The Writing Retreat with Dani Shapiro
Sharpen your skills while feeling inspired, rejuvenated, and connected to a broader creative community.
Each morning, Dani Shapiro will lead the group in an intimate, two-and-a-half-hour session that blends meditation, reflective prompts, and candid discussions about the craft of writing. These sessions are designed to cultivate an inner quietude, encouraging you to explore your most authentic thoughts and emotions through the written word. The afternoons are a time for shared reflection, where the group comes together to discuss their creative breakthroughs and challenges from the day. This collective experience fosters a sense of camaraderie, with participants supporting each other as they deepen their practice.
But it’s not all about the written word. Movement and meditation are woven into the daily schedule. This helps you to reconnect with both your mind and body, foster holistic growth, and blend mindfulness with the creative process. Sharpen your skills while feeling inspired, rejuvenated, and connected to a broader creative community. Above all, this retreat is an invitation to engage with your writing in new, meaningful ways while surrounded by the timeless beauty of the Douro Valley.
Dates & Information
October 26 - 30, 2025
Six Senses Douro Valley sits within the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Douro Valley. With 71-guest accommodations, the quinta, or wine estate, dates to the late 19th century when it was known as Quinta Vale de Abraão and its contemporary interiors reflect both this rich heritage and our modern design values.
Need further help?
+351 254 660 600
reservations-dourovalley@sixsenses.com
Is this retreat right for you?
If you’re seeking more than just a break from your routine and feel called to explore your creativity on a deeper level, this retreat is designed for all writers - whether you’re just beginning or well into your writing journey - who wish to refine their craft and develop a consistent writing practice. By integrating mindfulness and meditation into the daily schedule, you’ll have the opportunity to connect more profoundly with your inner self and, in turn, your writing, surrounded by beauty.
Benefits
In this retreat you will learn how to:
- Develop your writing craft and writing practice
- Tap into mindfulness and meditation to deepen your connection to yourself and your writing
- Enjoy generative conversations and connections with fellow creatives
- Experience the natural beauty of the Douro Valley, which serves as both inspiration and sanctuary for your creative process
- Receive personalized guidance and insights from Dani Shapiro to help unlock new perspectives in your writing
What's included
- Four nights’ accommodation, on a bed and breakfast basis
- Daily morning and afternoon group sessions with Dani Shapiro
- Special group dinner on the final evening
- One 60-minute spa treatment and one 60-minutes yoga class
- Private group Alchemy Bar session
- Space during the day to explore the region or some of the local, Michelin-starred restaurants
- Access to our weekly schedule of complimentary activities including yoga, meditation, fitness, sound healing, hiking and more
- Access to Six Senses Spa with use of Vitality suite and indoor pool with chromotherapy and underwater sound system, fitness center
- Guest Experience Maker (GEM) service for your entire stay to help you personalize your experiences
*Airport transfers are available on request
Daily schedule
-
Day one
-
Day two
-
Day three
-
Day Four
-
Day five
Your accommodation
Four nights from EUR 5,805 per person in a single Deluxe room
Four nights from EUR 7,810 per couple sharing a Deluxe room
Prices include all taxes
For more information, please contact the resort directly, reservations-dourovalley@sixsenses.com or call +351 254 660 600
Extra treatments, consultations and activities are available on request
About the presenter
Dani Shapiro
Dani Shapiro is the author of eleven books, and the host and creator of the hit podcast Family Secrets. Her most recent novel, Signal Fires, was named a best book of 2022 by Time, Washington Post, Amazon, and others, and is a national bestseller. Her most recent memoir, Inheritance, was an instant New York Times bestseller, and named a best book of 2019 by Elle, Vanity Fair, Wired, and Real Simple.
Dani’s work has been published in fourteen languages and she’s currently developing Signal Fires for its television adaptation. Dani’s book on the process and craft of writing, Still Writing, has recently been reissued on its tenth anniversary in 2023. She occasionally teaches workshops and retreats and is the cofounder of the Sirenland Writers Conference in Positano, Italy.
Are you interested in booking?
Discover more retreats at Six Senses Douro Valley
-
Six Senses Douro Valley
Mindful Writing Retreat with Albert Flynn DeSilver
March 6 - 9, 2025
Explore how to approach your writing with greater presence and creativity. Through mindfulness, poetry, and storytelling, you'll learn to embrace curiosity and playfulness, and keep your writing practice feeling fresh and inspired.
From EUR 4,618 per person in a single Quinta Deluxe room. From EUR 7,375 for two people in a double Quinta Deluxe room.
