Wellness and Creative Retreat at the Villa
May 13 to 17, 2026 | 4 nights, 4 days
Yoga, art therapy, writing workshop, sound bath, breathwork, voice activation
10 accommodation spots | 5 day passes
Dare to reveal yourself: who am I, when I allow myself?
A stay to unwind, awaken, and discover what is simply waiting to be born within us.
An experience imagined and curated by ŌLCZAK world.
- +33 6 21 82 88 79
- irene@olczakworld.com
Have a question? Would you like to pay in installments? Contact us by phone or email.
The intention
For the first time, Villa Benkemoun opens its doors for an intimate stay, rooted in its history and resonating with yours. For four days, we explore deep identity and inner momentum: Who am I without a mask? Who would I be without restraint?
This stay is not a “pause”. It is a support point. A trigger. An impulse toward what you could free, embody, and own.
Why here, at Villa Benkemoun?
An iconic house, awarded the “20th-century Heritage” label by the French Ministry of Culture. Its volumes, curves, and shifting light are not just a backdrop. They become a language. Stepping out of right angles sometimes means stepping out of the frame that holds us back. And revealing yourself is rarely about “becoming someone else”. It is about finding yourself again, allowing yourself, step by step, to be more true, more free.
The practices
- Sound bath: soothe, integrate, let go
- Art therapy: explore identity beyond the mind alone
- Writing workshop: let a more essential voice emerge
- Breathwork and emotional release: free what is stuck, set energy back in motion
- Voice activation and mantra chanting: dare to hear yourself, dare totake your place
- Yoga: return to the body, grounding, clarity
- Lymphatic drainage: lighten, boost circulation, support detoxification
- Ayurvedic massage : release tension, rebalance energy, and soothe the nervous system back into calm.
- Foot reflexology (available as optional add-on)
- Digital detox: return to presence, contemplation, connection to others, to the body, to nature, to self (various formats suggested and presented on-site, optional)
The programme
Wednesday, May 13 | Landing
Arrivals, phone drop-off (optional digital detox), dinner, opening circle followed by a sound bath.
Thursday, May 14 | Exploring
Guided tour of the Villa and the story of its history. Art therapy workshop, then writing workshop.
Friday, May 15 | Daring
Emotional release through breathwork, then a voice activation workshop.
Saturday, May 16 | Embodying
Grounding Hatha yoga, rest and integration time, massages and moments of free time. Free walks in Arles or in nature, a visit to the market, exhibitions, or the Luma Foundation.
Sunday, May 17 | Departure
Closing circle, brunch, then departures.
The guides
Capucine Demnard
A music therapist, Capucine has developed a holistic approach to care through sound, centered on nervous system regulation, listening to the body, and presence. Her work combines instruments, breath, and relational support, with an emphasis on soothing, integration, and psycho-corporeal support, while respecting each person’s pace.
SOUND BATH
A sound bath is a supportive framework that encourages deep relaxation, emotional regulation, and stress reduction. It offers a safe space where participants can release tensions, improve body awareness, and strengthen self-regulation capacities.
ART THERAPY
Art therapy workshops offer a space for expression and identity exploration through creative mediation. They make it possible to approach self-representations, personal narratives, and symbolic dimensions, while supporting processes of understanding, elaboration, and psychic transformation.
Pamela Franco
Originally from Mexico City, Pamela offers an approach that is both grounded and intuitive, where breath, sound, and vibration become gateways to what is asking to be released. She creates warm and powerful spaces, where you can settle, and allow yourself.
Emotional Release
A guided journey to release emotional tensions and inner “lids”, set energy back in motion, and find more space within. Breath, guidance, sound, and group presence support the release.
VOICE ACTIVATION Mantras and Chant
A joyful and deep circle to dare to hear yourself, affirm yourself, and resonate together. We explore the voice as an act of embodiment (not a performance), with simple mantras and a highly supportive collective energy.
Clarisse Gorokhoff
An author (Actes Sud, previously Gallimard) and workshop facilitator, Clarisse uses writing as a tool for revelation and transformation: writing to shift perspective, access a truer part of oneself, and let a more essential voice surface.
WRITING WORKSHOP “Revealing yourself”
A guided journey in three phases. The prompts invite you to write where you don’t dare to speak: a letter to your “unlived self”, a self-portrait seen by someone else, an intimate vow (what I will no longer betray, what I choose to embody).
Gabrielle Granone
Head of the Arles Yoga studio, Gabrielle offers Hatha yoga focused on grounding: returning to the body, the breath, and inner stability. An accessible, precise, and deeply regulating practice.
HATHA YOGA
A practice to settle, integrate, realign.
We build inner stability that helps you leave feeling “held”, rather than scattered.
In the kitchen
Vibrant, delicious plant-based cuisine by chef Laurène De Souza. Inspired by art, fashion, and cultures around the world, Laurène creates plant-based, creative food in service of the body and sensory pleasure. A locavore menu highlighting organic, seasonal ingredients, sourced through short supply chains from regional producers.
In constant pursuit of taste and aesthetics, her bold cuisine celebrates creativity and sharing. Fine and generous cooking, designed to match the rhythm of the stay.
Accommodation and spots
10 accommodation spots in the villa (5 double rooms)
5 day pass spots
Total: 15 people maximum
Included
4 nights, all meals, full programme, a lymphatic drainage or Ayurvedic massage and gifts
Not included
Transport, optional treatments
Prices
Shared room
€1,950 | Early Bird* €1,750
Private room
€2,450 | Early Bird* €2,250
3-day day pass**
(from Wednesday evening to Sunday midday, without overnight stays & massages)
€1,000
* Early bird price for any booking before March 3
** Full programme, meals and gifts, without overnight stays
Payment possible in 2 installments
F.A.Q
I’m coming alone, is that ok?
Yes. Many participants come alone. The framework is designed to create simple cohesion, without social pressure.
I don’t want to share a room, what can I do?
You can choose the private room option.
What is included in the price?
Workshops and guidance, a lymphatic drainage or an Ayurvedic massage, meals, accommodation, and gifts.
And the exclusive dimension of staying in a place listed as part of French cultural heritage.
What level do I need for yoga?
The retreat is accessible. Practices are guided and adaptable. If you have a specific condition, write to us beforehand so we can check what is comfortable for you.
Is the digital detox mandatory?
No. We offer it as an optional add-on, in different formats.
Is breathwork intense?
It can be, but it is always supervised. If you have medical topics (pregnancy, cardio-respiratory history, epilepsy, or psychological vulnerabilities), seek medical advice and inform the team in advance.
How are shared rooms assigned?
Generally: by affinities, arrival order, or upon request. We also offer an option “I’m coming with a friend”.
Which days does the day pass cover?
The day pass includes all activities (except massages) all meals and gifts, from Wednesday dinner to Sunday brunch.
Allergies, intolerances, specific diet?
Plant-based cuisine. If you have a specific condition, email us about allergies and intolerances when booking.
Are there massages or treatments?
Yes, by reservation. Foot reflexology must be specified when booking and is extra. The price is €90 for 1h of foot reflexology.
How do I get to Arles and to the Villa?
By train: Arles train station (city centre). Other convenient stations: Avignon TGV, Nîmes Pont du Gard, or Nîmes Centre. By plane: the easiest airport is generally Marseille Provence (MRS), then onward to Arles by train or car.
From Arles to Villa Benkemoun: 915 Chemin de la Batelle, 13200 Arles
Taxi / ride-hailing (recommended if you’re travelling with luggage): we recommend David, +33 6 22 94 13 05
By car: on-site parking available
By bike or on foot if you’re staying in Arles
We recommend arriving on Wednesday, May 13 in the late afternoon.
What are the arrival and departure times?
Arrivées flexibles à partir du mercredi après-midi jusqu'au soir, départs flexibles le dimanche après le brunch.
