June 24-27  |  Starting at 1888€

❋

South of France Retreat:

Joie de Vivre

SECURE YOUR SPOT 
What to Expect

Remember How to Enjoy Your Life — Hyères Retreat

Our Hyères Retreat is a gentle reset — an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and return to yourself through embodied practices, Mediterranean light, and the quiet pleasure of simply being. Joie de vivre means a deep, embodied joy in being alive, the art of savoring life’s simple pleasures.

During the week, we’ll take a pilgrimage walk in Sainte-Baume — to the sacred grotto traditionally linked to Mary Magdalene. A steady, accessible hike. A moment of quiet devotion. Led by Eva Estlander and Julia Hackzell.

❋ Pleasure in Practice

We balance guided sessions, intuitive flow, and joyful connection—so the experience feels both grounded and expansive.

❋ Magdalene Circle

From our Magdalene pilgrimage to rosé in the vines, this experience is shaped by connection, conversation, and collective joy.

❋ Expert Facilitation

Led by experienced guides Eva Estlander and Julia Hackzell, who know how to hold space, encourage participation, and keep things moving with purpose.

❋ Joie de Vivre

A warm, welcoming space—so you can arrive as you are and fully enjoy the experience.

A backyard pool with three lounge chairs facing a scenic view of a lake, trees, and mountains under a clear blue sky.

South of France Calling: You aren’t meant to manage life — you are meant to enjoy it.

Our retreat in the South of France is a newly built seaside sanctuary on the Presqu’île de Giens in Hyères, just 180 metres from the sea.

The villa is spacious, light filled, and quietly luxurious, designed in natural tones that mirror the land and sea around it. Six bedrooms with private bathrooms create both privacy and comfort, while sea facing terraces, a pool under open sky, and a grounding sauna offer space to soften, indulge, and fully exhale.

Set on the Giens peninsula just outside Hyères, we are surrounded by coastal paths, turquoise waters, and the charm of the old Provençal town with its markets, narrow streets, and nearby boats to Porquerolles. It is a place where mountain and sea meet, and where life naturally slows down.

View of a house entrance with a stone wall on the left, an stucco wall on the right, and a doorway leading inside. A small black doormat is at the threshold, and the door is open, revealing a corridor with a view of trees and sky outside.
A modern house with a stone exterior, large sliding glass doors, and a wooden deck. There are outdoor lounge chairs and a tree with greenery in the yard under a bright blue sky.
Living room with beige sofas, throw pillows, a wooden coffee table, and a large wicker hanging light fixture. Sliding glass doors open to a backyard with a pool, lounge chairs, and greenery.
View of an infinity pool overlooking a body of water with small islands and hills in the distance under a blue sky with some clouds.
Modern open-concept dining and kitchen area with large glass window overlooking a landscape with greenery, water, and distant mountains. Wooden dining table with chairs, kitchen island with barstools, and minimalistic decor.

Reconnect with your body and mind through yoga, lavender fields, sunlit vineyards, and the ease of a Southern French summer.

A luxurious outdoor pool area at dusk with a view of the water and distant hills. The scene has lounge chairs, a stone wall with lights, and bottles and snacks on a table in the foreground. 
Day One

Arrive & Meet

As everyone arrives, we take time to settle in, get comfortable, and begin connecting with those around us. The journey starts here.

15:00 Arrive, settle into your rooms, unpack, and begin landing in the space.

Check-In

15:30 A grounding class to arrive in the body, release travel energy, and begin the retreat together.

Opening Yoga Practice

17:00 Gentle welcome circle. Time to connect and set intentions for our days together.

Welcome Circle

18:00 Enjoy a beautiful dinner together

French Dinner
A cheese and cracker platter with four glasses of wine on a table outdoors, with a vineyard in the background. 
Day Two

Wake in the Warmth of Côte d'Azur

A day to soften into movement, nature, and simple pleasures.

8.30 A grounded, energising practice to awaken the body.

Morning yoga

10:00 Indulge in a delicious french breakfast

Brunch

12:30pm Time to rest, explore, journal, swim, walk, or simply enjoy slow moments.

Midday & Afternoon
Wine Tasting – During the Day

A relaxed wine tasting experience together. Exact timing will be shared on site.

Gentle Yoga & Integration

A slow practice to soften the body, regulate the nervous system, and integrate the day beneath the southern sky.

Dinner on Your Own ** (not included)

Enjoy dinner at your own pace at a local restaurant or in quiet reflection.

Evening
Statue of Virgin Mary wearing a crown, with hands extended, in dramatic lighting. 
Day Three

Sainte-Baume Pilgrimage

A day of devotion, nature, and deep remembrance.

Morning: Wake Up & Light Breakfast

A gentle breakfast together before departing for the mountain.

Morning Transfer to Sainte-Baume

Pick-up and journey to the sacred mountain.

Pilgrimage Hike & Initiation

An intentional walk through ancient forest and mountains toward the cave traditionally associated with Mary Magdalene. Silence, prayer, energy work, and manifestation meditation within the cave’s quiet presence. 

Late Lunch Back in Hyères

Return to Hyères for a late lunch at your own choice (not included in retreat price).

Sacred Integration Practice

A slow, intuitive practice to weave the mountain’s energy back into the body. Through breath, subtle movement, and deep listening, we anchor the initiation into our bodies, allowing what was awakened in the cave to settle and integrate within.

Evening: Dinner Together

A shared dinner to close our pilgrimage day, gather in reflection, and soften into community after the mountain.

Living room with beige sofas, wooden coffee table, and large sliding glass doors opening to a backyard with a swimming pool and patio furniture. 
Day Four

Closing & Completion

A gentle morning of integration and intentional closing.

Final Morning Practice

08:30 A closing practice devoted to integration and remembrance, gently anchoring what has been opened and awakened within.

Closing Circle

10:00 A conscious completion of our retreat. Space to share insights, anchor intentions, and gently close the container we have created together.

Brunch

10:45 / 11:00 One last meal together. 

Check-Out

12:00 Departure and goodbyes.

A bedroom with white walls, a wooden headboard, and bed with white linens and beige pillows. A small wooden side table holds a decorative sailboat, and a hanging woven rattan light fixture is beside the bed. A framed picture of a turtle is on the wall.
A minimalist bedroom with a white bed, two beige pillows, and two rolled towels on the bed. Hanging wicker pendant lights, a round wall art, and white built-in shelves with hanging space are visible. A sliding glass door leads to an outdoor area, and a bathtub can be seen in a separate section.
Modern bathroom with a white freestanding bathtub, a wooden vanity with two vessel sinks, large windows with a scenic view, and a mirror above the vanity.
Modern bathroom with a wooden vanity, round stone sink, black faucet, mirror with wooden frame, and a glass-enclosed shower with beige tiles, a rainfall showerhead, and a handheld wand.

Accommodation Options

Book with a friend and

both save 200€

Bedroom 1: Master Suite with Bathtub

Queen-size bed
Freestanding bathtub
Open sea views
Most spacious layout

Our most premium room with added space and softness.

2188 € per person

All bedrooms are shared (2 guests per room).
Each bedroom has its own designated private bathroom.
Prices are per person.

A bedroom with white walls and wooden flooring, featuring a bed with two pillows, two towel sets with striped rolls, hanging wicker lamps, and a built-in white shelving unit with baskets and hangers, and a glass door leading outside.
Modern bathroom with two vessel sinks on a wooden vanity, a large mirror, a freestanding bathtub, and large windows with a view of water and greenery.

Bedrooms 2–5: Queen Rooms

Queen-size bed
Private designated bathroom
Light-filled, natural tones
Shared with one other guest

Four beautiful rooms, each with its own character and layout. While similar in comfort and design, sizes and views may vary slightly. All are designed in soft Mediterranean simplicity.

1988 € per person

Bedroom with a wooden bed, white bedding, beige pillows with dark fringe, a daybed with a sailboat model, a framed picture of a turtle on the wall, and a hanging woven lamp.
Modern bathroom with a floating wooden vanity, a round stone sink, a black faucet, a mirror with a wooden frame, a walk-in shower with beige tiles, a rainfall showerhead, and a glass partition.

Bedroom 6: twin room

Two separate single beds
Private designated bathroom
Light-filled, natural tones
Shared with one other guest

Designed in the same soft Mediterranean style, with its own private bathroom and a calm, comfortable layout.

1888 € per person

A bedroom with two beds, white bedding, blue and white pillows, hanging wicker light fixtures, a textured beige wall, and a black oval-shaped side table.
Modern bathroom with walk-in shower featuring gray tile walls, black shower fixtures, and a black-framed window. Wooden vanity with a round vessel sink, mirror with wooden frame, and light wood flooring.

Your Guides

A woman with blonde hair wearing a brown hat and an orange sweater, holding a set of handpan drums outdoors near trees, smiling at the camera.

Eva Estlander

Retreat Leader & Yoga Teacher

With over a decade of teaching both yoga and meditation, including seven years living in Mexico, I bring a unique perspective to the practice. Known for my chakra yoga classes, I'm passionate about the unseen and tapping into our cyclical essence of being.

As an international yoga teacher and retreat leader, I've honed my craft, leading students to profound discoveries on and off the mat. For half a decade, I've been training new yoga teachers about the subtle body and energy anatomy, empowering them to go beyond what the eye can see.

My teachings and offerings go beyond yoga poses; they encompass meditation, spirituality, cacao ceremonies, sound healing, and the moon —all tools for holistic wellness and self-discovery. This is the magic I want to share with you.

Woman wearing a large black sunhat, holding a teacup, with boats and mountains in the background.

Julia Hackzell

Retreat Leader & Yoga Teacher

For me, guiding others through yoga and somatic practices feels deeply sacred. This has become a big part of who I am at my core. I value presence over perfection.

Throughout my youth, I traveled a lot and lived abroad; this is when I first started teaching yoga in 2015. My teaching journey has taken me around the globe, from the serene beaches and detox centers of the Philippines and Bali to Iceland, Sweden, and finally back home to Finland.

I believe in the wisdom of the human body and resonate deeply with the teachings of embodiment and somatic practices—these experiences have led me to understand myself as an extension of the universe.

I’m forever enchanted by the boundless wonders of life and nature; my path is one of learning and heartfelt devotion to all beings and Mother Earth.

My mission is to guide each heart to its truest calling.

Coastal landscape with rocky cliffs, clear blue water, and a small beach with umbrellas, a boat on the water, and people enjoying the scenery.

What’s Included

  • Accommodation in luxury villa

  • Private designated bathroom for every bedroom

  • Daily yoga practices and workshops

  • Magdalene pilgrimage day & Sacred Integration Practice

  • Daily brunch

  • Welcome dinner on arrival day

  • Wine tasting experience

  • Retreat materials and curated practices

  • Private Pool and Sauna + Gym access

  • Free WiFi

  • Free on-site parking

What’s not Included

  • Flights and travel to Hyères

  • Airport transfers

  • Travel insurance

  • Lunches (unless otherwise specified)

  • Some dinners (as outlined in the schedule)

  • Optional activities outside the program

  • Personal expenses

Investment

  • Save 200€ per person when booking with a friend!

  • Depends on room type, starting at 1888€ per person (or 1688€) including VAT and program, accommodation and stated meals.

OUI! I'M IN!

FAQ

  • No. The retreat is open to all levels. All practices will offer variations and space to move at your own pace.

  • The retreat will be held in English.

  • We are a small, intimate group of 12 guests maximum. This allows for personal guidance and spacious group dynamics.

  • Yes. Many guests attend solo. Rooms are shared with one other participant, and we intend to create a welcoming space for connection.

    *If travelling with a friend, please mention this in sign-up form <3

  • You will receive a detailed packing list prior to arrival. Comfortable practice clothing, walking shoes for the pilgrimage, and light summer layers are recommended.

  • The Sainte-Baume pilgrimage involves walking uphill on uneven forest terrain for approximately 45–60 minutes each way. If you enjoy being outdoors and feel comfortable walking uphill on natural terrain, you will be absolutely fine.

    We will take breaks as needed and move at a steady, supportive pace. However, participants should feel confident walking uphill for an extended period.

  • The easiest way to reach Hyères is to fly to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport or Marseille Provence Airport. From either airport, we recommend renting a car and driving to the Presqu’île de Giens.

    Nice Airport: approximately 1.5 hours by car
    Marseille Airport: approximately 1.5 hours by car

    If you do not have a driver’s licence, alternative options include:

    • Airport bus or train to Hyères town
    • Taxi or rideshare from Hyères train station
    • Coordinating shared transport with other retreat participants

  • Airport transfers are not included. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the retreat location.

  • To secure your place, a non-refundable booking fee of 222 € is required.

    Your space is confirmed only once this payment has been received.

  • By submitting your registration and paying the booking fee, you enter into a binding agreement and commit to the full retreat price.

    The total retreat amount is due regardless of attendance. Payments are non-refundable. No exceptions will be made due to cancellation, illness, personal circumstances, or travel disruption.

    We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance.

Oui, oui, let’s do this!

Register here

PAY 222€ BOOKING FEE