The Human Side of Building a New Life Abroad
Three days in France's Loire Valley. Small group. 2 coaches. Real talk about the parts of the transition no one prepares you for.
Dates 2026: 11th - 13th September 2026
And in 2027: 19th - 21st March 2027
You're Moving to Europe. What's the best way to actually settle in well.
The visa paperwork, property search, and shipping logistics, you've got those handled. Or at least know how and where you can get these sorted..
But what about the rest?
The identity shift when you're no longer defined by your career or community. The relationship dynamics that surface when you're both navigating uncertainty. The gap between the dream you sold to friends and family, and the loneliness you didn't expect. The morning you wake up and think: What have we done?
This retreat will help you navigate all this and the human side of relocating.
What Happens Here
Three days in Saumur, Loire Valley, in our home, not a hotel, with 4-8 people who understand what you're navigating.
We create space to think clearly about your move, work through the emotional complexity of transition, and build practical strategies for what comes next. Not coaching sessions. Not therapy. Just focused time with expert guides and people on the same path.
And you'll experience life here. Not as a tourist, but through the lens of residents who've done what you're about to do. Saturday morning at the famous Saumur food market, meeting local producers and expats who've navigated the same questions you're asking. Visiting a local winemaker or exploring nearby villages. Meals around our table. This is what daily life looks like when you actually live here.
The Structure
Before We Meet: Leaving Well (60-minute online session) You'll clarify why you're moving, what you're leaving behind, and what you need to bring forward. We'll learn about your strengths, help you anticipate challenges, and help you create closure with the life you're stepping away from.
Day 1 | Friday afternoon: Arrival (2pm) & Welcome
Settle into our home. Meet the group over a glass of crémant and canapes. After a short workshop we'll have a French inspired 4-course evening meal. You can share your story and we'll set the foundation for open conversation and establish how we'll work together over the weekend.
Day 2 | Saturday: Transition Well & Living It
Morning: We start at Saumur's renowned Saturday food market after breakfast. Walk through with us as residents, not tourists. Navigate interactions, what to buy, how to engage, explore local seasonal produce. This is where weekly life happens and you can learn our tips on where you start building belonging in your own community.
Midday & Afternoon:
- Lunch 12.30pm -2pm
- Afternoon workshop at 2pm - including Reconnect with your vision — the real one, not the Instagram version
- Develop cultural awareness that helps you connect authentically with your new community (not just survive as a tourist)
- Navigate relationship dynamics: roles, communication, alignment with your partner or family
- Build your personal toolkit for managing change fatigue and the emotional journey of new beginnings
- 5pm - Meet local expats who've made the move and hear their honest stories, the challenges, the breakthroughs, what they wish they'd known
Evening: 7.30pm Dinner at a local restaurant and experience innovation and creativity that puts French food at the centre of the world's food scene.
Day 3 | Sunday: Settling Well & Exploring
Morning:
Short excursion to Montsoreau, visit a nearby winemaker, brocante or explore the picturesque village in the region. Experience the rhythm and beauty of life here. Notice what draws you in.
Afternoon:
- Lunch 12.30pm
- 2pm - Afternoon workshop -
- Meet local expats who've made the move and hear their honest stories, the challenges, the breakthroughs, what they wish they'd known
- Reimagining purpose and belonging in this chapter
- Create your practical action plan for daily life
- Close with insights, commitments, and next steps
After the Retreat: Settling Well Follow-Up (60-minute online session) on 6th October 2026
Check in on progress. Navigate challenges. Cultivate growth mindset. Set intentions for what's ahead.
What's Included
All sessions, accommodation in our Saumur home, meals throughout the weekend, Saturday market visit, regional excursion (winery or village visit), meeting with local expats, comprehensive workbook and resources, follow-up session, ongoing community connection with your cohort.
What You'll Leave With
Clarity on who you're becoming in this chapter, not who you were before.
Practical strategies for building belonging when everything feels unfamiliar.
Stronger communication with your partner or family about roles, expectations, and fears.
Cultural awareness that helps you show up as more than a tourist.
A toolkit for managing the inevitable ups and downs .
Real connections: expats who've made the move, our neighbours in Saumur, and your cohort who are on the same journey.
A felt sense of what life here actually looks like, the market on Saturday morning, the pace of a Sunday, the warmth of community around a table.
Most importantly: you'll reconnect with why you're doing this in the first place. The adventure. The possibility. The life you're building.
Moving to Europe is exciting but it's also one of life's biggest transitions. Between visa applications, property searches, and shipping logistics, it's easy to overlook the emotional landscape of leaving everything familiar behind.
Our free Transition Readiness Check helps you understand where you are right now and what you need to focus on to make this move successful.
In just 5 minutes, you'll discover:
- Your readiness score across vision clarity, emotional preparation, cultural confidence, and more
- Your biggest strength to lean on when things feel uncertain
- Your biggest opportunity to address before burnout sets in
- Actionable next steps based on your unique profile
Bonus: You'll also get insider tips and additional resources from two professional coaches who've helped dozens of people land well in major life transitions without the overwhelm.
Get Your Free Readiness Check
Why Our Home in Saumur
We want to share with you an immersion into actual life here.
We host you in our home in Saumur because this work is about more than reflection and we want you to experience something similar to what you're moving toward.
You'll see how we've built our life here. The rhythms. The "meeting for coffee" at the Saturday market ritual. The relationships with neighbours and local producers. The quiet beauty of Sundays in the Loire Valley. The questions we had to answer. The mistakes we made. The moments that made it all worth it.
You'll meet other expats who've navigated the same transition, the people who'll tell you the truth about what it takes to settle in.
It's what the glossy guidebooks don't show you: life after the move, the emotional energy and the personal shifts which we can share the experiences seen through the eyes of people who actually live here.
By Sunday evening, you'll leave with more than clarity on your transition. You'll have felt what it's like to be here. To belong, not just visit.
Who This Is For
You're planning a move to France or Europe for lifestyle reasons, retirement, reinvention, sabbatical, or a second home. Or you've already moved and you're finding it hard to settle in.
You know the practical logistics are only half the story. You want to navigate the emotional and relational complexity of this transition, not just survive it, but use it to build something meaningful.
You're ready for honest conversation about identity, purpose, relationships, and belonging. You're open to group reflection and willing to do the inner work.
This probably isn't right if:
You're looking purely for visa advice, property recommendations, or logistical support with schools, employer requirements, finance etc. (We can connect you with experts for those pieces if you need it, but our focus on this retreat is the human side of transition.)
Your Guides
Camilla Degerth
Global Transition Specialist | Group Facilitator | Intercultural Expert
With 12 international relocations under her belt, Camilla understands the journey of moving abroad from the inside out. For over 15 years, she's supported individuals and leaders through cross-cultural transitions and the emotional landscape of building a new life. She specialises in helping people navigate cultural differences with curiosity and confidence, so they can truly settle in (not just survive). Currently based in the Netherlands, Camilla brings warmth, wisdom, and a deep belief that moving abroad should be an adventure, not just a checklist.
Camilla's website: Camilla Degerth Leadership Coach | team coach
Mandy Murphy
Wellbeing Specialist | Group Facilitator | Loire Valley Resident
Mandy is a transition coach who helps people navigate major life changes—from career pivots to international moves. She's the owner of La Maison Trumeau, a 6-bedroom home in Saumur that was empty for 10 years before she and her family lovingly restored it (and learned every lesson about French bureaucracy and artisans along the way!). Originally from Ireland and having lived in London before relocating to France, Mandy knows first hand the emotional weight of starting over. She's passionate about helping others avoid burnout and instead build meaningful, joyful lives in their new homes.
Mandy's website : Home - Kuta Coach
Investment & Booking
Programme Fee:
- €1,450 per person (single occupancy ensuite room)
- €1,295 per person (couple sharing an ensuite room = £2,590 total)
- €995 for day and evening participation only. This excludes accommodation at La Maison Trumeau stay in alternative accommodation locally that you can privately arrange
Payment Plan
- Deposit: £250 to secure your spot
- Payment plans available (instalments arranged through WeTravel links below)
- Final payment due: 12th August 2026
Price Includes:
- Pre-retreat online session (60 minutes) on 28th August 2026
- 3-day retreat in Loire Valley, France 11th-13th September
- All sessions, meals, and local excursions
- Programme workbook and resources
- Post-retreat follow-up session (60 minutes) 6th October 2026
- Ongoing community access
Next Retreat: 11th-13th Sept 2026
Location: Loire Valley, France
Group Size: 4-8 participants
[Use the enquiry form below to ask any questions or let us know your interest]
Limited Availability
We keep the group intentionally small—maximum 8 participants (including couples)—to ensure a personal, intimate experience. Only 4 ensuite rooms are available onsite, offered on a first-come, first-served basis. If onsite rooms fill up, we'll arrange nearby accommodation with our recommendations.
[BOOK NOW - SECURE YOUR SPOT] Book Here
Cancellation Policy
Check our Retreat Terms and Conditions here for our cancellation policy: Terms and Conditions of your booking
Common Questions
Do I need to speak French to attend?
Not at all! The retreat is conducted entirely in English. Part of what we'll explore together is how to navigate language barriers with confidence—including practical phrases to help French speakers slow down for you (like "excuse me, my spoken French is slow or I am learning").
What if I haven't decided where in Europe I'm moving yet?
That's completely fine! This retreat is designed for people at all stages, whether you're still dreaming, actively planning, or already living in Europe. The focus is on building emotional readiness and cultural confidence, which applies wherever you land.
Can my partner/spouse attend with me?
Absolutely! We welcome couples. You'll pay £1,295 per person (£2,590 total for a couple) and share an ensuite room.
Is this therapy or coaching?
This is a coaching retreat, not therapy. We focus on the human side of transitions and moving abroad, helping you create clarity, build emotional readiness, and develop practical strategies for your transition. It's about achieving your goals
Will you help me with visa paperwork or relocation logistics?
We focus on the emotional and cultural side of relocating, not the administrative tasks. However, we can share our personal experiences navigating French bureaucracy and connect you with helpful resources if you are stuck.
What's the physical activity level?
Light to moderate. You'll do some walking as we explore Saumur's town centre and visit the market. All bedrooms are accessed via stairs (not wheelchair accessible), but we can help you find nearby accommodation if you have mobility needs.
How do I get to Saumur?
Saumur has its own train station, and Nantes Airport is about 1.5 hours away. We'll provide detailed travel instructions once you book. Transfers from the airport/station are not included, but we can recommend taxis or car services.
What if I'm not sure this is right for me?
We know too well that making this decision is a big part of the journey! Book a free 20-minute discovery call with us to chat about your situation and see if this retreat feels like the right fit. [Book a Discovery Call]
Can I bring my partner?
Absolutely. Couples are welcome, and the programme includes work specifically on navigating relationships during transition.
I've already moved but I'm struggling. Will this help?
Yes. The retreat serves both pre-move and post-arrival participants. About half the content focuses on settling in and building belonging.
What if I don't want to share personal details in a group?
You share what feels comfortable. We establish psychological safety and clear agreements at the start. Most people find the group connection is what makes the experience valuable.
Ready?
Moving to Europe is the easy part. Feeling at home is what matters.
If you're ready to do the work that makes this transition meaningful, we'd love to have you.
Questions? Contact Mandy: info@lamaisontrumeau.com
