Registration Now Open for 2026
April 19 – 24, 2026
with special guest
Roxana Robinson
June 7 – 12, 2026
with Jeanne McCulloch and special guest
Pam Houston
September 20 – 25, 2026
with Natalie Serber and special guest
Lidia Yuknavitch
2025 retreats are full; wait list only
August 31 – September 5, 2025
with Natalie Serber and special guest
Chelsea Cain
September 21 – 26, 2025
with Brian Benson and special guest
Cheryl Strayed
In France, being yourself is the only way to be. Individuality is a value here; going along with the crowd is pas intéressant. To bring your boldest, most inspired and unique self to the page, it’s sometimes necessary to renovate your spirit.
So, how do you get there? How do you go from schedules, screens, and the demands of everyday life to feeling creative and free enough to make a difference in your work?
You come to Collioure. In the summer, the weather and the light are perfection. The blue Mediterranean will beckon you; the colorful architecture, café life, and scent of lavender and jasmine will revive you. The friendly locals — many of whom are our friends — will embrace you as one of their own. Everything, from charming accommodations to exquisite meals will awaken your senses — and infuse your writing with freedom and delight.
Jump to:
The Experience
Why Collioure? It’s magical.
But don’t take my word for it – just ask Henri Matisse. When talking about the light here, he said: “There isn’t anywhere in France where the sky is bluer than the sky of Collioure. I just have to open the shutters of my room and I have all of the colors of the Mediterranean at my place.”
But there’s more. This village that sits in the very South of France doesn’t invite you to the sensual, it requires it. There’s the view of where the Pyrenees meet the Mediterranean, hundreds of shades of green and sparkling seas. There’s the smell of salt and earth, lavender, citrus and rose. And there’s the history. Collioure was built in 673 as an important outpost for Visigoths. Treat your senses to the Château Royal de Collioure, the 17th-century Notre-Dame-des-Anges Church, a moulin, a windmill, cobblestone streets and Fort St. Elme, high upon a hill. It’s almost as if Collioure was designed by a brilliant architect whose sole mission was to get humans to fall in love with the natural world, again. And let me tell you – it works.
It’s France. The food is incroyable.
The food. The food! The food. It’s so good, I need to exclaim more than three times but for now, I’ll tempt you with this: paella made with gorgeous shellfish plucked straight from the sea; bomba rice brought from over the Spanish border, and dolloped with rich, garlicky aioli; a pesto lasagne made with delicate layers of homemade pasta, creamy bechamel, and bundles of basil pounded into an aromatic sauce; and a wobbly panna cotta perfumed with leaves from the fig tree next door and topped with a refreshing Charentais melon granita. Are you there yet?
Part of coming to your senses is culinary, thanks to our talented local chefs. They know the region, the flavors and ingredients of French Catalonia. Every meal is designed to transport you, and cooked with love. Merci, chefs!
“Cooking in Collioure is a chef’s dream come true. The access to incredible ingredients is unparalleled—tomatoes and eggplant in every shade of the rainbow, luscious figs and melon, herbs that perfume the air, the freshest fish caught in the sea that stretches out in the distance, and the fabulous local cheese, charcuterie, bread, wine, and more. My greatest pleasure it to take these beautiful ingredients and coax them into delicious meals that allow participants to truly connect with their surroundings (and their senses).” – Emily Park, Chef
Put yourself in our chef’s hands for the week and try new things. If you have severe allergies or dietary restrictions we’ll do our best to accommodate, of course.
Your Writing
Speaking of Writing…
Writing happens in the mind – and on the screen. If you’re not careful – and I say this from experience – you can push yourself to a level of productivity that requires you to spend even more time on the screen and less time in the world. But great writing is born from the senses – and coming to Collioure will awaken all of them. That’s why the retreat isn’t all about writing, it’s about living. Whether you’re a beginner, an emerging, or a published writer, this retreat will help you experience the world in a way that’s loose, free, and wonderful for your stories. Here, you’ll:
- Reconnect with your writing self to deepen your work
- Put words on the page every morning
- Surrender to the sun and the sea – and see what it does for your stories
- Experience in-depth craft workshops with special guest authors
- Get the gift of a one-hour private consultation with Karen
- Dive into Afternoon Sensory Adventures with Karen – swimming, hiking, marketing, wine-tasting – and emerge inspired, refreshed, and delighted
What’s Included
The sun, the sea, and a beautiful, off-the-beaten track French village
Our retreats are designed to support and inspire a small group of writers. Registration is first come, first served—and we tend to fill quickly! While accommodations are booked separately, everything else is thoughtfully curated to create a rich and memorable experience.
The retreat includes:
- Five morning writing workshops facilitated by Karen and renowned guest authors
- Afternoon adventures to help you reconnect with the world around you
- Evening apéro and dinner, the heart of each day—nourishing food, good wine, and great conversation with fellow writers
- Evening craft talks by visiting authors, offering real-world wisdom and creative spark
- Two delicious meals a day, plus hearty snacks to fuel your day (excluding breakfast)
- Optional one-on-one consultation with Karen for personalized writing feedback
- immersion in village life in the deep south of France—a chance to grow your writing while making lasting connections
Why isn’t lodging included?
We’ve found that there are as many tastes in lodging as there are writers. From funky budget digs filled with historic charm to boutique hotels and sea-front AirBnBs, Collioure offers a wide range of accommodations to match your personal style and budget. We’re happy to provide recommendations!
Your only tasks? Get yourself to Collioure and book your stay. From there, you’ll dive into a week devoted to creativity, connection, and inspiration—both on the page and off.
Testimonials
Not to brag, but writers love it here. Read on.
”Karbohemia is not a place one finds on a map - it is an experience and a state of mind. It is nurturing and challenging. It is new acquaintances who become old friends. It is deep vulnerability, and tears, and laughter and joy. It is rich colors, textures and tastes of food, wine and history and culture. Karbohemia is far more than I could ever have imagined.
Laurie TaylorWriter, Author of The Accidental Truth
”Collioure is magic, and so is Karen Karbo. Add fabulous guest instructors, time and space for writing and reflection, nourishing food and breathtaking land-and-seascape, and the result is perfect and priceless. I can't wait to come back.
Sara Fischer
”The writing is “what we shouldn’t ever speak about” and “what we’re afraid of” and “what we have yet to figure out.” This is where Karen Karbo’s masterful teaching and depth of writing experience took us. It was on the body and of the earth and sky and sea – all pink and midnight and mauve in a landscape that’s inspired art and war in equal measure. Breathtaking is too small a word. Long live Karbohemia.
Jenny ForesterWriter, Teacher, Editor
”This week has been a life-affirming adventure, and I am grateful!
Karen LynchWriter, Former Detective
”This was my second time at Come to Your Senses and I'm so glad I returned. The town is charming, the hosts attentive, and the workshops inspiring. Best of all, on both visits I had a major breakthrough. Magic!
Ann Whitfield Powers
”From Jerrod bringing coffee service to the hotel first thing in the morning to hosting us every night at their home for a leisurely apero and amazing dinner that’s almost too pretty to eat, Karen and her crew truly take care of you. And Karen, Ann [Garvin] and Cheryl [Strayed] were the best trio to learn from – overflowing with wisdom, generous with their time and friendship, and so, so funny.
Leia Carlton
”When I signed up for Come to Your Senses, I was nervous, traveling so far to work with authors I’d never met. But Karen created an environment where writing was relished and celebrated. An incredible group of women… in a little French village… Karen and her team pulled it off beautifully.
Kim O’Hara, Book Coach/Author
”I wrote, sang, ate, listened, talked, made art. I flirted, sistered, desired. I crossed a threshold. It was magic.
Heidi Beierle, author Heidi Across America
”I spent my week laughing, digging deeper, and floating in the sea. I left with a trajectory for my writing project, as well as a memorable bond with a wonderful group of writers. I would come back every year if I could!
Leia Carlton
”Collioure is such a magical place, made even better with Karen and Jerrod's incredible hospitality. Having the opportunity to learn from Karen, Ann [Garvin] and Cheryl [Strayed] was such a gift.
Kristan Moran
”Loved Collioure – beautiful surroundings, variety of activities, and local knowledge. I appreciated all the instructors and invaluable tips and information I’ll use. Thanks to each of you! I was grateful to participate.
Robyn Biesell
Pricing
Invest in Yourself.
Come To Your Senses Retreat
(includes five days of workshop, two meals per day, one-on-one consultation)
2900 Euros
We cap each retreat at 12 attendees, so registration is first come, first served.
- Our basic payment structure: 1000 euros upon registration, the balance of 1900 euros 6 months prior to your session.
- Cancellation policy: Can’t join us after all? Your tuition will be refunded with a 90-day notice. With less than a 90-day notice, your balance will be refunded if we can fill your spot.
Retreat FAQs
You have questions? I have answers.
Well, to these questions, at least.
Workshops
I also teach at the Todos Santos Writer’s Workshop every year.
Want to learn more? Go here.
