Join us in October 2027 for a women-only retreat to one of France's most quietly extraordinary regions. The Dordogne doesn't deal in postcards or performance. It deals in ancient river valleys, medieval villages that have barely changed in centuries, prehistoric cave art that stops you mid-breath, and food so good it becomes a recurring conversation topic for the rest of the trip.

This is a small-group experience designed for women who want to travel with intention without sacrificing the joy of getting genuinely lost somewhere beautiful. We'll stay at Château de la Bourlie, and I won't oversell it. You'll arrive, you'll see it, and it will do the rest.

Each day moves at a pace that lets things actually land. We'll explore castles and cave paintings, wander market towns, eat long lunches that nobody wants to end, and take the occasional road that doesn't go anywhere in particular and turns out to go somewhere better. Some days will have a plan. Some days the plan will be abandoned for something better. Both are fine. That's kind of the point.

Whether you arrive solo or with a friend, you'll leave with a full memory card, a deeper appreciation for duck confit, and a group chat that will absolutely not go quiet when you get home.

Maison d'Amies (French for House of Female Friends) was born from our founder's deep love of France, a desire to create space for women to slow down, reconnect, and feel at home in themselves. These women only retreats blend curated cultural experiences with true rest and intentional community. Each trip is designed to feel like a warm, extended exhale and is grounded in slow travel, regional connection, and the kind of soul-deep joy that lingers long after the journey ends. 

Please read through these important FAQs. If you have additional questions that aren't answered here, please email our host at stephanie@maisondamies.com

This retreat is for women who travel to actually experience a place, not to check it off. If you're drawn to deep history, good food, unhurried days, and the kind of conversations that only happen when everyone has finally slowed down, you'll feel at home here.

Solo travelers are warmly welcomed and make up the heart of most of our groups. You don't need a travel companion to show up fully. You just need to want to be there.

A practical note: the Dordogne is ancient, and it shows...in the best possible way. Our days will involve walking on uneven stone streets, exploring medieval sites, and navigating the kind of staircases that were built before anyone was thinking about convenience. Guests should be comfortable on their feet and able to move through these spaces independently.

This group will include up to 9 participants, plus the host Stephanie and our retreat staff. Please note that a minimum of 5 guests is required for this trip to proceed. If you book and this minimum is not met, you will receive a full refund.

On the registration form, you will see a space to include if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies. We will do our best to meet all of these requests, if you have additional questions please email us directly to discuss. 

If you have severe food allergies, we advise you email us directly prior to booking so we can ensure this retreat is right for you. 

The nearest major airport to our retreat is Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD), and group transportation from the airport to Château de la Bourlie is included in your trip.

Plan to meet your driver outside baggage claim at 2:00 PM for the journey into the Périgord. (Pickup time subject to final confirmation.)

At the end of the retreat, a return transfer to Bordeaux departs no later than 10:00 AM, so you'll have plenty of time to catch an afternoon flight or simply ease into your journey home.

If you prefer to arrange your own transfer, you're welcome to do so, just let us know when you make your final payment so we can expect you. Plan to arrive at the château by 4:30 PM on day one and depart by 10:00 AM on the final morning.

A few things worth knowing before you reserve your spot.

All rooms are solo occupancy, giving each guest their own private space to decompress, sleep, and have a corner of the château to call their own. The one exception is a single twin-bed double room, which is sold as a pair: both beds together. It's ideal for two friends traveling together, or two guests who'd like to share and split the cost.

Many women join us solo, and our groups are designed with that in mind. The experience is intimate enough that connection happens naturally, without anyone having to work for it.

If you're able to arrive in France a day or two early, we'd encourage it. The Dordogne rewards a slow arrival, and giving yourself time to adjust before the retreat begins means you'll hit the ground at the right pace. When you're ready to join the group, plan to meet the driver at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport at 1:00 PM on the first day of the retreat. (Subject to final confirmation.)

Maison d'Amies retreats are built on openness, curiosity, and mutual respect. That's what makes the week work and what tends to make the friendships we build outlast the trip itself. Guests are expected to respect this foundational pillar, failure to do so will result in immediate expulsion from the retreat. Please review our Terms and Conditions or reach out if you have questions or concerns (stephanie@maisondamies.com).

Bienvenue! Arrive at our retreat home in the heart of the Dordogne, where warm hospitality and scenic views await. After settling into your charming solo room, join us for a welcome dinner featuring local flavors and seasonal ingredients. This first evening is about settling in, meeting your fellow travelers, and soaking in the magic of the region.

Begin the morning at an easy pace, letting the day unfold without urgency. After coffee and a relaxed breakfast, we’ll spend the afternoon exploring the food culture and history of the Dordogne. It’s a day defined by flavor, conversation, and the simple pleasure of moving slowly through a beautiful place.

Set out for a full day among the castles of the Périgord (and there is no shortage of them). We'll move through the valley at our own pace, stopping where the mood takes us, because around here every ridge and every river bend seems to be hiding something worth pulling over for. Some of these places have been standing since the Hundred Years' War. Others go back further. All of them have something to say if you give them a minute.

Today we'll explore a staple of French culture, the weekly market. Taste local specialities and immerse yourself in the pace and energy of this weekly tradition. After lunch we'll be venturing back out in the Dordogne to explore more castles & historic wonders. 

Today we're slowing down and enjoying the nature and splendor that is Urval. The grounds surrounding Château Bourlie are open for exploration, or if you'd prefer there's a seat on the patio with your name on it. There's no agenda today so sleep in, catch up on that book, or take a walk through the woods.

Today goes deep...further back than castles, further back than most things. Font-de-Gaume is one of the last places on earth where you can stand in front of original prehistoric paintings, mammoths and bison on cave walls fifteen thousand years old. It reorders your sense of time in a way that's hard to explain until you're there. Then we head to Château de Commarque, a ruined fortress half-swallowed by forest, sitting above a valley people have never stopped living in.

After breakfast, say au revoir to the Dordogne and your new friends, carrying the memories, flavors, and magic of the region home with you. Group transfer to the airport included.