This information will also be sent out to you on booking.
Travel day
Saturday is generally travel day due to most charter flights arriving from the UK and yoga courses start on the following morning.
Flights
We request where possible that you book a flight to arrive not later than 9:00pm, although we will still meet you if this is not possible or your flight is delayed. Flight providers include Thomas Cook, Monarch, Thomson, Easyjet, British Airways, Pegasus and Turkish Airlines. The flight is approximately 4 hours.
Transfers
We can arrange for transfers from Dalaman airport to all three venues.
Huzur Vadisi: The transfer to Huzur Vadisi is 45 minutes. Approximately £20 each way depending on numbers.
Suleyman’s Garden and The Pomegranate: The transfer to Suleyman’s Garden and The Pomegranate is 1.5 hours and costs between £20pp and £30pp each way, depending on your time of arrival and numbers on the transfers.
Further details will be sent to you on booking.
Visa
Anyone travelling to Turkey is required to purchase an online visa before entering the country – this can be purchased from the following website: www.evisa.gov.tr
The fee for UK citizens is $20 USD or equivalent. There are different visa requirements for different nationalities, you will need to check if you are not from UK.
The visa needs to be printed and taken with you.
Your passport must be valid for a further six months from the date you leave Turkey.
Insurance
It is a condition of booking that all participants take out travel insurance to cover cancellation or medical care. Please bring your insurance certificate with you to the retreat.
Arriving early or staying on
Gocek is a good place to stay from where you can be easily collected on one of our Monday transfers to all three venues.
It is a charming, small yachting resort only half an hour from Dalaman airport, with a laid back atmosphere, good shopping and nice places to eat. Details of pick up times will be arranged prior to your departure.
www.olivegardenapart.com
www.nirvanaapartotel.com
Other Gocek hotels can be found on www.booking.com with reviews and recommendations.
Istanbul Travel
Some people ask about visiting Istanbul before or after their holiday with us. Istanbul is just over an hour’s flight with Turkish Airlines and is relatively inexpensive (Prices vary with dates and times) www.turkishairlines.com
The coach to or from Istanbul arrives and departs from Fethiye, which is just over half an hour from Huzur Vadisi. It is a 10 hour trip and costs around 65TL (£30). The coach services are very good and professionally run. It is possible (in theory) to book online, and there is a translation service available on Google. Or you can usually buy a ticket on the day, or a few days before, unless it is a national holiday. www.turkeytravelplanner.com
Extras payments
Extras include transfers, excursions, boat trip and bar bills. These are paid for at the end of your stay. Your bill can be paid in sterling, lira or euros (or a combination) by cash or by bank transfer please. We don’t have credit card or UK cheque facilities at Huzur Vadisi, Suleyman’s Garden or The Pomegranate. If you don’t have access to online banking to pay on departure, please make sure you have the cash you need. There is an ATM at the airport, otherwise you will need to make a trip into town sometime during the week.
How much money will I need?
Most people spend an average of £100 – £200 on extras, which includes transfers, (approx £40), boat trip (£45), massage, trips to town, drinks, shopping.
Yoga Mats and equipment
The yoga shalas are fully equipped with mats, belts, blocks, bolsters and blankets.
Massage
You can book massage sessions on arrival with our resident therapists. Prices vary depending on treatment and length of session, from £50 – £60.
Clothing
If you’re coming during April, May, September or October in addition to your usual summer clothing, yoga clothes and swimming things, you should bring a set of warm clothing – a sweater or fleece, leggings, waterproof jacket and socks – although normally warm and sunny, if it rains it can feel cool. You will also need an extra layer for early morning yoga.
Other things to Bring
Torch, beach towel, walking shoes or sandals, sun cream, insect repellant. (Sheets and towels are provided) The Pomegranate also provides hair dryers and basic toiletries. You will need to bring your own hair dryer and toiletries to Huzur Vadisi or Suleyman’s Garden.
Plugs
Turkey has 2-pin plugs, so you will need to bring an adaptor. There are power outlets in all the accommodation.
Internet Connection
There is wi-fi connection at all three venues.
Mobile phones
Due to the mountains, mobiles are out of range at Huzur Vadisi, although it is possible to receive and send text messages. A five-minute walk from Huzur Vadisi will bring you to a point where you can receive a signal to phone out.
There is mobile reception at both Suleyman’s Garden and The Pomegranate.
Special Diets
We can cater for people with food allergies or intolerances, although please note gluten free flours and bread are not yet available locally in Turkey, nor are the usual substitutes for dairy. Imported soya milk is available and can be provided for people with dairy intolerance, but we don’t provide it simply as a preference.
There is a wide enough selection of dishes for most people to eat well, but we suggest bringing gluten free bread or snacks, or any other specialities with you if you think you’ll need them. The diet is vegetarian by default, but we can offer fish, chicken or meat once or twice during the week if requested.
If you have an allergy to a particular ingredient, let us know, and a separate dish can be made for you. However, if you have a severe reaction to an allergen, in which a very small amount i.e. on a kitchen knife or surface can trigger a reaction, we cannot guarantee to be free of cross contamination. Also if you have a long list of things you can’t eat, it may not be possible to cater for you.
If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact Jane or Rowan at huzvad@gmail.com