Yoga & Wellness Retreat in the Dordogne Valley

The retreat is based at a restored farmhouse in the Dordogne department of southwest France. The property has four guest bedrooms, a yoga barn, an outdoor pool and a garden where most meals are eaten in good weather. The town of Bergerac and its airport are about 45 minutes away by car; Bordeaux is a bit over two hours.

A typical day starts with a 90-minute yoga class before breakfast, usually a mix of hatha and vinyasa depending on who's teaching that week. Breakfast is served around 9, then the middle of the day is free — swim, read, walk into the village, or take a longer hike on one of the marked routes nearby. Around 5pm there's a second session, which might be restorative yoga, yin, or a guided meditation, followed by dinner at 7.30.

What separates this from the bigger, more programmed retreats is the scale. With four bedrooms, the group stays small and the schedule has room to shift — if everyone wants a longer morning class and a shorter evening one, that's usually how it goes. The food is cooked on site using produce from the local markets in the Dordogne, and there's wine from nearby vineyards at dinner if you want it.

The teachers change through the season and are listed on the retreat schedule rather than fixed permanently. They're working instructors who teach elsewhere in Europe for the rest of the year, and most have 500-hour certifications recognised by Yoga Alliance.

Outside the scheduled classes, guests often drive to Sarlat, Rocamadour or one of the bastide towns on a free afternoon, or book a canoe trip on the Dordogne river. Nothing is compulsory — the retreat works just as well if you skip a session and spend the morning by the pool.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation in the farmhouse (private or shared rooms) - Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - Morning and evening yoga and meditation sessions - Use of the outdoor pool and garden - Mats and yoga props - Local wine with dinner

What's not included

- Flights and travel to the Dordogne - Airport transfers (can be arranged at extra cost) - Travel insurance - Massage and spa treatments - Optional excursions such as canoe trips or day trips - Personal expenses