Autumn in Provence: A mindfulness, photography, and creativity women’s retreat
October 10th to October 17th, 2026
Velleron, France
Join photographic artist and mindfulness teacher Raina Stinson— permanent resident of Provence, France— for an intimate and transformative week-long Provence experience. Reserve your place today.
Step into the golden light of southern France, where vineyards blaze with color and time slows to the rhythm of falling leaves. This mindfulness and creativity retreat invites you to reconnect with nature, awaken your innate creativity, and rediscover yourself.
Uncover the hidden gems of Provence through a mindful, soul-nourishing retreat in the glow of autumn. This is an invitation to slow down and truly be in Provence—to breathe in its beauty, savor its rhythms, and experience its way of life from the inside out. Guided by mindfulness and gentle creative practices, you’ll awaken your creative eye through mindfulness photography, alternative photographic processes, and mixed media, not to perfect a technique but to deepen your way of seeing. As you wander among golden vineyards, ember-hued leaves, and ruby-red ivy climbing ancient stone walls, Provence becomes your sanctuary, your teacher, and your quiet source of inspiration.
Fall in Provence brings a quieter charm, with fewer tourists and the magic of grape harvests in full swing. Visit local wineries, savor the season’s rich flavors, and capture the beauty of the changing landscape. Wander through Medieval and Roman architecture, enjoy flaky croissants and gourmet delights, and explore secret chapels, colorful vineyards, and charming hilltop villages. Each day offers a feast for the senses and a chance to rediscover your creative spark in one of the most breathtaking regions on Earth!
When:
7-night, 7-day retreat
October 11th to October 18th, 2025
WHERE:
Velleron, France, La Fontaine B&B ( 10 minutes from the famous town of L’isle sur la Sorgue)
The closest airport is Marseille (MRS), or you can take the high-speed TGV train from Paris to the Avignon TGV station. (3 hours train ride)
WHO IS THIS FOR:
Curious souls ready to slow down, experience Provence mindfully, and spark their creativity. No artistic experience required—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, a DSLR shooter or mobile photographer, you’ll find inspiration, guidance, and space to explore your vision.
PRICE:
All-inclusive except your airfare and transportation to our meeting place in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Private room with private bathroom
or
Private room with shared bathroom, in a private cottage at the villa.
€4500 per person
*Please note our retreat is limited to a max of 5 guests to ensure you have a personalized boutique experience
LODGING
7 nights at La Fontaine, the private villa of your hosts Raina and her husband Denis.
AN UNFORGETTABLE COUNTRYSIDE VILLA AWAITS YOU IN PROVENCE…
Here is a taste of what you will experience on our tour
Daily Excursions
Daily outings to photograph and experience the Provençal lifestyle through the amazing cuisine, markets, historic villages, historic chateaus, pristine landscapes, and ruins.
What you will learn
You will learn to slow down and truly see, opening your artist’s eye to the quiet beauty in everyday moments. Through guided practice, you’ll learn how to capture thoughtful and compelling images that go beyond snapshots. Learn to observe with intention, frame with feeling, and tell visual stories that reflect not just where you’ve been, but how it felt to be there. You’ll also explore alternative ways of processing your photographs using encaustic and mixed media techniques, adding texture, depth, and new creative possibilities to your work.
Accommodations
La Fontaine is a private countryside villa located on 1 acre with surrounding forests. We offer 2 private rooms with private bathrooms and 2 private rooms with shared bathrooms. We have Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, a large pool and pool house, beautiful, peaceful secluded gardens, and a petanque court. There are many hiking trails from our villa which will take you along a beautiful canal and lead you to several small villages.
Farm to table meals
Enjoy authentic meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients — both in cozy bistros and at the villa’s shared table. Wine is included at lunch and dinner. Extra wine and cocktails are not included. There is an honesty bar on site.
Tell your story through your photos and engage in mindfulness photography as a means to slow down and connect to your environment. learn new ways of creating beautiful art with your photographs
What is mindfulness photography?
Mindfulness photography is a method to increase your awareness and reveal the magic and beauty that is normally hidden from view. It is to learn to slow down and open all of your senses to your experience. For the traveler, it is a wonderful way to see and experience each moment. It is not about focusing on the technical aspects of photography, but rather is about being present in each moment and creating images based on fresh perceptions. In this process, you will experience a deeper connection to yourself and open to a deeper level of creativity, and experience a deep sense of peacefulness and joy.
Who is this for?
Anyone who wants to slow down and experience the real Provence with fresh eyes, learn new photographic techniques to open to your inner creativity. This experience is for all levels of photography from beginner to professional.
meet your host
Raina Stinson is an internationally award-winning photographic artist known for her evocative storytelling through imagery. Originally from the United States, she has spent the past eight years living in Provence, France, and is a permanent resident.
With a deep passion for visual narratives, Raina’s work often explores themes of identity, resilience, and the human experience. In addition to her photographic art, she teaches week-long photography workshops and day photography tours in Provence, sharing her extensive knowledge of the region and photographic skills. She incorporates her many years as a meditation and mindfulness teacher into her courses. She loves uncovering Provence's unique and hidden treasures, sharing an intimate and authentic experience of its beauty, culture, and history with her clients.
Raina and her husband, Denis, also run an artist-in-residence program from their villa, providing a peaceful and inspiring retreat for creatives to immerse themselves in their work. Through her photography, teaching, and residency program, Raina fosters a space where artistry and inspiration can thrive.
Over the years she has received numerous awards in recognition of her work and has exhibited around the world. For a full list of awards and exhibitions click here
More Details About Our Autumn in Provence: A mindful and creative women’s retreat
iNCLUDES
All transportation – pick-up at L’Isle Sur la Sorgue train station or hotel.
7 nights lodging at La Fontaine
All breakfasts (7)
All lunches (7)
All dinners (7)
Local wine is provided with lunch and dinner
There is an honesty bar at our villa with wine, beer, sodas, and sparkling water
Raina as your guide and photographic art mentor & mindfulness instructor for the full tour (workshop sessions at B&B and out in the field)
ACTIVITIES & SITES INCLUDED
Photography-art mentoring, and mindfulness instruction for the full tour (workshop sessions at the villa and out in the field)
Discover how to utilize your photographs to create encaustic art and mixed-media pieces in our art studio at our villa
Tour of a historic castle
Wine tasting at a local winery
Regular outings will take you to chateaus, villages, and secret locations throughout the region where you can photograph, shop, eat, and explore.
Explore and shop at an antique market. Forage for objects to inspire your art process.
Visit the famous night village market of Velleron
Time to relax, unwind, and enjoy our peaceful countryside villa, read a book, edit your photos or just take some downtime for yourself.
Time to take a hike along the beautiful canal, which is steps away from our villa if you would like to explore a bit on your own.
Villages visited:
L’isle sur la Sorgue
Velleron
Goult
Lacoste
Chateauneuf-du-pape
Pernes les Fontaine
Carpentras
Saint Didier
And many scenic routes passing through other Provence villages and the beautiful countryside
CANCELLATION POLICY
A 50% retainer of the total cost is required to reserve your spot for this workshop. The balance is due by July 15th, 2026. Due to the logistics & upfront costs of creating an exceptional workshop experience like this, we are unable to offer refunds on payments made. We encourage you to purchase travel insurance in the event of strikes, natural disasters, health problems, and other unforeseen events in your life or the world.
**Please know that due to weather or other reasons, activities and locations may change. If this is the case, an equally enjoyable activity and location will be arranged.
For more information on our itinerary for the week, please contact us below
Testimonials
“I had a truly fabulous experience with Raina!! She is a very gifted photographer and instructor. Raina is very skilled at teaching the nuances that make a great photograph and has a calm, beautiful way of empowering her students.
There were many things that stood out about Raina's photography sessions. First - she is unique in that she instructs using an iPhone! It made learning photography so easy and accessible. It is astonishing how fantastic my photos came out. Second, I loved the fact that Raina uses mindfulness at the root of how she teaches. By being mindful and noticing how you are seeing things creates an entirely new way to photograph. Third, Raina is an absolute pleasure to be with! She is fun, warm, and caring, and instructs in the most helpful of ways. Raina knows which environments create the best photos. To learn by walking in her footsteps was priceless. I would never have learned as much as I did or enjoyed myself as much as I did if it weren't for Raina.
My time with Raina was so inspiring and rewarding. I left transformed and uplifted and now have fabulous photos from our experience together. I can't wait for my next course with Raina!”
Phyllis Brock
California, USA
“I was always interested in photography, but Raina's Mobile Phone Photography Workshop was the first one I ever took. I enjoyed learning from a confident teacher together with a small group where all our questions were addressed and answered. Raina is a generous and inspirational teacher and the photos I produced by the end of the workshop were much better than any of my photos before. Strong recommendation! “
Mimi Pillsbury, France