Escape the Chaos: 5 Day Walking the Camino de Santiago Retreat in the South of France
Walk the Camino de Santiago Retreat in Southwest France
When was the last time you took some time out to reflect on what you want from life? What are your priorities, values, viewpoints, your dreams, your skills, your talents, your achievements, your interests, your motivation, your beliefs, your regrets, your limitations? Walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostella has provided answers to these questions for the last 800+ years. Today, people from all and no religious persuasions walk the Camino to reconnect with themselves, with others, and with nature. A warm welcome awaits you amidst the Cotes de Gascogne and Armagnac vineyards in the sun-blessed southwest of France!
Meet the instructors
Read more
Highlights
- 3 days of walking the Camino, 10, 12 and 18 kilometres (or longer)
- Eat healthy, home-grown, and home-made food
- 4 nights comfortable accommodation in a 200-year-old farmhouse
- Discover walking and writing meditation
Accommodation
Facilities
- Garden
- Multilingual staff
- Smoke-free property
- Terrace
- Free parking
- Parking lot
Single or double occupancy of a rustic double bedroom, in a sprawling French farmhouse, simple and enchanting, perfectly capturing the essence of the Gascony region, with comfortable beds, covered in crisp bed linens and views of the surrounding woods and meadows. Towels provided. Hairdryer access.
There is ample, safe, shaded, off-road parking.
Program
Everything will be taken care of for you. You will sleep in the same bed each night, you do not have to carry a heavy backpack with you, you will eat healthy, home-grown and home-made food – all you have to do is concentrate on experiencing everything that walking the Camino has to offer.
You arrive in time for dinner on the 1st day, walk the Camino on 2nd, 3rd and 4th and leave after breakfast on day 5th.
Esprit Meraki is looking forward to welcoming you here!
Itinerary - Retreats start on Saturdays
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive in time for dinner
Day 2: Eauze to Manciet (walking for 2.5 to 3 hours)
On the first day, guests walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostella from Eauze to Manciet. This section is about 11 kilometres (6 miles) long and takes about 2.5 - 3 hours to walk. The walk meanders through woods, vineyards, meadows, orchards, and sunflower fields from the Roman and cathedral city of Eauze towards Manciet, a small market town with a beautifully preserved lavoir.
Day 3: Manciet to Nogaro (walking for 10 kilometres / 2.5 to 3 hours)
On the second day, guests walk from Manciet to Nogaro. The route continues past an ancient church that once belonged to the Order of the Knights of Malta and an 18th-century milestone with a Maltese cross to Nogaro or Nogarium, which means ‘a place planted with walnut trees.’ This small town was established in the 11th century and has a fine Romanesque church. The walk takes about 2.5 - 3 hours to walk and is about 10 kilometers (6 miles).
Day 4: Nogaro (28km) or Lelin Lapujolle to Aire Sur Adour (18 kilometers)
The third day’s walk is to Aire Sur Adour and then take the bus back to Nogaro. This 18km walk takes 3-4 hours to walk.
The walk is fairly flat: Lelin Lapujolle is at 100 meters above sea level and Aire is at 80 meters above sea level. The path passes by several ancient farmhouses, along the vineyards and onwards towards Barcellone-du-Gers, a small town adjacent to Aire. From Barcellone the scenery changes, The vineyards give way to trees: oaks, pines, and chestnuts until one finally arrives in the beautiful town of Aire-sur-Adour, on the mighty Adour river. Dinner in a local restaurant to support small business owners - cost not included.
Day 5: Departure
Leave after brunch, before 11:00.
Retreats start on Saturdays.
Instructors
Dr M Montagu
Dr. M Montagu will be leading this retreat. She is the author of five books, all horse-inspired, life-enriching, and subtly French-flavored. After working for 20 years as a medical doctor in a variety of specialties including psychiatry and general practice, she came to the conclusion that many diseases have their roots in her patients’ inability to handle stress effectively. She eventually combined her education and experience to create these stress management residential retreats that she now hosts in the south of France.
Location
Camino de Santiago de Compostela
Hundreds of thousands (over 200,000 in 2018) of people from all walks of life make their way to Santiago de Compostela via one of the pilgrims’ routes each year. For most, it is an unforgettable experience, resulting in a spiritual awakening or renewal. Few returned home unchanged. This holiday is your chance to join them, walking the Camino de Santiago in the south of France.
The house
The house, deep in the heart of Gascony, less than 2 hour's drive south-east of Bordeaux, between Nogaro and Eauze, is located on several acres of lush, green meadows and is surrounded by vineyards, woods, orchards, and sunflower fields. Secluded but not isolated, this 200-year-old farmhouse is only 15 minutes by car from Eauze, a typical local town, with all amenities.
In only a few other places you will find all the ingredients of a perfect holiday combined with such abundance as in Gascony: fabulous food, outstanding wine, generous people, and the breathtaking beauty of mountains, rivers, lakes, and medieval villages perched on hilltops.
Food
The food is simple but delicious and a celebration of the wonderful variety of fresh local produce available from our garden as well as from the local weekly fresh food markets.
This region is known for its abundant gourmet cuisine and Montagu Retreats would not dream of depriving the guests of the pleasure and benefits that can be had.
Please note that dinner on day 4 is not included. Since the pandemic, participants of this retreat eat this meal in a restaurant to boost the local economy (usually 15-30 EUR depending on your choices).
If you have any intolerances, allergies, or dislike some ingredient or food, please let Montagu Retreats know during your booking. Some dietary requests may incur an additional fee.
The following meals are included:
- Brunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Lacto-ovo Vegetarian
- Gluten Free
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Pescatarian
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
- Life Transition Coaching - at additional cost and depending on availability
Spa treatments
- Massage - at additional cost and depending on availability
What's included
- 4 nights' accommodation in a 200-year-old half-timbered French farmhouse
- 3 day's walking of the Camino de Santiago de Compostella
- Scrumptious brunch, delicious dinners (except day 4) and ad lib tea and coffee 24/7
- Guests can make sandwiches at brunch to take with them so they can stop for a picnic during their walks
- Introduction to walking and writing meditation
- Transport from and to the day's walk and to the restaurant on day 4
What's not included
- Transport costs to local airports and train stations
- Transport from local airports to local train stations (Auch and Mont de Marsan)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Transport from local train stations to Nogaro
- Personal health insurance and/or travel insurance (Montagu Retreats highly recommend insurance coverage in case you need to cancel)
- Dinner on day 4
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport
130 km
Transfer not provided
Toulouse–Blagnac Airport
114 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by airplane
The most convenient way to travel here, depending on where you are coming from, is by air. Several of the low-cost airlines fly to airports nearby. The closest airports are Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS), and Bordeaux Airport (BOD) - both just under 2 hours.
The easiest way to get here is to fly to Toulouse airport, and then take a train to Auch (50 minutes), and then the bus to Nogaro. It usually takes about 3-4 hours and costs less than 30 EUR.
From Bordeaux airport, there is a train to Agen and then a bus via Condom to Nogaro. Airport shuttles and trams connect the airports and train stations.
It is also possible to travel from these airports to the retreat by taxi.
In addition, there is now a very good carpooling website in France that several guests have used successfully. It is called Blablacar dot fr and one could possibly get a lift, sometimes all the way to Nogaro from the airport for less than 20 EUR.
Arrival by car
Renting a car is highly recommended (and currently the most popular option) on your arrival at a local airport or train station, especially if you intend to stay here a couple of days before or after a retreat as the region has much to offer a discerning tourist.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 16.94% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.