Join Nomad Book Club in Turkiye this spring for a literary journey unlike any other. We’ll begin in Istanbul—one of the world’s great literary capitals, shaped by centuries of storytelling, timeless architecture, and a vibrant café culture that has inspired writers for generations. After exploring the city through its books, authors, and hidden corners, we’ll head to Cappadocia for a peaceful reading retreat set among otherworldly landscapes and slow, restorative days. Choose Your Adventure: You can join just the Istanbul chapter, just the Cappadocia chapter, or experience the full story by joining both!

Retreat Date(s)

Istanbul, 27-31 March and Cappadocia, 31 March - 3 April 2026 Join us in only in Istanbul, only in Cappadocia, or both!

Itinerary

A literary retreat is a book-themed travel experience and guided tour; a curated journey through the world’s most vibrant literary destinations. Expect museum visits, walking tours, bookshop crawls, and literary-themed group activities. A reading retreat, on the other hand, is all about slowing down. It’s a getaway to a beautiful, restful destination where you can unwind and finally make progress on your TBR, surrounded by fellow book lovers who are doing the same. And our Türkiye Retreat offers the best of both worlds… Istanbul Itinerary: Meet & Greet: We’ll kick things off with a warm welcome gathering. Meet your fellow travelers over drinks and settle into the rhythm of a bookish getaway. Istanbul Walking Tour: Together, we’ll explore the city’s winding streets and layered history, discovering the stories, landmarks, and hidden corners that have shaped Istanbul’s literary and cultural identity. Museum of Innocence Visit: Step into Orhan Pamuk’s imaginative world as we wander through the Museum of Innocence, a blend of fiction and reality. Afternoon Tea at the Pera Palace: We’ll indulge in afternoon tea at the iconic Pera Palace Hotel, a place beloved by writers (Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express here) and home to countless stories of its own. Traditional Hamam Experience: Enjoy a traditional hamam ritual, a rejuvenating pause in the heart of the city. Bosphorus Dinner Cruise: As evening falls, we’ll dine on the water with views of illuminated palaces, mosques, and bridges on a magical Bosphorus cruise. Turkish Breakfast: A classic Turkish breakfast; fresh, abundant, and best enjoyed slowly, with good conversation and plenty of tea. Bookshop Crawl: No literary trip is complete without bookshops. We’ll wander through some of Istanbul’s most charming and eclectic English-language bookstores, discovering new reads and local treasures. *The finalised itinerary with timings and full details will be sent in the retreat guide to all attendees a few weeks before the retreat. This is so we can confirm numbers for activities, make reservations, and potentially include additional bookshop events, performances and workshops, which may not be announced yet. Cappadocia Itinerary: For the reading retreat chapter in Cappadocia, the itinerary is left open for you. Closer to the time, attendees will be sent a menu of activities, should you wish to book any in advance, including options for hot air balloons, horse riding, ATV, and more.

What's Included

Istanbul: - Beautiful accommodation in the city centre (see below) - Walking tour of Istanbul - Afternoon tea at The Pera Palace hotel - Bosphorus dinner cruise - Turkish breakfast - Bookshop crawl - Museum of Innocence visit - Traditional hamam experience - Goodie bag - Private transfers to​/​from the airport - Private transport within the city for group activities Cappadocia: - Cave hotel accommodation in a prime location in Cappadocia - Return flight to​/​from Istanbul to Cappadocia - Private transfers to and from the accommodations and the airports in Istanbul​/​Cappadocia - Breakfast at the cave hotel

What's Not Included

- Other meals not included in the itinerary - Additional food and drink outside of the set menus (e.g. additional alcohol) - Additional activities or upgrades (e.g. massage at the hamam)

Food (if applicable)

The following meals are included in the itinerary: afternoon tea at The Pera Palace hotel, Bosphorus dinner cruise, Turkish breakfast, breakfast at the cave hotel in Cappadocia.

How to get there (if applicable)

Istanbul: The main international gateway is Istanbul Airport (IST), one of the busiest airports in the world with direct flights from most major cities. Another option is Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side of Istanbul, primarily serving low-cost carriers. Cappadocia: The nearest airports are Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV), about 40 minutes from Göreme, and Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR), about 1 hour away by car. Domestic flights from Istanbul to either airport are frequent and take roughly 1.5 hours - the internal flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia is included in the retreat.

Other Cancellation Policy (refer this if "Other" is chosen in Cancellation & Refund Policy section)

Please note that this retreat requires a minimum of 5 attendees to go ahead. If we are still less than 5 people a month before the start date, the retreat will be cancelled and all payments refunded.

Past Reviews (optional)

"Exploring Madrid’s literary scene with the Nomad Book Club was a truly enriching experience, and it couldn’t have been curated better. The weekend was thoughtfully planned, with a wonderful mix of book launches, poetry workshops, visits to historic literary sites, exhibitions and relaxed moments like browsing bookshops. Amy created a welcoming and stress-free environment, giving us the freedom to join activities or choose to explore on our own. I left the weekend feeling inspired, fulfilled, and grateful for the conversations and connections formed along the way. Highly recommended for anyone who loves books, travel , and meaningful cultural experiences." - Sandhya (India​/​Spain), Madrid Retreat attendee "I went on the Madrid Literary Retreat and had a wonderful time. Before the retreat, Amy was super helpful in answering my questions. On arriving, Amy was very welcoming and the accommodation was lovely. The itinerary was brilliant with plenty of activities but also the option to branch off and do your own thing. Overall I had a fantastic time and loved meeting everyone and learning more about Madrid’s literary history." - Amelia (UK), Madrid Retreat attendee "I especially enjoyed the retreat in Madrid, as one of Amy's suggestions was to read a book that included the city we would be visiting. And I ended up wandering around Madrid, marveling at and recognizing places that appeared in the novel I was reading. Visiting amazing bookstores, participating in a poetry workshop, and spending quality time with other literature lovers—experiencing the city in this way—is one of the most enriching experiences I've ever had." - Laura (Argentina​/​Spain), Madrid Retreat attendee "I had a very nice few days in Madrid on the retreat led by Amy. The group was lovely and friendly. The bookshops we visited were really interesting and the poetry workshop was fun and relaxed. Our evening dinners were very relaxed and unstuffy. Overall a really pleasant experience" - Marian (Ireland), Madrid Retreat attendee "I had a great weekend at the Madrid Literary Retreat. I enjoyed seeing the city from a different point of view and I learned a lot about Spain and Madrid’s active literary scene." - Anne (Netherlands​/​Spain), Madrid Retreat attendee "It’s wonderful to connect with others and see things from different perspectives. Sharing my own unique viewpoints has been such a valuable experience. Not only I could remember the book more deeply and longer thanks to that experience, I’ve also enjoyed forming meaningful connections and having deeper conversations that only books can facilitate. I highly recommend joining this nomad book club whenever you can!" - Yeji (South Korea), Bansko Pop-Up Nomad Book Club attendee "I really enjoyed the Bansko Nomad Book Club with Amy! It was such a fun and welcoming space to connect with fellow nomads and book lovers from all over the world. The group felt comfortable and engaging, and I loved being able to share, connect, and hear different perspectives. It’s the perfect way to stay connected with other readers while traveling." - Ashley (USA), Bansko Pop-Up Nomad Book Club attendee "Amy’s book club is a great way to think deeper about the destinations you visit. I really enjoyed sharing my findings with others and seeing how certain themes played out in each place. The discussions are fun and insightful, and amy does great creating a cozy vibe for the group! Check it out if you can!" - Tej (USA), Bansko Pop-Up Nomad Book Club attendee "I really enjoyed to see how passionate you’re about it and the fact you’ve acquired a lot of knowledge of different books that are specific to the place you’ve traveled and know we get to explore and discuss about these. I’d say is very valuable to connect with others and get first-head recommendations on books they’re reading and also benefited their lives." - Fernando (Costa Rica), Bansko Pop-Up Nomad Book Club attendee