Viral! Exclusive women-only Camp Château in France, like a fairytale holiday.

Within less than 24 hours of content creator Allison Wolf posting a reel about her experience at Camp Château, two American women, Kimberly Green and Lindsey Zurn, immediately booked spots for this summer at the women-only retreat in southern France.

Wolf's post, now viewed over 24 million times, created a truly fairytale-like fantasy. It showcased a serene and sweet vacation vibe – days spent wandering a medieval castle in flowy dresses, a never-ending glass of rosé tea, and scenes of deer grazing in the morning. Activities were diverse, from horseback riding and kayaking to yoga and homemade jam making.

“I lived at an all-girls summer camp in a château in the French countryside, and yes, it is as beautiful and magical as it sounds,” Wolf said in her reel. 

She described the experience as the most relaxing and calming journey she had ever had.

For Kimberly Green, a 31-year-old art director from New York, the post felt like a call of the wild.

“As soon as I saw Allison’s reel, I knew the camp was going to go viral. So I booked immediately, in under 30 minutes,” she told Travel + Leisure.

Her friend, Lindsey Zurn, also booked that same day. She expressed a desire for a vacation different from the usual – not just relaxing, but also disconnecting from routine, learning French, cooking, creating art, and living amidst the French rural landscape.

Just five days after the video went live, all spots for Camp Château's 2025 season were officially sold out. The year before, the camp's waitlist exceeded 10,000 women. When registration opened for the 2026 season, 900 spots sold out in just seven minutes.

A Dream Camp Born Out of a Whim

Camp Château CEO Philippa Girling never imagined the place she built could become this popular. The British native, who has lived in the United States for three decades, initially fell in love with an old castle in the village of Bédouer, in the Lot Valley – a beautiful region still relatively untouched by tourists.

“We didn't really need a château, but we felt women did,” Girling said. 

“From there, the idea of a women-only summer camp was born – a place where they could come to France, enjoy the beauty, and be themselves.”

Together with her daughter Leah Lykins and close friend Lynda Coleman, Girling designed a simple yet powerful concept: a magical atmosphere far from routine, choose-your-own-adventure activities, and a safe space free from judgment for women of all ages and backgrounds.

“Our mission is to create a calm, joyful space where women can take off all the masks they wear every day, not to fix themselves, but because they are already amazing just as they are,” Girling explained.

Each camp session hosts a maximum of 50 people. Participants can stay in bunk bed-style rooms inside the château or in glamping tents on the grounds. For 2026, Camp Château also plans to open a second location in the Ariège region, southwestern France, to accommodate the ever-growing waitlist.

More Than Just a Vacation

The participants are diverse, ranging from women in their 20s to their 70s, coming alone, with friends, or even mothers and daughters. About 80 percent of attendees are from North America.

“We often see younger women listening to stories full of wisdom from older participants, and conversely, older women feeling inspired by the energy of the younger generation,” Girling said.

She added that a strong atmosphere of mutual respect and empathy permeates the camp.

“When you gather 50 women and tell them they are enough and deserve rest, they become the best versions of themselves,” she stated.

The success of Camp Château has sparked a new trend: exclusive women-only summer camps across France. One example is Château du Tremblay, about three hours from Paris, owned by the Louis d'Armaillé family since the 14th century. Along with her partner, Lua Andersen, they will open their first women's camp this year.

“We'll host lots of creative activities—painting classes, cooking, French lessons, even making crafts like picture frames and hair clips to take home,” Andersen said.

As the Andersen family also owns a vineyard, wine tasting sessions and vineyard tours are part of the agenda.

Meanwhile, in Provence, famous for its lavender fields, Camp Joli is preparing for its second season at an aristocratic château near Cassis on the Mediterranean coast.

One of its first participants, Meagan Rose, came with a group of content creators.

“I didn't know what to expect, only that I was staying in a beautiful castle. But this experience truly changed my life,” she said.

Each day, participants freely choose activities, from horseback riding and bread-making to village exploration and watercolor painting lessons. But for Meagan, the best part was the friendships formed.

“I believe I found lifelong friends through this experience. We still keep in touch regularly,” she shared.

Price Reflecting the Experience

While exclusive, the cost of these camps is relatively affordable for the experience offered.

Camp Château 2026: €2,400 (approx. Rp45 million) for six days and five nights, including accommodation, meals, drinks, snacks, three chosen activities per day, and two additional excursions.

Camp Joli: Starting at €1,999 (approx. Rp37 million), including a private chef.

Château du Tremblay: €1,950 (approx. Rp36 million) for five nights, covering all facilities and activities.

This experience, blending classic French ambiance, art, and the warmth of a women's community, appears to be the new winning formula for today's travel retreat trend, where vacation is not just an escape, but also a way to reconnect with oneself and others.