About this trip

Spend 9 days and 8 nights in extraordinary Turkey.  This trip is a perfect balance of old and new, immersion and rest, and city and nature. Our daily movement and mindfulness practices will support our bodies and minds so that we can travel deeper, learn more, and leave feeling nourished and inspired. 

We will start our retreat in the inimitable city of Istanbul, the only capital in the world split between two continents.  Our time will begin with an immersion into ancient Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Istanbul. Along the way, we will shop, cruise the Bosphorus at sunset, and enjoy delicious Turkish meals and breaks for Turkish coffee and tea (and baklava and Turkish delights too, of course). On our last day in Istanbul, we will visit a local charity to learn about the work they are doing to support Turkish women. We will also visit local artisans and enjoy a stroll off the beaten path to see some lesser-known, hidden Turkish gems. 

Next, we will fly south to Faralya and spend four days on the gorgeous Turkish coast. Here, you will have plenty of time to rest and rejuvenate or have free time for extra activities. As a group, we will spend one day touring the stunning Butterfly Valley in a traditional Turkish gulet and another day viewing the remarkable Lycian ruins at Kayaköy village and catching the amazing view from the top of Baba Mountain.

Throughout your stay, you will enjoy daily yoga classes (appropriate and accessible for all levels of experience), carefully curated cultural activities, and opportunities to interact in meaningful ways with the diverse people of Turkey. 

Nicole lived in Turkey in 2007 and has continued to visit and study the country and its fascinating cultures ever since. This trip has been expertly and thoughtfully curated to showcase Turkey's rich cultural and geographic diversity.  The trip will be capped at 12 participants to ensure an intimate and intentional experience. This retreat will also have a social impact as $200 per booking will be donated to Mor Cati, an Istanbul-based charity that supports survivors of domestic violence in Turkey. 

Don't miss the opportunity to spend a few extra days in Turkey by booking the three-day Cappadocia Extension Adventure!!

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to chat!

Website: https://nicolegriffinwellness.com/
Email: nicole@nicolegriffinwellness.com
IG: @nicolegriffinwellness
Phone: 510-250-7242

Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is required to book this trip. 

• Tour of the old city (Sultanahmet), including the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Cisterns, and inshallah, the Blue Mosque (if renovations are completed)
• Additional tours of Galata Tower, Suleymaniye Mosque, and the Chora Museum
• A visit to the Grand Bazaar for shopping
• A private yacht tour along the Bosphorus at sunset
• A special dinner with a view of the Bosphorus
• A traditional Turkish breakfast
• A visit to Mor Cati, a local charity to learn about and support their work
• A visit to a glass artist studio in Camhane
• A stroll off the beaten path to take in the beautiful traditional architecture of the Fener and Balat neighborhoods. 
• A full-day boat cruise along the Turkish coast and Butterfly Valley
• A tour of the ancient Lycian village,  Kayaköy, and an excursion to see the view from the top of Baba Mountain 
• Free time on the coast to relax, hike, or swim

We will have daily yoga sessions throughout the retreat.  Our morning sessions will include mindful movement and short meditations and our evening sessions will include yin and restorative yoga.  While a basic level of yoga is very helpful, all sessions are appropriate for all levels of experience. Our morning yoga sessions will take place between 7-9 am, depending on our daily itinerary. 

In attending this retreat you will benefit the local economy of Turkey in many meaningful ways.  We are intentionally including opportunities to support local people and nonprofits.  A portion of the proceeds of this retreat will be donated to benefit Mor Cati, a nonprofit we will visit while in Istanbul. 

Nicole lived in Turkey as an undergraduate while she was studying Islamic Art History and fell in love with the country.  On her retreats, meaningful cultural immersion is the centerpiece while movement and mindfulness provide the container to process the trip.

I struggled with separating Cappadocia from the main retreat because I didn't want anyone to miss it. It is a very beautiful, unique, and special place. If you can swing three more days, please don't miss the opportunity to book the Cappadocia extension adventure. Full details are here.

Trip insurance is required to protect against any unforeseen circumstances.  Plan to budget about $200-300 for insurance. Squaremouth is a great resource for comparing different plans.  I highly recommend selecting a plan that has a “cancel for any reason’ upgrade and purchasing travel insurance within 14 days of booking this trip to maximize your coverage options.

Your deposit is non-refundable. The remaining fees are fully refundable (minus any unrecoverable transaction fees) 91 days in advance. Cancellations 61 to 90 days in advance are eligible for a 50% refund of fees above the deposit. Payments made in the 60 days prior to the retreat are non-refundable. If you are able to find a replacement, we will refund your payment less your deposit and any non-recoverable fees. 

This policy exists because we need to ensure that we can meet financial obligations to our venues and in-country partners. This is why trip insurance is so helpful (and required)!

To secure your spot, register and place a deposit; final payments will be due by March 20, 2022 (60 days before the retreat). 

 If the trip is canceled due to COVID-19 or other unforeseen circumstances, all payments, minus the deposit will be fully refunded. Deposits are transferrable to a rescheduled trip. 

Please inquire about payment plans as we are happy to make them available.!

*The itinerary and daily schedules may change slightly. Hotels may also be changed for comparable accommodations based on total bookings and availability. 

*The cost of this trip includes the price of one round trip domestic flight from Istanbul to Dalaman. We have included an estimated cost in our budget. Should the cost of the flight change before booking, the final payments for the retreat will be adjusted to reflect the exact cost of flights. Any changes made will be clearly communicated in writing.

Book with a friend/partner to save an additional $100 on each booking anytime with the code: HAYDI2022. Just include the name of your friend/partner in your booking, so I know!

-Arrivals to Istanbul Airport (IST)

-Transfer to hotel

-Plan to land by 2:00 pm in order to arrive in time for dinner

-Welcome dinner at 6:30 pm 

Day two will be a full-day tour of ancient Istanbul. First, we will start our day with a morning yoga session. Then, we will learn about Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Turkey as we tour the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Cisterns, and inshallah, the Blue Mosque (if renovations are completed). While lunch is included, the evening will be open for free time and dinner on your own.

We will begin the day with a morning yoga session and then will tour the magnificent Galata Tower, Chora Museum, and Suleymaniye Mosque. Afterward, we will head to the world-famous, Grand Bazaar for some shopping. Lunch is included.

In the evening, we will enjoy cocktails + a private yacht tour on the Bosphorus and will finish the day with a nice dinner and a view.

We will begin the day with a morning yoga session, followed by a traditional Turkish breakfast. After breakfast, we will visit Mor Catı, a local charity working to support survivors of domestic violence. Then, we will stroll through the charming Fener & Balat Neighborhoods and visit a glass artist studio in Camhane. Lunch is included, dinner is on your own.

Today, we will fly from Istanbul to Faralya and have dinner together at the hotel's delicious seaside restaurant followed by an evening restorative yoga session. Lunch is not included.

Free day to rest and relax or continue your own adventures along the coast. An evening yoga session will be offered. Lunch and dinner at the hotel are included.

The day will begin with a morning yoga session and will be followed by an all-day boat cruise along the Aegean to the beautiful Butterfly Valley. Lunch on the boat is included. We will return to the hotel in time for dinner and relaxation.

After our morning yoga session, we will tour the ancient Lycian village of Kayaköy and the Byzantine ruins on Gemile Island. Then, we will enjoy the vista from atop Baba Mountain &  Tour. This is a half-day tour that will leave plenty of time to relax and take it easy. Lunch and dinner are included.

We will gather for our farewell yoga practice and then catch our flight back to Istanbul. Anyone booking the Cappadocia Extension Adventure will connect to Cappadocia and everyone else will connect to departing flights.