Ivory Coast, West Africa
Writing + Culinary Retreat | November 30 - December 06, 2023
“I realized very early the power of food to evoke memory, to bring people together, to transport you to other places.”
Eat, write, retreat.
The bustling coast beckons. The call of urban Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire invites you to its tables topped with attiéké, fouto, plantain, fish with akpi, stews of slippery sauce, sweet potatoes, and even sweeter cocoa. You’ll draft short stories inspired by street food or write lyrical renderings roused by the seasonal fare offered at La Maison Palmier. Allow the cuisine of West Africa to be your muse during this week-long retreat in Ivory Coast.
Nourish creativity.
During your stay, we’ll take care of you so you can nourish your creativity. Here, you’ll indulge in meaningful reflection, dive into a new project, or find clarity on an old one. Here, you can tend to your imagination while tapping into the vast richness of Ivorian culture. Our itinerary is thoughtfully designed and we highly respect our impact on the places we visit. So pack your bags, choose your room and flight, and meet us there.
“A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world.”
Itinerary
November 30 - December 06, 2023
day ONE: Thursday
From Félix Houphoët-Boigny International Airport in Abidjan, hop on the shuttle and ride through the eclectic urban metropolis to Las Maison Palmier. At check-in, the hotel will introduce you to your room or suite. In the evening, we’ll meet for a welcome dinner prepared in your honor.
day two: Friday
Come morning, you’ll sit in meditation for a sound bath and journaling session facilitated to open you to the coming experiences. The afternoon invites an excursion to Grand-Bassam, traditional home to the Nzema, as well as a Unesco world heritage site reflecting the country’s colonial history. You’ll dine beach-side, then end the evening free-writing against the edge of The Atlantic
day three: Saturday
You’ll gather under the shade of the palms for a sensuous morning writing workshop inspired by the flavors of Côte d’Ivoire. Mid-day, you’ll head to the city for a street food walk, guided by a local culinary blogger. After a gourmet dinner enjoyed at the bistro, take part in the buzzing nightlife of Abidjan. Listen to performances at a West-African-style reggae bar and feel free to dance along!
day four: Sunday
After a restful morning, follow the song of birds to the national park for a hike in tropical flora. Participate in an intuitive poetry workshop while nestled among a variety of African treescapes. Upon return, enjoy a late afternoon at the pool before reconvening for dinner at the bistro.
day five: Monday
Spend the day at Aghien, an ecotourism site, contemplating its lush vegetation while canoeing along the mangroves, partaking in a water hike, or simply floating on the surface of its lagoon. A “10-Finger Feast” of Ivorian dishes will be enjoyed during lunch. After the meal, you’ll sit for a storytelling session on African legends and lore. We’ll return to break bread for dinner at the bistro.
Day Six: Tuesday
You’ll join a cooking course and prepare your own meal, guided by an expert chef. The closing writing workshop prompts you to build a short story from a cherished recipe. The retreat concludes with a farewell dinner at the bistro.
day seven: wednesday
Depart shortly after breakfast and head home or to your next destination.
Itinerary may vary slightly.
Retreat Week: Thursday, November 30th to Wednesday, December 6th, 2023
Open to a maximum of 12 retreat participants.
What’s Included?
Writing + Journaling Workshops
Guided Sound Bath Meditation
Grand-Bassam Beach + Unesco Heritage Tour
Street Food Walk
Lagoon Trip in the Mangroves
Tropical Forest Hike
Nightlife Excursion (Reggae Bar/Dance Club)
Cooking Course
Ground Transportation to/from Activities
All Lunches + Dinners (Breakfast included w/hotel stay)
Digital Travel Guide
Welcome Gift Inspired by the Locale
What’s Not Included
Flight to/from Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Accommodations at La Maison Palmier
Health & Travel Insurance
Entry Visa
Yellow Fever Vaccine
CostS
At the Story Rebels Writing + Culinary Retreat Ivory Coast 2023 both professional and casual writers are welcome. It’s perfect for creative spirits of all kinds. We’ve hosted filmmakers, painters, designers, memoirists, poets, illustrators, bloggers, art directors, and attorneys. Your investment is €3590 per person, early registration; €3690 per person, regular registration; €3790 per person, late registration. This cost includes all writing and journaling workshops, a guided sound bath meditation, excursions, ground transportation to/from retreat activities, 5 lunches and 6 dinners (breakfast is included with your hotel reservation), a digital travel guide, as well as a welcome gift. The option to cover this expense in 3, 6, or 9 monthly installments is available at booking. Please be reminded that your flight as well as hotel accommodations are not reflected in this price. An entry visa is required for most tourists. A yellow fever vaccination is compulsory for all travelers. Total costs will vary and are dependent on your original location. Here you’ll find a helpful expense planning guide.
Early Registration deadline: February 28, 2023.
Regular Registration deadline: August 31, 2023.
Late Registration deadline: October 31, 2023.
Prices increase slightly with each new deadline.
AccomModations
La Maison Palmier is a contemporary design sanctuary situated in the residential enclave of Les Deux Plateaux with nearby chic boutiques and cafes. Its architecture was led by the Ivorian, Desiré M’bengue, with textile imprints by Senegalese artisan Aissa Dione. Photographs and sculptures from local artists adorn its rooms and public spaces. Resting underneath the shadow of more than 200 different species of palm trees with interwoven garden paths, this boutique hotel is a green oasis in the heart of the city. Its bistro is renowned for international dishes with a French twist and its bar for inventive cocktails infused with soul. Accommodations at La Maison Palmier are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Meet The Host
Each Story Rebels experience is designed by founder, Malika Ali Harding, an American writer, photographer, and certified sound therapist based in Amsterdam. At the heart of her services is a desire to guide the world’s creative class toward greater well-being. She traverses the globe making visual narratives inspired by her curiosity. Malika earned her BFA from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and an MFA in Screenwriting from the AFI Conservatory in Los Angeles. She has spent the greater part of her adult life crafting indie films, organizing art exhibitions, and raising babies. When you book a retreat, a portion of the proceeds are donated to a Prison Library Project that provides reading materials to people who are incarcerated across the United States.
Testimonials
“This was the highlight of my year - exploring the creative process with a poet, novelist, architect, set designer, and other filmmakers.”
“Traveling with Story Rebels allowed me to have the time and space to be creative. I could relax and focus on writing surrounded by others with a similar drive.”
“...a storybook experience..paths through bamboo, palm and cactus...creating our own meals over coals...every detail carefully thought out. These retreats are soul food.”
“The retreat felt like a dream and it was really fun being transported. I loved the writing exercises and special time for reflection. I’d rather spend money on experiences like this than just a bunch of wasteful stuff.”
“The best traveling experience I’ve ever had.”
“Culinary feasts, sweet treats, sacred patterns, chamber of dreams, couscous, pompons, rebelicious.”
Got Questions?
Feel free to email writeon at storyrebels dot org OR complete the form below.
See You In Côte d’Ivoire!
Photo Credits: Yann Deret, Little Things Create, Etty Fidele, Raimond Klavins, V2osk, Malika Ali Harding