Writing retreats offer the opportunity for writers to fully immerse themselves in their craft, free from the distractions of daily life. These getaways combine inspiring locations, structured time, and a like-minded community to reignite creativity and boost productivity. Whether you’re seeking solitude to finish a manuscript or a collaborative environment to workshop ideas, a retreat can serve as the perfect catalyst.
I run a writer’s retreat called Studio Luce, steps away from the black sand beach of El Paredón, on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. The retreat is hosted in a 3-bed villa, featuring a newly built writing studio, alongside a tropical garden and pool. We offer week-long author-led retreats throughout the year, bringing together small groups of writers to focus on their craft.
While some retreats are well-known—particularly in the U.S.—there are many hidden gems scattered around the world that offer equally transformative experiences. Here are 7 unique international writing retreats for when you need to get away and focus on your writing:
Studio Faire in Nérac, France
This artistic retreat housed in a 19th-century Maison de Maître is located in the heart of the French town of Nérac. Studio Faire caters to all types of creative practitioners (including visual artists, designer/ makers, writers, screenwriters, musicians, and performing artists) and from all countries and age groups. Residencies are available for two or four weeks, hosting up to six participants at a time.
Cost ranges from €1300 to €4600.
Casa na Ilha in Ilhabela Island, Brazil
For those seeking a tropical environment, Casa na Ilha offers a retreat nestled on Ilhabela Island off the northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil. Surrounded by lush rainforests, and mountainous landscapes, the island boasts over 70 beaches and 27 crystal-clear waterfalls.
This year, dedicated three-week writing residencies are offered in March and May. It includes workshops alongside uninterrupted time to write.
Cost ranges from $1400 to $2985.
Café Tissardmine in Tissardmine, Morocco
For writers looking to disconnect from the digital world and immerse themselves fully in their work, this Moroccan retreat is for you. Located in the remote Berber village of Tissardmine, Café Tissardmine is unique in that it has no internet connectivity and runs on solar power. The artist-in-residence program accepts practicing artists from all disciplines and is self-directed with occasional writing workshops led by authors.
Cost: €950
Panchgani Writers Retreat in Panchgani, India
Located in the hill station of Panchgani, the Panchgani Writers Retreat is expanding its offerings this year to include a screenwriting workshop and a self-publishing workshop led by experts in their fields, in addition to its fiction, nonfiction, and poetry workshops.
Healthy living is at the heart of the retreat, featuring yoga, meditation, hiking trails, sightseeing, and vegetarian home-cooked meals.
Cost: $1100
The Avron Writing Retreat Shropshire in England
The Arvon Foundation offers a range of residential writing courses and retreats across its three rural centers in England. Their dedicated writers’ retreat, held at The Clockhouse in Shropshire, runs for four to six days and welcomes writers of all experience levels.
Cost: £660 to £1040
Library of Africa and the African Diaspora Retreat in Accra, Ghana
The Library Of Africa and The African Diaspora’s self-directed one month residency offers participants the flexibility to shape their own experience. Residents are encouraged to immerse themselves in the library’s extensive resources and engage with LOATAD’s vibrant community.
Cost: $1,250 USD per month
Casa Ana in Sierra Nevada, Spain
Tucked away in a remote house in Andalucía’s stunning Sierra Nevada, Casa Ana offers four to five Writing Retreats each year, lasting ten nights each. These self-led retreats provide writers with uninterrupted time to focus on their craft. When you need a break, explore the hills, or unwind on the terrace with a glass of wine in the company of fellow writers. Meals feature fresh, regional produce from the Alpujarra.
Cost: €1550 to €1950
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