Reading retreats are a wellness escape for travellers who see reading as the ultimate luxury, and we’ve found eight of the best for you to try.
What does your ideal holiday look like? Is it lounging by the pool with a cocktail in one hand and a good book in the other, soaking up the sun and sensational coastal views? Or do you imagine yourself snuggled up beside a fireplace with a cup of tea and a book, in a cabin with an alpine outlook? Perhaps you imagine a plush suite in a restored castle in Scotland or a chateau in France. Wherever your daydreams lead you, if a good book is a non-negotiable companion, then we’ve found the travel solution for you: reading retreats.
Inspired by the global surge in reading and viral communities like BookTok (the TikTok community where users share videos about books, recommendations and reading experiences), reading retreats represent a travel-centric evolution of the modern reading renaissance. On a deeper level, reading retreats also respond to the growing demand for digital detoxes and disconnection from the daily grind; a space where time is carved out – and dedicated to – indulging in a pleasurable pastime free from expectation and responsibility.
What is a reading retreat?
Reading retreats typically host small groups of up to 15 people who stay at the same accommodation for several nights. Itineraries are loosely structured, blending group reading, social activities, sightseeing and solitary reading time, with meals provided. There’s usually no required text; retreats are designed to give attendees uninterrupted time to work through their TBR (to-be-read) lists. They offer a space to share thoughts and discuss books with like-minded bibliophiles, while giving introverts the freedom to retreat into a page-turner whenever they choose. And, while paying a premium price for a five-star stay and fine dining to simply do what you can do at home (ie, read) may seem strange, the practice is consistently growing in popularity.
Literary tourism was valued at $2.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $3.3 billion by 2034, according to Future Market Insights. In fact, Stayz’s Unpack ’26 report reveals that 94% of Australians seek holidays centred on books and unwinding, swapping busy itineraries for ‘readaways’, literary-themed escapes focused on reading, relaxation and quality time. Similarly, Skyscanner’s Travel Trends 2026 report found 47% of travellers have, or would, book a trip inspired by literature, with hotel bookings using the ‘library’ filter up 70% year on year.
Seven of the best reading retreats and literary tours
Reading Retreats Australia
Reading Retreats Australia offers all-inclusive literary getaways in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains and South Coast, as well as in Victoria and Canberra, each featuring a personalised recommended reading list for every guest.
Ladies Who Lit
Boasting more than 65,000 Instagram followers, Ladies Who Lit is a women-only online book club that hosts reading retreats across the Caribbean, France, Greece, Ireland, Morocco, Spain, the UK and Italy, ranging from sailing expeditions around Greek islands to stays in a Grade II listed home in England’s Cotswolds.
Books In Places
Books in Places offers book-themed trips in locations such as the UK, Portugal, Spain and Egypt, where guests stay in hotels in the cities featured in the books, visit the locations described, and discuss the stories over meals in authentic, book-related restaurants.
Busy With Books Reading Retreats
Busy With Books Reading Retreats offers curated reading retreats in stunning New Zealand locations (such as Martinborough) giving book lovers the chance to disconnect from daily distractions and immerse themselves in literature. These weekends combine uninterrupted reading time with great conversation, authentic Italian food and a relaxed, device-free atmosphere.
Better Read Tours
Sydney’s acclaimed independent bookstore, Better Read Than Dead, also offers literary tours and writing retreats under the moniker Better Read Tours, led by expert authors and mentors. Their thoughtfully curated, fully escorted trips take readers to the world’s most captivating literary destinations.
Literary Tours England
Literary Tours England makes exploring the nation’s rich literary heritage easy and engaging, offering tailor-made itineraries around favorite writers or pre-curated journeys covering multiple English literary greats.
Smithsonian Journeys
Smithsonian Journeys offers immersive literary tours such as ‘Literary England’, spanning London to the Lake District from Hamlet to Harry Potter, and ‘Mystery Lover’s England’, exploring Devon, Oxford and London through the works of Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and P.D. James.
Black Tomato
Black Tomato curates family-friendly luxury tours inspired by beloved childhood books, from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to Treasure Island. Their bespoke itineraries combine accommodation, activities and experiences that bring literary worlds and characters to life.
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