# Inspired By Nature - Watercolor and Mixed Media Art Retreat with Artist Caroline Simas in France

Immerse yourself in a joyful, nature-inspired, women-only art retreat with artist Caroline Simas, set in the sun-soaked countryside of southwestern France. Built around the endlessly exciting world of mixed media, this retreat will invite you to explore the colors, patterns, and textures of the natural world through watercolor, collage, acrylic, cyanotype printing, clay work, and so much more.Whether you are picking up a paintbrush for the first time or looking to push your practice somewhere new and unexpected, Caroline has designed every session to be accessible, hands-on, and genuinely fun!Head out on two wonderful day trips that will feed directly into your creative work. An afternoon in Cahors will take you through a gorgeous medieval city followed by a riverboat cruise along the Lot, sketchbook in hand and art prompts at the ready. A full day in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val will send you wandering cobblestone streets and brocante markets along the dramatic Aveyron Gorges before continuing to the spectacular Jardins de Quercy, where botanical inspiration is quite literally everywhere you look.Work in a spacious, light-filled studio housed in a beautifully restored barn, or step outside to shaded terraces and garden paths for open-air sessions. Vary your setting throughout the week using alternate creative spaces like the piano room or smaller garden studio. Unwind in elegant ensuite rooms with scenic views, recharge by the heated pool, and come together each evening for delicious, chef-prepared meals.

## Details

- **Dates:** April 3 - 10, 2027
- **Location:** Sainte Alauzie, Lot-et-Garonne, France
- **Starting Price:** $4,700
- **Category:** [Painting](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreats/painting) · [Browse on uptrek.com](https://uptrek.com/retreats/painting)

## Overview

What’s IncludedArt classes, tuition, and demonstrations with artist Caroline SimasTables, chairs, glass jars, paper towels, fresh flowers, and Mod Podge for the workshop component7 nights of accommodation at a French estateExclusive use of the entire property, including living quarters, common areas, the dedicated art workshop spaces, access to the heated swimming pool, outdoor terraces, and gardens7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 7 dinners carefully prepared on-site using fresh, locally sourced ingredientsWater, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snacks available throughout the dayWine served with dinnerFull-day trip to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val with English-speaking guide, and opportunities for sketching includedLunch at a local restaurant during your trip to Saint-Antonin-Noble-ValHalf-day trip to the town of CahorsRiverboat tour along the Lot River during your trip to CahorsPrivate transportation and guide for all planned activitiesPrivate round-trip transfers from/to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) and the retreat venue at prearranged timesExperienced UpTrek host available throughout the dayFully-staffed venueAll local tourist taxes and feesAccess to a private Facebook group with Caroline Simas and the other retreat participants four months before the retreatNot includedAirfareTravel insuranceArt materials — a list of art materials recommended by artist Caroline Simas will be provided five months before the retreatTips for staff

## Program

### Watercolor and Mixed Media Retreat
Pack your bags and your curiosity, because this women-only retreat with artist Caroline Simas in the sun-drenched hills of southwestern France is about to change the way you see the natural world. Built around mixed media and nature as an endless source of inspiration, immerse yourself in the colors, textures, and living forms that surround you.Caroline will bring her energy, generosity, and a genuine gift for helping artists of every level find their own voice.Come ready to get your hands wonderfully messy! Your reference material is everywhere: the garden outside the studio, a walk through a medieval market, a bloom floating in a bowl of water. Stay open, and the whole week becomes one long source of inspiration.Two day trips will pull you out into the wider landscape with sketchbook and art prompts at the ready. A full day in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val takes you deep into a spectacular medieval town nestled against the cliffs of the Aveyron Gorges, then onward to the Jardins de Quercy, where the planting is lush and the light through the trees is extraordinary. A separate afternoon heads into Cahors, a city of warm brick and ancient bridges, rounding off with a riverboat cruise along the Lot River that offers an entirely different perspective on pattern, reflection, and color.By the end of the week, you will go home with a handmade sketchbook, cyanotype prints, clay botanical pieces, a hand-painted canvas tote, collage works, raw canvas paintings, hand-painted note cards, a decorated wine bottle, and so much more. More than the objects themselves, though, you will take with you a sharpened eye, a looser hand, and the wonderful knowledge that nature has been giving you everything you needed all along!The topics covered during your lessons will include:Unleash the artist within through creative play and expressionStay loose and embrace imperfectionGather inspiration from the world around youDiscover multiple ways to incorporate nature into your artCreate loose florals with watercolor and inkExperiment with mixed media through paint, pattern play & collagePursue the magic of cyanotypes and natural dyesLearn to paint with wine and also hand-paint a bottle to take home!Discover your creative voice and develop your unique style Understand tips for creating a daily practiceFind joy in creating art through the use of many mediums...and many more!Stay on a private estate set across 75 acres of fields, forests, and manicured gardens in the heart of Lot-et-Garonne. Work in a light-filled converted barn studio, a smaller studio with garden access, or the piano room in the main house. The grounds include two ponds, a heated pool, walking trails, terraces, and a variety of outdoor seating areas perfect for sketching or reflection. Between sessions, unwind in spacious ensuite rooms and comfortable shared spaces with views in every direction.

### Day 1: Arrival
Get transferred from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) at 3:00 PM, arriving at the venue by 4:00 PM. Settle into your room, then join Caroline and your fellow artists for an orientation tour, exploring the gardens, the lovely terraces, the creative studio, and communal spaces. Over a fabulous welcoming dinner, enjoy a relaxed conversation about the week ahead while savoring local flavors and a glass of regional wine.

### Day 2: Art at the venue
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast before bounding into the studio with Caroline, buzzing with excitement for a day that weaves reflection, making, and the natural world just outside the door into something truly magical.The morning kicks off with a journal prompt, a joyful nudge to dig into what draws you to nature and what you most want to capture during the retreat. From there, things get wonderfully hands-on as you craft your very own handmade sketchbook, your personal creative companion for the days ahead. Sketchbook in hand, head outside with Caroline for a nature walk full of discovery, gathering materials, textures, and little treasures from the landscape around you.Back in the studio, all those gorgeous gathered impressions pour straight into the morning's final session: "Flower Power," a delightful deep dive into botanical forms through watercolor and ink that shakes up the hand and blows open your visual imagination.After lunch, the afternoon is pure creative joy as you get stuck into hand-painting canvas totes with acrylic paints, bringing the morning's floral world into an exciting new format. Caroline will guide you in weaving in some of the stamped flowers you have developed, stitching a beautiful visual thread between the sessions and sending your nature-inspired work out into the world in style.As evening rolls in, the day saves its best surprise for last: a surprise team-building activity! Unwind with the group before sitting down together for a three-course dinner paired with wine, swapping stories from the day and looking ahead to what comes next.

### Day 3: Trip to Cahors with a riverboat tour
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast, then ease into the morning over coffee as you check in with the group and prepare for the day ahead. Get ready for a day packed with creativity and discovery!Dedicate the morning to one of the most satisfying things you can do with paint, paper, and a whole lot of imagination: "Pattern Play"! Working with a wonderful variety of mixed media, build richly textured pattern backgrounds that will become the raw material for future collages. Think lush landscapes, dreamy florals, cozy nests, fluttering butterflies, and bold botanical forms, all bursting off the page with color and life. Caroline will guide you through the process, helping you find your own instincts around mark-making and texture so that each background feels genuinely yours.After lunch, pack your travel art supplies because the afternoon calls for an adventure. The group heads to Cahors, a gorgeous medieval city wrapped in a bend of the Lot River, with a sketchbook assignment in hand. Caroline's art prompts will send you off to look more closely at the world around you, tuning into architectural details, garden design, unexpected color schemes, and the patterns hiding in plain sight all over the old town. Document your findings, sketch what surprises you, and photograph anything that sparks an idea worth holding onto.The afternoon rounds off with a riverboat tour along the Lot, drifting past the magnificent Pont Valentré as the light does extraordinary things to the water and stone. Keep your sketchbook handy because the views from the river are not to be missed!Roll back to the estate in the early evening, glowing from a day well spent, and sit down to a three-course dinner with wine that feels like the perfect full stop on an absolutely wonderful day.

### Day 4: Art at the venue
Kick off the morning with a nourishing breakfast and a check-in over coffee with Caroline to walk through what the day has in store.Then things get wonderfully wild and (a little bit science-y) as the morning dives headfirst into "Dyeing with Nature." Working with natural botanical elements gathered from the world around you, you'll press flowers and leaves onto chemically prepared papers and send them out into the sunshine to do their magic.Cyanotype printing is one of those processes that never gets old; watching the sun slowly reveal your botanical compositions in deep indigo and white is nothing short of spellbinding! Caroline will guide you through the process from start to finish, and no two prints will ever come out exactly the same, which is precisely what makes it so exciting.After lunch, the afternoon swings back into the world of collage you started building earlier in the week. Caroline will guide you in pushing your mixed media collages further, layering newfound textures and imagery into compositions inspired by the natural world. The textures and prints from the morning feed beautifully into the collage work, giving you fresh material to tear into and play with.Before dinner, spread your pieces out and take a moment to absorb how far the work has come. Then, gather around the table for a wonderful evening meal that gives everyone the chance to celebrate the day's work together.

### Day 5: Trip to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val and Jardins de Quercy
Wake up to a satisfying breakfast, then gather with Caroline over coffee to get excited about everything the day has in store.Pack your art supplies and your sketchbook because today is a full day out in the world! Head to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a breathtaking medieval town wedged between dramatic cliffs along the Aveyron Gorges. Caroline will send you off with an art prompt assignment that sharpens your eye. Wander the cobblestone streets and brocante markets, tuning into architectural details, garden design, unexpected color combinations, and the extraordinary patterns hiding in worn stone and ironwork. Document everything that catches your eye, and sketch what stops you in your tracks!Pause midday to enjoy lunch together before the afternoon adventure begins.From there, continue to Jardins de Quercy, a gorgeous French botanical garden where the light through the trees makes you want to immediately reach for your watercolors. Caroline's prompts will continue here, nudging you to look closely at natural form, texture, color relationships, and the way the garden composes itself at every turn. Fill your sketchbook and gather as much inspiration as you can carry.The drive back offers one final treat: a sweeping viewpoint over the Aveyron Gorges, with pale cliffs rising against the sky and the river glinting far below.Arrive back at the venue glowing from a day spent entirely in beautiful places, and wind down over a three-course dinner with wine that brings the whole wonderful day to a warm close.

### Day 6: Art at the venue
Light stretches across the hills as you sit down to a warming breakfast, then gather with Caroline over coffee to talk through everything the day has bubbling away in store.The morning is devoted to one of the most tactile and satisfying things imaginable: making clay botanical trinket dishes and ornaments! Press real flowers and leaves directly into clay to create beautiful imprinted keepsakes that carry the texture and shape of the natural world. Caroline will guide you through shaping, pressing, and detailing each piece. The results? Gorgeous little objects you will absolutely want to take home!After lunch, the afternoon takes a wonderfully unexpected turn. Caroline will introduce you to the art of hand-painting wine bottles, transforming them into one-of-a-kind decorative pieces inspired by the botanicals and landscapes that have been fueling the week's work. Then comes the real showstopper: painting with wine itself. Using red wine as your medium, work in monochromatic florals and landscapes, discovering how the deeply pigmented and wonderfully unpredictable material moves across the page.Before dinner, take some time to recharge, or simply admire everything you have made. Then, come together for a three-course dinner with wine, celebrating a day that managed to be both wildly creative and genuinely delicious.

### Day 7: Art at the venue
Wake up and savor a celebratory breakfast together before gathering with Caroline to talk about everything you have made and how far your work has evolved since day one.Spend the morning working on dyed papers and raw canvas. Create finished paintings that pull together the colors, textures, and botanical language you have been developing all week, with Caroline on hand to help you push each piece to its most vibrant and confident state. Pull out anything unfinished from earlier in the week and give it the attention it deserves, because everything you have made is worth completing!Following a refreshing lunch, the afternoon is a joyful and slightly emotional finale. Start by hand-painting note cards, beautiful little nature-inspired keepsakes that make wonderful gifts or personal mementos from the week. Then, Caroline will have a surprise reflection project up her sleeve, all in preparation for the mini-exhibition. You'll spread your work out and get to see the full, extraordinary picture of what you and your fellow artists have created.As the sun starts to dip, raise a glass at the farewell dinner table and celebrate a week of making, exploring, and growing together, with a three-course dinner and great company to send everyone home thoroughly inspired.

### Day 8: Departure
Enjoy breakfast with Caroline and your fellow artists, and get ready for your transfer to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, Toulouse (TLS). Check-out is at 10:00 AM, and you'll arrive at the airport at around 11:30 AM.

## Instructors

- [Caroline Simas](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/instructors/caroline-simas) — Artist, mentor, creative business coach

## Accommodation

### Historic French Estate
Your retreat venue is a historic estate, set on 75 acres of private land in the rolling countryside of Lot-et-Garonne, France. Encircled by beautifully landscaped gardens, with every window offering panoramic views of the surrounding fields and woodlands, it provides an inspiring and peaceful setting for your art classes. The surrounding Lot-et-Garonne region is a picturesque blend of vineyards, medieval villages, and open countryside.Designed for both comfort and creativity, the estate offers a wide range of facilities, including a heated swimming pool, hot tub, tennis court, antique Steinway grand piano, and a home office. Savor chef-made meals on the two outdoor dining terraces, an outdoor bar, a large seating area, and a wood-fired pizza oven. The estate gardens cover five acres, featuring vegetable and herb gardens, woodlands, and two tranquil ponds, all providing picturesque spots to sit, reflect, sketch, or paint.Your workshops with Caroline can take place in three dedicated creative spaces, including a studio within the grange/barn next to the main house, a large 1,615 sq. ft. (150 sq. m.) open-plan studio. This spacious, well-lit space is fully equipped with tables and chairs for up to 24 participants. During warmer weather, sessions can also be held in the piano room inside the main house or in a smaller studio opening into the gorgeous estate gardens.The main house and its adjacent buildings feature a selection of spacious ensuite bedrooms, each blending historic character with modern amenities. All rooms have Wi-Fi access, and communal areas include both Summer and Winter salons, a fully equipped guest kitchen, a separate professional kitchen, and a cinema room for evening relaxation.

### Shared standard ensuite room
You will share this room and its ensuite bathroom with another same-gender participant. Two shared standard ensuite rooms available for shared occupancy are located on the first floor of the grange. Each room is furnished with twin beds, a private shower bathroom, and benefits from WiFi access. Both rooms have doors that lead directly outside and include a private seating area. In each room, two same-gender guests will be sharing an ensuite bathroom.

### Shared superior ensuite room
You will share this room and its ensuite bathroom with one other same-gender participant. Three shared superior ensuite rooms available for shared occupancy are located in the main château, each offering twin beds, a seating area, WiFi access, and air conditioning. One room is on the second floor, while the other two are on the third floor in the loft. These comfortable rooms provide easy access to the château’s common areas. Each room has access to an ensuite bathroom (with a shower and tub), shared with the other guest staying in the room.

### Shared deluxe room - private ensuite bathrooms
You will share this room with another same-gender participant, but each guest will have a private bathroom to themselves. One shared deluxe ensuite room is located on the second floor of the main château. This spacious twin room includes two separate private bathrooms, one with a shower and the other with a bathtub. The room is also equipped with air conditioning, WiFi, a seating area, and two separate dressing areas.

### Single standard ensuite room
One single standard ensuite rooms is available for single occupancy. Located in the grange on the second floor, the room features a super king bed, a private seating area, air conditioning, and WiFi.

### Single superior ensuite room
Two single superior ensuite rooms are available on the second floor of the main château. The rooms feature a super king bed, a private seating area, and WiFi.

### Single deluxe ensuite room
One single deluxe ensuite room is available on the second floor of the main château. This 375 sq. ft. (35 sq. m.) suite features a super king bed, two separate dressing areas, and two private ensuite bathrooms, one with a shower and one with a bathtub.

## Food

During your retreat, you’ll enjoy thoughtfully prepared meals that highlight fresh, locally sourced ingredients, offering a balance of hearty and lighter options. The menu features a mix of regional specialties and familiar dishes, designed to be both satisfying and well-rounded.Mornings begin with a generous breakfast spread, including a variety of teas, coffee, and both dairy and non-dairy milk. Fresh fruit, croissants, bread with butter, granola, Greek yogurt, and berries are available, along with biscuits, cakes, chips, and nuts for a quick snack.Lunch is presented buffet-style, featuring a rotating selection of seasonal dishes. In the evenings, you can enjoy a selection of canapés before a main course and dessert. You'll enjoy unlimited local wine with your dinner service. Additionally, you'll take part in a delightful wine-tasting experience at the venue.Tea, coffee, water, soft drinks and snacks are available throughout the day, whether you choose to enjoy them in the dining area or outdoors, surrounded by the estate’s natural beauty.The retreat includes all meals, except lunch on the full-day trip to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Cahors.Please note that dietary needs, including vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options, can be accommodated upon request, though availability may be limited.

## Getting There

Surrounded by rolling hills and set within 75 acres of private land, the your venue for the retreat with Caroline Simas offers a peaceful haven with landscaped gardens, woodlands, and open countryside views. Located in the Lot region of southwestern France, it sits just outside Castelnau-Montratier-Sainte-Alauzie, a village known for its historic market square and 13th-century church. Toulouse is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes away and will serve as your pick-up/drop-off point for transfers.Your trips will include a full-day visit to Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, a medieval town with cobbled streets, riverside views, and antique shops, where you’ll have time to sketch, explore, and enjoy lunch at a family-run restaurant. Another full-day trip will take you first to Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, a clifftop village known for its wisteria-draped façades and panoramic views of the Lot River, before continuing to Cahors for a guided boat tour along the river, passing city landmarks, medieval towers, and the 14th-century Pont Valentré.Check-in at the retreat venue starts at 4:00 PM on April 3, 2027. Check-out is after breakfast on April 10, 2027, by 10:00 AM. Please note that we cannot accommodate early check-ins and late check-out requests, so we kindly ask that you plan your arrival and departure accordingly.To be transferred to the retreat venue, please arrive at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). We strongly recommend planning more time for long-distance international travel because of the current disruptions in flight schedules. It is best to arrive in France a day before the retreat starts to prevent any inconveniences caused by flight delays, rest after the long travel, and adjust to the new time zone. Please hold off booking your flights and train tickets until the retreat becomes guaranteed and you are charged for your participation.How to get to Toulouse:If you cannot find good connecting flights from your departure airport to Toulouse, we recommend you fly to Paris and fly domestically to Toulouse (local roundtrips starting from US$100, 1 hour and 20 minutes of journey time; fares may vary).How to get from Toulouse to the retreat venue:Private transfers at prearranged times to and from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) are included. The journey takes approximately one hour and 10 minutes.Arrival Transfer:April 3, 2027 — 3:00 PM (leaving from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport, arriving at the retreat venue at 4:00 PM)Departure Transfer:April 10, 2027 — 10:00 AM (leaving from the retreat venue, arriving at Toulouse Blagnac Airport at 11:00 AM)If your travel arrangements don't work with our pre-set transfer times, please consider the following options:Spend extra days at a hotel in Toulouse pre/post-retreat and catch the transfer shuttles from/to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.Grab a taxi to the retreat venue (address: Le Rodier, 46170 Castelnau-Montratier, France, estimated cost of US$250 per way). Please note that taxi fares may vary.

## Reviews

Reviews of previous UpTrek retreats with Caroline Simas:"Caroline is kind, enthusiastic, and attentive to individual students. Her lessons were well planned and appropriate to the group, both advanced and beginning artists. She is a talented artist and shared examples of her work in a way that was not intimidating. She truly inspired me.""Caroline was tuned in to each student and taught so many fun new skills. We all bonded over meals and conversation. We encouraged each other and enjoyed instruction from Caroline. Everyone was pleasantly surprised at finding a new medium or subject for their art.""Fabulous!! Caroline was a wonderful teacher and encourager. Everything was well organized but flexible as circumstances changed. She was very sensitive to individual needs and concerns.""The art classes were well prepared by Caroline. I have been on other art retreats, but they focused on touring or cooking with art as a minor part of the retreat. This retreat was totally focused on art. Hooray!"

## Frequently Asked Questions

Is this retreat available to all levels? The retreat welcomes all levels of experience, though you’ll benefit most if you already have some familiarity with mixed media, as well as with Caroline SImas's work and style of teaching.When is the art retreat available?The retreat will take place between April 3 - 10, 2027.How do I get to the retreat venue?Please plan to arrive at the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS). The retreat venue is located approximately an hour and 10 minutes away by car from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. We advise allowing extra time for long-distance international travel. Arriving in France a day before the retreat starts helps mitigate potential issues due to flight delays, allows for rest post-travel, and facilitates adjustment to the new time zone. Round-trip airport transfers from/to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) at prearranged times are included. For more information, see the Location tab. Please hold off booking your flights until the retreat becomes guaranteed and you have been charged for your participation.Are there any check-in and check-out hours?Please make your travel arrangements to arrive at the venue after 4:00 PM on April 3, 2027. Check-out is after breakfast on the last day at 10:00 AM, on April 10, 2027. Please note that we cannot accommodate early check-ins and late check-out requests, so we kindly ask that you plan your arrival and departure accordingly.What art supplies do I need for the art classes?A detailed list of art materials recommended by artist Caroline Simas will be provided five months before the retreat takes place. Tables, chairs, glass jars, paper towels, fresh flowers, and Mod Podge for the workshop component will be available at the venue.What’s the weather like in Lot-et-Garonne, France, in April?The weather in Lot-et-Garonne during that time is usually sunny and pleasant. You can expect average highs of 22°C / 72°F during the day that drop to around 12°C / 54°F at night. However, in recent years, temperatures have become harder to predict accurately, and averages may vary. Please check the weather a week before traveling and pack accordingly.What should I pack? Please pack appropriate clothing, a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable shoes, a cardigan for chilly evenings, a waterproof raincoat, a water bottle, personal care items, and any personal medication you might need.Can I do laundry while on the retreat?Laundry facilities are available at the retreat venue and you are welcome to use them for free during your stay.I am vegetarian/vegan. Can I book this retreat?Yes. All diets are catered for if announced in advance. Please note, however, that we cannot accommodate severe, life-threatening allergies.Is WiFi available?Yes.How many people are to be expected on the art retreat?Maximum of 17 participants.Do I need a visa?Guests from the US, Canada, EU, UK, and/or Schengen member states can enter France for tourism without a visa. If this policy changes, we will inform you promptly. For additional assistance, please reach out to us.Are there any age restrictions?There are no restrictions whatsoever. Please keep in mind that you must be 18 years of age to travel independently.What language is used during the art classes and other activities?The art retreat is available in English.Is the retreat available to guests with limited mobility?Unfortunately, the retreat venue and day trips are not well-suited for people with limited mobility. The trips involve plenty of walking on uneven, cobbled streets. Getting around the studio, the accommodation spaces, and the main building where meals are served at the venue also requires a short walk.What happens if I need to cancel?Once the retreat is guaranteed, all payments are final and nonrefundable. Bookings are nonrefundable under any circumstances. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements. After your payment is processed, you may purchase insurance through the following link: Purchase insurance. Please review our cancellation policy.Do I need travel insurance?Yes. Since all bookings are nonrefundable, travel insurance is mandatory for all UpTrek travelers. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements. We strongly advise that your chosen policy provides cover against lost or delayed baggage, loss of personal belongings, trip cancellation, trip interruption, accidents, illness, injury, medical expenses, death, and emergency repatriation.For your convenience, UpTrek is affiliated with Allianz Travel and is a Registered Travel Retailer under AGA license. Click here to purchase your insurance plan.Please note that UpTrek is not qualified or authorized to answer questions about coverage, benefits, exclusions, or conditions of any Allianz Travel Insurance plan. If you have questions about your plan, please contact Allianz Global Assistance directly at CustomerService@AllianzAssistance.com or by phone at 1-800-284-8300. Be sure to provide the reference code F215276 so Allianz knows you are purchasing protection for an UpTrek trip.We strongly recommend reviewing the terms and conditions of any insurance policy you purchase to fully understand the coverage, benefits, and claims process. We will gladly provide the essential documentation to support refund claims with the insurance provider.Do I have to pay a deposit?No. Once the number of guest reservations reaches the minimum number required for the retreat to become guaranteed, UpTrek charges the guests the cost of the retreat. Guests who reserved will be notified 48 hours in advance that their payment method on file is about to be charged.Will I receive a full refund if the retreat is not guaranteed?UpTrek does not charge the payment method we collect until the retreat becomes guaranteed. Once the retreat is guaranteed, there will be no reimbursement. Participants are required to purchase travel, medical, and cancellation insurance for protection against any circumstances that might require cancellation or change of travel arrangements.Will I receive a full refund if the guaranteed retreat is canceled by the artist or by UpTrek?If the retreat is canceled due to force majeure events or circumstances out of UpTrek's and/or the instructor's control, UpTrek will let you know as soon as possible, refund the total cost of the retreat, and help you find another option for your vacation.

## Book This Retreat

👉 **[Reserve your spot on uptrek.com](https://uptrek.com/retreat/inspired-by-nature-watercolor-mixed-media-retreat-artist-caroline-simas-france#book)** — no deposit required.

See [cancellation policy](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/cancellation-policy) and [travel insurance requirements](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/insurance).

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