Creative Writing Retreats in the Basque Pyrenees of Spain
Spectacular Views, Basque Cuisine, Quiet Writing Time, Professional Writing Instruction
July 28-Aug 4, 2025
Are you in search of an inspirational setting where you can shut out the hullabaloo of daily life and focus uniquely on your creative writing and thinking?
Do you crave peace and solitude while seeking warm-hearted exchanges with fellow travellers and like-minded writers?
Are you looking for professional guidance to harness your creativity and channel it into your writing?
Perhaps you’re finishing a novel, or pondering its inception. Do you need a private place to curl up with a cup of tea, or a glass of wine?
Join us at Pyrenean Creative Writing Retreat in Northern Spain where you can hunker down, relax to the sound of the sheep bells across the valley, and soak up beautiful views.
All Writers Welcome at Pyrenean Creative Writing Retreat
We offer a warm welcome to all writers looking for some headroom at our farmhouse retreat in the foothills of the Basque Pyrenees near the border between Spain and France. Whether you are new to writing or an established author, we are here to support you. We gather each morning to review or explore craft topics such as voice, structure, and dialogue, and then engage in writing exercises designed to unleash our creativity. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the private spaces for your writing, take advantage of the many walks that step out from the front door, or enjoy the inspiring views. In the evening we come together for an informal dinner where we share our writing experiences and the creative processes we have explored during the day.
Writing Instruction and Private time
Professionally facilitated writing retreat in warm and supportive atmosphere, run by an award-winning author, teacher and editor
Delicious Basque Food & Wine
Relaxed communal dinners around the farmhouse table with local produce and wines
Historic Farmhouse
Soak up Basque history in the traditional Farmhouse of our hosts, Casa Alkeberea, and immerse yourself in Basque culture, food and history.
Bucolic Country Walks
Mountain and forest walks along forested paths right from the farmhouse door to the French border
Warm & Friendly Atmosphere
Small, relaxed and supportive atmosphere with opportunities to exchange ideas with like-minded writers
Creative Writing Retreats in the Unique and Unparalleled
Beauty of the Basque Pyrenees of Spain
Click here for more information or to book
This was one of the most unique, thoughtful, and inspiring retreats I’ve had the pleasure of attending. Not only did we gain fresh perspectives and have great discussions about writing, but we all gained new knowledge of the Basque culture, ate wonderful Basque Cuisine and wine. Diana catered to each of us and made sure all our needs were met. An immeasurable and happy experience.
I highly recommend Diana’s Pyrenean Writing Retreat. The retreat was a nice combination of each person having their own space in their room or whatever nook they might occupy and then coming together around craft talks and meals. Delicious meals, and so many nice touches like lap desks to make typing easier, chocolate bars, stories from the local area. All in all an invaluable experience.
There are some weeks you know will stay with you forever and this was one such week. What made it truly special was the supportive and collaborative writing environment. Diana created a learning space in which everyone felt cared for, stimulated, and encouraged. The sense of community we created together through sharing our work and a good dose of ourselves is one I continue to hold very dear.
Morning craft workshops (optional)
Transportation from San Sebastian to Casa Alkeberea in Bera de Bidasoa
One-on-one consults with the writing facilitator
Organized hikes led by our experienced guide
Breakfast and lunch, buffet style, and sit-down dinner, featuring local food
Access to fruit, snacks, coffee, tea, and wine throughout the day.
Full use of the house and terraces to curl up with your pen and/or laptop
Visits to the nearby village, local attractions, and swimming hole (weather permitting)
Hours and hours of free writing time
Bedroom with private bathroom and small writing table
Farmhouse Accommodation
En-suite rooms with lovely mountain views. An open house and full use of living room, kitchen and patios.
Food & Wine
The kitchen is stocked with food, coffee, teas, wine, etc. for help-yourself breakfasts and light lunches. In the evening, we enjoy a delicious, communal evening meal together around the kitchen table.
Walks
Multiple walks straight from the farmhouse door take you into the village of Bera, or across the pass from the Spanish border to France. Optional morning guided hikes are also available for those who like to explore.
Daily Programme
Each day, we gather after breakfast to discuss various aspects of creative writing, as well as participate in writing exercises to stimulate our imagination. The rest of the day is free to work on your writing before we come together again at dinner to discuss our day´s work and writing experiences. Final night party and reading for those who wish to share their work.
Transport
Transportation to and from the city of San Sebastian, Spain, to Casa Alkeberea is included. If you plan to take advantage of the transport, please plan to be in San Sebastian by 16:30 on the first day of the retreat. The retreat will finish around 10 am on the last day; plan to arrive back to San Sebastian by 11:30 in the morning. If you choose to come later or from another city, there is bus service to the nearby village of Bera de Bidasoa from San Sebastian and Pamplona. Although we strongly encourage everyone to arrive for our opening welcome, if you arrive later, we can help arrange for a pick up in the town of Bera.
Prices
Private room with private bath: 1725 dollars; Shared room with private bath, 1550 dollars. (You may also pay in euros; the amount will be calculated based on current exchange when you check out). Price includes all writing instruction, one-to-one time with instructor, all meals, full use of the house and round trip transport from San Sebastian to the farmhouse.
Creative Writing Retreats in the Unique and Unparalleled
Beauty of the Basque Pyrenees of Spain
Click here for more information or to book
Travelling to Pyrenean Creative Writing Retreat
Flight Connections To Northern Spain
From the UK/Europe there are direct flights to Bilbao and Biarritz airports. If you are flying from the U.S. or other non-European countries, you will have to fly into a major city such as London, Dublin, Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt, etc. and then transfer to Bilbao. Iberia has limited flights into the San Sebastian airport but only from Madrid and Barcelona.
Bilbao airport is the largest international airport in the area and has an hourly shuttle to the bus station in San Sebastian. San Sebastian is a glorious city and well worth a few days’ visit at either end of the retreat if you have time.
Arriving from Within Spain
The farmhouse for Pyrenean Creative Writing Retreats is two kilometers outside the traditional Basque village of Bera de Bidasoa in the province of Navarra. It is approximately 45 minutes from San Sebastian and is also easily accessible by car from Bilbao and Biarritz.
If you are already in Spain or the area, you can make easy connections to the area from San Sebastian, Irun, Bilbao and Pamplona. For those travelling by car, please follow Google maps to Casa Alkeberea.
About the Area
Bera de Bidasoa is a picturesque Basque village in the province of Navarra, Spain, a stone’s throw from the French border. Steeped in Basque history, culture, language and cuisine, Bera has been home for centuries to Basque shepherds and still retains its charm: narrow streets lined with traditional Basque stone houses sit side by side with the characteristically white-washed homes with red shutters and balconies that overflow with colorful geraniums in summer.
Once outside of town, the landscape transforms into the verdant green pastures and forests and hiking tracks into the mountains that are emblematic of the Basque landscape.
Our host, Casa Alkeberea, is a two kilometer walk from Bera, making it easy to venture into town to explore the restaurants and bars and markets for those who wish to do so.
Perched in the shadow of Larrun, widely considered to be the northernmost start of the Pyrenean range, the retreat house is only thirty minutes by foot to the French border, allowing for easy hikes through the mountains.
Near the house are the lovely historic villages of Lesaka and Etxalar. The caves of Sare and Zugarramurdi, rich with Basque mythology, are also within an easy drive, as is the Musee of Gateau Basque (a cake musuem!) which offers tours and tastings.
Not far from the house you’ll find the Bidasoa Greenway, a hiker/biker trail that follows the Bidasoa River as it winds its way through lush forests and historic villages from the town of Elizondo all the way to the Bay of Txingudi where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
Sustainability and Responsible Travel
Pyrenean Writing Retreats adheres to principles of sustainable and responsible travel.
During your stay, you will have immaculate, freshly-laundered bedrooms. Linen changes are available if you wish.
We recycle all waste and compost our leftover food scraps.
We buy, whenever possible, local food from our hosts and their neighbors. Eggs, courgettes, lettuces, onions, tomatoes, walnuts, and figs often are grown on neighbouring farms, while our sheep and cow cheeses, jams and cider may come from local farmers in the area.
About Pyrenean Writing Retreats
Pyrenean Writing Retreats was birthed in 2020 when writers Diana Friedman and Georgina Howard, founder of holiday company Pyrenean Experience, teamed up to partner in the creative arts. For three years, Pyrenean Creative Writing Retreats has been held at Georgina’s colorful mountain home near Santesteban, Spain.
After three sold-out summers, Pyrenean Creative Writing Retreat is now moving up the road, as it were, to Casa Alkeberea, a traditional Basque Farmhouse, in order to accomodate a slightly larger group. Casa Alkeberea is walking distance to the nearby town of Bera de Bidasoa which affords our writers more autonomy for venturing off site. At Casa Alkeberea we will continue to have fantastic views, fabulous food from our chefs, Carol and Silvia, and of course, a wonderful writing week where we focus on creativity, community and camaraderie..
Our mission statement emphasizes that we strongly believe that anyone who wants to write deserves to give themselves the time and space to do so. A founding Principle of Pyrenean Writing Retreat is to provide support and nourishment while helping foster artistic growth to writers at all stages of their careers/journeys. All writers, from those who are just dipping their toes to those who have published, are welcome. Age, experience, and education not important. We strive to lessen feelings of isolation that writers often feel by encouraging community at our retreats and providing opportunities to remain connected after the retreat.
Pyrenean Writing Retreats is committed to creating safe spaces where everyone, regardless of gender, gender expression, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, education, or disability, is valued and respected equally.
Diana Friedman. Founder and Director, Pyrenean Writing Retreats.
