September 5–11, 2027 | 6 Nights Southwest France
Wellness Retreat
Step Back. Dream. Reimagine.
A Retreat in Southwest France
What Awaits You
Step away from the everyday. reconnect with what matters. embrace the adventure of what comes next.
Join your hosts, Pamela Norton and Valerie Vermeulen for a thoughtfully balanced retreat in Feugarolles, France. We warmly invite you to stay in a private, elegant 11th-century château and its accompanying cottage, surrounded by vineyards and peaceful countryside. This retreat is open to all genders. Each property offers its own private outdoor grounds and private pool with welcoming spaces to rest, reflect, and enjoy the beauty around you.
Bordeaux & Balance
Savor the region. Reconnect with yourself. Make room for play. Experience the pleasures of Southwest France through two inviting paths: Bordeaux: celebrates the region’s wine heritage with two private château tours and tastings and the exploration of the medieval streets of Saint-Émilion. Balance: brings you back to yourself through yoga practices, life visioning workshops, nourishing meals, and unhurried time.
Together, these experiences create space for fresh perspectives, meaningful connections, and renewed joy. Whether you’re drawn to the vineyards, local villages, the yoga mat, you can shape your free time around what restores and inspires you.
Your Retreat Experience
Our days weave movement and reflection together with exploration and ease. Enjoy morning yoga and gentle evening practices, guided values and life visioning workshops, and nourishing, locally sourced meals prepared by our private French chef, Adam Brunet. A private astrology reading is included, offering another opportunity for personal exploration.
Venture into the countryside surrounding Saint-Émilion for two private château winery tours and tastings at Château de Pressac and Château Pavie. Spend time wandering Saint-Émilion and enjoying the village at your own pace.
Another evening takes us to the charming town of Nérac for a five-course Michelin-star dinner with wine pairings for a shared celebration of French cuisine and conversation.
Between workshops, excursions, and meals, there is space to Simply Be. Swim, walk through the countryside, journal, or relax by the pool. You may also choose optional massages, golf excursions, local town markets, and river boat tours. Whether you’re drawn to the vineyards, the yoga mat, or the fairway, shape your free time around what restores and inspires you.
This week offers space to clarify your values, reconnect with your strengths, and imagine your next chapter. Take home fresh perspective, practices that support everyday wellbeing, meaningful connections, and intentions you can put into action.
We close with a farewell toast—celebrating the experiences we’ve shared and considering what each of us wants to carry forward.
Savor the region. Reconnect with yourself. Make room for play.
Saint-Émilion
St. Émilion & Two Private Château Winery Tours & Tastings
We will explore the medieval village of Saint-Émilion and enjoy two private winery tours and tastings located in countryside.
Nérac
Michelin-Star Dinner
Enjoy an exceptional 5 course Michelin-star dining and wine pairing experience in the village of Nérac.
Optional Activities
Make the retreat your own with additional experiences such as:
Massages • Golf • Local Town Markets • River Boat Tours
Choose the activities that nourish you.
Our Excursions
Savor the Flavors of France
Delight in meals thoughtfully tailored by our private French chef celebrating fresh local organic ingredients and the flavors of Southwest France.
Spend seven days and six nights in our private, elegant 11th-century château in the heart of Southwest France.
Surrounded by countryside, vineyards, gardens, and peaceful outdoor spaces, the château provides a setting designed for rest, reflection, conversation, and connection. Please click below for your room options:
Your Home in France
Itinerary
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3:00-5:00 Arrival Chateau de Gueyeze
5:30-6:30 Gentle Yoga/Orientation
7:15 Welcome
8:00 Dinner
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8:00-9:00 Yoga
11:00 Brunch
12:00-1:00 Explore Values Workshop
Free Time: relax, swim, massage, hike, golf, astrology, harvest lavender
5:30-6:30 Gentle Yoga
7:30 Dinner
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6:30-7:30 Yoga
7:00 Breakfast
8:00 Depart for Winery/St. Emilion
10:15 Chateau Pressac Wine Tour & Tasting
11:30-4:00 St. Emillion Explore & Lunch on own
4:30 Chateau de Pavie Wine Tour & Tasting
7:30 Return Chateau Gueyeze
8:00 Dinner
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8:00-9:00 Yoga
11:00 Brunch
Free Time: relax, swim, massage, hike, golf, astrology reading, site see
4:30-5:00 Gentle Yoga
5:00- 6:15 Life Visioning Workshop
7:30 Dinner
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8:00-9:00 Yoga
11:00 Brunch
Free Time: relax, swim, massage, hike, golf, astrology reading, site see
4:45 Depart for Nerac
7:00 Michelin Star Dinner
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8:00-9:00 Yoga
11:00 Brunch
Free Time: relax, swim, massage, hike, golf, astrology reading, site see
4:30-5:45 Gentle Yoga & Integration
6:30 Wine Tasting & Farewell Toast
8:00 Dinner
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7:00-8:00 Yoga
9:00-12:00 Nerac Market
10:30 Brunch
11:30 Departure
Journeying
your hosts
Life & Leadership Coach, Yoga Instructor
Yoga Instructor, Astrologist, Thai Massage
Private French Chef
Retreat Details
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Room Prices: Double Accommodation ranges from $4,400 - $5,450 per person. A Single Room is $5,000. Please see registration form and table in this section for more details.
What’s Included:
Yoga twice daily when not on an excursion.
Two Workshops: Life Visioning & Values Exploration.
Meals include daily brunches and dinners by our private French Chef.
A Michelin Star 5 Course Dinner & Wine Pairing in Nerac.
Two private wine tours and tastings at Chateau Pavie & Chateau Pressac.
One Private Wine Tasting at our Chateau.
A personalized astrology reading.
Transportation Included:
From/To Agen Train Station.
To/ From St. Emilion, 2 wineries, and local golf courses.
To/From Town of Nerac.
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Flight to Toulouse, Bordeaux, Paris Airports are suggested & Travel Insurance.
Specialty drinks, & alcoholic beverages when not part of a planned excursion or event.
Massage services & excursions like golf (estimate $100 for rental and 18 hole green fee), river boat tours, transportation outside of a planned event.
One optional lunch on your own while visiting in St. Emilion
Tips & Gratuities
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By Air: There are 2 major airports within a 80 minute drive, Bordeaux and Toulouse. Both have extensive car hire available or we can arrange transportation for a fee. Taxis from the airport are expensive. Alternatively you can use the train from either Bordeaux or Toulouse Airport to Agen, and we will happily pick you up. Bergerac Airport is about a 90 minute drive and has a number of schedules to more Regional airports within Europe.
By Train: Agen is our closest main railway station, with frequent trains to Paris, for example, with a journey time of a little over 3 hours this is an easy and relaxing way to get here.
By Car: This obviously provides freedom to travel when you want, we can share the best routes if you are thinking of driving.
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$1,000 non-refundable deposit is due upon booking your room.
Final balance due June 1 , 2027.
Contact pamela@echelonrising.com for Venmo, Zelle or check payment options .
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All deposits and payments are non-refundable (unless you find a replacement, in which case the payment will be refunded less $500). We strongly encourage purchasing travel insurance. It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policies. Exceptions cannot be made for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies. No refunds or credits for failure to attend or failure to complete the retreat, or for arriving late or leaving early. We reserve the right to cancel retreats with inadequate participant interest, in which case all money paid will be refunded. Notification of cancellation will occur at least 2 months prior to retreat start date. We cannot be held responsible for any personal expenses, such as airline tickets due to changes in itineraries or retreat cancellations. Please also consider: all itineraries are subject to change due to weather, excursions and delays.
INSURANCE & LIABILITY
All yoga, mindfulness sessions and travelling are done at your own risk and we are free from all liability. Please purchase travel insurance to protect your health and well being and your investment from unforeseen circumstances before or during your retreat. Suggested companies include: World Nomads, AAA, or ask your travel agent.
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We look forward to connecting with you to answer any questions or explore your interest in the retreat. Please contact Pamela Norton at pamela@echelonrising.com to setup a time to connect.
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We welcome people of all levels. Our retreats are individually tailored to each person and you will be practicing at your own pace and level with highly experienced guidance.
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Late Summer and early Autumn is wonderful times to visit, with daytime temperatures typically between 24 - 30C. The evenings are cooler but you will still be able to dine outside but may need a light jumper. It’s at these times that we all sit around the fire pit and chat into the evening.
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Arrival is 3pm Sunday Sept 5th and departure 11:30pm Saturday Sept 11th.
Location: Southwest France
Dates: September 5–11, 2027
Length: 6 nights, 7 days
Group Size: Limited to 16 guests
What You Carry Home
Clarity about what matters. Identify the values, strengths, and priorities you want to guide your next chapter.
Renewed energy and perspective. Give yourself time to rest, move, and experience life beyond your daily demands.
Practices for everyday wellbeing. Explore yoga, reflection, and mindful pauses you can continue at home.
A vision with direction. Turn your reflections into meaningful intentions and practical next steps.
Connection and belonging. Share conversations and memorable experiences with a small, welcoming community.
More room for joy. Rediscover the pleasure of beautiful surroundings, nourishing meals, curiosity, and unhurried time.
Come with curiosity. Leave with a fresh perspective, meaningful connections, and a clearer sense of what you want to carry forward.
Claim your spot
Yoga • Meditation • Coaching • French Cuisine • Wine • Culture • Nature • Connection • Joy