Provence Travel and Wellness Retreat
Provence, France
July 7-14, 2026
Our international longevity retreats take you to breathtaking destinations. They include physician supported yoga practices that focus on sustainable strengthening movement, empowering participants to continue to do what they love: explore and travel to dream destinations.
Join us on a travel and wellness retreat in the luxurious French region of Provence
We are delighted to announce we will be hosting a Longevity Retreat in Provence, France July 7-14, 2026. Our retreat is custom designed for those who want to continue their love of travel, cultural immersion and culinary adventures, as well as future proofing their bodies with daily strengthening, stretching, and breath work.
Accommodations
La Bastide Lavande is a beautifully restored, Provençal country estate offering a harmonious blend of luxury and authenticity. With its scenic location, elegant accommodations, ample outdoor space, and spa-like amenities, it provides a charming location for our longevity and mobility retreat.
What’s Included?
- Each beautifully appointed, air conditioned room in La Bastide Lavande features a private bathroom
- All yoga mats, props and meditation materials
- Curated welcome gift
- Breakfast and three course dinner, daily
- Transport to and from every daily excursion
- Lunches at the vineyard, La Musée de Lavande and Le Sentier des Ocres hiking tour
- Nightly charcuterie and beverage of choice at evening wind down
- All cooking class materials
Optional Add-ons:
- Transport to and from Marseille airport
- Wine pairings with dinner
- Holistic massage or bodywork sessions
- 1-on-1 private yoga sessions
Not Included:
- Airfare to Marseille Airport
- Transport to and from the airport may be organized at an additional fee
Itinerary
Tentative Schedule:
7am – Sunrise & Serenity
Awaken your senses with a house made tisane and begin the day with a gentle guided yoga and mobility session, designed to awaken and enliven your body for the day ahead, moving through flows that focus on joint mobility and breathwork.
9am – Provençal Breakfast
Chef-prepared seasonal breakfast, featuring farm fresh eggs, organic produce, scratch made baked goods and freshly brewed coffee and tea
10am – 3pm – Daily Curated Tour
Each day a luxurious, bespoke experience awaits you:
- Vineyard Walk and Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Tasting
- Visit the Musée de la Lavande and lavender distillery in Luberon, includes a Botanical Workshop
- Market Village Tours of L’Isle -sur-la-Sorgue and Le Thor with a Cooking Class
- Guided hike through Le Sentier des Ocres with a picnic luncheon
- Exploration of the charming village of Gordes, dotted with quaint shops and bistros
- Experience the Festival d’Avignon, the acclaimed performing arts festival in enchanting Avignon
4pm – Charcuterie, Cocktails and Pétanque by the Pool
Upon returning to La Bastide de Lavande
- Relax in the heated pool overlooking the lavender fields
- Enjoy a rustic charcuterie board with local cheeses, olives and honey
- Sip on a glass of local wine, or house made lavender-infused lemonade
- Join in or watch a casual game of Pétanque under the trees
6:30pm – Twilight Meditation and Daily Reflection
As the Provençal sun dips behind the hills, gather for a short evening wind-down. Join us on the candlelit terrace for gentle breathwork and grounding techniques, or personal journaling to reflect on the day.
7pm – Three-Course Dinner
Beautifully prepared evening meal, focusing on local and seasonal ingredients, wine pairing option available
While all daily events and tours are included, please note that they are optional. It is our intention that every guest feel free to choose their level of participation each day.
Email hathaletics@gmail.com for more information
FAQs
Do I need to speak French?
Not at all! All activities are led in English and our co-host of the retreat is fluent in French and English to facilitate all of our local excursions.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
We are happy to accommodate for vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and other common dietary needs. Just let us know in advance so we may plan accordingly.
Can I come alone?
While our retreat is ideal for couples, solo guests are always welcome. We have several shared room options along with our King Suites. Our retreats are designed to be warm, welcoming, and inclusive — you’ll feel part of the group from day one.
How do I get to the retreat location?
We will send you clear travel instructions ahead of time, including suggested flights and trains.
How active are the retreats?
Our retreats are specifically designed to enhance longevity and mobility in our guests. Gentle yoga sessions to warm you up for the daily excursions start each morning. Our hikes and market walks have been carefully chosen to allow for light activity.
What’s included in the retreat?
From the moment you arrive at La Bastide Lavande, you are enrobed in beauty and charm— from beautifully appointed bedrooms with private bathrooms, to Chef curated hearty breakfasts and three course dinners, to daily activities, all excursions, local transfers, and special surprises along the way are included.
Not included are your flights, transport to La Bastide Lavande, and travel insurance. However, transport to the estate can be arranged for an additional fee.
What should I pack?
We’ll send you a suggested detailed packing list before departure.
What if something changes or I need to cancel?
We understand that plans change, but all deposits and payment installments are non-refundable. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for peace of mind.
How many people will be on the retreat?
Our retreats are small and intimate — usually between 10 and 16 guests. This allows for a more personalized and relaxed experience.
Do I have to participate in every activity, including yoga?
While we hope you’ll be excited about the itinerary, all experiences are optional! This is your retreat — feel free to skip an activity and enjoy some downtime whenever you like.
Meet Your Hosts
Justin Thoms, M.D.
Dr. Thoms graduated from Kenyon College with a B.A. in chemistry and philosophy. After receiving his medical degree from Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, he did his internship and residency at North Shore-LIJ in New York. He completed the Aufranc Fellowship in adult reconstructive surgery at the New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. He is the Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital and Director of the Joint Replacement program for Constitution Surgery Center East (CSCE).
Dr. Thoms specializes in orthopedic treatment of arthritis for knees and hips. This includes non-surgical treatment modalities as well as a high volume of knee & hip replacements. He also performs revision surgery for patients who have had previous surgery, including joint replacements that have worn out or failed.
One of the non-surgical, research-backed modalities recommended by Dr. Thoms is yoga, which inspired him to become a co-developer of the Hathaletics program.
Dr. Thoms was awarded Top Doctor by Connecticut Magazine.
Kate Thoms
Kate Thoms is the founder of Hathaletics, a physician-supported yoga program created to help enhance mobility, maintain longevity, support injury prevention, and boost mental clarity and concentration in all bodies and Hathaletics Retreats, which creates bespoke health, wellness and travel experiences. She is a 200hr certified yoga teacher through the international Yoga Alliance registered school, Yogatrotter Academy. Kate also has a Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College and an Associate of Science in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University
Alric Rahtkens Barrué
Alric Rahtkens Barrué graduated with an HND in Catering Management from Ferrandi Paris, the School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. He is also a certified Personal Trainer through Træner Akademiet in Aarhus, Denmark.
After completing several internships between Copenhagen and Paris, he met Kate and Justin, with whom he found shared interests in culinary endeavors, travel and bodywork.
Trilingual in French, Danish, and English, Alric, a native Parisien with French and Danish heritage, brings valuable expertise in local Provençal products and wines.
As a competitive bodybuilder, he also has extensive knowledge of nutrition and training.
Together, his deep understanding of catering and fitness, as well as his cultural knowledge of France, makes him the ideal co-host for our retreat.
