Berber Rug Weaving Apprenticeship
The Apprenticeship Series
Step into the life of a Berber weaver.
Six days with a Berber women's weaving cooperative in the High Atlas mountains. Wool, dye, loom. Symbols passed mother to daughter for centuries.
Limited cohorts each year. Request your dates above. We reply within 48 hours, no card required.
Step into the life of
A women's weaving cooperative in the High Atlas.
In Berber villages high in the Atlas, women have been weaving rugs as a record of their lives for centuries. Every motif is a story: a fertility symbol, a journey, a marriage. The yarn is local wool, the dyes are local plants, the looms are wooden frames in the family room.
You work with the women of a cooperative that sells what they make. You eat with them, sleep nearby, weave with them.
What you will do
Wool to rug to story.
Six days lets you learn the basic knots, dye your own wool, and weave a small rug or runner with motifs you choose with the cooperative.
- Card and spin local wool with a drop spindle
- Dye wool with henna, indigo, walnut hulls and saffron
- Set up the loom: warp, tension and shed
- Tie symmetrical Berber knots row by row
- Eat tagine and bread with the women each day
"Every host on Apprenti Trips is someone we have met in person and would send our own family to. If we cannot stand behind them, the trip does not exist."
Who it is for
This is not for tourists. It is for the most curious of minds, the restless ones who come alive when the world opens from the inside.
The village is remote and traditional. Dress modestly. Best for women travellers or couples who are comfortable in a conservative village setting. The hospitality is extraordinary.
What is included
What is included.
Included
- Six days at the cooperative
- All wool, dyes, tools and loom access
- Your finished piece, shipped home
- Three meals a day with the women
- Accommodation in a village guesthouse
Not included
- Flights to Marrakech
- Ground transfer to the village (we arrange)
- Personal expenses
At a glance
- Location
- Village in the High Atlas, near Marrakech
- Duration
- Six days at the cooperative
- Group size
- One to three apprentices
- Price
- From USD $1,690, all-inclusive
- Language
- Tamazight and Arabic; interpreter on site
- Best season
- March–May and September–November
- Not included
- Flights and personal expenses.
Questions
Common questions, plainly answered.
Do I need experience?
No. Our hosts work with adults of all levels. What matters is curiosity, presence, and willingness to slow down. Technical skill comes from being in the room.
When do I pay?
Never on inquiry. You submit your request, we confirm availability within 48 hours, and only then do we share a quote and payment link. Inquiring is free.
What if my dates change?
Date changes are flexible up to 60 days before your start date, no charge. Inside 60 days we work case by case with the host. We have never refused a reasonable change.
I am traveling solo, is that fine?
Yes. Most apprentices come alone. Group sizes are small (typically one to four), so you will not be lost in a crowd. Many trips are designed for solo travelers first.
Is travel insurance included?
No. We require apprentices to carry their own travel insurance covering trip cancellation and emergency medical care. We can recommend trusted providers on request.
Ready to step in?
Request dates with the form above. No card required to inquire. We reply within 48 hours, with a real answer.