The Siem Reap
Story Sanctuary
A Writing Retreat in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Dedicated time to write, in a place alive with history, culture and story.
August 10 – 22, 2027
12 days. A small community of 12 writers.
An extraordinary place in which to write.
For more information or to express your interest in joining us, email Betty.ONeill@uts.edu.au
Join us in Siem Reap
There are places that invite us to slow down, look differently and imagine more. Siem Reap is one of them.
Twelve spacious days devoted to your writing. Time to immerse yourself in the story you want to tell - to think, explore and experiment, receive individual mentoring, and make real progress.
And time, too, to encounter Cambodia’s stories, landscapes, people, food, history and traditions, and discover what being somewhere new might awaken in your writing.
Set in our own private accommodation close to the ancient landscapes and temples of Angkor, this is a retreat designed to nourish both the writer and the writing.
Just imagine
Imagine waking each morning knowing that the day ahead belongs totally to you and your writing.
A leisurely breakfast. A short morning gathering to spark ideas and set intentions. Then hours of uninterrupted time to write beside the pool, under a shady tree, in your own room or wherever you find your rhythm.
There will be individual mentoring when you need another pair of eyes, optional workshops when you want fresh inspiration, and other writers nearby when you want company.
And beyond our sanctuary lies Siem Reap and the extraordinary world of Angkor - temples, forests, villages, food, history and stories accumulated across centuries.
What makes Angkor different?
Great writing retreats create space. Angkor gives us something more: a landscape that invites curiosity.
During our twelve days together, there will be opportunities to step away from the page and experience some of the places, people and traditions of Cambodia and then return to our writing refreshed.
You won’t be hurried from temple to temple. Nor will every hour be programmed. We want to preserve the spaciousness that writers need while making the most of being somewhere remarkable.
The rhythm of our twelve days
10 August Arrive in Siem Reap. Airport transfer, settle in, rest and unwind.
11 August A gentle recovery day - pool, massage, retreat orientation and Welcome Dinner.
12 August Our first taste of Angkor, with a relaxed morning excursion, free afternoon and an evening at Phare Cambodian Circus.
13–19 August Seven-day Story Sanctuary writing retreat — spacious writing time, individual mentoring, optional workshops and one special dawn experience at Angkor woven into the week.
20 August A day to explore more of Angkor and Cambodia.
21 August A choice of another cultural experience or a completely free day, followed by our Farewell Dinner.
22 August Breakfast and departures.
A Typical Day
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Breakfast together, followed by a short creative warm-up and intention-setting.
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Protected writing time, individual mentoring and plenty of freedom to establish your own writing rhythm.
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Optional workshops, conversations or sharing sessions.
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Some evenings will be ours to share; others will be entirely free.
Some days we’ll exchange our usual rhythm for an excursion or experience beyond our retreat venue. The retreat is deliberately spacious enough for both.
Testimonials
“Thank you so very much for a fabulous week. My writers’ group at home are all envious - as they should be! The exercises you led us through really opened my creativity faucet and I intend to keep twisting the tap-handle in the right direction”
Jo Callaghan, 2025 Retreat
“My heartfelt thanks to Betty and Steve for their guidance, thoughtful feedback, and endless patience throughout the writing retreat. They create a truly inspiring and nurturing space that supports writers of all levels, no matter where you are in your creative journey.”
Raymond B, 2025 Retreat
“The retreat was a timely catalyst to reconnect with my project after months of stagnation. Within a day of joining the retreat, I felt my ‘writing mojo’ resurfacing”
Annie Stewart, 2024 Retreat
What’s included
12 nights’ private bedroom and ensuite
Daily breakfast
Dedicated writing time and spaces
High speed WiFi
Morning creative sessions
Optional afternoon writing workshops
Individual mentoring
Regular group check-ins
Welcome and farewell gatherings
Angkor Wat and temples three-day pass
Phare Cambodian Circus – a social enterprise honouring Khmer culture
Pre-retreat Zoom gathering
Airport transfers
What’s not
included
Airfares, passport valid for six months from arrival date, and visa fees
Travel & health Insurance (mandatory)
Alcohol
Additional activities, treatments and meals not listed
Beyond the page experiences
From the temples of Angkor at first light to encounters with Cambodian food, arts and contemporary life, we’ll occasionally step away from our writing to experience the place around us. These aren’t simply excursions. They’re opportunities to replenish the imagination, awaken the senses and return to the page seeing differently.
Testimonial
“The retreat was a smorgasbord of wonder for me. From the small details, I felt well cared for and could relax immediately. The structure was held with gentle commitment by Betty and Steve, and I valued the workshops for the clarity of information and the quality of teaching. There was always something helpful to be learnt, and connection with other participants about the writing as a part of group check-ins and socially over dinner was delightful”
Katherine Howard, 2024 Retreat
Who is this retreat for?
This retreat is for writers who crave something increasingly difficult to find in everyday life: uninterrupted time.
You may be an experienced writer or relatively new to writing. What matters is that you have a story, idea or project you’d genuinely like to spend time with and that you’re open to sharing the experience with a small, supportive community of other writers.
You might come because you’ve stalled on a manuscript; life keeps interrupting your writing; you need distance to see a project differently; you want guidance without enrolling in a formal course; or you simply want to give yourself permission to take your writing seriously.
Your host
Could this be your next writing adventure?
Twelve days. A private sanctuary. Time and space to write. The extraordinary world of Angkor just beyond the gate.
We’re currently finalising the details for the Angkor Story Sanctuary. If you’d like to express your interest, receive further information as it becomes available, or simply ask a question, I’d love to hear from you.
Email Betty.ONeill@uts.edu.au
Dr Betty O’Neill
See more here.