ALL OF PROVENCE, IN SEVEN DAYS
Escape to the South of France for a week of long market mornings and a hands-on Provençal cooking class, winemaker lunches at vineyard tables, guided walks and eBike rides through the Alpilles, morning yoga, and an optional day sailing the cliffs of Cassis. Between it all, a private estate that is ours alone — four hectares of gardens and olive groves, a heated pool, a wellness wing, and long candlelit dinners with kindred spirits.
OUR PRIVATE ESTATE
FOR THE WEEK
Set on four private hectares in the heart of the Alpilles, our estate for the week is surrounded by beautiful gardens, olive groves, and sweeping mountain views, just outside the charming village of Eygalières. The expansive grounds feature a heated pool, pétanque court, and several outdoor spaces for dining, gathering, and relaxing. A dedicated wellness wing includes a fully equipped gym, private yoga studio, and massage room — creating the perfect setting to move, restore, and experience the beauty of Provence.
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![Outdoor event setup with a long wooden table decorated with white flowers and green glassware, with chairs on each side, and string lights hanging overhead. In the background, people are standing and socializing, with some musicians playing instruments. Trees and a building with a tiled roof are visible behind the gathering.]()
Provence
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![Two women at a tasting event, one standing and smiling, the other seated and smiling, with bottles of essential oils and tasting glasses on the table.]()
Provence
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![View of a residential hillside town with historic tower and lush greenery, vineyards in the foreground, under a partly cloudy sky.]()
Provence
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![Outdoor gathering with people socializing near a rustic building, decorated with string lights, tables set with plates and greenery, in a lush garden setting.]()
Provence
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![Two women riding bicycles on a rural road with green hills and vineyards, under a sky with clouds.]()
Provence
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![People preparing salads in a cozy kitchen with a rustic decor.]()
Provence
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![A narrow European street with pastel-colored buildings, potted plants, and signs for shops and boutiques.]()
Provence
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![A man giving a presentation to a group of people seated at tables in a wine cellar, holding a glass of red wine.]()
Provence
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![Elegant outdoor dining table set with pink plates, salad with cheese, glasses of rosé wine, and a floral tablecloth.]()
Provence
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![Person swimming in a rectangular outdoor pool with mountain scenery and greenery in the background, and lounge chairs with umbrellas along the poolside.]()
Provence
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![A woman wearing a beige apron is whisking eggs in a mixing bowl, surrounded by others watching and preparing ingredients in a kitchen or dining area.]()
Provence
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![Slices of cooked meat with a brown sauce, green beans, a roasted garlic head, and herbs on a white plate.]()
Provence
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![People gathering outdoors on a lawn, sitting on wicker chairs and couches, socializing in a garden setting with trees and bushes.]()
Provence
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![A person in a tan shirt pours red wine into glasses on a wooden tray with a lit candle in the background.]()
Provence
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![A group of people dining outdoors under string lights and surrounded by greenery, with a jazz band performing in the background.]()
Provence
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![Three women standing together outdoors in front of an old stone building, smiling and wearing sunglasses. The woman on the left wears a light blue dress, the woman in the middle wears a black dress, and the woman on the right wears a floral blouse and white pants.]()
Provence
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![Group of women raising glasses for a toast at a decorated outdoor dinner party.]()
Provence
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![Close-up of a yoga block on a purple mat with a handwritten line on the paper, with multiple colorful yoga mats and blocks in the background in a bright yoga studio.]()
Provence
DAILY ITINERARY
A Provence Dreamscape
A sample itinerary—subject to slight changes as the magic unfolds.
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DAY 1
May 30, 2027
Settle In & Exhale
You’ve made it. Settle in, slow down, and soak in the view from the terrace. As the sun softens we gather on the patio for live music and cocktails, then a welcome dinner from one of the region’s top chefs. The tone for the week starts here.
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DAY 2
May 31, 2027
Wine & Dine: A Day in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
After morning yoga and breakfast we head into one of the world’s most storied wine regions. Two beautiful estates, a cellar tasting, and a long, perfectly paired lunch at a vineyard table. Back at the property, dinner is chef-prepared on the terrace.
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DAY 3
June 1, 2027
Optional: A Day at Sea, Sailing from Cassis
A full day on the Mediterranean. We sail from the storybook port of Cassis — turquoise water, dramatic limestone cliffs, champagne and a Provençal lunch served on board as the coastline drifts by. Optional, at 500 EUR per guest, with eight to ten guests needed to charter. For anyone staying behind, an optional guided walk in the hills. In the evening, a family-style dinner on the patio and a film under the stars.
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DAY 4
June 2, 2027
The Colors of Saint-Rémy
After morning yoga and an early breakfast we set off by eBike through the countryside to Saint-Rémy and its legendary open-air market, one of the finest in the South of France. Wander the stalls of Provençal produce, cheeses, flowers and linens, then a long lunch in the village before we ride home. Dinner is chef-prepared back at the property.
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DAY 5
June 3, 2027
Provence, At Your Own Pace
Morning yoga and a leisurely breakfast, then a guided walk into the hills. The afternoon is yours — the pool, a book, a spa treatment. Later, a master mixologist leads an optional masterclass in craft cocktails and charcuterie, and in the evening we head out to dinner.
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DAY 6
June 4, 2027
From Market to Table
Our final full day begins at the Eygalières open-air market with a local chef and cookery teacher, choosing what we’ll cook. From there we head up to a former limestone quarry for an immersive Monet exhibition projected across the walls. Back at the property, we roll up our sleeves for a hands-on Provençal cooking class and lunch. The evening is our send-off: cocktails, live music, and a white-attire celebration dinner with wine pairings.
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DAY 7
June 5, 2027
Homeward Bound, With Provence In Your Heart
A relaxed breakfast before heading to the airport or on to your next adventure. Grab-and-go options are available for early departures.
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⟡ 6 nights at our private estate
⟡ Daily breakfast
⟡ Daily yoga
⟡ All dinners with wine pairings
⟡ Welcome & farewell cocktail receptions
⟡ Some lunches
⟡ Most alcohol
⟡ Daily excursions
Provençal cooking class
Vineyard tastings & lunch in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Open-air market visits
A guided walk and an eBike ride
Film night under the stars
⟡ All transportation for planned excursions
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⟡ Airfare
⟡ Airport transfers
⟡ The optional sailing day — 500 EUR per guest, eight to ten guests needed to charter
⟡ Some lunches
⟡ Some alcohol
⟡ Spa treatments and personal purchases
⟡ Travel insurance, required to join the trip
⟡ Gratuities for guides and drivers
RETREAT INVESTMENT & PAYMENT TERMS
A week where nearly everything is taken care of — accommodations, daily breakfast, all dinners with wine pairings, cocktail receptions with live music, cultural excursions, yoga, hiking, biking, and all group transportation.
A 50% deposit is required at sign-up and is non-refundable and non-transferrable. This policy ensures we can deliver a fully privatized, nearly all-inclusive experience for our small group, with the property and all excursions booked well in advance.
Final payment is due by March 1, 2027 (90 days before the retreat begins).
If this sounds like a trip you’d love to be part of, please email Bruce Keenan at bkeenan@hccnepal.org, and he’ll be happy to send you the registration link.
MEET YOUR HOSTS
Bruce and Susan Keenan are honored and excited to host this special Provence retreat for their closest supporters and top donors. After decades of leadership, entrepreneurship, and service, they deeply value time spent together in meaningful places — sharing long meals, thoughtful conversation, and memorable experiences in one of the world’s most beautiful regions.
Together, Bruce and Susan co-founded Himalayan Children’s Charities (HCC), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting at-risk children in Nepal through education, scholarships, mentoring, and life-skills programs that create long-term opportunity and stability.
For Bruce and Susan, this week is about gratitude, connection, and celebrating the community that makes this important work possible.
MEET YOUR CO-HOST & TRIP LEADER
Meet your co-host, Lindsay Wheeler — Founder of LDW Coaching & Luxury Wellness Culture Retreats, and the creative force behind these thoughtfully designed experiences.
After years in corporate leadership alongside teaching yoga and building community-focused initiatives, Lindsay creates retreats designed as more than a beautiful escape — they are an invitation to slow down, connect, and return home feeling grounded, inspired, and fully yourself.
“I HAVEN’T BEEN EVERYWHERE, BUT IT’S ON MY LIST.”
- SUSAN SONTAG
BOOK NOW
If this sounds like a trip you’d love to be part of, please email Bruce Keenan at bkeenan@hccnepal.org, and he’ll be happy to send you the registration link.
THE FAQS
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Three ways in: fly into Paris (CDG), Nice, or Marseille. From Paris, book a direct TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon, around 2 hours 40 minutes nonstop.
Getting to and from the airport or train station is your own arrangement. For help booking a driver, contact our local partner Jérémie at Amé Provence: contact@ame-provence.com or WhatsApp +33 7 85 74 53 86. As a guide, expect roughly 800 EUR from Nice, a three-hour drive, or 250 EUR from Marseille.
Closer to the retreat we will send a final travel form collecting everyone’s arrival and departure details. Once we can see the full picture of when the group is landing and leaving, we will pair up journeys that line up and arrange shared cars, splitting the cost between those travelling together. Fewer vehicles making the same run, and a smaller bill for each of you. Any shared transfers we arrange will be invoiced separately.
Rooms are ready by 4:00 pm. Aim to arrive by 4:00 pm so you have time to settle in before cocktails at 6:00 pm and dinner at 7:00 pm. For departures we recommend mid to late afternoon flights. If you are taking the train from Avignon, a morning departure is fine.
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Late May and early June: warm, sunny days with highs around 75°F / 24°C, and cool evenings dropping to around 55°F / 13°C. Pack a light layer for nights and expect "Le Mistral" — Provence’s signature wind, which can sweep through any time of year.
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Two European border systems affect travel from the US, and they are at different stages.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is already running. It replaces passport stamping with a digital record, and on your first crossing you will have your fingerprints and a photograph taken at the border. Nothing to do in advance — just allow extra time at passport control, as queues have been longer since it came in.
ETIAS, the travel authorisation, is not yet in operation and there is no confirmed start date. The target of late 2026 was withdrawn in July 2026 and current reporting points to 2027, with a six-month transitional period after launch during which travel is still permitted without one. No applications are being accepted at this stage, and any website claiming to take them is fraudulent. We are watching this closely and will write to you directly the moment a date is confirmed, with plenty of notice to apply.
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Days here run from a yoga mat to a vineyard table, so pack for both.
Athletic clothes for morning yoga, training sessions, the hike and the eBike ride. A swimsuit, a hat and sunglasses for slow afternoons by the pool and for the day on the water. Comfortable, casual clothes for wandering villages and cellar visits — you will be on your feet on cobblestones, so bring shoes you can walk in. Two dressier outfits for the welcome and final night dinners, and something white for the last evening.
Three things people always wish they had brought: a light scarf, a light jacket for the Mistral, which can blow up at any time of year, and a bag that folds flat for the markets. You will come home with more than you left with.
Yoga mats are provided on property, so there is no need to bring your own.
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Your 50% deposit is non-refundable and non-transferrable. The full-cancellation deadline is March 1, 2027 — cancellations after that date are non-refundable. We've designed this retreat to be almost entirely all-inclusive, with the property and all excursions privatized and booked well in advance, and our cancellation policy reflects the limited space and long lead time required.
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Any and all dietary restrictions can be accommodated. We work closely with the property's chef to curate a menu special to our group, and the same goes for outings where meals are provided. Just let Lindsay know in advance and she'll coordinate with the team.
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Europe as a whole is not a heavy tipping culture, but our local guides work with American travelers and have come to appreciate tips. If you feel inclined, plan to tip your drivers, bellman, and wait staff while off-property.
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We recommend booking spa appointments in advance of arrival, as the property brings in therapists from the local area to work in their beautiful spa rooms. To coordinate spa bookings, please reach out to Lindsay directly.
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For the comfort and peace of mind of all guests, travel insurance is required to attend this retreat. Your policy should include coverage for trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and travel delays. Life is unpredictable, and having travel insurance helps protect your investment should unforeseen circumstances arise. We highly recommend purchasing your policy at the time of booking to ensure full coverage.
For assistance with booking your travel insurance, you may contact our trusted agent:
Sharon Creast, Elevation Travel
📧 sharon@elevationstvl.com
📞 404-626-4997 -
“It’s rare to see something come together with such kindness, grace, and inspiration.”
"Every detail felt intentional, and the energy was uplifting from start to finish. Communication was flawless, and the value far exceeded expectations—it honestly felt underpriced for the quality of the experience. A truly exceptional trip in every way.”
- Allyson Watkins
“One of the best vacations ever.”
"What made it truly exceptional was the incredible group—an inspiring mix of familiar faces and new friends. The food, wine, lodging, and scenery were all amazing, but what elevated the experience was the thoughtful leadership at the heart of it all.”
- RON FARMER
“Of all my trips to Europe, this was by far one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”
"Lindsay planned everything flawlessly—from the unforgettable signature events to the tiniest details, like the beautiful fresh flowers. Every moment felt intentional and thoughtful. I’m so grateful for the care and creativity that went into making this trip so special.”
- ADAM STRULETZ
BOOK NOW
If this sounds like a trip you’d love to be part of, please email Bruce Keenan at bkeenan@hccnepal.org, and he’ll be happy to send you the registration link.
NEED MORE INFO?
Fill out the form and we will send more details your way.