Singing Retreat with
Paula Evans
31 August – 7 September 2024

“Extraordinary things happen when we sing – it’s been an amazing week, tears and laughter, happiness, togetherness and harmony!’

Paula’s first trip sold out so quickly she’s decided to run another singing retreat with us this year.

This singing retreat week will offer a range of experiences for you to sing in beautiful natural surroundings and wonderful acoustic environments – opportunities that will leave you feeling uplifted, calm, grounded, and joyously fulfilled.

Paula will offer many spontaneous singing opportunities that will include singing at sunrise, sunset and moonrise; on beaches, in forests, in a ‘Cathedral like’ cave, and of course, on this most beautiful boat on the glittering Turquoise sea – all created to help you feel totally uplifted and at one. 

In addition to singing songs from around the world, across time and traditions, there will be opportunities to explore and enjoy your own deep connection with your voice through Circle singing, vocal improvisation, toning and singing meditation – accompanied by the sea, and nature around you.   

There will be daily opportunities to take part in sound meditation on board this beautiful gulet; Daily Breathwork and Singing Meditation; become immersed in a vocal Soundbath – deepen your breathing and improve breath capacity – for focus, clarity, calm, self-esteem, and joy!

To make the admin easier for Paula you can book your place directly with us, just click the Book Now button.

What you need to know

 Type of boat: Cabin with ensuite bathroom on comfort plus gulet  for 7 nights/8 days.
 Full Board: Turkish Breakfast, Cooked Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Biscuits, Cooked Dinner starting with dinner on day 1; finishing with breakfast on day 8.
 Embarkation: Marmaris, Fethiye or Selimiye depending upon actual itinerary
 Disembarkation: Marmaris , Fethiye or Selimiye depending upon actual itinerary
 Optional excursions Turkish Hamam

Availability & Price 31 August – 7 Sept 2024

Price £1345 pp (based on 2 sharing)
Deposit £300 pp
Interim Payment £400 due 31 March 2024
Balance due 31 May 2024
Early Booking Discount £100 if booked before 31 January 2024

 

What's includedWhat's not includedTerms & ConditionsFlights & Transfers

Full Board

  • Breakfast: Turkish breakfast cheese, eggs, olives, jams, local honey, bread, tea, coffee
  • Lunch: Cooked lunch with salad
  • Afternoon tea & biscuits
  • Dinner: includes Mezes, main course, salad and dessert of fruit
  • Water for hiking and singing provided in your refillable bottle
  • Juice and filter coffee available as extra

We have a very good reputation for our food which is cooked using fresh, locally grown vegetables; our olives, honey, fish and meat are locally sourced from truly organic smallholders.

Vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free are available but please advise at the me of booking to help us with our provisioning. We may not be able to provide your food choices if you advise us on arrival.

Cabin: 7 nights in a twin or double cabin with ensuite private bathroom

Diesel: 3-4 hours cruising per day

Harbour Fees

Crew: food and wages

Flights: Please book your own flights. Dalaman is the local airport.

Turkish Bath: book onboard.

Drinks: there is a reasonably priced bar onboard stocked with water, soft and alcoholic drinks including beer, wine and spirits. Please do not bring your own drinks onboard.

Tips for the Crew. Tips are optional and discretionary – but if you have enjoyed your holiday a suggested recommendation is £40 per traveller for the week

Port Fees £40 pp payable on arrival onboard

Travel Insurance: please remember to arrange your own travel insurance and provide a copy to the Captain on arrival.

The Headlines!

  1. To remove any admin duties from the Singing Leader, Meridian Travels & Yachting will process all bookings for this private charter.
  2. All payments you make to Meridian Travels & Yachting are non-refundable.
  3. If the trip is cancelled by Meridian Travels & Yachting, any payments you have made will be refunded.
  4. After paying your deposit, if the departure doesn’t go ahead because insufficient people have booked, your deposit will be refunded by Meridian Travels & Yachting.
  5. If you cancel for any reason, you will still be liable to pay for your place, otherwise the others on the trip would need to pay extra to cover the cost of your place.
  6. It is a condition of booking that you have Travel Insurance. You are recommended to book your travel insurance when you have paid your deposit.
  7. For full terms and conditions click here
  8. If you have any questions about the holiday please email 

Flights

You will need to book your own flights to/from Dalaman airport. Please check that your booking is ATOL protected and that you pay by credit card.

Transfers

There will be one group transfer between the airport and the gulet, the charge will be £10 pp each way. The time for the transfer will be arranged to meet flights carrying the highest number of our passengers.

Dalaman to/from Marmaris one-way £70
Dalaman to/from Fethiye one-way £55
Price is for the vehicle
Private Transfer (5-14 pax)
Dalaman to/from Marmaris one way £150
Price is for the vehicle
Shuttle service:
Dalaman to/from Marmaris one-way £30 per person

If your flights arrive outside the time of the group transfer we recommend that travellers book their transfers directly with us because occasionally the start/finish ports can change at the last minute due to weather conditions. If transfers are booked with us it is easy for us to ensure travellers are delivered to the correct port.

 

Itinerary at a glanceAccommodationSinging & Hiking

Overview Marmaris – Fethiye*

Our flexible itnerary will allow for at least one singing session each day, often more; with the opportunity to hike on 2 or  3 occasions if you want.

Day 1 Arrive in Marmaris. Join the gulet and settle into your cabin before dinner. The Turkish kitchen is very diverse and these meal choices are described to give you an idea of the variety of foods prepared for you  

Day 2  After having your Turkish breakfast onboard we take a short cruise across the bay for your first opportunity to sing. Dinner of Sea Bass, Aubergine meze, Purslane and Yoghurt salad, Green salad 

Day 3  A wonderful day of cruising amongst reedbeds to the village of Candir where we can sing amongst Nomadic artefacts in the garden of a local family; see the ancient ruins of Kaunos and Lycian tombs. 

Day 4  An early cruise sees us in another turquoise bay where you can sing overlooked by the sunken ruins of Cleopatra’s Bath. Delicious lunch of Green Peppers stuffed with rice and tomatoes, Courgette and Aubergine Salad served with yoghurt 

Day 5 Overlooked by Lycian tombs, sing in the atmospheric bay of Bedri Rahmi; hike along a coastal path with fabulous views of the Gocek Islands (2-3 hours) Delicious lunch of Green Beans in Tomato Sauce 

Day 6  Plenty of opportunity to swim and snorkel or just relax as we cruise from one bay to another; singing when the mood takes us. Dinner of Dalyan Kofte , Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic Yoghurt, Broad Bean Salad 

Day 7 A day of cruising, singing and relaxation. Healthy lunch of Chickpeas and Lamb in a fresh Tomato sauce, bulgur wheat and salad 

Day 8  Say your goodbyes to the Captain and crew after breakfast. 

Note
*This itinerary is flexible and open to change
*Tour could operate in reverse
*Air-conditioning can be available for 3 to 4 hours daily in summer months. The use of A/C in harbours is strictly forbidden.

Depending on sea and weather conditions, Meridian Travels & Yachting reserves the right to make necessary changes to the tour itinerary to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests. The Captain’s decision is final.

Cabins on are smaller than you’d expect in a hotel but larger than on a sailing yacht. They are handcrafted from mahogany, iroko, teak and pine so are rustic but are clean and have a small wardrobe with storage under the bed for luggage. Every cabin has a private en-suite bathroom with toilet,  hand basin and shower; hot water is available in the evenings. One bath towel and one hand towel are provided; a beach towel is also provided.

With plenty of sunbeds on the fore and aft decks choose how to relax; sunbathing, reading, chatting or perhaps you’ll even sleep here under the stars. Meals are usually taken on the aft deck where you have a different view for almost every meal.

 

Singing

Paula is a singer, singing voice specialist, a qualified Singing for Lung Health Leader, Choir Director and Group Singing Advocate with many years of experience working with individuals, groups, and choirs, she is passionate about bringing people together to experience and enjoy the therapeutic power and many benefits that singing brings.

‘Paula brings an ease and joy with her sessions, however I feel when I arrive, I can let it all go as soon as I enter the room. You can feel your positivity grow as you sink into each session – it’s the feel-great factor!’  

‘Paula’s sessions are a friendly, knowledgeable, and joyous space where we all feel safe and supported, free to really have a great time – it sets me up for the week!”

If you have specific voice requirements, some individual voicework sessions may also be available, (please contact Paula directly to discuss)   

Low to Intermediate Hiking

Hiking is optional.

The walks won’t exceed 4 or 5 miles and may be shorter, but the terrain is rocky, stony and uneven. There are some steep sections over loose trails; some narrow coastal paths and such sections require care. You will need a reasonable level of fitness to participate in optional hikes. Appropriate footwear must be worn (trainers are not enough). If you like to hike and want to participate in the optional hikes you will need to bring a rucksack, hiking boots/shows (with/without ankle support), hiking poles are very useful. Bring a refillable, reusable container for water.

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