Lake Muskoka Writers' Retreat
In collaboration with the Muslim Literary Festival

📍 Lake Muskoka, Ontario
📅 September 17–20

This September, Deen Journeys and the Muslim Literary Festival invite you to a soul-nourishing retreat. Set against the serene backdrop of Lake Muskoka, this retreat is your opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and create. Whether you’re an experienced writer or simply someone who feels called to put pen to paper, this space is for you.

Designed exclusively for Muslim women writers, this retreat offers a safe, inspiring, and uplifting environment to explore your creativity, strengthen your voice, and connect with like-minded sisters. Through thoughtfully curated writing workshops led by the Muslim Literary Festival team, you’ll develop your craft while nurturing your heart and soul.

Beyond writing, this experience is about rest, reflection, and meaningful connection — the kind that lingers long after the retreat ends.

What’s Included ($750 USD):
Your retreat is fully taken care of so you can focus on what matters most.

• Comfortable accommodations in a cozy lakeside cottage

• Ground transportation throughout the retreat

• All meals (halal & delicious)

• Writing workshops facilitated by the Muslim Literary Festival team

• All activities, materials, and experiences

(Airfare not included)

What to Expect:

🫂 Meaningful sisterhood & community
🧘‍♀️ Time for rest, reflection, and personal growth
✍🏽 Guided writing workshops to develop your skills and voice
🕌 Space for spiritual connection
🎁 Curated welcome bags featuring Muslimah-owned brands
🍽️ Nourishing halal meals shared together
🪡 Creative activities like tasbeeh making, journaling & Islamic games
✨ And so much more…

Your journey begins with a carpool pickup from a location in the GTA as we make our way to our cozy lakeside cottage in Muskoka (approximately a 2-hour drive). If you prefer to drive, you’re welcome to meet us directly at the cottage by 5:00 PM.

Once we arrive, you’ll have time to settle in, unpack, and explore the beautiful surroundings.

As the evening unfolds, we’ll gather for a warm welcome dinner followed by an intention-setting journaling activity and sisters circle. We’ll close the night with chai, snacks, and games — the perfect way to ground ourselves, connect, and set the tone for the days ahead.

We’ll begin the day with a nourishing breakfast before diving into our first writing workshop, facilitated by the Muslim Literary Festival team.

Afterward, you’ll have dedicated free time to write, reflect, or chat with MLF team members to deepen your craft.

Following lunch, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your own pace — whether that’s swimming in the lake, paddle boarding, kayaking, or simply lounging and soaking in the peaceful environment.

In the evening, we’ll come together for dinner, then wind down with chai by the bonfire and an open mic night — a safe and supportive space to share your words, if you feel called to.

After breakfast, we’ll head out for a scenic hike along Wilson Falls Trail, taking in the beauty of Muskoka and reconnecting with nature.

The rest of the morning offers free time to relax or enjoy lakeside activities like swimming, paddle boarding, or kayaking.

After lunch, we’ll gather for another writing workshop led by the Muslim Literary Festival team, followed by more time to write.

Later in the day, we’ll slow things down with a tasbeeh-making workshop — a mindful, hands-on activity to create something meaningful to take home.

We’ll end the day with dinner and another cozy evening by the bonfire with chai and an open mic, continuing to celebrate creativity and sisterhood.

On our final morning, we’ll share breakfast together before coming together for a closing reflection journaling session and sisters circle — a space to process, reflect, and honour the journey we’ve shared.

You’ll then have some free time to soak in the cottage one last time before we begin our journey back to Toronto around midday, leaving with full hearts, inspired minds, and lasting connections.