **Day 2 — January 29, 2027:** Transfer through the Draa Valley. Cross the Anti-Atlas at Tinifift pass. Drive through Agdz, the Draa palm groves, Zagora, and visit Tamgrout's 13th-century library. Continue to M'hamid El Ghizlane. Local 4x4 to Sidi Naji — ruins of the ancient caravanserai. Meet the camel drivers, load the caravan, and walk 1 hour south. First bivouac.
- **Day 3 — January 30, 2027:** Dune plains to the southwest, Erg Zmila. 4 hours walking.
- **Day 4 — January 31, 2027:** Southern plain to the wadi edge and Sidi Ahmagh marabout. Dunes of Zair Srigh. 4.5 hours walking.
- **Day 5 — February 1, 2027:** A day among the dunes heading north toward the Draa wadi, past Erg Smar. 4 hours walking.
- **Day 6 — February 2, 2027:** Crossing plains and dunes to reach Khald Guerzimi. 4.5 hours walking.
- **Day 7 — February 3, 2027:** Reaching the south of the Boutilla dunes. 5 hours walking.
- **Day 8 — February 4, 2027:** Arid plain through the small dunes of Hassi L'milh. Bivouac at 550m altitude. 4–5 hours walking.
- **Day 9 — February 5, 2027:** Dawn crossing due west to Lake Iriki. Final hour of walking — end of camel trek. Transfer by 4x4 through Foum Zguid and Taznakht back to Ouarzazate. Closing circle. Evening at Dar Daif.
- **Day 10 — February 6, 2027:** Breakfast at Dar Daif. Group transfer to Marrakech. Departure.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How much does the Zen Sand pilgrimage cost?**
Early bird pricing (before September 1, 2026): $3,950 USD for shared accommodations or $4,950 USD for solo accommodations, per person. After September 1: $4,500 shared or $5,500 solo. Price includes all meals, 2 hotel nights, 7 desert camp nights, facilitation, 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. Submit an application at https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn. Peter and Joanna review every application personally. No meditation experience required.

**Is Zen Sand a silent retreat?**
Zen Sand is not a full-time silent retreat. Silence is observed during walking meditation periods and some evenings, but there are also group sharing circles, dharma talks, and communal meals with conversation.

**Do I need meditation experience to attend?**
No prior meditation experience is required. Peter has instructed over 1,000 people in zazen and kinhin. You will learn the practice together as a group.

**How physically demanding is the desert trek?**
Participants walk 3–5 hours per day (approximately 10–15 km) on varied desert terrain including sand dunes, stony plains, and dry riverbeds. Good physical condition is required. This is a vigorous pilgrimage, not a spa retreat.

**What is walking meditation (kinhin)?**
Kinhin is a form of Zen walking meditation traditionally practiced between periods of seated meditation (zazen). In the desert, participants hike mindfully across vast open terrain where the horizon stretches unbroken in every direction.

**What is the weather like in the Sahara in late January?**
Late January in the Erg Chigaga region is cool and dry. Daytime temperatures range from 15–22°C (59–72°F). Nights can drop to 2–5°C (36–41°F). Rain is extremely rare.

## Cancellation Policy

Full refund if cancelled before November 1, 2026. 50% refund if cancelled after November 1. Full payment due upon approval of invitation. Travel insurance is mandatory and should cover trip cancellation.

## Links

- [Main site](https://zensand.stillrush.co)
- [Apply / Request an invitation](https://form.typeform.com/to/I5pyrlwn)
- [Organizer (StillRush)](https://stillrush.co)
- [Peter Corbett — facilitator bio](https://stillrush.co/bio)
- [Joanna Riquett — facilitator website](https://joannariquett.com/)
- [Full program PDF](https://zensand.stillrush.co/promos/zen-sand-program.pdf)