the world's coolest creative retreats
Downward dogs and detox juices have long led the retreat. But suddenly, they're sharper and more curiously charged. Pottery in Puglia, sketching in Tangier, ink-making in Tokyo – led by artists, designers, and tastemakers who open up their homes and black book of favourite places along the way. This is travel for the creatively wired.
A fresh wave of creative and learning-led trips are redefining what a retreat can offer – speaking to our hunger for creative inspiration and experimentation as well as connection with like-minded souls – all while simultaneously tapping into wider trends of intentional trips and solo travel.
Typically led by the artists, artisans and tastemakers themselves, these retreats excel in offering unique experiences whether it’s inviting guests into their own home, showing them an insider view on a destination or sharing their processes and skills up close. Highly curated and often a one-off event, it’s an exciting new way to travel.
Tangier Painting Holiday
Tangier has long drawn creative souls and Gavin Houghton and Joan Hecktermann, best friends, artists and The World of Interiors alum, make excellent hosts in this Moroccan city. The pair run intimate trips, normally for six guests, to enjoy relaxed sketching sessions at Gavin’s Tangier home, sometimes with local models, and Moroccan feasts from cook Hasania. Sharing their secrets to the city they’ve been spending time in for twenty years, expect to see inside some of Tangier’s spectacular private homes as well as being directed to the best addresses for a rooftop cocktail, a rug to take home or a long fish lunch by the sea at L'Ocean.
Kate Watson-Smyth Design Retreats
A natural host, journalist and bestselling interiors author Kate Watson-Smyth welcomes an international crowd from a wide variety of backgrounds – doctors, tech execs and those already working in design – to Turin for interior-design-themed long weekends. Time is split between Turin where guests stay in a central boutique hotel and Kate’s recently renovated 18th-century villa just outside of the city. There are practical expert-led workshops at her house, a trip to Turin’s famed Balon flea market and plenty of time to enjoy the company of interesting people over pastries, aperitifs and dinners as Kate opens her little black book of go-to addresses.
Bland Badger Retreats
A few times a year creative friends Charlotte Bland and Ros Badger take over Villa Pia, a 15th century manor house on the Umbrian-Tuscan border for what they have neatly dubbed ‘creative house parties.’ Striking the right balance between staying with a friend and a boutique hotel, guests can expect chefs serving up lavish four course dinners as well as a well-stocked fridge thats open to all. The itinerary is equally relaxed; there’s the option to participate in workshops such as silver clay making, collaging and cooking classes, make visits to the oldest antiques market in Italy and Florence itself or simply, as many do, have the time and space to work on your own projects.
Megan Morton’s The School
Popping up around the world, Megan Morton’s six-night women-only trips showcase each destination through her interior stylist’s eyes. There’s a mix of creative experiences – perhaps block printing in Jaipur, ink making in Tokyo or pottery in Puglia – all with sleepovers at exquisite properties such as La Gonette in the Luberon and Dera Amer in Rajasthan. Overall, the experience is restorative. This comes not from lack of activity but that comfort that everything is taken care of – allowing guests to simply soak it up. So much so, many women come back for more, trusting and travelling with Megan time and time again.
Thread Caravan
Based out of Oaxaca in Mexico, Thread Caravan curates craft-led trips all over Central America and beyond. Ranging from a long weekend to a 10-day adventure, these small group trips are led by a Thread Caravan guide in close partnerships with local artisans. They really go the extra mile to form long lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with the artisans; meaning every trip feels totally distinct to the destination. Whether sailing between remote islands of the Guna Yala coastal region of Panama learning about the mythological Mola textile tradition or slowing down in the Atlas mountains while learning from Amazigh textile artists in Morocco, a Thread Caravan trip is comepletely unique.
Mèlisses, Andros
With its secluded seafront location 75 steps away from the Aegean the family holiday property turned boutique B&B of Italian creative Allegra Pomilio offers a magical sense of calm. This stillness fosters creativity and a few times a year Allegra invites inspiring people from around the world to share skills at the house as part of themed retreats – for instance, traditional paper making using upcycling techniques and natural dyes or foraging on the land to create teas and infusions at the house as part of themed retreats. Allegra is on hand to whip up her much-loved breakfasts – freshly baked tsoureki and bowls of luscious Greek yoghurt and wild thyme honey fill the table – as well as hosting intimate candlelit dinners.
Ace Camps
Partnering with local experts and artisans, Ace Camps trips always give a truly behind-the-scenes deep dive into the culture and food of a destination. Guests could be visiting a ceramics factory dating back to 1517 in Granada, learning embroidery from a local artist in Oaxaca or spending time learning about Ainu indigenous culinary practices in Hokkaido, Japan. Bringing together equally curious travellers from across the world, these trips have a habit of bonding guests – so much so many form life-long friendships, meeting up again around the world.
Watercolour retreats at Pardini's Hermitage
The island of Giglio off the coast of Tuscany has retained an away-from-it-all feel, something that’s felt further at Pardini's Hermitage, a family summer home turned guest house that’s only reachable by boat. Each year, Italian artist Alessandra Bruno runs watercolour holidays at the house, teaching (both beginners and experts) techniques for capturing the landscape with its pine forest and olive grove covered interior and dramatic granite coastline. Expect busy mornings, relaxed afternoons and family-style dinners with the inhouse cook preparing homemade pasta, fresh fish and vegetables from the garden
Take World
After moving to Lisbon, Georgina Lawton (journalist and author of fascinating memoir Raceless) set about creating the retreat she always wanted to go on. Held at a villa in the fairytale town of Sintra, 30 minutes outside of the Portuguese capital, she gathers women and women-identifying creatives from underrepresented backgrounds for writing retreats. There are impressive guest speakers (she just welcomed Bernardine Evaristo), writing feedback workshops and plenty of time to work on projects as well as daily yoga, plant-based meals from a local chef and added extras such as wine tasting classes.
Elizabeth Bennett
