RETREAT FOR AUTHORS ON THE SAILING SHIP IN GREECE

Let us write together! Get your individual inspiration on the ocean, or in the snow.

Collect ideas, write your first text, book, your thesis, dissertation: This is the right place to do that.

Enjoy travelling, while using the quiet times for your texts, and the times in between for discovery excursions.

We motivate each other, exchange ideas and experiences, collect valuable impressions, experiences and information.

Reduction of 30 % is possible, when booking directly. Please contact me for further questions and the reduction!

Sat., April 5th (arrival) - Sat., April 12th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., April 19th (arrival) - Sat., April 26th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., May 17th (arrival) - Sat., May 24th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., June 21st (arrival) - Sat., June 28th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., July 5th (arrival) - Sat., July 12th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., Aug. 23rd (arrival) - Sat., Aug. 30th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., Aug., 30th (arrival) - Sept., 6th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., October 4th - Sat., October 11th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., October 18th - Sat., October 25th 2025 (departure) - 7 nights.

For individually adapted dates: Please ask when booking two cabins for two people each.

Please ask for your travel itinerary and I am HAPPY to help!

Accomodation: Private sailing yacht KISIWA of Julia Q. and Ralf BURGstaller in the (guest) haul. Celebrating the simple, yet luxurious life, we share our galleys (kitchen & shower as well as toilet). These are, considering the circumstance, there are on a ship, spacious and modern.

Location: In Greece.

Goal: Using the tranquility on the sea and on beaches for writing and the other times for inspiration and relexation.

Daily procedure:

Early writing from about 06:30 (optional)

Breakfast

Writing together outside (beach & additional inspiring locations)

Relax on sea: Continue to the next spot (or keep hitting the keyboard)

Stopover on land (optional)

Dinner on land, or on board

Late writing from about 8:30 pm (optional)

day 1:

Arrival: Arrival in Actium (Preveza/Lefkada), historic location full of history over thousands of years, orientation, settling in, probably stopover on land.

day 2:

"Lonely beach": We enjoy the tranquility on a hidden beach in the Ambracian Gulf, will not be distracted by screeching sea gulls, charge energy with the mediterrranean sun and write with likeminded.

In the afternoon we set sail towards Preveza.

Discovering Preveza: Explore the fishing town with its new yacht port. Poke around in little artist's shobs in the pedistrian zone, or spoil your palate with rustic Greek cuisine.

Write on board with colleagues, still full of energy.

day 3:

"book shop": We absorb the world of words in a local book shop, enjoy Greek-style coffee, while we hit our keyboards.

We lift the anchor and make our way to the island Lefkas. (Gr.: Lefkada = the white island).

Keep writing on board with motivated authors.

day 4:

"Clear water": By the Ionian Sea, on the island of Lefkada, we keep typing, have the wind from southern Italy stroke our nose and taste the salt on our tongues.

KISIWA bobs along towards its next destination.

Depending on the weather- and wind conditions, an excursion to the capital of the island with the same name might be possible.

day 5:

"natural beach": We find new perspectives on the main land, opposite the island and our fingers type miraculously.

Our floating accommodation keeps floating target-oriented in the afternoon.

The FREE workshop "suspension in writing" is offered on board in the evening. Suspension is the salt of every story, every text. We dig into the spice container and sprinkle our text with them.

Writing for night owls in the late hours.

day 6:

"New land": We discover and besiege an unknown village (Ag. Nicolaos).

After its conquest, we keep swimming towards our next destination with our catamaran.

Today the dark hours can be used for our bright reflections too.

day 7:

"Antiquity": We relocate a couple of thousand years into the past, awaken ghosts and lock them into sentences.

Relaxing evening, preparation for departure, or going on shore.

Tag 8:

Departure. Individual.

I have worked on a main structure with great pleasure and have tested all the locations thoroughly. Of course, you have the freedom to omit single parts.

Landings and take-offs of the ship are subject to the weather and tides, which is why we will have to adapt accordingly, to be able to work as best as we can for your safety.

Additional information:

It is necessary to arrive with soft bags, or backpacks (NO suitcase!), as only those can be brought on board.

Deprive of a lot of luggage! This way you can engage better and leave ballast and burden at home. Your live on board is easier this way, as re-finding a lot of items makes it more difficult.

(drinking)water: Free on board from our tank, which is filled by our desalination device, or external drinking water.

Additional drinks for a fee, as long as they are on stock.

A transfer from and to the ship, which is mainly on anchorage, is included for our writing locations. Additional rides are charged with €/CHF 5,-- one way. Additional transfers are only possible from our anchorage spot and if hte hight of the waves allow so. The security of the ship, as well as the functional implementation have to be considered, which is why rides with the dingi (little transport boat) can not be guaranteed any time. I am confident though, that we are able to agree on useful transportation, if we communicate early enough. It will mainly be possible to swim ashore, because of the short distance. Probably a SUP will be available, which can be rent for €/CHF 10,--/h. .

In case all passengers agree on docking in a port under the condition it is applicable to the program, weather and other crucial factors, port fees will be applicable, which will be spread over the amount of passengers.

Using the ship and its facilities takes adaption. Hardly anything, which can be taken for granted on land, can be treated as such on board. To be able to grant a peaceful life with each other and the protection of our direct environment, the sea, we need your help and cooperation and careful implementation of our board rules, which will be explained upon arrival. Don't worry, nothing is difficult or complicated, yet life saving for certain devices, which make a comfortable life on a certain standard possible.

We are going to hear and see each other. Granting the other person's privacy, requires a different kind of adaptation, then on land.

Get involved with new experiences! Try to enjoy the culture and habits of the innate regions, to use the advantages and different perspectives for yourself.

Life on board is also connected to challenges and its mastering always makes us grow at the end.

Preice reduction of 30 % possible, when booking directly. Please contact me for further questions and for the reduction!

Sat., 17th of January (arrival) - Sat., 24th of January 2026 (departure) - 7 nights.

Sat., 24th of January (arrival) - Sat., 31st of January 2026 (departure) - 7 nights.

The next international airport is Innsbruck. After a 30 minute-ride on the highway, you need another 15 minutes to reach the unique location. Find the big farm house here:

Please ask for your travel itinerary and I am HAPPY to help!

Accomodation: Apartement in the traditional house, Alpine & regional style with arolla wood. Quiet location, last house before the lake. Surrounded by forest and Alpine landscape.

Located: Ötz, Tirol, Austria, above lake Piburg.

Goal: Use the tranquillity by the lake and the nature for writing, use your spare time for your inspiration and relaxation. 

Daily itinerary:

Early writing from about 06:30 (optional)

Breakfast

Writing together outside (ski sloap, Alpine hut)

Relax at the lake. Ski to the next hut, glide over the frozen lake with ice-skating shoes, sled, make a forest walk (or keep hitting the key board)

Dinner in a restaurant, or your apartement

Late writing from about 8:30 pm  (optional)

Get into new experiences! Try to enjoy the culture and habits of the local regions, to profit from the different perspectives.

Life in the mountains is attached to challenges; mastering those has us always grow at the end.

Accomodation / Living:

- Do we have our own shower?

Of course, the apartments are fully equipped.

- Do we have our own toilet?

Of course, the apartments are fully equipped.

- Will you put me in an apartement with someone else?
No. Absolutely not. If you bring someone, please check our better price for a shared spot.

Activities:
- Do I have to participate in every writing session?
Absolutely not. You are free to use your time in different ways.

- Is the program flexible? Do I have to join all of the writing classes?
Yes, it is flexible. You do not have to join all of the writing sessions, or the free workshop.

Arrival / Departure:

- Are the dates flexible or do you have any other retreat dates than this one?

Unfortunately not for the winter session, as it is a highly frequented area.

- Can you arrange an airport transfer? How far is it from the airport?
We might be able to check an airport transfer for you. Let us know and we talk/write it through.

- Is a shorter or longer stay possible?
Shorter and longer stays might be possible, please simply contact us for that.

Emergency:
- What, if I become ill, some days before?
Please check the conditions; still: don't forget to simply contact us and we will be able to arrange a new writing retreat for you.

General:
- Are solo travelers safe / welcome?
Yes, of course. Simply check our pricing models.

- Can a child join the retreat or can I bring along my children? (under 12)


You may surely take them in your apartment. I am afraid, there are no kids prices. Kids programs need to be organised by yourself.
We would like you to write! 😉 That is the main goal! ✍

- Can I bring along my pet(s)?
Please ask individually and I will ask the house owner for you.


- How many people will be on the retreat?
Up to 8 max.

- Is this suitable for teenagers? (12 to 18)

You may surely take them in your apartment. I am afraid, there are no special prices. Teenager programs need to be organised by yourself.
We would like you to write! 😉 That is the main goal! ✍

- What is the average age range?
As we can only take up to eight people, the average age varies a lot. However: I (organiser, writer, ...) am a 1975er.

Nature:
- Does it snow a lot?
This is an extremely difficult question, as the weather is very unpredictable. Yet: It is a cold spot and a frozen lake, as well as some snow is likely.

- Are the rooms very cold?

Absolutely not! The heaters work very well!