Holiday itinerary
Set in the dramatic surroundings of South-West France’s Basque country, this unique 4 night/5 day, yoga and raw food retreat is perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing, rejuvenating break, and long-lasting health and wellbeing.
With the Pyrenees in the background and the sound of the Atlantic lapping on the nearby shores carrying across the bergamot-scented breeze, it is impossible to imagine a finer setting to learn the nutritional power of raw food and juicing and develop a greater understanding of yoga under the instruction of a renowned and dedicated yogi.
Arriving into Biarritz, guests can learn and unwind in the gorgeous grounds of the Bassilour Estate 3km to the south. Practice yoga in the morning under the tailored tutelage of Caroline Beliard Zebrowski, who adapts her classes not just to the abilities of the class, but to the energies of her charges and the seasons themselves. And when your mind and body are at one, enjoy nutrition, beauty and aromatherapy sessions and instruction in the art of preparing (and eating) wholesome, delicious raw food in professional kitchens or the idyllic gardens.
Learn to harness the benefits of raw food and juicing which include optimum digestion, detoxification, glowing skin, hair and nails for an all-round healthier you.
There is ample opportunity to take in the gorgeous coastline and countryside of the region, relax with a massage, meditation or other therapies on demand, or take to the exclusive boulevards of Biarritz to indulge in some retail therapy to complement your holistic overhaul.
Stay in gorgeous accommodation that is as luxurious and individual as it is homely, and return to everyday life with newfound wellbeing and the tools to stay that way.
Suitability
- Raw food, yoga and detox retreats are suitable for all levels of fitness and you do not have to have any experience in yoga or raw food preparation to join the course
- Minimum age 18 for the holiday
- The raw food programme is unsuitable for pregnant women or anyone suffering from the following: diverticular disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, severe haemorrhoids, blood vessel diseases, congestive heart failure, heart diseases, severe anaemia, abdominal hernia, gastrointestinal cancer, recent colon surgery and intestinal cancers
Important Pre-Holiday Preparation
- It is strongly advised that guests decrease or (preferably) stop intake of red meat, processed food, cakes, sugar, coffee, alcohol and soft drinks at least one week before their stay in order to fully benefit from the retreat
Travelling Solo?
- This raw food yoga and detox holiday makes a great singles holiday as it is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people
- This retreat will run for a minimum of 2 people, and solo travellers are welcome to join an existing group
- All guests travelling solo will be allocated their own private room with double or twin bedroom and en suite for a compulsory single supplement
- Please see the costing and extras tab for details on single supplement pricing
- It is not possible to share a room on this holiday unless you are travelling with a friend
Raw Food Yoga and Detox Retreat Start Days
- The raw food yoga and detox retreat run on set dates each year, please see the dates and booking tab for details and availability
- Raw detox retreats are for 4 nights/5 days and usually begin on every other Tuesday throughout the year and finish on the following Saturday
- If dates appear ‘on request’ please email us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible
Raw Food Yoga and Detox Retreat Itinerary
The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:
Day 1 - Arrival day and first cooking class
- After being picked up from Biarritz airport, you will be transferred to the accommodation where you’ll be greeted with a welcome juice and check in to your room from 5pm
- In the evening around 6.30pm you’ll begin your first cooking class which will be preparing dinner for that same evening
- Around 8pm you will sit down with your fellow guests and enjoy the dinner that you have learnt to prepare
- After dinner there is the chance to take part in some meditation, watch a movie, or enjoy some free time
Day 2 - yoga, theory talks and juice fast
- You'll begin your day with a warm water and lemon served around 7:45am
- At 8am, you will start your 1 hour morning yoga session with your teacher Caroline, to gently open and awaken your body and senses to the day
- In the morning classes you will do a mixtures of asanas (postures) and prayanama (breath work)
- At 9.30am you'll enjoy your first juice drink of the day
- After your juice drink, you'll have free time or the chance to indulge in a massage
- At about 11.30am you’ll begin your morning juice preparation followed by your second juice of the day
- You will learn how to use superfoods, flavour balancing,and the various health benefits of juicing
- Between 2-5pm you’ll have free time to spend as you wish
- There are various activities which are available on request depending on the group’s needs and subject to availability
- The on request activities may include massages, reflexology, hot stone therapy, surf lessons, golfing and more (all at extra cost)
- You'll also have a juice to go within this free time
- Around 6pm you'll have another healthy juice drink
- At about 7.30pm you'll enjoy a herbal tea
- After your herbal tea there will be free time in the evening to enjoy a movie, socialise, read a book or meditate
Day 3 & 4 - yoga, theory talks and cooking classes
- At 8am, you will start your 1 hour morning yoga session with your teacher Caroline, to gently open and awaken your body and senses to the day
- In the morning classes you will do a mixtures of asanas (postures) and prayanama (breath work)
- At 9.30am a healthy breakfast is served
- Around 10.30am once everyone has breakfasted, there will be an hour long theory lesson in nutrition, beauty or aromatherapy
- The theory talks vary in terms of content each day but subjects may include nutrition, beauty, or aromatherapy to name a few
- At about 11.30am you’ll begin your morning raw food cooking class
- The morning cooking classes are focused on preparing lunch each day as well as a healthy juice too
- You will learn how to use superfoods, flavour balancing, food combinations and converting a cooked recipe to a raw recipe
- The cookery class usually lasts for about 1.5 hours so around 1pm you will sit down with the group and enjoy the healthy, delicious lunch that you have just learnt to prepare
- After lunch between 2-5pm you’ll have free time to spend as you wish
- There are various activities which are available on request depending on the group’s needs and subject to availability
- The on request activities may include massages, reflexology, hot stone therapy, surf lessons, golfing and more (all at extra cost)
- Your afternoon cooking class will begin at 5.30pm and will again be a chance to prepare a juice and also the evening dinner
- Dinner can be inspired by Japanese, Greek, Italian, Indian and Mexican cuisine, with favourites such as teriyaki raw noodles, vegetable curry, raw nachos and tacos and much more
- At about 7pm dinner will be served and you’ll eat the delicious food you’ve learnt to prepare with the other guests at the retreat
- During the evenings, after dinner there will be various social evening activities on offer such as films being shown or meditation sessions and you can spend the evenings as you wish either taking part in these or having some time to yourself and just relaxing
Day 5 - Departure day
- Today is the final day of the holiday and at 8am you will have the last yoga class of the holiday
- Breakfast will be served as usual at around 9.30am and then you’ll have the chance to gather your things together before checking out of your room by 11am for your free transfer back to the airport or train station
- Return feeling relaxed, fitter, and healthier, refreshed with new skills and knowledge along with new friends and inspiration to continue your detox health, yoga and raw food practice at home
Your Tutors And Hosts
- Your hosts are certified raw food specialist Emilie and yoga teacher Caroline who together will take care of you throughout your stay in France
- Yoga is taught by Caroline Zebrowski who studied under the renowned Julie Rader in California before studying Hatha Yoga in France
- A respected yogini in her own right, she returns to the West Coast to study Prana Flow with Shiva Rea
- Caroline’s classes vary from Yin Yoga to Prana Flow and she tailors her classes to suit the energies and abilities of her class and the season
- After studying International Law, Raw food Chef Emilie McBride needed some changes in her life which led her to follow her passion for health and cookery
- A passionate cook, Emilie has always enjoyed cooking and she qualified in the art of raw food preparation in Bali
- She is dedicated to follow the path of health, with easy to prepare, fresh and organic cuisine
- Emilie’s recipe for life is a handful of passion for cooking, a big zest of dedication to health, shaken and stirred to get the
optimum energy cocktail
- She loves nothing more than sharing her experience with others to help them to understand the benefits of a healthy, gourmet raw food diet
- To compliment her raw food lifestyle, Emilie also gives informative, enjoyable classes in nutrition, beauty and aromatherapy to help you discover all the benefits of this diet or improve your knowledge about raw and living foods
- Emilie will be on hand throughout your stay to answer questions and ensure that your holiday is a truly unique and positive experience
What Will I Learn?
Raw Food
- Soaking and sprouting
- Use of sweetener
- The art of juicing and blending
- How to use superfoods
- Flavour balancing
- Food combining
- Converting a cooked recipe into a raw recipe
- Dehydration
- Setting up a raw kitchen
- Making yummy healthy desserts
- Mastering the art of raw chocolate
Yoga
- Your yoga classes will cover Asanas (physical movements), pranayama (breathing practices), meditation and relaxation to facilitate a better understanding of flexibility, core stability along with a calmer and more relaxed mind
- The styles covered will vary from Yin Yoga to Prana Flow and the classes will be tailored to best suit the energies and abilities of the group
- Through her teachings, Caroline aims to offer you some of the physiological benefits of Yoga which include a:
- Stable nervous system
- Decreased Respiratory rate, Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular efficiency
- Increased Respiratory efficiency and Breath-holding time
- Improved Posture
- Improved Strength and resiliency
- Increased Endurance and Energy level
- Weight management
- Normalized Sleep
- Improved Immunity
- Increased Balance
- Improved Mood, Self-acceptance and subjective well-being
- Decreased Anxiety, Depression and Hostility
- Improved Concentration, Memory and Awareness
What To Bring/Wear
- Comfortable casual / lounge wear for after dinner and relaxing during the meditation sessions
- Warm clothes as it can be cold in the late afternoon/evenings during the winter months
- Comfortable clothing that you can move well in for your yoga sessions
- Swimsuit
Treatments / Massages
- A complimentary massage treatment is included in the cost of the course and the time of this will be confirmed upon arrival
- The selection of massages available may include: reflexology, aromatherapy, Ayurvedic or Thai yoga
- Treat yourself with additional indulging massages and treatments which can be booked and paid for directly upon arrival
- Your retreat staff will be able to advise on the best treatments on offer
Your Accommodation
- Your 4 nights/ 5 days accommodation will be at the Bassilour Estate, Bidart, which offers luxurious rooms with great facilities that show off the splendour of the surrounding area
- Check in any-time after 5pm on day 1 and check out on day 5 by 11am
- Prices are based on 2 sharing a twin or double room
- Solos are welcome on the course and must pay a compulsory single room supplement as shared rooms are not offered as an option on this holiday unless you are travelling with a friend
- There are 6 bedrooms in total which are as follows:
- 2 twin rooms and 1 double room which share a bathroom
- 2 double rooms that share a bathroom
- 1 double room with a private ensuite bathroom
- You can choose which room type you want from the options on the ‘costing and extras’ tab
- Three kilometres south of Biarritz is Bidart, and the Bassilour Estate, which offers sensational views of the Pyrenees from its sprawling, verdant grounds
- Guests can stay in either the Domaine de Bassilour, an elegant 18th century mansion, or La Ferme de Basillour, a lovingly, luxuriously restored 16th century Basque farmhouse
- Both houses were renovated with the objective of providing the utmost in modern comfort in a warm, friendly atmosphere
- Guests will be delighted with the unique décor of each room, equipped with flat-screened television, WIFI and private bathrooms
- Each room boasts either a magnificent view of the Pyrenees, the beautiful gardens or the tennis courses
- The Chateau’s annex – La Conciergerie – offers a heated indoor swimming pool, and a reading room with a fireplace
- Sun-loungers are provided for guests who wish to soak up the sun, and if yoga practice isn’t enough there are tennis courts in the vast grounds, which are a pleasure to roam
- If you choose not to take the free transfer and drive instead, there is ample free parking
Meals
- The menu at the retreat has been specially designed and developed by the retreat raw food Chef Emilie and provides an excellent nutritious diet to cleanse and nourish the body
- The food focuses on healthy, fresh ingredients and you’ll learn to prepare your own meals as well as a selection of healthy cleansing and detoxifying juices to complement your meals
- If you have dietary requests these must be communicated to us at the time of booking but please note, the menu is strictly focused on raw food and juices
- Please note, we strongly recommend you exclude red meat, processed food, cakes, sugar, coffee, alcohol and soft drinks from your diet at least one week before your stay in order to fully benefit from the week
Sample Menus
- Breakfast favourites include Chia pudding, raw granola, energy bars, nuts and seeds mylk, raw pancakes, crepes and jam
- Lunches and dinners may include:
- Japanese: Raw nori rolls and Teriaky raw noodles
- Greek: Raw mussaka and hemp dolma rolls
- Italian: Raw pizza with marinara sauce, pesto sauce, raw parmesan
- Indian: Raw biryani , vegetables curry, raw chutney
- Mexican: Raw nachos and tacos, salsa, guacomole, raw mock meat, raw sour cream
- A selection of delicious raw soups, salads, dressings and snacks
Free Time In The Area
- In your free time you can enjoy walks in the countryside, along the beaches, surf lessons, a golf session or why not book some additional massages or treatments?
- Your host will be on hand to advise of which activities are on offer each day
This incredible holiday is not just a perfect way to escape the rat race and spend a week in one of Europe’s most idyllic settings, it provides the foundations for a lifetime of wellbeing. With the Pyrenees on the horizon and the Bay of Biscay a few footsteps away, the secrets of yoga and delicious, healthy raw food preparation will open up to you and serve you well when you return to the stresses and strain of everyday life.