Turkey Yoga Escape: Forest, Lagoon, and Daily Practice

A typical day at Huzur Vadisi starts around 7:30am with a 90-minute yoga class in the shala — a wooden structure with a sprung floor, mats, blocks, belts, and bolsters. The class is usually dynamic (vinyasa or hatha), taught by the visiting teacher who is hosting that week. Breakfast follows at 9:30: eggs from the village, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, homemade jam, bread, and Turkish tea. After that, the day is free until the late afternoon class at 5pm, which tends to be more restorative — yin, gentle hatha, or yoga nidra.

Between classes, people swim in the pool (at Huzur Vadisi and some other venues), read on the shaded platforms scattered around the garden, walk into the nearby village for a coffee, or book a massage or Turkish bath. Excursions are offered most weeks: a boat trip to Istuzu beach, a visit to the ancient rock tombs at Dalyan, or a hike in the surrounding hills. At Lagoon Retreat, the elevated position gives views across the Dalyan delta — you can watch birds and, if you're lucky, sea turtles from the terrace.

What makes this different from a lot of yoga retreats is the food. Everything is vegetarian or vegan, and much of it comes from the garden — salads with herbs picked that morning, slow-cooked vegetable stews, fresh figs, and homemade yogurt. The Huzur Vadisi Cookbook exists because so many guests asked for the recipes. Meals are eaten together at long tables, and dietary requirements are catered for if you tell them in advance.

The venues themselves are not luxury hotels. They're comfortable, characterful, and well-maintained — wooden cabins, stone farmhouses, rooms with en-suite bathrooms and fans or air conditioning depending on the location. At Belpinar, rooms are en-suite and a short transfer from the airport. At the Wales venue, you get rolling hills, log fires, and easy access from most of the UK. At the Norway retreat, it's silent mountains and very little light pollution. The common thread is good yoga spaces, generous food, and staff who've been doing this for decades.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation - 3 daily vegetarian/vegan meals - Twice-daily yoga classes (except arrival/departure days) - Use of yoga mats, blocks, belts, bolsters - Use of pool and gardens (where available) - Wi-Fi in common areas

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged for an extra cost) - Travel insurance - Massages and spa treatments - Excursions (some included, some paid locally) - Personal expenses - Alcohol