Elena Moreau
Elena Moreau
Nature & Ocean Retreat Guide

Elena Moreau

Monterey, California Hosting retreats since 2018 🌐 English · French
Monterey, California
Guiding since 2018
18 retreats hosted
Ocean Therapy · Breathwork · Nature Connection

Marine biologist turned retreat guide. I grew up on a small farm in Provence surrounded by horses, rabbits, and open fields. Today I lead ocean-based retreats that reconnect people with nature, each other, and themselves.

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Verified
7
Years Active
18
Retreats Guideed
140+
Participants
4
Countries
JUN
8
2026
Next Retreat With Elena
Whales & Waves
📍 Monterey Bay, California 📅 Jun 8 – 15, 2026 👥 Max 12 participants
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My Journey

How I Got Here

I grew up on a small farm in Provence, France — surrounded by horses, pigs, and rabbits. My mornings started with feeding the animals and ended watching the sun set over lavender fields. That connection to nature and to living things shaped everything I am.

🐋
The first time I saw a whale breach off the coast of Monterey, I understood what it means to feel truly small — and truly alive.

I studied marine biology, moved to California, and spent years researching whale migration patterns. But the ocean taught me more than science ever could — it taught me presence, patience, and the power of being part of something much bigger than yourself. That's what I bring to every retreat I lead.

"The ocean doesn't judge. It doesn't rush. It just holds you. That's what a retreat should feel like."

— Elena Moreau
📍
Monterey, California
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Coastal trail, Big Sur — where most retreats begin
The Deeper Why

Why I Host Retreats

After years in the lab, I realized I was studying the ocean but had stopped feeling it. I was publishing papers about whale behavior but hadn't swum in the open water in months. I was disconnected from the very thing I loved most.

The first retreat I led was for five friends on a beach in Big Sur. We swam at dawn, sat in silence at sunset, and cried together around a fire. I knew I'd found my calling.

Now I guide retreats that bring people back to what's real — the ocean, the earth, the animals, each other. Not luxury escapes. Real experiences that change how you see the world and your place in it.

🌿
"When you float in the ocean and let go, something shifts inside you. I guide retreats to give people that moment."
How I Work

Teaching Style

🌊
Ocean-centered practice — swimming, floating, breathwork by the water. The ocean is not a backdrop, it's the guide.
🥗
Farm-to-table living — vegetarian meals, locally sourced. I grew up growing my own food, and that ethos carries into every retreat.
👥
Small group intimacy — max 12 people. I believe real transformation happens when people feel safe enough to be vulnerable with each other.
🐴
Animal connection — when possible, I incorporate time with horses or other animals. There's something about being near animals that opens people up.
🔬
Science meets spirit — my marine biology background means I bring real knowledge about ecosystems and animal behavior into the retreats. It's spirituality grounded in wonder, not woo.
In Action

Moments From Past Retreats

Morning practice
Dawn swim, Monterey Bay
Group circle
Evening fire, Big Sur
Sunset session
Whale breach, Pacific
Nature walk
Farm mornings, Provence
Ocean kayaking
Cliffside breathwork
Horse connection
Time with horses
What Participants Say

Words From Past Retreats

★★★★★
"Swimming with Elena at sunrise was the most peaceful moment of my life. She has this rare ability to make you feel completely safe in the open water — and completely free."
S
Marie L.
Whales & Waves, Monterey 2025
★★★★★
"I've done yoga retreats, meditation retreats, wellness retreats. Nothing comes close to what Elena creates. The combination of ocean, animals, and real human connection is unlike anything else."
D
James R.
Whales & Waves, 2025
★★★★★
"I came as a skeptic and left as a believer. Watching whales from a kayak while Elena explained their migration patterns — science and spirituality woven together so naturally."
A
Sophie W.
Provence, France, 2024

Interested in working together?

Whether you have questions about an upcoming retreat or want to discuss something specific — I'd love to hear from you.

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