The days follow a loose rhythm. Mornings usually start with yoga: a silent morning practice on the first full day, a sunrise class with a view over the cave landscape on day three, an energising session on day four, and yoga with breathwork on day five. Afternoons are for sightseeing or rest, and evenings bring either a grounding circle and sunset tea on the terrace, a restorative yoga or meditation class, or a group dinner.

The sightseeing is what sets this apart from a standard yoga week. In southern Cappadocia you go down into Derinkuyu Underground City, a multi-level city carved into the rock, then walk in the Ihlara Valley and visit the cliffside Selime Monastery. Another day covers the main Cappadocia sights: the rock-cut churches of Göreme Open Air Museum, Love Valley, and the fairy chimneys of Pasabag (Monks Valley). On the village day you meet local craftspeople and see how rural Turkish families live, with an optional pottery workshop in Avanos (a town known for its red-clay pottery) or a cooking demonstration.

Two evening experiences stand out. The first is a Whirling Dervishes ceremony held in a historic caravanserai, an old roadside inn from the Silk Road era. This is a Sufi ritual, not a show, and it's watched quietly. The second is dinner under the stars in a cave courtyard on the last night in Cappadocia. If you want the balloon flight, it goes up at dawn on day three over the valleys; it's optional and booked separately.

In Istanbul the pace shifts to the city. The group stays at Lokalist Istanbul or a similar hotel, with a private transfer from the airport. The Old City day is a guided tour of the big four: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. That afternoon is a traditional Turkish bath, which after several days of walking is very welcome. Dinner that night is in the Old City with a view over the Bosphorus.

The second Istanbul day starts with yoga or a mindfulness session, then crosses to the Asian side over the Bosphorus Bridge. Kadıköy is more local and relaxed than the tourist core, with a food market, small boutiques and cafés along the water. The farewell dinner is that evening.

The instructor isn't named in the listing, so check with the organiser who will lead the yoga and what style to expect. Classes are described as gentle flows, restorative practice, energising sessions and meditation, which suggests a mixed-level approach rather than a demanding training schedule.

What's included

- 8 nights' hotel accommodation (5 in Cappadocia, 3 in Istanbul at Lokalist Istanbul or similar) - Domestic flight from Cappadocia to Istanbul - Private airport transfers in Cappadocia and Istanbul - Daily yoga, meditation, breathwork and stretch sessions - Grounding circles and sunset tea on the terrace - Guided tour of southern Cappadocia: Derinkuyu Underground City, Ihlara Valley, Selime Monastery - Guided tour of Göreme Open Air Museum, Love Valley and Pasabag - Whirling Dervishes ceremony in a historic caravanserai - Village visit to meet local artisans - Guided Istanbul Old City tour: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar - Traditional Turkish bath (hammam) - Trip to Istanbul's Asian side and Kadıköy - Group dinners, including the cave courtyard dinner and farewell dinner - Daily breakfast

What's not included

- Optional hot air balloon flight - Optional pottery workshop or cooking demonstration (check with the organiser) - International flights (to be confirmed with the organiser) - Travel insurance - Turkish e-visa or entry fees, where required - Meals not listed in the itinerary - Shopping and personal expenses - Tips for guides and drivers