Women's Yoga Weekend Escape in Southern France

The retreat runs for four days and three nights. Mornings start with yoga — usually in the garden or on a terrace if the weather holds, otherwise indoors at the villa. Sessions suit all levels; the page is clear that no prior yoga experience is needed, and the classes are gentle enough for someone who has never done a downward dog. After class comes breakfast, and then the day opens up. Some days there's an organised activity, some days there isn't.

What separates this from a standard yoga holiday is that it's explicitly a women-only trip built around creative play as well as movement. The listed activities include kayaking on nearby water, a trip to a local market, and creative sessions that are described as being about self-expression rather than producing anything good. There are no workshops on business, no nutrition lectures, no early-morning bootcamps. It's a weekend, not a course.

The villa itself — Le Clos des Cyprès — sits in Saint-Christol-de-Rodières, a village in the Cézi valley in Occitanie, roughly an hour north of Montpellier and Nîmes. It's rural: vineyards, garrigue, cicadas in summer, small stone villages within a short drive. The grounds are quiet and enclosed, which is part of why the schedule can stay as loose as it does. There's a pool, a garden, and enough space that you can be alone with a book if you want to be.

Food is cooked at the villa and eaten together. The page says meals are tailored to the group's dietary needs, so vegetarians and anyone with intolerances should flag it when booking. Expect the southern French version of retreat food — big salads, tomatoes, olive oil, grilled vegetables, some fish or meat, fruit, and probably wine with dinner if the group wants it. Long lunches are mentioned specifically, which suggests the middle of the day is the main meal.

The two people running it, Laraly and Alexandra, are both based in France. The page doesn't give detailed bios, but they're described as the retreat's facilitators and are the ones you deal with from the first enquiry through to arrival. That direct contact is a real difference from booking through a large operator — you'll know who's cooking your dinner before you get there.

What's included

- 4 days / 3 nights at Le Clos des Cyprès villa - Daily morning yoga sessions - Meals at the villa as arranged for the group (dietary needs catered for) - Kayaking on nearby water - Trip to a local market - Creative session - Use of the pool and garden - Direct contact with the retreat leader before and during your stay

What's not included

- Flights and travel to Saint-Christol-de-Rodières - Airport or station transfers - Travel insurance - Personal expenses and spending money - Optional upgrades and extras (available on request) - Alcoholic drinks unless arranged with the group