June 11-18, 2025, with Monica Voss
I visited Turkiye (as Turkey is now called) in 1973 and felt so welcome, I stayed for 6 months. The south-west is an area full of memories of authentic hospitality, curious open-hearted, generous people, delicious food and unspoilt forests and seashore. Join me on a sentimental return to a kind, ancient place.
On our trip to Turkiye, we will be staying in the small town of Dalyan, a busy tourist destination for many years catering to international travellers, primarily those from the UK. Dalyan is situated on a river connecting a large lake to the Mediterranean Sea. Government-owned and private boats are available to take us on a variety of very enjoyable excursions, such as the carefully preserved Iztuzu beach, an important turtle sanctuary; Kaunos, a small Greek archeological site; thermal mud baths, swimming in the sea, and a weekly market.
The Arp Hotel, where we’ll lodge and practise, is not luxury accommodation nor a yoga retreat centre. It’s a small, clean, modern, 15-room family-run hotel with air-conditioning offering breakfast, a pool and space for our twice daily sessions. Berk, his wife and small daughter are very much present and available to answer your questions and help sort out your needs. Best if you bring your own yoga equipment. The weather will be hot in June – be prepared with a hat, etc., although shopping is one of the main attractions in Dalyan and many hats may be acquired! While yoga is the anchor of our week, we’ll enjoy everything this lovely area of Turkiye has to offer: cycling and hiking are possibilities (the town and immediate surroundings are flat with mountains surrounding) as well as a bus excursion to the neighbouring towns of Gocek and Fethiye. As a group, we’ll take a full day boat ride into the Mediterranean for swimming and lounging with lunch included.
Rooms at the Arp are small and work best for couples and single travellers. There are 2 larger rooms and one 2-bedroom ‘family’ room which comfortably accommodates two people who require more personal space. A generous vegetarian breakfast every day is included in your fees. We’ll walk into town for lunches and suppers. There’s a variety store right around the corner and a grocery store 10 minutes away. Turkish food is fresh, plentiful, delicious and easily vegetarian, but it may be difficult to be vegan and/or gluten-free. If either of those situations apply, you may want to bring personal snacks to help yourself along, especially if you have a restricted diet.
The nearest international airport is Dalaman. From Canada, it’s probably easiest to travel on Air Canada or Turkish Airlines to Istanbul and on to Dalaman via Turkish Airlines. Flights to Dalaman can be booked with Wendy Reis at Merit Travel, through your own travel agent or on the web.
I so enjoyed Monica’s yoga retreat in Türkiye. Who could not love an early morning class with Monica with a view across a river and Lycian tombs in the cliffs above? Wonderful teaching, wonderful setting. There was plenty of time to visit Dalyan, a small resort town, and surrounding areas. Boat trips into blue blue sea and swimming off the boat. A magical pre dawn boat trip to watch the sun rise over the mountains and lake. Delicious Turkish food, and the best iced coffee ever. Turkish people are very friendly, gentle and charming. The hotel we are based in is run by a delightful young family. It is simple but comfy and super clean with a good sized swimming pool and right on the river. A short stroll to restaurants, cafes and shops.
– Charlotte
I highly recommend joining Monica’s Turkiye yoga retreat. For me the 2023 trip had
everything – a very special location combined with, as always, excellent teaching from
Monica. The week passed by in a pleasant rhythm – morning practice on the cool marble
floor, followed by a leisurely breakfast on the hotel terrace, then the options of taking a
boat trip to the beach, diving off the boat to swim in warm Mediterranean waters, view
turtles, take a mud bath, or just hang out in one of the Dalyan’s many delightful waterfront
cafes, sipping cooling Aryan or iced coffee. There is a good choice of places to eat in the
evening, all within 5/10 mins walk from the hotel, plus many tempting shopping
opportunities for Turkish beach towels, contemporary crafts etc in the local shops and
market. The sunrise boat trip and on board Turkish breakfast that a few of us were
fortunate to experience on our last day was magical – quietly gliding through the reeds, with
bird song all around. A perfect end to a perfect week.
-Frances
The Yoga Retreat in Turkey last June was a fabulous trip.
I chose to begin with a few days in Istanbul – one of the most intriguing and interesting cities I have ever visited. Istanbul exudes culture, history and beauty. The sounds, smells and sights are a feast for the senses.
Then we traveled to the south west part of the country for the Yoga Retreat. The location was gorgeous and the yoga was luxuriously restorative. I loved the deep blue hues of the Mediterranean, the richness of Turkish cuisine, the friendliness of the Turkish people and the camaraderie of our yoga group.
I highly recommend this Retreat.
-Shari
FACULTY
Monica Voss has been a student and teacher of yoga for over 45 years. In addition to co-owning and teaching at Esther Myers Yoga Studio in Toronto, Canada, Monica conducts workshops, retreats and teacher training internationally.
REGISTRATION
Your payment is separated into two parts: yoga fees and accommodation/meal package. The fee for twice daily yoga instruction of $600CDN is made directly to Esther Myers Yoga Studio. EMYS accepts cash, e-transfers to info@estheryoga.com, cheques, debit, MasterCard, Visa and credit card payments through Paypal. For more information, please contact Monica Voss, monica@estheryoga.com.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
Following registration with the Studio, contact Wendy Reis at Merit Travel (wreis@merittravel.com, 416 345-9726 x5320, 5343 Dundas St. W., 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M9B 6K5, 1-866-341-1777, https://merittravel.com) to pay for your assigned accommodation and meal package at the Arp Hotel. Rooms are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
INCLUDED
7 nights, 7 breakfasts, travel agent’s fee and taxes
- Prices are by room and include one or two persons with breakfast
- Small single $1250 CDN
- Medium single $1490 CDN
- Large single or shared (only 2 available) $1740 CDN
- Suite with two bedrooms (only 1 available) $1990 CDN
NOT INCLUDED
Flights, domestic transfers, meals other than those mentioned above, drinks, excursions, massage, Turkish visa (for Canadians), travel and medical insurance, laundry, tips.
Ground transportation to the Arp will be organized closer to the time.
EMYS CANCELLATION POLICY
50% refund, fewer than 120 days but more than 60 days prior to the beginning of the retreat
No refund, 60 days prior to the beginning of the retreat
Cancellation policies for transportation, accommodation and meals are at the discretion of Merit Travel and the retreat venue. The Studio is not responsible for any refunds for transportation, accommodation or meals.
Trip cancellation and/or medical insurance is available from Merit Travel.