7 reading retreats to book now
Whether your reading has you longing for a real-life adventure or you simply want to carve out time to get lost in a new story, here’s how to find your perfect literary trip.
A good story acts as a portal to another world — but travellers are increasingly interested in visiting the real-life locations that have inspired their favourite books, with ‘readaways’ likely to be one of the defining trends of 2026. In a recent Expedia survey, 91% said they’re interested in taking a trip centred around reading, relaxation and quality time with loved ones, while specialist companies offering book-themed itineraries often sell out overnight. Perhaps you want to lounge with a paperback, follow in the footsteps of your favourite author or channel a beloved fictional hero? You’ll find a trip to fuel your imagination below.
1. Provence reading retreat, France
Hosted by writer and bibliotherapist Lucy Pearson, the setting for this three-night retreat is Château St Victor la Coste, a whimsical 16th-century property with creeper-strewn walls and an inviting pool. The occupants of its nine en suite bedrooms will read and discuss a curated book package, featuring destination-specific titles like Daphne du Maurier’s doppelganger mystery The Scapegoat and Lucy Steeds’ The Artist — set over a long, hot summer in Provence. Live the dream while enjoying lingering rosé lunches and an excursion to a local brocante market to pick up antiques. 27-30 August, from £1,800 per person.
2. The Brontë sisters’ Yorkshire, UK
Experience the setting for Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, which is also the rugged county where all three sisters grew up. The hub for this short break is the charming town of Harrogate, but the star excursion is a private visit to the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, with behind-the-scenes access to the library — home to the world’s largest collection of original Brontë items — plus a talk and Q&A session with historian and author Lucy Worsley. You’ll also visit Harlow Carr, a Royal Horticultural Society garden, and the area surrounding the village of Lothersdale, where Charlotte worked as a governess to some ‘unmanageable cubs’. 6-9 July, from £1,399 per person, including three nights at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate.
3. Fig trees and vine leaves, Cyprus
Inspired by Elif Shafak’s 2021 novel The Island of Missing Trees, this seven-night itinerary sees guests gather in the southeastern coastal city of Larnaca, known for its lively seafront promenade, quiet groves and nearby sandy beaches. Optional local excursions include a guided tour of the Old Town, a boat trip and a visit to an archaeological park, while evenings are devoted to friendly small-group book discussions — among other topics — and sampling traditional mezze dishes at local tavernas. Departures in June and October from £1,695 per person.
4. Fairytale fantasy in Zermatt, Switzerland
Fans of Sarah J Maas’s wildly successful romantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) have flocked to this Alpine resort, widely thought to have inspired one of its settings, Velaris. This seven-night, BookTok-inspired group itinerary for travellers aged 18-35 takes in the real-life ‘City of Starlight’, plus charming Swiss Riviera destinations Lucerne and Lausanne, the latter on the shores of Lac Léman (better known as Lake Geneva). Highlights include a visit to Glacier 3000, which has awe-inspiring views to surrounding peaks, plus a book club-style discussion of the five existing titles — the next of which is due for release in 2026 or 2027. Departures between June and October, from £2,575 per person, including accommodation.
5. Svalbard safari, Norway
This remote Arctic archipelago has inspired countless works of fiction and non-fiction — from Philip Pullman’s fantasy series His Dark Materials to Cecilia Blomdahl’s photographic memoir Life on Svalbard. You’ll find a wide range of inspiring titles at Travellers’ Tales, a London-based bookshop-slash-travel specialist, which offers exclusive small group trips in search of Svalbard’s polar bears. These typically consist of nine to 12 nights aboard an expedition ship and include all meals, onboard expert lectures plus excursions by Zodiac boat. Various dates from £9,750, based on two sharing.
6. Nile cruise aboard the Steam Ship Sudan, Egypt
2026 marks 50 years since the death of Agatha Christie, and this very vessel welcomed the ‘Queen of Crime’ aboard in 1933 — later inspiring the setting for her celebrated novel Death on the Nile. Cocooned in wood panelling and tended to by a liveried, fez-wearing crew, today’s guests enjoy all the authentic period elegance, minus the murders. Spend your days prowling the promenade deck and enjoying inspiring excursions to shore-side treasures such as the Valley of the Kings. Sadly, the author’s namesake suite is booked up years in advance. Various dates and trip lengths, from £4,840 per person.
7. Women-only reading retreat, Morocco
This four-night trip offers a combination of literature and leisure in the medina of seaside Asilah, a whitewashed town at the northern end of Morocco’s wave-lashed Atlantic coast. Guests haul up in stylish riad Dar Ambrosia, whose sunny terraces and enclosed courtyards make for endlessly inviting spots in which to curl up with a novel, while excursions include a guided trip to visit local artisans and a tile-making workshop. Evening meals major on local flavours, with one night devoted to discussing the ‘book of the trip’ and another to a murder mystery dinner party, with guests strongly encouraged to embellish their stories. Various dates, from £1,700.
