Yoga & Walking France

Join Emma for a restorative escape in the heart of nature, where yoga and hiking come together against the dramatic backdrop of the Ecrins, one of Europe’s last untouched wilderness areas. Surrounded by high mountain passes, alpine meadows, and timeless villages, this retreat offers a refreshing summer getaway shaped by movement, stillness, and natural beauty.

You will stay at La Source chalet in the old village of Villard Reculas, set at 1450m and full of rustic charm with a bohemian feel. Practice takes place on a spacious deck with sweeping views of the Muzelle, Belledonne, and Taillefer mountain ranges, creating an inspiring setting for morning flow and quiet reflection.

Each day brings a new experience, with guided hikes along lesser-known trails through high pastures and open alpine landscapes. There is also time to explore independently, and guests who prefer cycling can enjoy the area’s iconic mountain passes. A special discount is available for guests who would like to enjoy the mountain atmosphere without joining the yoga sessions.

This offers you

• An experienced retreat teacher with more than twenty years of organising yoga-specific holidays
• 7 nights’ accommodation in a bespoke, eco-friendly, boho chic chalet in an old village, within 10 minutes’ walk of the first ski lift
• Single, double, or twin rooms, subject to availability
• Meditation, pranayama, and morning asana practices
• Evening restorative yoga practices
• All yoga equipment
• 7 healthy brunches
• 7 afternoon teas with cake
• 6 evenings of hors d’oeuvres, pre-dinner drinks, and three-course vegetarian dinners
• Selection of wine available in the evenings
• Unlimited tea, filtered coffee, and herbal teas, with optional soya or almond milk
• Daily guided hikes with one day off
• Opportunity to hike independently
• Help arranging cycle hire, via ferrata, and lift pass purchase if requested
• Use of sauna
• WIFI
• Feather bedding can be replaced on request for allergy reasons
• Massage or physio therapy treatments available to purchase in the chalet

The yoga

Yoga sessions take place in a beautiful hall space and are adapted to suit the needs of skiers and snowboarders, while also offering time to deepen your wider practice. Mornings begin with dynamic hatha yoga flow and daily meditation in peaceful silence, supported by pranayama and the pure mountain air. Every other evening includes a shorter restorative practice designed to cultivate stillness. The teaching draws on influences from Mr. Iyengar, Ashtanga, and Swami Sivananda, combining asana, mindfulness, and breath in a focused and heartfelt approach. The shala looks out toward the mountains, with the gaze naturally drawn to the rising sun.

The teacher

Emma describes herself as a keeper of words and a lover of stories, philosophy, and poetry. Her teaching blends clarity with precision, strength with softness, and offers dynamic flowing mornings balanced by restorative evenings. A senior Yoga Alliance teacher and teacher of teachers, she brings integrity and joy to her work. As a strong skier who loves the mountains, she is delighted to share the clarity of yoga in the serenity of the Alps.

Accommodation

The chalet is a spacious, bespoke property with homely elegance, set within a traditional 200-year-old Oisans stone barn. Facing south, it enjoys panoramic, uninterrupted mountain views. There are 6 bedrooms with either en-suite or private facilities, plus 2 bedrooms with a shared bathroom. Log-fired sitting rooms and libraries provide inviting places to relax, and the chalet also offers WIFI and massage treatments. Eco-friendly in design, it generates its own hot water on sunny days. The slopes are a five-minute walk away, or you can use the free navette bus.

The food

Meals are generous, wholesome, and rooted in mountain tradition. Breakfast is served as a healthy brunch to support active days outdoors. Evening meals are vegetarian, three-course dinners featuring local specialities, and are served in the chalet every evening except one, when dinner takes place in the village.

Activities

Walking in these mountains is uplifting in every season. In winter, snowshoeing offers a fun option without needing a lift pass, while dog sledding, an outdoor swimming pool, paragliding, snow-kiting, cross-country skiing, guided rock climbing, and via ferrata are also available depending on the season. Summer guests can also enjoy the area’s legendary cycling challenges.

Travel advice

Recommended flights are to and from Grenoble for straightforward and cost-efficient group transfers. Transfers from the airport take around one and a half hours and can be arranged on enquiry. Train travel is also possible, with a route from St Pancras in London to Grenoble via Paris taking approximately 6:40 to 7:30 hours. Early booking is advised for the best prices on flights and trains.

Prices

£1150 Shared Double 7 days with shared bathroom
£1150 Shared Double / Twin Occupancy 7 days with en-suite or private bathroom
£1600 Single Occupancy 7 days with shared bathroom in large attic apartment
£1600 Single Occupancy 7 days with en-suite or private bathroom

Booking can be secured with a £300 non returnable deposit.

Included in the price: accommodation, half-board, yoga, afternoon tea, pre-dinner nibbles, wine, ski area orientation, assistance with transfers, lift pass purchase, ski and board hire, and booking ski tuition. Not included: travel, holiday insurance, lift pass, equipment hire, and one evening meal in the village.