La Vie Est Belle: A Women’s Retreat in Provence

September 4 - 11, 2026

La Vie Est Belle is a weeklong retreat in the south of France for women seeking renewal, connection, and adventure, so you can return to your life reinvigorated, inspired, and recharged. Set in a warm and inviting family home outside a breathtaking Provençal village, this experience blends the simple pleasures of the south of France—long meals, vibrant markets, ancient villages, and beauty at every turn—with the play and delight of spontaneous adventures, belly laughs, and sisterhood.

What to expect
Who this is for

This retreat is an opportunity to nourish your body, awaken your senses, make new friendships, and reconnect with yourself.

Let yourself experience the pleasures of France.

Our Invitation

*

Our Invitation *

We invite you to unwind, exhale, laugh, soften, and come home to yourself through adventurous excursions, meaningful conversations, and beautiful meals that delight all your senses.

What to Expect

  • Curated Experiences

    - Three market days, including L’isle Sur la Sorgue, the region’s largest and most renowned food, artisan, and antique market

    - E-bike ride to local villages 

    - Hiking in the Lubéron mountains

    - Pétanque (Bocce ball)

    - Swimming in the private pool

    - Private boat excursion to the Calanques (limestone cliffs) on the Mediterranean sea

    - Optional in home massages (additional cost)

  • Guided Reflection and Support

    - Conversation Circles

    - Somatic grounding

    - Tenderness practice

    - Awareness of different parts of yourself

    - Preparation for integration when you return home

    - 1:1 Coaching Session With Calysta

    - 1:1 Energy Healing Session with Whitney

  • Delightful Meals

    - All meals cooked by a private chef with the freshest ingredients

    - Simple delights like pain au chocolat, baguettes, cheese, fruits and vegetables bursting with flavor

    - Buffet lunches featuring local foods (fresh salads, charcuteries, patés, fruits)

    - Two café/restaurant lunches after markets

    - Apéritif on the terrace overlooking the village

    - Dinners at home featuring typical Provençal dishes

    - One dinner at the renowned restaurant in the charming boutique hotel La Bastide de Marie

    - Curated local wines at each dinner

    * Accommodations for dietary preferences

A house with blue shutters, a tiled roof, and a backyard patio with outdoor furniture and a yellow tablecloth.

This retreat is for you if…

You’re a woman who:

  • is ready for an adventure away from home

  • desires to experience the food and markets of Provence

  • craves space to exhale without explaining herself

  • yearns to sit in silence and feel safe there

  • wants joy, play, and spontaneity to feel natural again

The Daily Rhythm

  • Morning

    Circle, grounding, journaling, guided inquiry

  • Mid-Morning to Midday

    Village visit, market day, or excursion

  • Early Afternoon

    Leisurely lunch, prepared by private chef at home or occasionally in a local restaurant

  • Afternoon

    Rest, pool, quiet time, reflection, 1:1 sessions

  • Apéritif

    Enjoy the unparalleled view and sunset on the village

  • Evening

    Delicious, healthy gourmet dinner on the outdoor terrace

  • Soirée

    Dancing, playing games, night walks to the village, or cozying up with a good book

Come join us.

A peaceful outdoor scene featuring a house with a tiled roof, surrounded by lush green trees and a well-maintained grassy lawn, with a backdrop of forested hills.
Several halved ripe figs with red flesh and purple skin on a wooden surface.
Four wooden chairs and tables on a grassy lawn overlooking a field of lavender, with a hillside town with white buildings and trees in the background.
A wooden dining table set outdoors with two white plates of cheese, green beans, smoked salmon, black olives, and crackers, along with two glasses of white wine, a bottle of white wine, two glasses of water, and a folded checkered napkin.
A couple walking hand in hand through an ancient stone archway with warm sunlight casting long shadows behind them.
A backyard with a swimming pool, surrounded by green grass, potted plants, and trees, with a house in the background featuring a tiled roof, a staircase, and tall cypress trees.

A Note About Intimacy and Safety

This retreat is intentionally small — no more than 8 women — so that every woman can be seen, heard, held, and guided in her own way back to herself.

The Setting

A house with blue shutters and a patio, surrounded by lush green trees and purple lavender fields in front, with hills and a clear blue sky in the background.

Outside Bonnieux, on a small plateau overlooking the village, sits a quiet family home filled with warmth, beauty, and soul. Enjoy thoughtfully-decorated rooms, a pool overlooking the village, terraces for morning circles and evening reflections, and walking paths with rolling hills and bird song.

This home holds generations of love. It naturally invites you to exhale.

Room Options and Pricing

  • A bedroom with a bed, paintings, lamps, a bookshelf, an armchair, and a glass door opening to outdoors.

    King Bed with Private Bath and Village View

    Single Occupancy: $4.968

    Double Occupancy*: $4,758 per person

  • A cozy bedroom with a bed, two nightstands, and a patterned rug. The bed has a cream-colored headboard and white bedding. There are two pillows on the bed. The room has blue floral wallpaper, exposed ceiling beams, and a window with cream curtains.

    Queen Bed with Shared Bath and Village View

    Single Occupancy: $4,583

    Double Occupancy: $4,408 per person

  • A bedroom with two single beds with blue polka dot bedding, each with a white pillow. Between the beds is a small wooden table with two black lamps, a candle, and a decorative basket underneath. There are framed pictures on the wall and a window behind the table.

    Two Twin Beds with Shared Bath, Entrance Terrace View

    Double Occupancy: $4,233 per person

  • A cozy bedroom with a sloped ceiling, featuring a bed with white bedding, wooden furniture including a dresser and side table, and framed pictures on the walls. Small windows with checkered curtains provide natural light.

    One Queen and One Twin, Shared Bath, Lubéron Mountain View

    Double Occupancy: $4,058 per person

    Accessed from outdoor staircase.

Living room with a fireplace, two ornate armchairs, a wooden chest, a mirror above the fireplace, a painting on the wall, and two table lamps.
A cozy bedroom with patterned wallpaper, a rug, a French door opening to a garden, a bookshelf on the wall, a wicker basket, a fan, a wooden dresser with candles, and framed artwork.
Living room with two checkered armchairs with red and yellow pillows, a coffee table, a fireplace with a framed portrait above it, a bookshelf with stereo equipment, a floor lamp, curtains, and tiled flooring.

  • All programming with expert facilitators who complement each other with their breadth and depth of knowledge, wisdom, and modalities

  • All meals from Friday evening through Saturday morning, including one dinner at a restaurant, two lunches in restaurants, and wine at each dinner

  • A private chef who brings not only exquisite gourmet food but light, love, and her own facilitation skills

  • Accommodations (options for single or double occupancy)

  • All excursions, including full day private boat excursion to Cassis/Mediterranean coast

  • All entries to museums, chateaus, or exhibitions

  • 1:1 coaching session with Calysta

  • 1:1 energy healing session with Whitney

  • Two group calls post-retreat for integration

What’s Included

Investment: $4,058 - $4,968 (depending on room selection)

Arrival: Friday, September 4th

Departure: Friday, September 11th

7 nights total

Apply Here

Does not include:

Airfare (to Marseille or Paris are preferred) 

Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

Transfer to and from the house (see below in FAQ’s for more details)

Local gifts, souvenirs, purchases, etc.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

Payment plans available. See FAQ’s.

$1000 deposit required at time of registration to reserve your spot. $500 is non-refundable. The remaining balance is due by July 1.

If you need to cancel, you will receive a refund of all payments made minus $500 of your deposit if your cancellation is received in writing by July 1. After July 1, the retreat is non-refundable and non-transferable.

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment. Many companies offer coverage for retreats and international travel.

Apply Here
View through a window with light blue shutters showing a field with rows of crops and trees in the background.

A Day in the Life

A sneak peak into a day-in-the-life at our retreat.

Itinerary subject to change due to weather and group preferences.

Coffee, breakfast, and morning circle

8-10am

Group outing to the market

10-11am

Fresh, local lunch in town

11-3pm

Rest, pool time, siesta, 1:1 sessions

3-6pm

Apéritif

6-7pm

7-8:30pm

Delicious gourmet dinner prepared by our chef

Dancing, playing games, read

8:30pm-bedtime

Markets

L’Isle sur la Sorgue: L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue comes alive on market day, its canals and old waterwheels framing one of the most beloved markets in Provence. The streets fill with vibrant stalls offering antiques, fresh cheeses and produce, flowers, linens, and handcrafted treasures. This market is a feast for the senses and a beautiful place to wander at your own pace. This is the largest of the local markets and not one to be missed. 

Bonnieux: Bonnieux is a beautiful hilltop village with winding stone streets, panoramic views, and a timeless Provençal feel. On Friday mornings, the village square comes alive with a charming market where locals sell fresh produce, cheeses, flowers, and handcrafted goods. It’s a warm, inviting glimpse into daily life in Provence.

Gordes: Gordes is one of Provence’s most iconic hilltop villages, rising in honey-colored stone overlooking the sweeping plains of the Luberon. Its narrow cobblestone lanes wind past elegant façades, ancient archways, and a majestic château that anchors the heart of the village. Bathed in golden light and surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, Gordes offers a postcard snapshot of history, beauty, and Provençal charm. This village is an unforgettable place to wander, savor, and take in the landscape.

Villages

Ménerbes: Ménerbes is a quietly majestic hilltop village, perched above vineyards and cherry orchards with sweeping views across the Luberon Valley. Its long stone ramparts and honey-colored houses give it a timeless, watchful presence—serene, grounded, and deeply Provençal. Once home to artists and writers, including Peter Mayle, Ménerbes carries a contemplative, soulful energy that invites lingering walks, slow meals, and moments of stillness. Wandering its narrow streets feels intimate and lived-in, where beauty is understated and the rhythm of life is unhurried.

Lacoste: Lacoste is a striking hilltop village known for its narrow, stone-paved passages, sweeping views of the Luberon, and the iconic château once owned by the Marquis de Sade. Today, the village has a vibrant creative pulse thanks to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), whose students and studios infuse the streets with youthful artistry and imagination. Wandering Lacoste feels like stepping into a living gallery—historic, poetic, and alive with emerging creative energy.

Cassis: With the French Riviera only 1.5 hours away, a day in Cassis feels like stepping into a sun-soaked dream. This luminous seaside village invites you to wander its pastel-painted port, linger in little boutiques, and breathe in the salty Mediterranean air. Then slip aboard a private boat with a typical French picnic lunch and cruise into the Calanques—towering white limestone cliffs plunging into sparkling turquoise water.

The sparkling water of Cassis, France

A scenic view of a rocky coastline with green trees, blue water, and a clear sky.
Colorful buildings along a marina with boats docked at the waterfront, with hills and a mountain in the background.

Restaurants

La Bastide de Marie: Dinner at La Bastide de Marie feels like being welcomed into an elegant Provençal home, where candlelight and long tables create space for women to unwind and savor. Surrounded by vineyards and gardens, you’ll enjoy vibrant dishes from the estate’s own potager—simple, fresh, and deeply flavorful. Whether dining under lanterns or in the chic-rustic dining room, the setting invites easy connection, warm laughter, and a sense of being beautifully cared for.

Outdoor restaurant patio with white-draped tables, blue cushions on wrought iron chairs, floral centerpieces, wine glasses, and string lights, surrounded by lush greenery and hills at dusk.
A church with a tall steeple overlooking a lush, green landscape with farmland and mountains in the distance at sunset.
Colorful candles with labels that say 'Violette' and 'Live Lavande,' arranged in wooden boxes at a store.
Slices of baguette topped with a creamy herb spread, garnished with purple edible flowers and a sprig of rosemary, arranged on a decorative plate. In the background, whole pears and a bottle with a feline illustration are visible.
A young woman sitting on a wooden bench eating a meal or snack outside a house with a tiled roof and shuttered windows. The house has colorful autumn leaves growing along the wall, and there are trees in the background.
A swimming pool reflecting the colorful sunset sky with hues of orange and pink, surrounded by green trees and well-maintained bushes, with a hillside town in the background.
People dining at an outdoor restaurant at night, with string lights hanging overhead and a cobblestone street.
A cozy bedroom with floral wallpaper, green and cream curtains, a view of a lavender field outside the open French door, a patterned area rug, and a vase of purple flowers on a side table.
A scenic landscape with a tree in the foreground, a field of purple flowers, and a misty hillside town with a church on top in the background.
An outdoor antique shop with wooden furniture, vintage dishes, and decorative items, partly shaded by a leafy tree with a black bicycle parked in front, and a woman browsing inside.

Your Hosts

A smiling woman with long, curly blonde hair wearing a black blazer, white top, and a heart-shaped necklace, sitting indoors with a blurred plant in the background. 
Calysta’s path has taken her from the classrooms of Colorado and Idaho to communities across the world, weaving together a lifetime of teaching, facilitating, and guiding others toward deeper clarity and connection. With a background in anthropology, languages, and human development, she brings a thoughtful, grounded approach to helping people return to themselves.
Her work as a facilitator is shaped by 25 years of teaching and by leading retreats for women, entrepreneurs, and mission-driven leaders. Whether she is guiding a circle, inviting a group into creative problem-solving, or helping someone reconnect with their inner voice, Calysta creates spaces that feel safe, alive, and transformative. Participants often leave her retreats with a renewed sense of possibility—clearer, more centered, and more connected to what truly matters. She is a life and executive coach who helps people build lives and show up in their careers in ways that are aligned with what matters most to them.
Born to a French mother and an American father, Calysta has been traveling to her family’s home in Provence for more than four decades. This region is woven into her story—its markets, villages, and rhythms are as familiar to her as old friends. Her deep connection to the land and culture brings a layer of authenticity and intimacy to this retreat, allowing participants to experience Provence with the insight of someone who truly knows and loves it.
She now calls Sun Valley, Idaho home, where she lives with her husband, two children, and four beloved dogs. Outside of facilitation, she finds joy in dancing, mountain biking, skiing, cooking, and quiet moments on a paddle board or a snowy trail.

Calysta Phillips

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Close-up of a smiling woman with dark, curly hair and blue eyes, wearing a colorful floral top. 
Whitney’s approach to life is rooted in her experiences as a mother, doula, women’s circle facilitator, retreat facilitator, and most importantly, a life long learner. She has certifications in Healing Touch Energy work and Guided imagery, as well as experience as a facilitator of women’s circles. Whitney’s work brings a heart-centered, trauma-informed approach focused on emotional safety. She hopes to hold the hands of other women on this journey, knowing that to help others on the path, you must have walked it yourself. 
Whitney brings a multidisciplinary approach to her facilitation, with years of practice in prayer, sweat lodges, Kundalini yoga, 5 Rhythms dance movement, frame drumming, and the facilitation of cacao ceremonies. 
Whitney has a special appreciation for ancestral medicine and ancestral healing. She honors her Irish immigrant grandparents through the study of Irish myth, which she carries a deep reverence for and continuously draws upon as a facilitator and healer. While her adventures have taken her across the globe, Whitney spent time in the south of France where she lived for two years, learned the language, and fell in love with the culture. She is so excited to co-facilitate this retreat for women to come alive with the culture, art, food, and sights of the Provençal markets. 
Having grown up in Idaho, Whitney is a lover of the slow pace of country life, dirt roads, and country music. These days, you can find her walking the trails of her mountain home, enjoying spending time with her grown young adult children, and dancing along to life’s music. A Pisces through and through, she loves to relax by the ocean where there is sunshine and La Mer!

Whitney Gaved

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Your Chef

A woman with long wavy hair smiling and wearing a striped black and white top, a gold necklace, and a pearl pendant.

Chalia Cavazos

Chalia is the founder of Lia Catering and a deeply intuitive chef whose life’s work is rooted in nourishment, beauty, and connection. Raised in a vibrant Mexican household, she learned early how food brings people together. Her formal training at M Tech Culinary Arts School, along with years of hands-on experience—including the founding of Chalia’s Bakery and later The Brulee Catering—shaped her into an accomplished chef known for bold, refined flavors and impeccable presentation. Chalia will bring the flavors of Provence to life through thoughtfully prepared offerings made with the freshest seasonal ingredients—drawing from local markets, regional traditions, and her own culinary training to create meals and boards that feel both nourishing and celebratory.
After a near-death experience at 19, Chalia never saw life the same again—something within her changed forever. She returned with heightened intuition and claroaudiencia, gifts she didn’t yet know how to understand or manage, and for a long time, she kept them hidden, afraid of being misunderstood. Still, her heart kept guiding her toward a moment when she would share freely and inspire others through her life experiences, with love and strength. After the passing of her two children, that calling deepened profoundly; the pain became a lived experience that evolved and transformed her soul. Along this path of healing and purpose, she has committed herself to deep inner work and learning, completing certificate courses such as The Power of Words with Dr. Eder Campos and Eudinamia with Dr. José Cruz; participating in Circle of Women; using Reiki to heal trauma; practicing hypnotherapy through the Marisa Peer system; attending 5 Rhythms retreats; and dedicating herself to yoga, meditation, and conscious movement—practices that center her soul and keep her deeply connected to her true self.
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  • Testimonials

    “The retreat that Calysta put on with this intimate group of amazing women and now new friends, provided a safe environment for me to share my challenges with honesty and vulnerability. The retreat, surprisingly, brought up old unresolved issues of shame, isolation, & judgment of self. The exercises, the support of Calysta, and the encouragement of the team of women helped me look at my past with empathy to embrace and start healing these thoughts and feelings that weren’t serving me anymore. It was a wonderful experience.”

    - Maureen Goulet

  • Testimonials

    “Working with Calysta is a breath of fresh air. She is insightful, supportive and full of energy that both unites everyone in the room, and also inspires you to look inward and have the confidence to reflect deeply and step into joy, reflection and change.” 

    - Elizabeth Herrick

  • Testimonials

    “Whitney is gifted with talents and skills that put you at ease in her presence. To support herself and others Whitney has gained great knowledge in energy work, I call her my “Healer Friend”. She is a good listener, she leads by example, and has her unique way to create a safe, comfortable environment. Whitney is naturally skilled in allowing others to identify new ways for change and transformation. She cares about people, their success, and community. She would provide excellent support guidance to anyone going through a difficult trial in their life.”

    - Sophie D.

  • Testimonials

    "Whitney has a great ability to be curious and caring while intentional and loving. During our sessions, she provided a safe space that allowed me to relax and let go of old wounds and emotions.  Her gentle persistence allows you to move at your pace while still inviting you forward. She is humble and thoughtful and seeks to understand with compassion to facilitate healing through her quiet but powerful presence. She has been great to work with and I'd recommend her to anyone whether this is your first introduction to energy work or a long time practitioner."

    - Cody Clark

Scenic view of rolling hills with vineyards in autumn, a small stone house, and a distant hillside town.

Leaving doesn’t mean letting go of what you’ve found — we support you in the unfolding of what began in Provence and continues after you arrive home.

  • Two group calls post-retreat to support you through the integration

  • Reflection prompts to help anchor your insights as you return to daily life

  • Optional coaching add-on package upon returning home (additional cost)

The Afterglow Integration

The Overview

Where?

Bonnieux, a small hilltop village in Provence, France

La Vie Est Belle: A Retreat for Women in the South of France

When?

Friday, September 4th to Friday, September 11th, 2026

How much?

Between $4,058 and $4,968, depending on room selection

Apply Here

FAQs

  • Most guests fly into either Marseille (MRS) or Paris (CDG). 

    We will offer a free pick up from the Marseille airport at 3pm on Friday, September 4th. We will offer a free pick up from the Avignon train station at 2pm on Friday, September 4th.

    From Marseille, you can take a train to Cavaillon (1 hour 15 minutes, about $30) and arrange a taxi ride to the house (30 minutes, about $90). You can also book a taxi from Marseille to the house (1 hour 15 minutes, about $220).

    From Paris, you can take the high-speed TGV train from the Charles de Gaule airport to Avignon (4 hours, about $65) and arrange a taxi to Bonnieux (about 50 minutes and $110). 

    We can help you book your transfers.

  • There is one king bedroom and one queen bedroom. Those rooms are first come first serve and sharing is up to the person who books the room.

    There are two rooms with twin beds. Participants attending on their own will share these rooms with another participant.

    There is only one private bath with the King. All other baths are shared.

  • We accept credit cards, debit cards, ACH transfers, and Zelle. We prefer ACH transfers and Zelle due to lower fees. Once we review your application and invite you to the retreat, we will set up payment with you.

  • You may set up a monthly payment plan after your $1000 deposit by talking with us, as long as you are paid in full by July 1st.

  • We will have two vehicles- a larger van that can transport everyone in one vehicle, and a smaller vehicle for 5 for extra flexibility. You do not need to rent a car. Once you arrive at the house we will handle all your transportation needs. 

  • Each day blends spaciousness with intentional experiences. We’ve crafted the rhythm so that you feel held—not rushed. There will be free time.

  • Our excursions involve gentle walking through villages and markets. There is an optional morning walk to the top of the village which is a little more challenging. There are also longer hiking trails into the Lubéron mountains. We are planning an e-bike excursion that is appropriate for all levels of fitness. Travel comes with inherent challenges and may be more taxing for some than others.

  • September brings cooler, more comfortable temperatures, making it easy to enjoy long walks, village markets, and outdoor meals without the intense heat of midsummer.

    While the lavender has already been harvested, the soft curves and patterned rows of the fields remain.

    The summer crowds have thinned, offering a more relaxed, spacious experience of Provence’s villages, cafés, and landmarks.

  • No, the lavender fields are already harvested this time of year. The lavender rows are still lovely, but they will not be purple. You may purchase lavender products in abundance at the markets.

  • Provence is relaxed, elegant, and all about comfort. Bring light, breathable clothing, a sweater for cool evenings, comfortable walking shoes, a swimsuit, a sun hat, a pareo, and anything that helps you feel grounded (a journal, a favorite scarf, a book). It can be rainy so bring rain gear. Bring pieces you love to move, rest, and wander in. Our one dinner out is a nice occasion to dress up if you choose. 

More questions? Feel free to email calystaphillips@gmail.com

Apply Here

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Apply Here *

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