Harvest Your Horizons: Women's Bordeaux Retreat

Welcome to Bordeaux! Fly into Bordeaux airport (BOD) or take the high-speed train from Paris to Bordeaux St. Jean station. (Please see the FAQ section on this page for more information about getting to Bordeaux, arrival times, and airport transfers). 

We've arranged for a group transfer from the airport or train station (around 1pm) to whisk you to our enchanting château retreat in the heart of the French countryside. If you've arrived a day (or more) early in Bordeaux, we'll collect you from your hotel. 

Once we arrive, we’ll settle into Fleur de Roques, our elegant and tranquil base for the next five nights. Surrounded by the serene beauty of the French countryside, this historic 16th-century château offers an authentic and relaxed setting to begin our journey.

After you’ve had a chance to unpack and unwind, we’ll gather for a welcome drink and dinner in the hotel's dining room, savoring a thoughtfully prepared dish with local produce.

At dinner, you'll get to know your fellow travelers as well as our local guide and Girls' Guide Founder, Doni Belau, who owns a home in the region. Jen Frey, your coach for the week, will go over the coaching plan for the next few days. 

After a lovely breakfast at the château, we’ll gather in the peaceful garden for our first coaching session, held from 10 am to 12 pm. Titled Unconditional Love, this opening session sets the stage for a deeper exploration of love—starting with yourself. You’ll discover what it really means to be lovable, how to intentionally love others, and how to welcome more love into your life.

Lunch will be a true local experience at Cabane Bar à Huîtres in St. Emilion, renowned for its fresh oysters and charming terrace views. In the afternoon we'll embark on a private guided walking tour of St. Emillion, including a fascinating visit to the impressive underground monolithic church, one of only 2 in France. 

You'll then have some free time to explore the town's unique shops and charming cobbled streets at your leisure. Later, we'll enjoy a specially curated wine tasting at Château Soutard, where their wines consistently earn top marks from international critics.

We'll return to the château to refresh before heading to dinner at Les Soeurs Guinguette* by the river for a wonderfully casual and fun evening outdoors.

*What is a Guinguette?

We'll start the morning with an optional visit to the Castillon market for those who wish to meet our chef and explore the region's seasonal produce, getting a true taste of local life.

Next, we'll enjoy a private tour of Château de Montaigne, once home to the famous French philosopher and writer. Lunch will be along the river at Le Pessaquai offering relaxed local dishes with a beautiful river view.

In the afternoon, we’ll gather for our next coaching session, Love Your People, over tea at our founder Doni Belau’s country home, Le Priolet. This session will guide you in deepening your most important relationships, finding more fulfillment in the connections that matter most. We’ll explore how to set loving boundaries, uncover the unspoken expectations you may hold for others, as well as understanding the crucial difference between authentic love and people-pleasing.

Afterward, you’ll have time to unwind—take a walk, paddle a kayak, or simply soak in the peaceful surroundings. In the evening, we’ll come together for a hands-on cooking class back at our château, where we’ll prepare a beautiful meal using fresh, local ingredients. To make the evening even more special, we’ll enjoy a tasting of regional caviar paired with champagne.

Following breakfast, we’ll set off for a full-day exploration of the Dordogne region to our east. Our first stop is a spectacular garden, followed by a visit to Château des Milandes, the former home of Josephine Baker, the African American singer and actress. We’ll have lunch on the terrace of the château before continuing on to Beynac, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in France.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll embark on a private cruise along the Dordogne River. With its calm waters and picturesque scenery, it’s the perfect backdrop for reflection and informal coaching as we enjoy wine and appetizers on board. During this session, Loving Love, we’ll explore why love can sometimes feel frightening and how to move beyond the resistance that holds us back. We’ll talk about how fear influences our choices, how emotions are simply vibrations in the body, and how to choose love—even when it feels risky.

After the cruise, we’ll take a short stroll through the charming Bastide town of Bergerac before sitting down to dinner at La Table du Marché Couvert, where we’ll continue the conversation in good company.

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll head to Pomerol for a visit to Clos de Clocher. This boutique winery, led by a talented female winemaker, offers an intimate tour and tasting, followed by a delightful picnic lunch taken among the vines.

In the afternoon, we’ll come together for a dedicated coaching session in a peaceful, inspiring setting. Titled Loving Through Adversity, this session will explore why challenges are an inevitable part of the human experience—even when we long for ease. You’ll learn how to expand your capacity to face adversity with grace, navigate the pain that comes with being fully human, and avoid layering on unnecessary suffering.

Later that evening, we’ll gather for a special Michelin star dinner at Logis de la Cadene, a beautiful setting for reflection, connection, and a perfect way to end our time together in the lovely Gironde region. 

We'll begin the day with breakfast before heading north to the Médoc Peninsula. After the scenic drive, we’ll visit one of the region’s standout vineyards, such as Château La Lagune, run by two sisters.

Lunch will be something different today: flavorful Vietnamese cuisine at Co Ba in Pauillac. In the afternoon, we’ll return to Bordeaux and gather for our final coaching session, Loving from Your Future, held in the serene setting of Bordeaux City's Jardin Public. In this powerful session, you’ll learn how to stop waiting for external validation and begin living from the wisdom of your future self—the version of you who already knows what’s possible. We’ll guide you through visualizing her, tuning into her voice, and learning to trust her guidance. As we sit together in the park with refreshments, you’ll have time to reflect and integrate everything you’ve experienced before we check in to the 5-star Le Boutique Hotel & Spa.

Dinner is a short walk away at a Taiwanese restaurant known for its creative small plates.

After breakfast, we’ll join for our final coaching session—an intentional closing to the transformational journey we’ve shared. This session will give you space to reflect on how far you’ve come, celebrate the personal shifts you’ve experienced, and commit to the insights and practices you want to carry forward. You’ll connect with your future self once more and anchor into the clarity, love, and power that’s now yours to lead with.

Next we’ll venture out on a guided food and history tour of Bordeaux, strolling through the city’s elegant streets, we’ll sample local specialties and learn about Bordeaux’s rich cultural past—from Roman roots to its rise as France's wine capital. 

The early afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You might choose to explore a museum, browse the boutiques, have a spa treatment or simply sit at a café and savor the city. 

To cap off our time together, we’ll board a private sunset cruise on the Garonne River. As the city glows in golden light, we’ll toast to our journey with dinner and wine onboard—a powerful and heartfelt farewell surrounded by the women who’ve shared this meaningful experience with you.

After a final, delicious breakfast together, we'll share our goodbyes, filled with memories of an incredible week. For those inspired to linger longer in this captivating region, Bordeaux truly has an abundance on offer. You might wish to delve into its rich cultural scene with a captivating opera or ballet performance, explore more of its historic charm, or simply savor the ambiance at one of its world-class wine bars. We're happy to assist you in arranging any extra nights, ensuring you can continue to soak in every moment of this unforgettable French experience. 

For those heading home today, taxis to the train station (for those returning to Paris) or to the airport are both just a short ride from the city center. The hotel staff will gladly assist with pre-booking taxis if needed, and Uber is also a convenient option in this area.