SHOULD I COME?
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LOCATION
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YOGA&MEDITATION
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PROGRAM
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STAY
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FOOD
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GETTING THERE
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BOOKING
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HIGHLIGHTS
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* Daily yoga and meditation classes with an experienced teacher
* Exploring the incredible Cappadocian landscape, which is surely not like anything you’ve seen before * Taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the famous fairy chimneys * Setting out on a journey through time, uncovering the layers of history and tradition that make Cappadocia what it is today |
* Accommodation in an elegant 19th-century Greek mansion converted into an elegant boutique hotel with cozy rooms and a wonderful garden
* Spending a week at a location merely 20min away from the UNESCO World Heritage Site, close enough to explore, and still have peace and quiet * Famous and fabulous homemade Turkish food * Hiking and horse riding through Cappadocian valleys and villages |
YOU WILL LOVE THIS RETREAT IF...
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* Discovering unique landscapes and rich history is what you expect from a good holiday
* You are curious about yoga and meditation and want to develop your own practice * Hiking, horse riding, and being active outdoors in a breathtaking, moon-like historical National Park comes close to your idea of a perfect holiday * You’ve always wanted to visit an underground medieval city, but weren’t sure where to find one * Waking up to catch the sunrise from a hot air balloon gently cruising above one of the most unique landscapes on Earth has always been on your bucket list * You’re craving some nature connection * Just thinking about authentic Turkish food makes your mouth water * You love the idea of staying in a 19th century Green stone mansion converted into a charming, elegant boutique hotel * You are looking forward to having some peaceful me-time, to wind down and reconnect with yourself and nature |
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LOCATION
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Cappadocia is one of the most spectacular places you can visit. It is an open-air museum in its own right. The landscape has reached its present-day shape through millennia of volcanic and glacier activity and wind and air erosion. This area is famous for its stone dwellings inside so-called fairy chimneys, for staggering 250 underground cities, and rock-carved Byzantine churches, as well as for wine and pottery production.
Throughout history, this land has been ruled by Hittites, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans. They have all left a tangible or intangible mark on its present-day culture and identity. We will spend the week of the retreat in a historically rich quiet town of Mustafapaşa, located some 20km away from Göreme Open Air Museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
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YOGA & MEDITATION
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We will practice yoga two times a day. Depending on the weather, we will practice on the rooftop or in a beautiful quiet indoor space designated for our practice.
The retreat occurs in springtime, at the beginning of a new natural cycle. Throughout this week, we will also explore how we can start a new cycle. What aspects of our existence do we want to keep, what do we want to discard, and what do we want to reimagine? The approach will be soft, like the spring, but still, it will provide a powerful moment to pause, reflect and set intentions, supported by the wisdom and power of nature. Marija teaches Hatha yoga, focusing on mindful movement, body awareness, and proper alignment rather than on achieving specific postures. The primary aim of these classes is to better understand your body and the underlying principles of yoga and meditation practice. Apart from asana (posture), we practice pranayama (breathing) and meditation in each class. The classes are organized as workshops, during which we will explore the different physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the practice. To read more about Marija and her teaching style, click here. The retreat is suitable for all levels. Beginners will have the chance to get a taste of yoga and build a strong foundation for their yogic journey. More experienced yogis will deepen their understanding and get some inspiration to further develop their practice. |
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PROGRAM
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We usually start our morning with an invigorating yoga class, which is 90 minutes long. After the class, we will enjoy a well-deserved fresh, delicious brunch. After yoga and food, we set out for one of our daily Cappadocian breathtaking adventures.
* Hot air balloon ride - We will start this one before the dawn break, allowing us to see the sunrise from above, cruising between the fairy chimney and above the valleys of Cappadocia. On this day, we won’t have the morning yoga class. * Göreme Open-Air Museum - This is usually the first image that comes to mind when you think of Cappadocia. We’ll spend an afternoon exploring the centuries-old cave churches with beautiful frescos. We’ll also visit Uchisar Castle, Monk Valley, and Pidgeon Valley. * Hiking - Cappadocia has no shortage of spectacular valleys to hike; based on the group’s preference, we’ll go on several daily hikes. There are several hiking opportunities around our village, but we can also venture further into Cappadocian landscape. * Underground cities - Cappadocia has more than 200 underground ancient cities carved out in soft basalt rocks, but only a few are open to the public. We will visit one of the biggest ones, with tunnels up to 100 meters below the ground and an intricate web of hallways. * Hammam - Turkey is famous for its public baths and there really isn't a better way to pamper yourself than to book a scrub and a massage in one of the hammams of Cappadocia. We finish the daily activities with another hour-long yoga class, followed by a mouth-watering dinner. 
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TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE
7.30 - 9.00 am - Morning yoga 9.00 am - Breakfast 10.00 am - Hiking/Sight seeing or free time 6.00 - 7.00 pm - Afternoon yoga 7.30 pm - Dinner All activities and classes are optional, and everybody is welcome to skip any of them any time they feel like it. 
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STAY
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We will spend the week of our retreat in Gül Konakları, an authentic estate comprised of two 19th-century Greek villas, spacious outdoor gardens, and a rose pavilion. This boutique hotel offers accommodation in single, double, and triple rooms. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms.
The hotel has a beautiful common area featuring a fireplace, which will be a welcomed perk on chilly spring evenings. There is also a small library at your disposal with books on the art and history of Cappadocia, as well as plenty of other indoor and shared outdoor spaces. You can see a promotional video of this little piece of heaven here. |
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FOOD
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We’ll have two freshly prepared meals per day. All the food is prepared on the spot and mainly made of fresh local ingredients. The food served at the retreat will be vegetarian. Please note that in this retreat, we won’t be able to cater to vegans.
We’ll be serving traditional Turkish and Mediterranean dishes, nutritionally balanced, to support our practice and other activities during the retreat. Turkish cuisine is rightly world-famous, and you can expect to be thrilled with the quality and the variety of food we will serve you in this retreat. If you have some specific dietary requirements, please make sure to discuss this with us before booking. 
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GETTING THERE
There are two airports close to Mustafapaşa - Kayseri (1hr15min) and Nevsehir (50min). Kayseri operates several international flights from Western and Eastern Europe, while Nevsehir is a domestic airport. Both airports are well connected to Istanbul with several daily flights.
We can organize individual or group transfer for you from these two airports, or we can help you figure out the transportation to the retreat.
If you need any help with the organization of your trip to Turkey, feel free to get in touch with us - [email protected]
We can organize individual or group transfer for you from these two airports, or we can help you figure out the transportation to the retreat.
If you need any help with the organization of your trip to Turkey, feel free to get in touch with us - [email protected]
BOOKING
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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
* all yoga and meditation classes * 7 nights accommodation * two meals per day |
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
* any additional food or drinks * personal expenses * daytrips and entry tickets * other activities (hot air balloon, horse riding, etc.) |
7 nights half board
(per person)
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Triple room
750 EUR |
Twin or double room
900 EUR |
Single room
1000 EUR |
For more information and for special deals, contact us at [email protected]
