Yoga and Wild Walks Weekend in the Ardennes

The gîte sits on the heights of Durbuy, a small town in the Belgian Ardennes, and the weekend is built around it rather than around excursions. Friday evening starts at 19:00 with a welcome and an aperitif, then dinner cooked with local and seasonal produce. A guided breathing and meditation session closes the evening so the weekend begins calmly rather than with a late night.

Saturday morning is a 90-minute yoga class in the orangery, led by Marine. The style is hatha: breathing work first, then sun salutations, then postures held for several breaths, then a full relaxation — meditation, autosuggestion or a body scan depending on the day. Brunch follows. In the afternoon the group walks in the surrounding countryside and turns the walk into a moving meditation, linking breath to steps. Back at the gîte there's a gentler yoga session, dinner, and another breathing and guided meditation before bed.

Sunday repeats the morning class — another 90 minutes in the orangery with Marine — followed by a hearty breakfast. The weekend ends around 12:30.

What separates this from a generic yoga weekend is the kitchen. Marie cooks all the meals from Friday evening to Sunday morning, vegetarian and organic, using seasonal produce and short supply chains, often vegetables from her own garden. Reviews from past guests name her dishes as often as they name the yoga.

Marine is described by the operator as a yoga and self-exploration enthusiast with an "almost magical calming power"; her classes are adapted to all levels through variations, and she teaches in French and English. No prior yoga experience is needed, and you can leave or stop a session whenever you want. The Saturday walk is not compulsory either.

Durbuy itself is a small Ardennes town on the Ourthe, and the gîte is set slightly above it. Free parking is available in front of the gîte for the whole weekend, and there's a train option via Barvaux with a bus or a lift from the station.

What's included

- Supervision throughout the weekend from yoga teacher Marine - 2 nights in a gîte on the heights of Durbuy, in private en-suite rooms - All meals from Friday evening to Sunday morning, cooked by Marie - 1h30 yoga sessions in the orangery on Saturday and Sunday mornings - Gentle yoga session on Saturday afternoon - Guided breathing and meditation sessions - Nature walk with moving meditation - Free parking in front of the gîte

What's not included

- Transport to the meeting point in Durbuy - Yoga mat, blanket, pillow and optional block - Anything not listed as included