Bodrum, Türkiye
Escape to Turkey's beautiful Aegean coast for four unforgettable nights of books, Turkish food, traditional village life, hammam rituals and days spent sailing Bodrum's turquoise bays.


Escape to the Turkish Riviera for a Reading Retreat where turquoise water, incredible food and centuries-old traditions meet four gloriously slow days of reading and connection.
Join us solo, or bring your best friend, sister or another wonderful woman in your life, for a retreat that blends books, culture and plenty of time to switch off.
Location
Bodrum, Turkey
Perched beside the Aegean Sea in Gündoğan, our home for the retreat is a secluded eight-bedroom villa surrounded by lush gardens, with panoramic sea views and its very own private pier.
This is a property made for slow mornings and even slower afternoons. Take your book down to the water, find a quiet corner in the garden, curl up in the library, swim from the private pier or spend a few hours doing absolutely nothing beside the pool. There's even an authentic Turkish hammam, sauna and jacuzzi waiting when you want to take relaxation very seriously.
Across four nights, we'll discover another side of Bodrum. We'll leave the coast behind to experience traditional village life and learn about Turkey's centuries-old rug-weaving traditions, before turning our attention to another very important part of Turkish culture: the food. A Turkish cooking class will see us preparing — and, more importantly, eating — dinner together.
For our final full day, we'll head out onto the Aegean aboard a private traditional gulet, sailing between Bodrum's beautiful bays with plenty of opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, reading and lunch on board.
Back at the villa, expect welcome drinks, a book swap, our Murder Mystery Dinner Party and plenty of time to make use of the property's hammam and spa facilities. We'll finish, as all good Reading Retreats should, with our signature Book Discussion and Farewell Dinner.
Whether you're coming for the books, the food, the hammam or the prospect of reading beside the Aegean with absolutely nowhere else you need to be, Bodrum is your invitation to slow everything down.
Itinerary
Book Discussion
An evening filled with delicious food whilst we chat about the book of the trip and what we’re currently reading
Welcome Dinner
Come together over an incredible meal to chat and take part in our coveted book swap
Welcome Drinks
Cocktails, introductions, and the first of many conversations you'll wish you'd started years ago.
Goodie Bag
Leave with a brand new tote bag filled with a few goodies inside
Meet & Greet
It all begins with an introduction over cocktails. Meet the other ladies and get ready for a gorgeous few days.
Outdoor Pool
Perfect for a quiet morning dip or as a spot to enjoy the sunset.
Reading Time
Your evenings may be full, but your days are free with time to focus on you (and your TBR pile).
Spa Facilities
Head to the spa to unwind and relax.
Private Gulet Boat Tour
We'll board a traditional wooden gulet for a private boat tour along the Turkish coast.
Turkish Cooking Class
We're swapping our books for aprons for a Turkish Cooking Class
Hammam
Experience a traditional Turkish hammam.
Rug Weaving Experience
Discover the traditions behind Turkish carpet weaving.
Turkish Village Experience
Head to the countryside to learn about rural Turkish life.
Rooms
Our private Bodrum villa has eight bedrooms and bathrooms, surrounded by gardens overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Shared occupancy will be in a double bed.
Payment Options
We offer two ways to secure your place on this Reading Retreat — choose the option that works best for you.
Pay in full (save 5%)
If you’re able to pay upfront, you’ll receive 5% off the room price as a little thank-you for paying in full at the time of booking.
Deposit + payment plan
Prefer to spread the cost? You can secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit, then pay the remaining balance via a payment plan. The full balance must be paid no later than 60 days before the retreat start date.
Full details on deposits, payment plans, cancellations and refunds can be found in our Booking Terms & Conditions.
Solo Occupancy
£2500
Shared Occupancy
£3000
Details
Accommodation, one group transfer on arrival and departure days, food and drinks at the property, full itinerary and all activities listed in the retreat itinerary.
Flights, travel insurance, food and drink outside of the accommodation unless specifically included in the itinerary.
Arrive from 1pm, settle in, exhale. We’ll say our goodbyes by 11am on departure day — slow mornings encouraged. The house is located 55 mins from Bodrum Airport (BJV).
Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit, then pay the remaining balance via a payment plan. The full balance is due 60 days before the retreat start date. Prefer to pay upfront? You’ll save 5% when you pay in full at the time of booking.
Gündoğan Bodrum Muğla Türkiye
Our Bodrum retreat takes place at a large seafront villa surrounded by gardens and arranged across multiple indoor and outdoor spaces. The itinerary includes time in a traditional Turkish village and boarding a traditional gulet for our private boat day, both of which may involve uneven surfaces, steps and periods of walking or standing. Access to the sea is via the property's private pier. A lit path to the guest entrance as an accessibility feature, but comprehensive step-free accessibility information is not provided. We therefore recommend contacting us before booking if you have limited mobility or specific accessibility requirements so that we can confirm whether the property, your allocated bedroom and the planned activities will be suitable for you.
Once your place is secured, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Around 6 months before your retreat, you'll receive a Welcome Pack with everything you need to know — including your final payment information, full itinerary, travel guidance and local recommendations. Around 60 days before departure, we'll be back in touch with final details and everything you need to get ready for your Reading Retreat. Then all that's left to do is decide which books deserve a spot beside the Aegean.
FAQ
Property-based retreats start at 1pm.Yacht-based retreats begin with welcome drinks near the marina from 1pm, with boarding usually around 3pm.
Hotel-based retreats typically have check-in from 3pm.
While you're welcome to arrive any time after the stated start time, we recommend not arriving too late so you don’t miss the welcome drinks and introductions.
Exact timings may vary depending on the location and property. Guests will be notified closer to their retreat, with confirmed check-in details included in their Welcome Pack.
Property-based retreats (hotels and villas) usually end at 11am.For our yacht Reading Retreats, guests usually disembark at 10am.
Exact timings may vary depending on the location and property.
Guests will be notified closer to their retreat, with confirmed check-out details included in their Welcome Pack.
Each is location-specific! Itineraries are outlined on the individual Reading Retreat pages. Ladies Who Lit reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the itinerary, activities, or accommodation due to circumstances beyond our control. Guests will be informed of any significant changes as soon as possible.
Our Reading Retreats range from relaxing to adventurous. You can find this information on each retreat listing on our website. The itinerary is shared in advance via the WhatsApp group chat, and each day is designed to balance free time with planned activities. Everything on the itinerary is entirely optional, including evening meals, so guests are welcome to spend time on their own if they wish.
The cost of the retreat does not cover flights, so you are responsible for booking your own. We recommend booking your flights as soon as your spot on the Reading Retreat is confirmed, to secure the best options and fares. If you’d like any assistance or support in choosing the best flights, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re happy to help.
For selected Reading Retreats, we offer a complimentary group transfer at a scheduled time. Please refer to the "Getting There" section of your specific retreat listing for full details. Where provided, group transfer times are arranged to align with the retreat's check-in and check-out times.
Guests are notified of the Book of the Retreat 50 days before departure via the group WhatsApp chat. We always take great care in selecting a title we feel will be exciting and engaging for all guests.
Reading the book is completely optional; however, we do host a book discussion on the final night of the retreat for those who would like to take part.
For our property and yacht Reading Retreats, you’ll be joined by a dedicated host and chef (and a skipper for yachts). For hotel-based Reading Retreats, a host will be on-site throughout, supported by the hotel’s team to ensure a truly memorable experience.
Group sizes can vary depending on the venue, but we typically welcome 12–16 guests per Reading Retreat, plus our host(s), chef, and a skipper for yacht-based retreats.
You will be added to a WhatsApp group chat with the other guests 60 days before the retreat begins, giving you the chance to get to know each other beforehand.
Guest ages generally range from 20s to 60s, but we’ve welcomed people from 18 to 75, so our retreats are truly open to everyone!
On the first evening, we host a blind book swap. It’s a fun ice breaker that sparks conversation – and you get a new book! If you’re not comfortable in group discussions, we’ll do everything we can to ensure you feel at ease. You can also share any preferences or notes in advance on your preference sheet.
For the Book Swap, we ask that guests bring a book they’ve loved and think someone else might enjoy too. It doesn’t need to be new – it can be your well-loved copy, whatever works best. We also ask that you gift wrap the book, as it really adds to the fun of the experience.
The food reflects the local cuisine of the country. We aim to offer a mix of familiar favourites alongside exciting new dishes you may not have tried before.
We’re no longer able to offer part payments directly. That said, you’re very welcome to settle the balance at a time that suits you anytime up to 60 days before the retreat. Alternatively, Klarna is available in most regions via the payment link if you’d prefer to spread the cost.
Yes! All dietary restrictions are fully catered for. You’ll receive a preference sheet before your Reading Retreat, allowing you to share any requirements in advance.
There isn’t a daily housekeeper to make the beds during the retreat.
Although we love dogs, our Reading Retreats are for humans only.
A solo occupancy room accommodates one person, while a shared room accommodates two.
If your plans change and you’d like to switch between solo and shared occupancy, that’s no problem – just reach out to us, and the price will be adjusted accordingly.
Yes! We host private Reading Retreats for special occasions such as hen dos, birthdays, or other celebrations. Each retreat can be tailored to create a memorable and personalised experience for your group. Email help@ladieswholit.co.uk to find out more.
While we don’t operate a waitlist, the best way to be first in the know is by joining our Book Club. Members receive early access to newly announced Reading Retreats and get first dibs on any spaces that become available.
As of 2026, we have a new booking system in place. For both solo and shared occupancy, only one deposit is required to secure your room.
In the run-up to your Reading Retreat, you’ll receive a Welcome Pack with a payment link for the remaining balance. Guests have up to 60 days before the retreat starts to pay in full and can choose to settle it all at once or in installments via Klarna. Please note, if the balance is not paid in full at least 60 days in advance, the booking will be forfeited.
As a UK-based business, all of our payments are processed in British Pound Sterling (£). Stripe, our payment provider, will handle the currency conversion for you and you will be responsible for any currency conversion fees.
With our new booking system, the balance needs to be managed together by the guests. You can choose to pay it in full whenever it’s convenient, or spread the cost over time using Klarna.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to transfer your booking to another Reading Retreat. However, we can provide a refund for your trip, minus the non-refundable deposit, if requested up to 60 days before the retreat starts. If you’d like to join a different retreat, you’re welcome to book through the standard process, which ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all our guests.
Passports are required as part of our standard policy, as they’re needed for guest registration at our Reading Retreat locations. In some cases, they may also be necessary for local registration or activity sign-ups.
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What our guests are saying about their stay
Pure magic! From the moment we arrived at the most breathtaking villa nestled in the rolling Tuscan hills, Meagan made sure every detail felt like it had been curated straight out of an Italian dream.
I attended the February Caribbean reading retreat and wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars! This was the best vacation I could have imagined. Not only was the resort amazing, the conversation and the ladies could not have been better.
I had such a lovely time on my retreat to Sicily. Megan is an amazing host who really looked after all of the group and made the trip feel like a fab holiday with friends. I went alone and everyone was lovely - I will happily book again next year. Book! You won't regret it.
Find out first...Join the book club
Join the Ladies Who Lit book club and be the first to know when new retreats drop and last minute spaces become available.
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