15-Day Mindful Weight Loss Camp in Istanbul's Green Countryside

The camp sits in Sırapınar, Çekmeköy, on the Asian side of Istanbul, surrounded by greenery and far enough from the centre that the days are quiet. Everything is on one site: rooms, the dining area, the pool, the fitness space and the outdoor areas used for yoga and evening events. Guests arrive with a one-week detox programme already started at home — the team sends it ahead after reviewing your health information — and then settle into the 15-day schedule.

Each morning begins with a weigh-out at 8.30, breakfast at 9.00, and a 6km walk at 9.45. From there the programme splits depending on the day: basic nutrition training, a nutrition and diet workshop, or a psychotherapy session. Yoga and meditation run at 12.15, followed by lunch at 13.30. The 14.30 activity hour is the part people remember — one day it's a parkour game, another it's swimming, another it's horse riding. A snack comes at 16.30, then Pilates at 17.30 (sometimes paired with a massage), dinner at 19.30, and evenings of outdoor cinema, live music or just talking. A detox drink at 22.00, back to your room at 23.30.

What separates this from a standard weight loss retreat is the clinical staffing. Registered and licensed dietitians design your programme after a free one-on-one consultation, and you can be placed on a detox, low-calorie Mediterranean, ketogenic, diabetes or weight control plan. A physician consults with you, nurses are on hand, and body composition analysis tracks what's changing. Guests with chronic conditions or Type 2 diabetes are explicitly catered for, and if you take regular medication you can continue it while the dietitians adjust your nutrition around it.

The activities are deliberately varied so nobody spends two weeks doing the same thing. Horse riding, fishing with instructors who know the local waters, glass-making workshops using bead, fusion and hot glass techniques, and cooking sessions in the camp kitchen all appear in the rotation alongside Pilates, Zumba and yoga. Trainers and dietitians are on site throughout, and the 15-person cap means the activity hours and workshops stay small.

The surroundings are part of the point. Riva and the Çekmeköy countryside give you the 6km walks, open grass for Zumba, and space for the outdoor film and music nights. Istanbul's airports — Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and Istanbul (IST) — are the arrival points, and transfers to the facility can be arranged. After the camp, guests can carry on with a weight control programme or online diet and Pilates support.

What's included

- Accommodation at the camp - Detox / healthy nutrition programme tailored to you - Nutrition education - Yoga and meditation sessions - Consultation with a physician - Psychotherapy support - Nurse services - Body composition analysis - Nutrition and diet counselling - Nutrition and diet workshops - Massage - Fitness sessions - Swimming pool access

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged on request) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses