Challe then abandoned the salon and lived as an expatriate on the island of Sardinia, in a hippie commune.
Challe returned to France and was introduced to new-age music by the likes of Andreas Vollenweider and Ennio Morricone.
He managed a series of French clubs, including Le Prive (1974), Le Centre Ville in Les Halles (1979), Les Bains Douches (1984), El Divino in Ibiza (1992), and Buddha Bar (1996).
The restaurant/club became a popular destination and led to Challe's Buddha Bar mix compilations.
Challe produced the "Reveillon de Mondes", attended by 50,000 people, and held at Vincennes, in conjunction with Radio Nova.