THE TRAVEL YOGI
France Yoga Adventure
Trip in One Word: Pleasure
What You’ll Experience in France
During this yoga retreat in France, you’ll spend your days wandering through medieval villages and soaking up French culture as the locals do. Imagine fresh pastries in sunny marketplaces, strolling through charming villages, sommelier wine tastings, and so much delicious food. You’ll quickly align with the pace of “slow” French country-living and find real pleasure in each moment.
How You’ll Experience France
Based in the Dordogne region of southwest France, you’ll experience bio-dynamic wines, farm-to-table meals, culture, stunning medieval castles, and local market days. You’ll get the skinny on the amazing organic and biodynamic wine scene—-and even bottle your unique wine blend on a vineyard. Your days in the French countryside will be balanced with yoga in a restored barn at our unique gitê home-away-from-home. Let leisure soak into your bones on this yoga retreat in France.
How You’ll Feel When You Return Home
Culture-soaked and wine-happy, return home from this yoga retreat in France relaxed, inspired to build your culinary skills, and with a full-bodied (that wine education will come in handy) taste for life. Come back enlivened by new friends and great conversations you’ll remember for years to come.
Yoga Retreat in France Details
Eymet
SAUSSIGNAC
Beynac & La Roque-Gageac
Upcoming Dates
Jan Debenham
Jan Debenham
After 25 years as co-owner of the Yoga Centre Winnipeg, Jan has taken a step back to focus on teaching, being a grandparent and enjoying her practice and life. Jan has studied yoga with a variety of teachers including Donald Moyer, Father Joe Pereira, Francisco Kaiut and Sandra Sabatini.
In addition to 500hrs YTT from the Yoga Room in Berkley, CA., Jan is certified in the Kaiut Yoga Method as well as the Vinyasa Method. As someone who truly lives the practice, Jan’s dedication to asana and meditation shines through as she guides students with insight, knowledge and caring to explore the joy of yoga.
Shauna Ellerby
Shauna Ellerby
Shauna is the current owner of the Yoga Centre Winnipeg and has studied yoga with a variety of teachers including Donald Moyer, Father Joe Pereira, Francisco Kaiut and Sandra Sabatini. With her 500hrs from YCW, Shauna is also certified in both the Kripalu and Kaiut Methods of yoga.
Shauna’s playful, loving approach to her own yoga practice inspires her students to tread lightly in all areas of their life, on the mat as well as off.
Wendy Garafalo
Wendy Garafalo
Wendy is a 500-ERYT certified yoga teacher and continuing education provider. She also has a level 1 wine certification from WSET. Wendy’s passion for teaching movement involves learning about your body and celebrating all that you are capable of. Her teaching style involves mindful vinyasa style movements tailored to fit each yogi’s specific needs. She shares stories that will move you not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.
Movement, anatomy and wine are her secret to enjoying life and she is constantly developing new trainings and workshops to continue to help students use these tools to find relief from pain and daily stress. Wendy has trained with Seane Corn, Maty Ezraty, Annie Carpenter, Trina Altman and Jason Crandall. Wendy teaches weekly classes at Equinox in Southern California, corporate workshops nationally and internationally and virtual health and wellness webinars to a global community.
She is inspired by her fearless son, her spunky daughter and her love for travel, wine and adventures.
Michelle Manausa
Michelle Manausa
Growing up as a dancer, Michelle Manausa (RYT 200) made the leap to the fitness industry as a senior in high school on Long Island, NY in 1989. After moving to Tallahassee, Florida to attend Florida State University, she continued to embrace her love of movement and fitness as a staff instructor for the FSU Athletic Center and various health facilities. Michelle experienced her first yoga class in 2001 and it was love at first asana! After a 10 year break of teaching fitness classes while her 3 children were small, she re-entered the fitness industry adding yoga instruction with a new sense of purpose and passion.
Presently, Michelle teaches Kickboxing, HIIT, Step, Pilates, Barre, Core, and Yoga. She loves any fusion of these forms of movement especially when she can introduce Yoga to new people. While Michelle loves teaching many varieties and levels of yoga, she really enjoys leading an intro class. She’s passionate about creating a safe and encouraging environment for new yogis to explore this type of movement. And now as an empty nester, she is enjoying the opportunity to take her love of yoga and fitness on the road for travel adventures!
While movement has always been a driving force in her life since a young age, her personal yoga practice has been a necessary grounding and balancing element. Sharing the amazing benefits of yoga, meditation and healthy lifestyle are her passion.
Michelle is always ready for fun, whether it’s a spontaneous dance party, a wine tasting tour or a zip line through the rain forest. Her degree in Hospitality Administration along with over 20 years in the fitness industry, prepared Michelle to host a fabulous trip with The Travel Yogi.
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What's Included
- Yoga most mornings & each evening
- 7 nights chateau yoga retreat accommodation
- 3 farm-to-table meals each day
- Wine tasting
- Sample the best of the region during an evening with a local sommelier
- Become a winemaker for a day at a local vineyard!
- Teach your taste buds with a lunch food and wine pairing class
- Create, blend and bottle your own unique vino memories to bring home
- Day trip to La Roque Gageac and Beynac
- Picnic lunch by the Dordogne
- Excursions through medieval La Roque and Beynac
- Trip to the Issigeac market
- Catch the tastes and colors of this medieval town during their famous Sunday market
- Transfers (on arrival and departure days only) from the Bergerac airport or train station
What's Not Included
- Airfare to Bergerac, France (EGC)
- Additional excursions
- Alcohol or items of a personal nature/souvenirs
- Travel insurance (recommended)
- Gratuities
Accommodations
France culture abounds in our historic manoir accommodation. On this yoga reatreat in France, each gîte is its own private sanctuary encompassing two to three rooms, a sleek kitchen (for storing any yummy cheeses) and living room. Rooms all have their own bathrooms with some en suite and some attached just outside the bedroom door.
And while all rooms have their own charm, don’t expect to spend too much time indoors! Encased in a region of rolling hills and country roads, days can take the form of a stroll to the local village, some chill time by the pool and, of course, our immersive south of France explorations. Our location and accommodation leave nothing to want on our lux yoga retreat in France.
*Please note that European twin beds are slightly shorter and more narrow than U.S. twins.*
Itinerary
For this yoga retreat in France, schedules will vary slightly and final itineraries will go out to the travel crew about a month prior to departure. Our schedule below gives you an overall picture of what a weeklong wellness retreat in the gorgeous south of France will look like:
1
DAY ONE
- Midday arrival to Bergerac
- Transfers from the Bergerac airport or train station (on arrival and departure days only)
- Check-in and soak up the general countryside splendor
- Evening de-travel and welcome yoga class
- Gourmet group welcome dinner
2
DAY TWO
- Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
- Wake up and refresh morning yoga
- Local and fresh breakfast
- Day trip to the locally famous Issigeac market
- Stroll through the medieval town’s farmers market for local and organic yummies
- Enjoy the local flavor and introduction to one of the area’s historic villages
- Souvenir shop, mix with the locals and sample tastes of the region
- Head back for lunch at the chateau
- Late afternoon yoga in the chateau yoga ‘stable’
- Group dinner
3
DAY THREE
- Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
- Morning yoga class
- Local and fresh breakfast
- Enjoy a chill morning
- Dig into a country fresh lunch
- Enjoy an afternoon free in the country
- Walk a country lane
- Chill in the pool
- Explore the town of Bergerac
- Head back for an evening yoga class
- Delicious evening group dinner
- Post dinner sommelier visit
- Enjoy an evening tasting and learning about some of the regions most delicious wines
- Get the scoop on the local wineries in preparation of the next day’s vineyard visits
4
DAY FOUR
- Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
- Morning yoga class
- Fresh poolside breakfast
- Enjoy a free day to explore or relax
- Book a day trip exploring local castles, Lascaux or local nature
- Rent a bike and cruise through the countryside
- Relax by the pool and chill
- Afternoon lunch at the chateau
- Early evening yoga class
- Delicious group dinner
5
DAY FIVE
- Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
- Morning yoga class
- Fresh poolside breakfast
- Head out to a local organic vineyard to be a winemaker-for-a-day!
- Hands-on exploration of the vineyard and winery
- Enjoy a farm fresh lunch with a wine/food pairing talk from the vintners
- Test your blending skills as you create your own bottle of wine to enjoy, bottle and take home
- Late afternoon yoga class on the outdoor deck
- Sunset group dinner
6
DAY SIX
- Early morning breakfast
- Day trip to picture perfect Aquitaine region
- Head to the hilltop bastide of Domme
- Enjoy the stunning views of the Dordogne (and the view’s practical purpose during the Hundred Years War)
- Stroll the streets of one of the government designated “Most Beautiful Villages of France”
- Explore the castle town of Beynac
- Marvel at the castle on the sheer limestone cliffs
- Stroll through the 12th century village
- Picnic lunch
- Late afternoon yoga class
- Gourmet group dinner
7
DAY SEVEN
- Early morning coffee, tea and fruit available
- Morning yoga class
- Fresh poolside breakfast
- Enjoy a last full day at your leisure
- Head back to a favorite spot
- Stroll through the beautiful countryside
- Take off on one last adventure
- Early evening yoga class and closing circle
- Final group dinner
8
DAY EIGHT
- Morning breakfast, hugs and goodbyes
- Transfer to the Bergerac airport or train station with new friends and awesome memories!
TESTIMONIALS
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
ADVENTURE WELL(NESS)
Frequently Asked Questions
US citizens will need a passport to visit France, but no visa is required at this time. All passports will need to be valid for at least 3 months after your date of arrival and have at least one blank page for entry stamps. Entry information can change so please visit the State Department’s website for current information. Nationals of all other countries should check travel requirements well in advance of their retreat.
Nope! The chateau is stocked with mats, blocks, straps and blankets. You only need to bring your own stuff if you’re particularly attached to personal gear.
Yes, there is wifi, but it is best for basic emails.
The chateau has a beautiful pool that is open from spring until the fall season.
Yes. The food is locally sourced farm-to-table goodness. The chef can accommodate as long as we have at least 3 weeks notice.
You can wander through some additional castles to explore or gallop off through a vineyard, there is more than enough time to book these excursions when you arrive. There is so much to absorb that it’s best not to overbook yourself before arrival… see what you feel like when you reach the good life and don’t forget to book in some chill time. The only exception to this would be if you want to visit the caves of Lascaux or Font de Gaum. For those you’ll need to book a tour in advance as tickets go very quickly, especially in the summer season.
France is on plug type “E” and 230v. Anyone coming from a region with a different plug or voltage should pack their adaptor and/or converter.
France is on the Euro and while we suggest you get cash in Euros when you arrive, credit cards are also accepted.
Although we don’t recommend you book excursions ahead of time, you’ll want to think ahead a bit when it comes to packing. Treks and horseback riding will require close-toed shoes (ie, not flips or sandals) and a few pairs of long pants won’t go amiss. Your essentials will be your yoga clothes and bathing suit with the rest depending on your appetite for adventure; quick dry clothes for adventure activities will work best.
Yes! Of course. Once you’re booked you’ll receive an email with important logistical information and a link to your invoice. You can pay any amount at any time on the invoice; you can use it as a payment plan or leave it alone until the final due date. Remember that deposits are non-refundable so, on all trips, we recommend purchasing travel insurance.