A day at Maison Yomana: the stay, hour by hour
A day at Maison Yomana follows no schedule. On 2.5 hectares in Oppède, facing the Luberon, it takes the shape you give it: breakfast on the terrace, a swim, a long table, a hilltop village, aperitifs under the loggia. The house welcomes up to fourteen guests, with a concierge team on site.
How does a day begin at Maison Yomana?
Morning light comes through the arched kitchen windows and settles on the island. Outside, the garden wakes and the Luberon rises on the horizon. Early risers can start with yoga at the house: a teacher comes to you and adapts the class to your level. Some mornings, a hot-air balloon crosses the valley at sunrise, an outing the concierge team can arrange for you as well.
Breakfast comes at the hour you choose, inside or on the adjoining terrace, while conversation takes its time. You order it through the concierge team, as you do the stocking of the house before you arrive: fresh produce, Provençal specialities, drinks and regional wines.
What is there to do without leaving the property?
The pool, open in season, overlooks the garden. You walk in from the beach entry, swim, spend a few minutes on the aquabike, then stretch out. Beyond, the 2.5-hectare garden is all trees and flowers. Children settle into the conservatory to play; adults can paint or tinker there too. As the sun climbs, the billiard room, with its mini-bar and table football, takes over. The lounge and its library are kept for quieter hours. In the afternoon, a massage or treatment can take place in your suite or facing the garden.
And then there is the nomad tent. Facing the Luberon, beside the olive trees, it offers another way to live the property: read, have a drink, gather, or simply watch the light change over the landscape. At dusk the string lights come on, and the tent becomes a place apart, without leaving the house.
What is there to do around Oppède?
Early in the afternoon, the house quiets down. The hilltop villages of the Luberon are a few minutes away, and a golf driving range lies less than fifteen minutes from the house. The concierge team books and arranges the rest, so you only have to turn up: a private tasting at a wine estate, a farmers' market visited with the chef, a guided bike ride with a local partner. A private driver covers the journeys if you wish.
On hot days, head for L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where the river runs through the town between canals and waterwheels. The négo-chin, long flat-bottomed boats once used by local fishermen, are the town's emblem. On the first Sunday of July, traders in traditional dress sell their produce from the water. A short boat ride on the Sorgue, then home, pleasantly cooler.
On Sunday morning, visit the farmers' market in Coustellet, then stop at Maison LO: fishmonger, oyster bar and wine merchant in one, with a terrace for a seafood platter. Ten minutes from the house and a few hundred metres from the market, the Lavender Museum, devoted to fine lavender, takes about an hour to visit. In summer, a still operates on site.
In season, the concierge team can also arrange truffle hunting or lavender picking. With children, the Manade Maillet in Roussillon is the one to choose: Camargue bulls, gardians on horseback, a visit booked for you. For more ideas, see our journal entry What to do in Oppède and around.
How do lunch and dinner work?
At midday, a long table is laid under the loggia, open to the garden. There are two ways to do it, and you can swap from one day to the next. Cook yourselves: the kitchen has two fridges, two ovens and a Thermomix, and the adjoining terrace seats large tables. Or let a private chef come to the house, from a relaxed lunch to a gastronomic dinner, with menus designed for you, seasonal Luberon produce and, if you wish, wine pairings.
And in the evening?
The light drops. Aperitifs are set up under the loggia, by the pool or in the nomad tent. A mixologist can create a cocktail menu, with or without alcohol. String lights glow across the garden, from the pétanque court to the tent, and the games run late. When the nights turn cool, the large fireplace in the main lounge takes over. If you would rather dine out, the concierge team books a table at one of the region's estates or at a good address nearby, while a nanny looks after the youngest.
The day in pictures
Moment | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
Morning | Kitchen, terrace | Yoga, breakfast |
Late morning | Pool, garden, conservatory | Swimming, aquabike, reading, games with children |
Midday | Terrace or loggia | Lunch at the long table, cooked by you or by a chef |
Afternoon | Villages, estates, golf | An outing in the Luberon, museum and estate visits, a guided bike ride, the manade with children |
Late afternoon | Suite, billiard room | Massage, billiards, table football |
Evening | Loggia, pétanque, nomad tent, lounge, or a table nearby | Aperitifs, dinner at the house or at an estate, pétanque or fireplace |
How does the season change the day?
The pool is heated in May-June and September-October, to extend swimming beyond the summer. In July-August, the Provençal climate is warm enough. Out of season, the pool is closed: the day then revolves around the fireplace, the lounge, the library and outings in the Luberon.
Who takes care of what?
Part of the stay: a dedicated contact before and during your visit, and two hours of housekeeping each day.
To arrange with the concierge team: breakfast, stocking the house before arrival, private chef, private driver, bar and mixology, massages and treatments, workshops (yoga, Provençal cooking, wine introduction), childcare, laundry, outings in the Luberon (guided bike ride, hot-air balloon), a table booked at an estate. Details are on the Services page.
Maison Yomana is a private house, not a hotel: the concierge team can be reached at any hour, and each service is arranged with you. Shape every hour with them, or plan nothing at all. At Maison Yomana, your time is your own.
To shape your day, send a direct reservation request with your dates, number of guests and wishes. To see the house, browse the living spaces and the suites.
How do I plan my day before arriving?
When you send your direct reservation request, share your dates, the number of guests, the children's ages and your wishes: yoga, a bike ride, a private chef, a table at an estate. The concierge team suggests a programme, books what needs booking and stays reachable at any hour during the stay. Nothing is imposed: you can also plan nothing at all.
Can I suggest activities or places the concierge team does not offer?
Yes. The concierge team's suggestions are a starting point, not a closed list. If you have an address, an activity or a place in mind, mention it in your direct reservation request: the earlier the request, the better it can be arranged.
What is there to do at Maison Yomana when the weather is bad?
The house is made for these days: the large fireplace in the main lounge, the conservatory, the billiard room, the library and the TV lounge, a massage in your suite, or a meal prepared by a private chef at home. The Lavender Museum and the perched villages can also be visited under grey skies.
