Yoga holidays in France
| country: | France |
| location: | Lot Valley |
| price: | From £305 (7 days) excluding flights, in twin/double room (or £405 for single occupancy in a twin room). Additional cost of £15 per person for meal on first night (includes wine) |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Yoga holidays in France
Guests at our centre can really unwind in a house party atmosphere. You can practice gentle hatha yoga with a caring, experienced yoga teacher; take guided nature walks in unspoilt countryside; treat yourself to a range of holistic therapies; or get to know this fascinating part of France on a sight-seeing tour.
This is not an "intensive" retreat, but an intimate group holiday (max 9 people) where you can connect with like-minded people and where all levels of experience and ability are welcome either as an introduction to yoga, or as a way to keep your practice alive whilst on holiday.
Likewise, the guided walks are to enjoy and not endure and have been carefully selected for their natural beauty or local history rather than being a physical challenge. It is an alternative activity holiday with the emphasis on healthy fun, adventure and relaxation, where everything is in moderation. You are on holiday after all. Most of our visitors find the mix of yoga, walking and lounging just about right to help them unwind and feel well, but there is no pressure whatsoever, you can do just as much or as little as you want. It is ideal for friends or couples who may not share the same interests - they can be selective about which activities they choose to do, individually or together.
*SPECIAL OFFER* If you book more than one week there is a 10% discount on complete subsequent weeks.
The yoga: Anybody and everybody, young and old, can benefit from a yoga holiday, where we use classical Hatha yoga postures combined with breathing practices and relaxation to help you stretch, unwind and release mental and physical tension.
Our resident teacher holds 3 classes of yoga each week; over the years she has developed her teaching into a caring and gentle method suitable for both beginners and as 'holiday maintenance' for regular practitioners and a session on alternate days is usually enough to feel the benefits of yoga and still allow plenty of time to make the most of your stay, whether walking, sightseeing or relaxing.
The walking: The Lot valley is a joy to discover on foot. It is an excellent for rambling and exploring, largely unspoilt and steeped in history. There is a myriad of ancient footpaths and bridleways criss-crossing wooded hillsides and vineyards to choose from, with magnificent views, riverside walks and secluded hamlets.
Discover a land that time has forgotten with medieval villages, frescoed churches, ancient shepherds' shelters, communal washing springs and hill-top chateaux. Most weeks we add a visit to one of the impressive castles at Bonaguil or Biron. We know the area well and love helping visitors to discover this beautiful part of France with two guided walks weekly plus full details of other walks from the centre.
The treatments: To help you relax and unwind even further we also offer massage therapies and our fully qualified masseurs offer various types of massage. They are the perfect complement to both yoga and walking, helping to alleviate stress, improve body posture and reduce stiffness. Plus, if you really want to spoil yourself why not try one of our new beauty treatments. Should you wish to detox whilst staying here with us help is on hand to guide you and provide you with the necessary diet.
Other activities: As well as sightseeing there are plenty of other activities close to hand. The area is delightful for walking and cycling, boat trips and canoeing on the river Lot, or just exploring the charming idiosyncrasies of rural France. There are music and wine festivals in the area throughout the summer and every town and village has at least one fete.
The local area: We are situated on the edge of the working village of Duravel in the Lot valley which has all the basic amenities including a chemist, post office, newsagent and other shops for provisions, as well as an office de tourisme.
A regular daily bus service stops almost outside the centre travelling through local villages to Cahors and is a convenient way to get about and see the local countryside. The Lot is particularly well known for its food and wine and eating out in this part of France is an experience not to be missed. There are over two dozen restaurants within 15 minutes drive, and there are a couple of popular bar/restaurants in the village.
Facilities
The centre itself, which stands apart from the main house, has been carefully restored and specially customised to a very high standard. Accommodation is in spacious, comfortable and clean double and twin bedded studios, each with its own fully equipped kitchenette, private en-suite facilities and separate WC. Alternatively there is a communal kitchen if you prefer to prepare meals together. If you prefer to eat out the surrounding area has plenty of French cuisine to choose from. A comfortable communal lounge has music, a library of books and games, as well as maps and other local information.
The lounge opens onto a large, shady terrace where you can get together and eat or relax. The self-service continental breakfast is taken in either the communal room or on the terrace.
The 12m x 7m pool is chemical-free as we use a salt-based purification system. The water is heated during cooler spells and there is a solar shower. It is the perfect place to relax with plenty of loungers and sun beds, so don't forget the sun lotion. The enclosed 2 acre wooded garden is a real oasis of shade with lots of space and quiet corners with hammocks, just right for an afternoon siesta or to catch up on your favourite novel.
This is not an "intensive" retreat, but an intimate group holiday (max 9 people) where you can connect with like-minded people and where all levels of experience and ability are welcome either as an introduction to yoga, or as a way to keep your practice alive whilst on holiday.
Likewise, the guided walks are to enjoy and not endure and have been carefully selected for their natural beauty or local history rather than being a physical challenge. It is an alternative activity holiday with the emphasis on healthy fun, adventure and relaxation, where everything is in moderation. You are on holiday after all. Most of our visitors find the mix of yoga, walking and lounging just about right to help them unwind and feel well, but there is no pressure whatsoever, you can do just as much or as little as you want. It is ideal for friends or couples who may not share the same interests - they can be selective about which activities they choose to do, individually or together.
*SPECIAL OFFER* If you book more than one week there is a 10% discount on complete subsequent weeks.
The yoga: Anybody and everybody, young and old, can benefit from a yoga holiday, where we use classical Hatha yoga postures combined with breathing practices and relaxation to help you stretch, unwind and release mental and physical tension. Our resident teacher holds 3 classes of yoga each week; over the years she has developed her teaching into a caring and gentle method suitable for both beginners and as 'holiday maintenance' for regular practitioners and a session on alternate days is usually enough to feel the benefits of yoga and still allow plenty of time to make the most of your stay, whether walking, sightseeing or relaxing.
The walking: The Lot valley is a joy to discover on foot. It is an excellent for rambling and exploring, largely unspoilt and steeped in history. There is a myriad of ancient footpaths and bridleways criss-crossing wooded hillsides and vineyards to choose from, with magnificent views, riverside walks and secluded hamlets.
Discover a land that time has forgotten with medieval villages, frescoed churches, ancient shepherds' shelters, communal washing springs and hill-top chateaux. Most weeks we add a visit to one of the impressive castles at Bonaguil or Biron. We know the area well and love helping visitors to discover this beautiful part of France with two guided walks weekly plus full details of other walks from the centre.
The treatments: To help you relax and unwind even further we also offer massage therapies and our fully qualified masseurs offer various types of massage. They are the perfect complement to both yoga and walking, helping to alleviate stress, improve body posture and reduce stiffness. Plus, if you really want to spoil yourself why not try one of our new beauty treatments. Should you wish to detox whilst staying here with us help is on hand to guide you and provide you with the necessary diet.
Other activities: As well as sightseeing there are plenty of other activities close to hand. The area is delightful for walking and cycling, boat trips and canoeing on the river Lot, or just exploring the charming idiosyncrasies of rural France. There are music and wine festivals in the area throughout the summer and every town and village has at least one fete. The local area: We are situated on the edge of the working village of Duravel in the Lot valley which has all the basic amenities including a chemist, post office, newsagent and other shops for provisions, as well as an office de tourisme.
A regular daily bus service stops almost outside the centre travelling through local villages to Cahors and is a convenient way to get about and see the local countryside. The Lot is particularly well known for its food and wine and eating out in this part of France is an experience not to be missed. There are over two dozen restaurants within 15 minutes drive, and there are a couple of popular bar/restaurants in the village.
Facilities
The centre itself, which stands apart from the main house, has been carefully restored and specially customised to a very high standard. Accommodation is in spacious, comfortable and clean double and twin bedded studios, each with its own fully equipped kitchenette, private en-suite facilities and separate WC. Alternatively there is a communal kitchen if you prefer to prepare meals together. If you prefer to eat out the surrounding area has plenty of French cuisine to choose from. A comfortable communal lounge has music, a library of books and games, as well as maps and other local information.
The lounge opens onto a large, shady terrace where you can get together and eat or relax. The self-service continental breakfast is taken in either the communal room or on the terrace. The 12m x 7m pool is chemical-free as we use a salt-based purification system. The water is heated during cooler spells and there is a solar shower. It is the perfect place to relax with plenty of loungers and sun beds, so don't forget the sun lotion. The enclosed 2 acre wooded garden is a real oasis of shade with lots of space and quiet corners with hammocks, just right for an afternoon siesta or to catch up on your favourite novel.
traveller reviews for Yoga holidays in France
The most memorable part was, in his first ever attempt at yoga, watching my husband, aged 64, trying to stand on one leg! The wonderful walk with Brian, followed by lunch with our fellow guests, and then a terrific tour of an old Chateau. (more)
Travel toolkit for Margaret River accommodation
how this holiday makes a difference
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We may not all able to make a big ecological statement, but our individual contributions do collectively make a difference. We encourage water conservation, using only perpetual spring water throughout the park, waste recycling and low energy consumption. There are no chemicals in the pool, we have our own "public transport" (minibus), and some of our water is solar-heated.
 Being fully integrated into the rural community is a priority. All of our support services are sourced locally and local shopkeepers, restaurants and businesses all benefit economically from our patronage.Our small walking groups minimize disturbance to the natural environment. We know the area well, and love helping visitors to discover and appreciate the unspoilt beauty of this part of France. From Lascaux to Lautrec, from painted and engraved prehistoric caves to the foundations of modernism, South-west France is rich in outstanding examples of creative endeavour over 25,000 years. With the help of a local art historian we offer a choice of sightseeing excursions to many of these fascinating places of interest. Guests are also encouraged to take part in the many local festivals and cultural events that take place throughout the summer. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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