Reconnect with each other during a 5-day/4-night Camino de Santiago retreat on this world-famous Ancient Pilgrimage Route (Now taking Bookings for 2026, 2027 and 2028 Holidays)
Is the Relentless Pace of Life Making You and Your Partner Feel More Like Roommates Than Soulmates?
Step Away from the Hustle and Bustle, Together
If you’re both constantly juggling responsibilities, and the conversations that used to come easily now feel like one more thing on the to-do list, this retreat is for you. The 5-day Camino de Santiago walking holiday offers a complete escape from routine, side by side, giving you the space to reconnect with each other and remember what drew you together in the first place.
Step Off the Treadmill, Together
Do you feel like you’re moving through life on autopilot rather than actually walking it side by side? Walking the Camino in the sun-soaked countryside of southwest France offers something rare, hours of uninterrupted time with no phones, no schedules, no one else needing you. Just the two of you, a quiet path, and the kind of unhurried conversation that’s hard to find at home.
Experience the Healing Power of Nature
Many couples want to disconnect from digital noise but rarely get the chance without a real reason to. On this retreat, you’ll walk together through serene vineyards and picturesque villages, breathing the same fresh country air, with nothing competing for your attention but each other.
Nourish Your Bodies, Quiet Your Minds, Reconnect to Each Other
Stress and exhaustion don’t just wear down individuals, they wear down couples. This retreat is designed to revive you both. With delicious, wholesome meals, comfortable lodging, and daily walks that give you time to simply be together, you’ll return home feeling closer, calmer, and more like yourselves.
Feel Like You’ve Drifted Apart?
Embark on a Journey of Rediscovery…
…and let the Camino Bring You Back Together
Attending a Camino de Santiago walking retreat can literally change your life – you can find solutions to problems, answers to questions and clarity on the way forward – just as thousands of hikers have before you, for the last 800 years.
Hundreds of thousands (over 200,000 in 2025) of people from all walks of life make their way to Santiago de Compostela via one of the pilgrims’ routes each year. For most, it is an unforgettable and life-enhancing experience.
But Why Should You Choose this 5-Day Camino de Santiago Walking Holiday?
Uncover Life-Changing Insights
Walking the Camino de Santiago is a time-honoured path to spiritual renewal and insight. During the retreat, you’ll have the space to disconnect from daily stresses, embrace the beauty of nature, and reconnect with your partner. The Camino has helped thousands find clarity on their life’s journey, offering a unique environment where answers often reveal themselves naturally. Expect to leave with a renewed perspective and a deeper understanding of your path together.
Follow A Carefully Curated Itinerary
The thoughtfully planned three-day walking itinerary leads you through some of the most serene and picturesque landscapes in the southwest of France. You’ll walk through peaceful vineyards, rolling meadows, and medieval villages, all while immersing yourselves in the rich cultural history of the Camino. These carefully selected routes are designed to invigorate your body and calm your mind, while offering plenty of opportunities to stop, just be together, and mindfully take in your surroundings.
Indulge in Effortless Comfort
This retreat is about replenishing both body and soul, which is why your host, dr Margaretha Montagu, aims to ensure a seamless and stress-free experience. Instead of the traditional Camino setup that requires carrying a heavy pack and staying at a new location each night, you’ll enjoy the comfort of returning to the same cozy and comfortable bedroom every evening. Your meals are lovingly prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, showcasing the region’s flavours and nourishing you for each day’s walk. It’s an experience designed to help you unwind and reset in every possible way.
Experience Total Peace of Mind
From transportation to and from the Camino to trail logistics, your knowledgeable host handles all the details so you don’t have to. With all the essentials taken care of, you’re free to focus entirely on the experience and what it means for both of you. Whether you need time for reflection, to make a fresh start, or simply a break from routine, this couples hiking retreat provides the opportunity.
Introduction
Reconnect with your soul mate, with your present, past and future, and with nature while walking the Camino de Santiago in the south of France. Coming to a Camino de Santiago walking holiday here in this unspoiled and mostly undiscovered region in the southwest of France will enable you to get away from the hustle, bustle, and never-ending demands of everyday life, and allow you to recharge your batteries, reconnect with nature, unwind and declutter your mind, and reconnect with each other.
Everything will be taken care of for you.
You will sleep in the same bed each night, you do not have to carry a heavy backpack with you, and you will eat healthy, home-grown and homemade food – all you have to do is concentrate on experiencing everything that walking the Camino has to offer.
You will also learn more about walking and writing meditation as a stress management strategy and will have the opportunity to taste some of the region’s excellent food.
On Saturday, Day 1, you arrive in the sun-blessed south of France in time for dinner, walk the Camino on days 2, 3, and 4 and leave after breakfast on Day 5.
The easiest way to get here is to fly to Toulouse, take the train to Auch, and visit the glorious cathedral with its exceptional hand-carved choir – the Camino de Santiago goes through Auch and many walkers stop at this famous cathedral. You can check your luggage into temporary storage at the station. When you have had a scrumptious lunch at one of the sidewalk bistros on the square in front of the cathedral, you take the bus to Nogaro, where you’ll be picked up and transferred to the retreat. The bus station is right next to the train station.
The most effortless way to get here is to rent a car, or take a taxi and the most entertaining and cheapest way to get here is by getting a lift from the carpooling site, BlaBlaCar(dot)fr.
A warm welcome awaits you at this 200-year-old, authentic Landaise farmhouse amidst the Armagnac and Cotes de Gascogne vineyards in the sun-blessed southwest of France!
Walking retreats start on Saturdays at 18h00 and end on Wednesdays at 11h00, every first and third Saturday from March to November.
Testimonials
We wanted to write you this message to say hello to you and to thank you again for a wonderful time that we spent with you. We find you a very warm person. We enjoyed so much talking to you, chilling on your lawn, walking with horses and admiring the tranquillity of your place. We’re both very grateful to have met you. Thank you for giving us the idea of thinking (and, even better, writing it down) about what we’re grateful for in our lives. We’ve completed the list of 100. I even added some more. We’re sending you kind regards from X where you’re always welcome, whenever you decide to come visit. Nina B
Loads more testimonials
Camino de Santiago Retreat Program
Day 1: Arrive after 18h00, in time for a scrumptious welcome dinner
Day 2: On the first day, guests walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela from EAUZE to MANCIET. This section is about 11 km long and takes about 2,5 – 4 hours to walk. The walk meanders through woods, vineyards, meadows, orchards and sunflower fields from the Roman and cathedral city of Eauze towards Manciet, a small market town with a beautifully preserved lavoir.
Day 3: On the second day, guests walk from MANCIET to NOGARO. The route continues past an ancient church that once belonged to the Order of the Knights of Malta and an 18th-century milestone with a Maltese cross to Nogaro or Nogarium, which means ‘a place planted with walnut trees.’ This small town was established in the 11th century and has a fine Romanesque church. The walk takes about 2,5-4 hours to walk and is about 10km.
Day 4: The third day’s walk is from NOGARO to TERMES D’ARMAGNAC. The walk is 15 km, but guests can opt for a shorter walk (12 km) if they prefer. The walk takes 3-4 hours to walk, and is fairly flat: Nogaro is at 115m above sea level, and Termes is at 130m above sea level. Beginning at the historic Saint-Nicolas church square in Nogaro, this scenic hike takes you south-west through charming backstreets out into the rolling Gascon countryside past lush vineyards, through the peaceful hamlet of Mauriet, and then to the picturesque medieval village of Termes d’Armagnac, where a stunning château and its striking medieval tower make for a truly memorable finale.
Day 5: Leave after brunch, before 11h.
Distances are approximate. The program is not set in stone and may be altered according to circumstances ex. inclement weather.
Food
Esprit Meraki’s food is simple but delicious and we aim to give your digestive tract as much of a rest as the rest of you while feeding your body as well and as generously as your mind.
This is a celebration of the wonderful variety of fresh local produce available from our garden as well as from the local weekly fresh food markets.
In the morning, we serve you a scrumptious brunch buffet, consisting of cereal, fruit, bread, confiture, honey, milk, yoghurt, typical cheeses and patés of the region. Tea and coffee are available from early, and throughout the day. You can also make sandwiches and take some fruit/yoghurt with you, to eat during your walk.
Dinner is served early and consists of a homemade soup (hot/cold depending on the season,) a healthy and hearty main course, often vegetarian and often heavily influenced by the cuisine of our Spanish neighbours, followed by something sweet, if required. Only water is served at the table.
Dinner on day 4 we have at a local restaurant to help regenerate the local economy post-COVID. The cost of this meal is not included – usually 15-30 euros, depending on your choices.
We cater for most diets (Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Low fat, Sugar conscious, Egg-free, and Dairy-free but we do not cater for Vegans.) If you have any intolerances, allergies or dislike some ingredient or food, please let me know during your booking, at the latest two weeks before your arrival. Complicated diet requirements may incur an additional fee.
What’s Included In this Package
- 4 nights accommodation in an authentic half-timbered landaise farmhouse
- Wholesome brunches, and delicious dinners (except dinner on day 4. You can also make sandwiches and take some fruit/yoghurt with you, to eat during your walk.
- 3 unforgettable days walking the Camino de Santiago
- Introduction to Walking and Writing Meditation
- Introduction to the Meraki Morning Program
- Transport to and from the starting and end points of the Camino on each walking day
What’s Not Included In this Package
- Transport costs to local airports (flights)
- Transport from local airports to local train stations (ex. Auch) to Nogaro
- Personal Health Insurance and/or Travel Insurance (we highly recommend insurance cover in case you need to cancel)
- Additional activities not included in the itinerary
- Hypnotherapy session (might be available at an additional fee)
- Dinner on days 4 ~ we have this meal at a restaurant nearby to support local small business owners (15-30€, depending on your choices)
- Alcoholic beverages
When can you come to a Couples Hiking Retreat?
I’d love to welcome you to my little part of paradise here in the sun-blessed southwest of France – the retreat starts at 18h on Saturdays and ends at 11h on Wednesdays every first and third Saturday from March to November.
How much does a Couples Hiking Retreat on the Camino de Santiago cost?
Are you ready to step out of the chaos and into an experience that renews, refreshes, and realigns you?
| This potentially life-changing 5-day 4-night break includes accommodation, meals, transport to and from the Camino and costs start at €I999 for a couple in a double bedroom. Please read the Cancellation Policy and Terms and Conditions before booking. Full payment is due 30 days before the retreat starts |
👉 Send an email to welcome2gascony@gmail to claim your room. Only 2 double bedrooms are available per retreat starting date. Retreats start on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, March to November. Act now to secure your place!
Prepare to be different people by the time you have to tear yourselves away from this profoundly restful and peaceful haven to return home.
In only a few other places you will find all the ingredients of a perfect holiday combined with such abundance as in Gascony: fabulous food, outstanding wine, generous people and the breathtaking beauty of mountains, rivers, lakes and medieval villages perched on hilltops.
So seize this exceptional opportunity to spend a few nights here NOW…a warm welcome awaits you amidst the Armagnac and Cotes de Gascogne vineyards in the sun-blessed southwest of France.
Are you ready for an unforgettable experience that might well leave you feeling vibrantly alive, full of joie de vivre, deliciously indulged and profoundly relaxed from the top of your head to the tips of your toes? Contact me at margarethamontagu@gmail.com to inquire about availability and to pay your deposit to secure your spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if my partner and I have different fitness levels? A: This is actually one of the most valuable aspects of couples hiking retreats. Learning to accommodate different paces, take breaks when needed, and support each other through physical challenges mirrors the adaptability required in all healthy relationships. My retreats are designed to be inclusive of various fitness levels, with route modifications and alternative activities for couples with significantly different abilities.
Q: How do we handle conflicts that arise on the trail? A: Conflicts on hiking retreats often feel more intense because you can’t escape to separate rooms or scroll through your phones to avoid difficult conversations. However, this intensity is actually beneficial—it forces couples to develop real-time conflict resolution skills.
Q: What if we’re not “outdoorsy” people? A: Many couples who benefit most from hiking retreats are those who don’t consider themselves naturally drawn to outdoor adventures. The unfamiliar environment levels the playing field—both partners are outside their comfort zones, which often leads to increased mutual support and shared vulnerability.
Q: How long should our first couples hiking retreat be? A: For couples new to hiking retreats, 3-5 days typically provides enough time to settle into the rhythm without feeling overwhelming. This duration allows for the initial adjustment period (usually the first day), meaningful connection time (days 2-3), and integration of insights (final day).
Q: Can hiking retreats help couples in serious relationship crisis? A: While hiking retreats can be profoundly healing, they’re not a substitute for professional counselling when couples are dealing with serious issues like infidelity, addiction, or abuse. However, for couples experiencing drift, communication challenges, or loss of connection, the combination of shared adventure, natural beauty, and dedicated time together can create breakthrough moments that reignite partnership and intimacy.
Imagine how different your relationship will be in a year’s time if you decide to change your life by attending this Camino de Santiago adventure.
©MMontagu Description frequently updated.
Do you dream of escaping your stressful life to raise a herd of goats or grow sunflowers in the south of France? Then you may be ready for an Esprit Meraki retreat. Get access to this “very serious” quiz to help you figure out how urgent your need for a change of scenery is, when you subscribe to my monthly newsletter.
“I am an experienced medical doctor – MBChB, MRCGP, NLP master pract cert, Transformational Life Coach (dip.) Life Story Coach (cert.) Stress Counselling (cert.) Med Hypnotherapy (dip.) and EAGALA (cert.) I may have an impressive number of letters after my name, and more than three decades of professional experience, but what qualifies me to excel at what I do is my intuitive understanding of my clients’ difficulties and my extensive personal experience of managing major life changes using strategies I developed over many years.” Dr M Montagu
If you’re both constantly juggling responsibilities, and the conversations that used to come easily now feel like one more thing on the to-do list, this retreat is for you. The 5-day Camino de Santiago Couples Hiking Retreat offers a complete escape from routine, side by side, giving you the space to reconnect with each other and remember what drew you together in the first place.