Top 5 Places for a Writing Retreat in SE Asia

If you’ve been following Voyage Scribe on my backpacking journey through SE Asia, you’ve no doubt read some of my Writer’s Travel Guides. In these guides, I shared spots I came across that would make great places for a writing retreat in various countries through SE Asia.

In these guides, I not only write about great places to write, but also places and activities that will incite inspiration and places to stay where you’ll have optimal writing conditions.

Reflecting back on this four-month trip, I decided to make a list of the places in SE Asia I want to return for a longer time for the sole purpose of a writing retreat.

It’s one of the most beautiful regions of the world, and especially if you’re a starving artist, it’s a great place for writers of every budget to spend an exotic solo writing retreat.

So, I’m sharing my list with all you writers looking for the best spots to get some writing done in SE Asia. I hope you find these places as inspiring as I did.

P.S. Need a new travel journal? Here are some good ones.

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Gili Air (Indonesia)

As I said in the Writer’s Travel Guide to Indonesia, someone told me they found Gili Air a bit boring because there was nothing to do. But that’s why I think it’s an amazing place for a writing retreat.

There’s nothing worse for reaching your word count when you have an infinity of things to see and do while traveling. The places where I got the most writing done were the remote ones, where there wasn’t much to distract me.

And if you’re a procrastinator, you’ll find that there’s actually a ton to do! In between snorkeling with turtles, taking walks on the quiet rural island, attending yoga classes, getting cheap massages and watching the most gorgeous sunsets, I actually found myself running out of time for writing!

If I ever need a peaceful, remote island to finish a book, Gili Air will hands down be my first choice.

It’s a great place to chill in between the busy itineraries you’ll have on the neighboring islands of Lombok and Bali (which are also beautiful places of a writing retreat, if you can resist the temptation of sightseeing).

Read more about Gili Air in the Writer’s Travel Guide to Indonesia.

Where to Stay on Your Retreat to Gili Air:

Beranda Ecolodge looks like a little village with traditional huts to sleep in. It’s not super fancy, but it’s cheap, and I’m a big fan of bamboo showers.

Complete with a pool to cool off in when you don’t want to go to the beach, you’ll happily stay here all day long to write.

Don Det (Laos)

Going off the theme of the middle of nowhere, Don Det is often left off of itineraries precisely because it’s so in the middle of nowhere, and quite the pain to get to.

But if you want to get a lot of writing done, it’s so worth it.

Located near the Laos and Cambodia border, Don Det is the main island of the Four Thousand Islands on the Mekong River. I loved this little island, and I wish I could have stayed longer to write there.

You could walk the entire length of it, and the contrast was amazing. On the perimeter of the island, you’ll encounter the laid-back island vibe, with wooden, hippie-like bars and restaurants with views of the river and surrounding islands. In the middle of the island, however, you won’t feel like you’re on an island. With trees blocking the view of the water, all you’ll see in the middle are the beautiful rice fields.

This carless island is also great for bike rides, and you can ride over a bridge to the neighboring Don Khon Island. On this island, you’ll be able to visit the Somphamit Waterfalls, very impressive river waterfalls that you can zipline over.

If you prefer water activities, go on a kayak tour and see the waterfalls from a different vantage point. If you’re lucky, you might even see some river dolphins!

Read more about Don Det in the Writer’s Travel Guide to Laos.

Where to Stay on Your Retreat to Don Det:

Honestly, anywhere. I wouldn’t even recommend booking in advance, because many of the properties can’t be booked online. And there are lots of them. I’d recommend walking around the little island on arrival and picking the bungalow that suits you. Depending on which side of the island you pick a spot, you can watch either sunrise or sunset from the hammock on your porch.

There are a few higher-end places near the port that have luxuries like air conditioning, but I loved staying in my little wooden bungalow and swinging on the hammock on its porch.

I stayed at Vixaby. It had all the basics necessary: a bed, mosquito net, fan, electricity, hammock on the porch and private bathroom with running (often cold) water. It was definitely on the rustic side, but it guarantees an undistracted writing retreat.

Hoi An (Vietnam)

Hoi An is incredibly pretty. So much so, that I actually canceled my original plans for a mini writing retreat in this charming little town.

In the UNESCO protected Ancient Town, you’ll find little streets packed with history and inspiration. Here you can visit preserved buildings like ancient traditional houses, a Japanese bridge, temples, museums and more.

The colorful buildings are perfect for a writing break stroll, and there are tons of cute little cafes to choose from for a writing spot.

The most magical part of Hoi An is the lanterns set on the river every night at the Bridge of Lights– it’s breathtaking!

There’s plenty to do around Hoi An if you need a day trip to clear your mind or change of scenery. If it sounds appealing to you, grab a notebook, hop on a bike, and head to a nearby beach.

Read more about Hoi An in the Writer’s Travel Guide to Vietnam.

Where to Stay on Your Retreat to Hoi An:

Nostalgia Hotel wasn’t at all expensive, and it was a great place to write. The room décor was pleasing and the desk made it hard not to sit down at it to write. I spent a lot of the day at that desk after the delicious buffet breakfast and a swim in the pool.

Admittedly, there weren’t many restaurant options nearby, but the Ancient Town was within walking distance, and if you wanted to get there faster, the hotel offered free bike rentals.

Pai (Thailand)

If you’re looking for an artistic, laid-back town, look no further than Pai. I have mixed feelings about this extremely westernized town overrun by expats and tourists in the middle of nowhere, but there’s no denying that some of my favorite memories from the trip were in Pai.

It’s hard not to fall in love with this little hippie town. The numerous cafes and restaurants are great spots for writing, and people watching at the night market might give you some writing inspiration (and it was my favorite place to grab dinner every night).

Make sure not to miss out on the fire show at Pai Backpackers Paradise on Thursday and Sunday nights.

It’s also a great base to explore the beauty around it. There are canyons, hot springs, caves, bamboo bridges, gorgeous mountain viewpoints and much more to see (best by motorbike).

Read more about Pai in the Writer’s Travel Guide to Thailand.

Where to Stay on Your Retreat to Pai:

I’d recommend staying on the other side of the river from the town. The walk into town isn’t too far, maybe around 10 minutes, give or take. It’s especially not a problem if you have a motorbike. The reason for this is that it’s quieter there, and makes for a much better writing environment. You really feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Suandoi Backpacker Resort is hands down my top recommendation. It was probably my favorite hostel in all of SE Asia, and I got a lot of writing done here. This is probably thanks to the quiet environment and tons of different writing spots, like on the ponds or– my favorite– in the treehouse.

On the other hand, while it was quiet during the day, there were always people to hang out with in the evenings. There were various organized activities and events to makes meeting people easier too.

There were free yoga classes every morning when I was there, and followed by free breakfast, I was always ready to start off my day of writing (okay, mostly exploring).

Cameron Highlands (Malaysia)

And lastly, an area in a country that was the last place I expected to find inspiration in or a good writing environment: the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.

The hills of jungle forests and tea plantations were beyond breathless in this place. I loved every day I spent there, going on a hike in the morning, doing yoga after, having tea at a plantation, eating delicious meals at the numerous Indian restaurants in town and then spending afternoons and evenings writing.

It’s not a terribly touristy place, and it possesses the same vibe that all small mountain towns around the world seem to share.

And if you’re a tea-fueled writer like me, what better place to write than at the source of tea, in the view of the gorgeous hills of tea trees.

Read more about the Cameron Highlands in the Writer’s Travel Guide to Malaysia.

Where to Stay on Your Retreat to the Cameron Highlands:

If you’re on a budget, Traveller Bunker Hostel is the best choice. It was in an amazing location, there were lots of friendly people working and staying there, and my favorite part: they had daily yoga classes. It was amazing getting some stretching and meditation in after a morning hike before getting into writing mode. The hostel also had a communal area on each of the three floors, so you can pick between the three for a writing spot. And if you prefer privacy, the bunks had curtains, and I quite enjoyed writing in cozy curtained or capsule bunk beds while traveling.

If hostels aren’t your thing and you have more of a budget to spend, the Cameron Highlands Resort looks amazing. Modern amenities within a 1930’s style mansion let you step back in time in luxury. With lush mountain views keeping you company in your room or on the terrace, you won’t mind staying in all day to write.

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Those were my top five favorite places in SE Asia to write, although there were many more places where I enjoyed myself writing. I also know there are tons of great writing spots in the region I might have missed on my travels.

If you encountered any amazing places for a writing retreat in SE Asia, please share them in the comments below! I’m always looking for recommendations for inspiring places to write in.