The Good Life Retreat in Provence

Provence, France

Available Dates:
Gordes Villa: September 26 - October 1, 2026 (7 places available)
Ménerbes Villa: October 3- October 8, 2026  (8 places available)

MORE THAN YOU EXPECT. EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED.

Over the years, I’ve welcomed dozens of women from all over the world—each with a distinct story, career path, and upbringing. And yet the message is always the same: this retreat is unlike anything they’ve ever done, and far exceeds their expectations.

And they’re right.

The Good Life Retreat isn’t just a beautiful escape, it’s a soulful immersion into French joie de vivre, beautifully curated with care and intention. From the minute you arrive at our villa, every detail, every meal, every excursion, every conversation, is designed to help you slow down, connect, and live the good life, à la française.

This is a full sensory, cultural, and personal experience which includes:

• Your own room in a villa with your own private bathroom. You will not share a bathroom with anyone.
• Daily curated excursions through charming Provençal towns.
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, tea time, apéro, and dinner) organized and thoughtfully planned with consideration to everyone's allergies and sensitivities.
• Free time to "just be," and enjoy this unique experience. 
  
• Opportunities to meet locals, special guests and friends of Ajiri's.

I’ve designed this retreat to feel like the kind of trip you’d only get if your best friend invited you to stay with her, where everything is planned, every detail considered, and yet you still feel free.

So if you’ve been craving inspiration, connection, and a renewed sense of joy, this is your invitation. Let’s gather in Provence and life The Good Life together. 

What Mikaela R. had to say about the retreat:
"When I read the description of the retreat it was exactly what I’d been looking for. Every single thing that was promised was delivered, with style and joie! The group of women were so different yet so similar, and were a wonderful combination that elevated the experience even further. The friendships which grew among us so quickly, were an unexpected but welcomed surprise. Every day brought a new adventure and experience of the French culture, and with Ajiri’s team taking care of all the details, we were free to just be in the moment. Every meal was delicious. The shopping was a dream. Every town, market, shop, restaurant, cafe or other location we visited was wonderful and enlightening. It’s hard to believe that so many things can be so right, but it was.  If you are looking for a retreat experience that is full of fun, exploration and new cultural experiences, this is for you."

Let me guide you through my version of the good life.

Bonjour! I'm  Ajiri Aki, the founder of Madame de la Maison and author of Joie: A Parisian’s Guide to Celebrating the Good Life.  

After 14 years of living in France, I have learned to make joie de vivre my guiding north star just as the French do. Finding a little joy in everyday life and seemingly simple things is something living in this culture has taught me. I learned to care about what I eat and drink. I learned that fellowship is life and that connections and conversations with people are vital for joy. I learned that sometimes doing nothing is everything. I learned that pleasure found in food and time spent should never make you feel guilty. I learned that self-care is self-preservation. I learned to surround myself with objects that bring me joy and even better if they have a story. I learned to always use the good china for myself and not to wait for a special occasion.

Several times a year I travel to the South of France and it’s a place that has brought me so much inspiration and healing.  I’ve explored many idyllic towns, buzzing markets, cute shops, and delish restaurants. In Provence, life is slower and you find yourself taking time to “just be,” admiring the beauty of seemingly simple things like doors and shutters, and being charmed by narrow streets in quiet villages. I enjoy wandering through lavender fields and searching through tables of antiques looking for my next treasure. Oh but also the food and wine…absolutely magnifique! Provence has influenced my personal life and Madame de la Maison. Through these retreats, I open the door to everything I’ve learned about slowing down, savoring life, and creating beauty in everyday moments. 

Five lessons you will take away from this experience: 

1. Slowing down and learning to find pleasure in just being.

2. The importance of looking for the best ingredients in food and wine.

3. Gathering that focuses on fellowship and welcoming tables. 

4. The importance of being in search of beauty through culture and the past like antiques, gardens, history, and art. 

5. Self-care and self-preservation start underneath the surface. 

 

What will we do together? 

• We’ll meet at the top of the breathtaking city of Gordes and spend a week together searching for the best local ingredients at open-air markets, and the prettiest provençal treasures at antique shops. 

• We'll start every morning having breakfast at our villa before heading out on adventures in the region, but we'll make sure that every day has a few hours of free time for you to explore or relax. 

• We’ll drink wine from the region, share moments and stories over long meals and apéros at cafes as well as at our sprawling villa with a view that overlooks the valley of vineyards and olive trees.

• We’ll have intentional conversations and discussions together with locals and other experts who can guide and inspire us to take these lessons home.

• We’ll set tables together and prepare apéros that are as welcoming as they are beautiful. 

• We’ll flâneur (wander) and “just be” in little villages with vine-covered stone houses, and charming town centers.  It will be an inspiring and rewarding experience of truly finding joy in life– joie de vivre. 

• And we’ll of course enjoy rosé around the pool at our villa and play a few friendly games of pétanque. 

 

What past guests have said about The Good Life Retreat? 

From day one, my expectations were exceeded. The food and wine were exquisite, the towns we explored were nothing short of magical, and Ajiri’s curation extended far beyond beautiful tablescapes—it brought together a group of women who bonded deeply and authentically. What stayed with me most was not just the beauty of Provence, but the fellowship, the late-night chats by the fire, and the memories that continue to nourish me long after returning home. That is, indeed, the good life.
- Lauren C. 

I came to the retreat needing a reset. I wanted to rediscover how to live fully outside of my career. In Provence, life moved at a different rhythm—you had to be intentional. That change of pace helped me shift my mindset and reconnect with what truly matters. We only get one life, and I didn’t want to look back and feel I spent it in a rush. This retreat reminded me how to slow down, savor, and actually live. 
- April S

The Villas 

Depending on the week you book, we will either stay in a private villa in Gordes or a villa at the Bastide de Marie. 

GORDES
September 26- October 1, 2026
Our base in Gordes is a large private property in a beautiful hilltop village. The house offers magnificent views of the Luberon Valley and a 2500m2 garden with an olive grove and stunning rose flowerbeds alongside cypress and oak trees, which provide plenty of shaded areas in which to relax with your tea or a glass of rosé. There is a 13 x 6 meter heated pool with a pool house that has outdoor showers. The outdoor barbecue, dining area, Boulodrome and Garden Retreat are just some of the many gathering areas for gathering and chats.  The house has 10 air-conditioned double bedrooms, each with their own en-suite bathrooms. There is one larger room with exceptional views and a private terrace available for a slightly additional fee.

MENERBES
October 3- 8, 2026
In Ménerbes, we will be staying at two private villas that are part of the beautiful hotel La Bastide de Marie, a restored 18th-century farmhouse set on a 26-hectare (64-acre) working vineyard in the heart of the Luberon. The hotel sits at the end of a cypress-lined drive, surrounded by lavender, olive trees, and the ochre tones of the Provençal countryside. Our villas are a short, scenic walk through the vines, with two heated swimming pools and terraces offering quiet places to unwind with a glass of local wine. Inside, antique furnishings and baroque touches create a warm, rustic-chic atmosphere, with salons, a library, and cozy nooks throughout. Both houses have beautifully decorated rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Spa services are also available on the property for an additional charge.

We promise you will:

1. CONNECT with other like-minded bon vivants to share and inspire one another. 

2. EXPERIENCE the good life as the French do so wonderfully.

3. EXPLORE idyllic towns in the Luberon region of Provence. 

4. MASTER the art of joie de vivre.  

Who Is This Experience For?

Anyone who loves the simple pleasures found in good food, wine, antiques, and gathering to share moments around a table in the same region of France that has inspired people for decades. (Some of my favorites include: Julia Child, MFK Fisher, James Baldwin, Peter Mayle, and Nina Simone).

 

What’s included in the package

• Accommodation for 6 days and 5 nights 

• Your own room and your own bathroom. You will not be sharing with any other guests unless you request to travel or share with a friend. 

• Breakfast, lunch, apéro, and dinner. 

• When dining at restaurants, 2 glasses of wine per person are included.  

• A curated travel itinerary

• Transportation during the retreat and from the train station in Aix-en-Provence to the villa. 

• Assistance with travel plans getting to France as well as additional travel plans before and after the retreat.

• Advice and tips for any additional travel plans you want to add on before or after The Good Life Retreat. (This is why the retreat ends on Thursday so you can add on a trip to Paris, the Cote d’Azur, or even discover more of Provence. Great idea no?!)

• Memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. 

What’s Not Included in the package

• Airfare 

• Transportation or food purchases during free time. (However, we will share tips, recommendations, and contact information.) 

• Any additional cocktails or drinks outside of meals

• Transportation from the house after the retreat, although we will help coordinate this. 

• Additional trips to Paris or other cities not part of the itinerary. However, we have trusted travel planners and guides to help you if you want to add on a trip to Paris.

 

Why do we have an application process? Because just as we are curating this experience for you, we also want to make sure you are surrounded by others who will help enhance your experience. So we are asking that everyone apply in advance to ensure we all have similar motivations to be a part of this retreat.

RATES
Single occupancy room for one guest with private bathroom €7500.

Double occupancy room with king bed for two or two twin beds with private bathroom to share €6750 (per person).

In the private villa in Gordes, there is a room for one guest with view over the valley, private bathroom and private terrace which is an additional €500 if you would like to upgrade to this. Please inquire for this rate if you wish to share this room as it’s a large room and perfect to share.

ALL ROOMS COME WITH THEIR OWN BATHROOMS. 

Full booking and cancellation information can be found here on the Booking page.

You can review some FAQs here or email me at ajiri@madamedelamaison.com