Yoga & Creative Retreats

Le Grand Banc is a restored Provençal hamlet perched above the Luberon valley, a private estate where artists, writers and seekers have found meaning and peace for decades. It’s stone cottages, gardens, courtyards and views across rolling hills provide the backdrop for soulful practice, creative thinking and embodied movement.

Yoga & Creative Writing

10 – 16 May
A week to immerse yourself in the rhythm of daily yoga and guided creative writing with Susan Elderkin, with time and space to explore, reflect and write in a truly inspiring setting.

Yoga & Hiking Retreat

26th April – 2nd May 2026 fully booked

This is a week to move, walk and take in the raw beauty of Provence. Each day begins with dynamic yoga with Tashi, taught to suit all levels. We head out on foot to explore some of the region’s most striking landscapes on three of the days, from the high trails around Grand Banc with sweeping mountain views, to the limestone gorge of Oppedette, and the winding village lanes of Banon, where a legendary bookshop and local cheese await.

This is a week shaped by nourishing food, time to rest, and movement that connects you to the landscape and your body.

Yoga & Creative Writing Retreats

3–9 May and 10–16 May 2026

These retreats bring together yoga and creative writing in the beautiful setting of Provence.

They are co-facilitated by award-winning novelist and experienced writing teacher Susan Elderkin, whose work spans fiction, journalism and bibliotherapy.

The retreats are open to writers of all levels and are designed for those who want time, space and a supportive group in which to explore storytelling. Susan’s teaching is clear, encouraging and practical, suitable for both beginners and experienced writers.

Each day begins with yoga with Tashi, followed by writing sessions with Suze, both sessions emphasise curiosity and discovery.

There is no pressure to perform or produce during the writing sessions. You will be guided through prompts and exercises that help you connect with your own voice and see your work from fresh angles.

Afternoons include walks, journaling or exploring the surrounds. We do another shorter writing session and restorative yoga before dinner. In the evenings we gather for seasonal, locally inspired meals and relaxed conversation.

Whether you are hoping to begin something new, return to a writing project or simply enjoy creative time in a supportive environment, this is a week to enjoy both your body and your mind.

what’s included

• Twice-daily yoga sessions and all hiking/writing activities
• All meals featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients, vegetarian options
• Accommodation in your chosen room type: private, shared or apartment.
• Use of all retreat facilities including saltwater pool, sculpted gardens, heated yoga shala and all communal spaces
• Coordination of group transfers from Marseille or Avignon TGV (the cost is shared between passengers)
• Small group environment to support personal attention and connection

the region

Le Grand Banc is located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, a region known for its wild beauty, ancient hilltop villages and expansive views across the Luberon. This part of Provence has less tourists than the coast offering a quieter more regional experience of southern France.

The landscape here is rugged oak forests, limestone ridges, hidden gorges and open plateaux. It’s a place shaped by light, wind and time, with walking trails that have connected villages and shepherds for centuries. In spring the wildflowers are in bloom, the air is fresh and the hills are alive with colour.

Nearby, the village of Banon offers a taste of Provençal life with its weekly markets, local cheeses and famous rural bookshop. Oppedette Gorge and the surrounding national parks are within reach for walkers and nature-lovers, while the Le Grand Banc itself is a peaceful sanctuary remote enough to feel far from it all, yet accessible from Marseille and Avignon.

location