Yoga Retreats in France
FRENCH PYRENEES YOGA HIKE RESTORE RETREATS
6 Night Atlantique Pyrenees, Southwest France Retreat
with Jessie Chapman & facilitators
OCTOBER 2024: Monday 7th – Sunday 13th
Join Jessie Chapman & facilitators for an inspirational 6-night yoga and hiking retreat in the beautiful Atlantique Pyrenees of Southwest France. Each day on retreat combines morning and afternoon yoga practice with awe-inspiring daily hikes, relaxation, restoration and evening yoga nidra staying in a scenic mountain village hotel with the days walking trails on our doorstep.
Everyone is welcome and well cared for by Jessie Chapman along with Radiance facilitator Lee Purdie. The yoga classes are designed for all, from the complete beginner to those with a regular practice, with lots of nourishing one-on-one yoga adjustments and instruction. Each day after morning yoga and breakfast we pick up our picnic lunch in the village before heading off for our days adventure exploring some gentler walks and some higher mountain hikes. In the afternoons we return to our hotel to relax and freshen up before the restoration yoga class followed by a shared dinner.
Our Retreat Days
wake up in beautiful mountain surrounds
7 am: Morning yoga
9 am: Breakfast
10 am: Depart for our days hiking adventure
12.30: Picnic lunch on our hike
3-4 pm: Return to our hotel for a shower and a rest
5.30 pm: Afternoon restoration yoga
7 pm: Dinner at our hotel restaurant bar
8.30 pm: Evening yoga nidra for a deep restorative sleep
Our days are full with lots of yoga and hiking. Feel free to skip a class or hike as needed to simply rest in the beautiful mountain village surrounds.
Rooms & Prices I 6 Night France Yoga Retreat
Euro 1475 – Twin Share Room with ensuite bathroom (p/p)
Euro 1475 – Couple’s Room with ensuite bathroom (p/p)
Euro 1655 – Single Room with shared bathroom (between 2 guests)
Euro 1775 – Single Room with ensuite bathroom
Many people join our France Yoga Retreats on their own and can either book a single room or share with another participant.
What's Included - France Pyrenees Yoga Retreat
6 nights accommodation
All breakfasts and dinners
Morning & afternoon yoga with Jessie & Lee
Daily guided hikes with Jessie & Lee
Evening yoga nidra / guided relaxation
Not included: airfares, travel insurance, return train fares from Pau, picnic lunches, which we buy at the store each morning before heading off on our days hike.
France Yoga Retreat Accommodation
We stay 6 nights in a petite family run mountain village hotel located 1.5 hours outside Pau, high in the Atlantique Pyrenees of Southwest France. The retreat location offers a rich regional France experience with lots to see and explore and fresh mountain produce to savour. Our accommodation is warm and cozy with everything needed for a relaxed yoga hiking holiday.
Yoga, Restoration & Stillness
Everyone is welcome and well cared for by yoga teacher and host Jessie Chapman and Radiance facilitator Lee Purdie. The retreats are suitable for people new to yoga to those with a regular yoga practice with Jessie’s 27 years yoga teaching experience allowing everyone to be well supported and challenged according to their individual needs, energy levels and physical conditions.
The morning yoga classes are an inspired blend of warming up with joint loosening and full body limbering, gentle flowing yoga sequences and staying in the yoga postures longer to cultivate flexibility, strength, balance, correct alignment and awareness. The afternoon restoration yoga classes deeply relax the body and mind; slow down the systems of the body and restore energy levels. Restoration yoga practice naturally promotes relaxed full breathing and a connection with the quiet inner space. An abundance of nourishing yoga adjustments are given and everyone is well cared for and guided throughout the whole retreat journey.
Our Hiking Days
Each day we set off on foot directly from our hotel for our days hiking adventure. The scenic trails all around offer a wide variety with some gentler walks and some higher mountain hikes. People in good health and of all ages have managed the hikes well. The hikes vary in length and average around 8-12 km’s per day. When walking we’re taking in the views, stopping to rest as needed and enjoying some silent walking periods to absorb the beautiful surrounds. Each morning before heading out we stop off at the village general store to pick up some fresh local produce for our days picnic or we may head back to the village to eat at a local resturant. Our hiking days end with time to shower and refresh back at our hotel before afternoon restoration yoga. Guests wanting to do shorter hiking days are welcome to join part of the trail and return back to the village sooner for a rest and to enjoy the local village life.
Your France Retreat Hosts
Your France retreat hosts are Jessie Chapman and Radiance facilitator, Lee Purdie along with the hotel owners. Jessie has been teaching yoga for 27 years and for the past 22 years (since 2002) she has been offering Radiance Yoga Retreats in Byron Bay, Asia, New Zealand and Europe. Author of 4 Yoga Books (HarperCollins) including the bestseller Yoga Postures for your Body, Mind & Soul and creator of the Radiance Yoga DVD Series, Jessie loves sharing the transformational yoga practice and powerful retreat journeys; creating space for people to deepen in yoga and to be inspired in beautiful natural surrounds. During the retreat Jessie is joined by Lee who gives nourishing yoga adjustments in the classes and join us on the hikes and adventures each day.
Getting There, Arrival & Departure, Extra Night
Arrival Day: Our group meeting time and place on the first day of the retreat is 11.30 am at Pau Train Station. Pau is a large city with an international airport and is known as ‘the gateway to the Atlantique Pyrenees’. Located 1.5 hours inland from Biarritz and 2 hours from Bordeaux in Southwest France, there are plenty of travel options to arrive at Pau. From Pau we travel together via a small regional 1-hour train journey to our mountain village retreat hotel. As we journey by train together it’s important to be at the station at 11.30 am for our departure and for this reason most people choose to stay in Pau the night before.
Departure Day: On the last day we pack up and enjoy breakfast before returning to Pau via train arriving in Pau at 10.30 am. Some guests opt to stay a night in Pau on the last day before journeying onwards.
Extra nights: If staying in Pau before or after the retreat there are a range of hotels and Airbnb’s in Pau. Please email if requiring recommendations.
How to get to Pau: You can get to Pau via train from Paris, Bordeaux and many other locations within France and Europe. There’s also a domestic and international airport in Pau with regular flights into Pau from Paris and other locations in France and Europe.
Full ‘getting there’ details along with what to bring, places to stay in Pau, our recommend travel agent, etc are emailed upon registration.
EUROPEAN YOGA RETREAT TESTIMONIALS
“Having just spent a fantastic week in Spain, I am delighted to recommend Jessie Chapman’s Radiance Yoga Hike Restore Retreat for anyone who wants an active and stimulating holiday. I feel both rested and reinvigorated, and ready to explore the world further. The hiking and scenery is incredible, and the intensity of the daily yoga helped me make some real gains (even as a beginner). The combination of mental and physical challenges and restorative contemplation was perfectly balanced and both teachers were really helpful and knowledgeable. Oh, and the food was delicious! Fabulous week in an amazing part of the world.
Cara – Spain Yoga Hike Restore Retreat
“I highly recommend Radiance Retreats. I’ve been to 4 now in 4 different countries and they have all been amazing experiences and so well organised. The yoga classes cater to all different levels of experience and everyone is so well looked after.”
Lina – Radiance Spain Yoga Hike Restore Retreat
“The joy began at the sight of our Tuscan Villa which proved to be ‘home’ for a week of well balanced strengthening, restoring, rejuvenating yoga and meditation. We enjoyed wonderful walks through the countryside and optional outings. The vegetarian food, facilities and staff were outstanding and Jessie’s guidance and nurturing instruction lead us all through a wonderfully, memorable time. I now have a new strength of heart, body and mind. Thank you so much.”
Jenny – Tuscany Yoga & Walking Retreat