Lagoon Retreat: A Week of Yoga & Nature in Dalyan, Turkey

The Lagoon Retreat has been in operation for over 30 years and is run by Huzur Vadisi Yoga Retreats. The two founders, Ian and Wendy (Jane Worrall, who wrote about the retreat, is Wendy's co-founder), were raised in Istanbul, which is part of why the operation feels plugged into the country rather than dropped into it. Staff are Turkish, the food is Turkish, and the boat trip and the walk to the beach are things the team has been doing with guests for decades — it shows in how smoothly the week runs.

The setting is the main draw. The retreat is surrounded by forest, with views across the Sülüngür Lagoon and out to the coastline. İztuzu Beach, one of Turkey's protected turtle nesting beaches, is 3 km away. The lagoon itself is a nature reserve, so the noise is birdsong and water rather than traffic. There is a private lagoon beach about ten minutes' walk through the forest, with the water shallow and calm enough for easy swimming.

A typical day starts with a longer morning yoga session before breakfast. The rest of the morning and early afternoon are free — swim, walk to the beach, read, sleep, or head into Dalyan. A second, gentler session runs in the late afternoon, followed by dinner. The pace is deliberately unhurried; this is not the sort of place where you are booked into back-to-back activities from 6 a.m.

Three themed retreats run here this year, each with a different teacher: 20–27 June with Lisa Powell, 18–25 July with Ceri Lee, and 5–12 September with Catherine Annis. Each teacher brings their own style, so it is worth reading up on whichever week suits your dates. The midweek Dalyan River boat trip is included in all of them — the boat has sunbeds, shaded seating, changing cabins and a bathroom, and lunch is served on board. You stop at the ruins of Caunos on the way, then finish at the Köyceğiz Lake hot springs and mud baths.

What separates this from a generic yoga holiday is the combination of a long-established operation, a genuine nature reserve setting, and a team with deep local ties. Guests come back year after year, which is usually the clearest sign that something is being done right.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation at the Lagoon Retreat - Daily yoga sessions (morning and late afternoon) - Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily - Midweek Dalyan River estuary boat trip - Stop at the ancient ruins of Caunos - Visit to the hot springs and mud baths at Köyceğiz Lake - Lunch served on board during the boat trip - Use of the property and grounds, including yoga space and gardens - Access to the private lagoon beach (10-minute walk through the forest) - Guidance from an experienced visiting yoga teacher

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport transfers (arrange with the team in advance) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Drinks outside of meals - Treatments or spa services in Dalyan - Optional excursions not listed in the itinerary - Tips for staff