5-Day Digital Detox Retreat at a French Permaculture Farm

Days here tend to start without an alarm. You wake up, walk over to breakfast — a fresh croissant is mentioned specifically — and then the rest is up to you. Read by the pool. Journal in a hammock. Take an easy loop around the sunflower fields and rolling hills that surround the farm. The property has a yoga and meditation barn if you want to sit quietly indoors, and a food forest if you'd rather wander outside.

There are organised things if you want them: a daily guided meditation or silent walk, reflection and creative activities, and often something playful in the evening. But nothing is scheduled tightly. The hosts describe activities as unplanned and usually kicked off by guests themselves. Dinners happen around a shared table, or around the campfire when the weather suits, and people stay talking as long as they feel like it.

Excursions out are low-key. Eymet has a local food market, and there's a lake and a river nearby. If you want to go and no car is available, transport can be arranged for a small extra cost.

This isn't a yoga retreat with a strict timetable, and it isn't a spa. It's a farm in the French countryside with a lot of space and no screens. The comparison worth making is to a normal holiday where you're still checking your phone — here the phone is gone from the moment you arrive, and that single change is what most guests say makes the week different. As one past guest put it, they left "recharged and inspired"; another said it changed how they live, "more present, more intentional, slower."

The farm is run by Sandra (53) and Santi (48), who used to be Buddhist monastics and now own and care for Simply Canvas Farm. They hosted the first five-day Offline Getaway here in 2024 and have run these weeks since. A community host from the organising club joins each edition, so there's someone whose job is looking after the group side of things while Sandra cooks and Santi keeps the farm running.

What's included

- 5 nights on a permaculture farm in the French countryside - Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, cooked by chef Sandra - All meals vegetarian, with allergies taken into account - Optional daily guided meditation or silent walk - Optional reflection and creative activities - Use of the swimming pool, food forest, hammocks and campfire area - Yoga and meditation barn - Phone collection and safe storage for the duration - Optional nature walks and visits to the nearby lake, river or Eymet market (transport may cost extra)

What's not included

- Travel to and from the farm - Airport or station shuttle pick-ups (€10–€30) - Transport for excursions if no cars are available - Gluten-free meals (€5 per day surcharge) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses