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The rise of the reading retreat: hideaways for book lovers
Published
1 July, 2025
Edited
9 September, 2026
It’s official: reading retreats are all the rage. In the time-poor, over-stimulated modern world we live in, people are finding reading for pleasure slipping to the bottom of their ever-growing to-do list. The solution? Reading retreats. One of this year’s hottest new travel trends, the premise is simple: a group of book lovers + a good read + a stunning backdrop. It's a great way to enjoy solo travel too.
While there are a plethora of organised group retreats available, catering to readers of all ages, backgrounds and literary tastes, you can also make sure that one-on-one time with your book remains firmly on the agenda by ensuring that your next holiday hideaway comes with an inspiring reading nook. The good news is we know the perfect place… The bad news is you now have to choose which books to fit into your suitcase.
The Peaks
The Peaks
Telluride
Tucked into the storybook setting of Telluride, The Peaks is where nature and narrative meet. With gleaming wood interiors and sweeping views of the San Juan Mountains, this five-bedroom haven is the perfect place to retreat, recharge, and read. Curl up by the large bay windows watching the snowfall with a book by your side, as The Peaks offers the kind of quiet majesty that turns a mountain chalet into a soulful literary escape.
Villa Como Views
Villa Como Views
Lake Como
With 360° views that look like they stepped out of a fantasy novel, Villa Como Views is the ultimate spot for a reading retreat. Find a spot on the sun-kissed terrace and curl up with a good novel, punctuating your day with dips in the sparkling infinity pool to cool off between chapters surrounded by Lake Como.
L’Écrin de Bellefontaine
L’Écrin de Bellefontaine
Provence
Cradled by the craggy Alpilles mountain range, L’Écrin de Bellefontaine in Provence is a secluded sanctuary where you can forget about the rest of the world and lose yourself in a good novel. Sleeping up to 16 guests, this gorgeous villa has a reading nook for every preference, whether that’s beneath the atmospheric vaulted ceilings of the living space, outdoors in the shade of the poolside pergola or in the magnificent freestanding bathtub - the choice is yours.
