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Our Wellbeing Retreat for Women on a Turkish Gulet is a deeply restorative voyage designed to nurture mind, body and soul while embracing the beauty of the Mediterranean.
You will experience breathtaking scenery, rejuvenation, and delicious food prepared daily by your onboard chef. Swim, snorkel, kayak in crystal-clear waters, walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans, and maybe even spot loggerhead turtles or dolphins.
Rooted in positive psychology and person-centred approaches, the experience combines relaxation, self-reflection, and practical techniques for lasting wellbeing.
Eve Warren, Life-Work Coach will lead supportive, insightful and practical sessions and guide your activities throughout the week.
MEET YOUR HOSTS
As a previous guest on one of Anne’s hiking holidays I am thrilled to be joining her to lead the programme throughout this special week.
My own experience made clear how this beautiful environment, surrounded by nature, is the perfect setting for a restorative retreat, with time for peace, space to reflect, opportunities for exercise, fantastic food and good company.
It is a treat for the senses in the perfect setting, with everything taken care of, to focus on you.
With her long experience of running holidays in this region, Anne oversees all practical aspects and manages the onboard team with efficiency. With her warm, positive and supportive presence she is dedicated to ensuring that the wellbeing of our guests is at the heart.
Having run holidays on our gulet East Meets West for almost two decades I was delighted to meet Eve last year. Her work sounded so interesting and I could imagine how well it would fit in this environment. Cruising this turquoise coastline is always an incredible experience enhanced by our niche off the beaten track itineraries, so I instinctively knew that Eve would create something special.
I’m very much looking forward to co-creating this experience for you with our team.
Imagine sailing along the stunning Turkish coastline, where each day is guided by gentle rhythms of the sea, sunrise meditations and wholistic wellbeing practices. The gulet, a traditional wooden sailing boat, offers a sense of freedom, simplicity, and connection with nature, providing the perfect setting for restoration. You will learn about the foundations of wellbeing and how to apply them in your life, to sustain and nourish yourself, now and into the future.
💛 Restorative – Time to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with yourself.
🌿 Person-Centred – Tailored tools and support to meet your unique needs.
🌊 Immersive – The healing power of nature, a variety of activities from which to choose, a supportive community for the week and time for reflection.
✨ Sustainable – Practical strategies to integrate wellbeing into daily life.
| 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 |
| May 23 - 30 | £1975 single cabin £300 pp discount in shared cabin |
| Early Booking Discount | £300 pp if booked before 30 November |
| Deposit | £400 pp due at time of booking |
| Interim Payment | £400 pp due 31 October 2025 |
| Balance | 31 March 2026 |
Full Board
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 readily available, just give us a little notice.
Cabin: 7 nights in a twin or double cabin with ensuite private bathroom
Riverboat Cruise: relaxing half day riverboat meandering along the Dalyan river
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 £50 per traveller for the week
Transit Log £45 pp payable on arrival onboard
Travel Insurance: please remember to arrange your own travel insurance and provide a copy to the Captain on arrival.
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. Do not book your flights until this trip has been confirmed as a guaranteed departure.
You could also take a ferry from the Greek island of Rhodes to either Fethiye or Marmaris. Please check the direction of the cruise before booking any ferry tickets.
There will be one group transfer between the airport and the gulet, the charge will be £15 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 | £85 |
| Dalaman to/from Fethiye one-way | £75 |
| Price is for the vehicle | |
| Private Transfer (5-14 pax) | |
| Dalaman to/from Marmaris one way | £90 |
| Price is for the vehicle | |
| Shuttle service: | |
| Dalaman to/from Marmaris one-way | £35 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.
Elements of the Week
Positive Psychology in Practice
Each day focuses on tried and tested approaches to wellbeing, based on current research, with activities designed to enhance self-awareness, positive emotions, balance and resilience.
Restorative and Mindful Living
From sunrise meditation on deck to guided mindfulness sessions under the stars, the retreat encourages reconnection and understanding of what truly nurtures us as individuals.
Person-Centred Wellbeing
Using a whole life model of wellbeing, participants explore those areas of their life that need attention, ways to achieve greater balance, and create personalised wellbeing plans to take home.
Nature and Nurture
Daily swims in crystal-clear waters, nature walks on secluded beaches, and nourishing, delicious Mediterranean cuisine support both physical and emotional wellbeing. For those seeking a more active experience there are daily opportunities for hiking, paddleboarding and snorkelling.
Activities
Throughout the week there will be practical input, one-to-one coaching, reflective journaling, goal setting and group discussions. There’ll be opportunities for rest and reflection, swimming and walking, group sessions and personal time, quiet space, reading and conversation.
You will also be invited to join us on a riverboat where we cruise through reedbeds, bathe in thermal pools and visit the ancient city of Kaunos. Or you may choose to simply stay onboard and have some quiet time for personal reflection.
Sustainable Self Care
You’ll learn practical, everyday strategies, life-enhancing skills and the simple yet effective steps that will make a difference. And you will leave with a renewed sense of wellbeing – and an understanding of how you can continue the benefits once you are home. Expect a flexible, affirming, peaceful, practical and supportive week.
A Lasting Impact
Rather than a fleeting escape, this holiday is designed as a transformational experience, equipping women with real-life practices to sustain their wellbeing long after the holiday. Whether it’s a new daily exercise or mindfulness habit, a fresh perspective on self-care, achievable changes to implement back home or meaningful connections formed during the trip, the effects continue well beyond the final sunset sail.
Find out more about Eve here
Itinerary for the weekA restorative, positive psychology-based retreat designed for deep relaxation, self-reflection, and lasting wellbeing.
Our flexible itinerary gives you some insight into how we shape our days to meet the needs of the group and also respond to the occasional needs of the captain to change course, with plenty of time to swim, snorkel, read or simply rest.
Sunrise meditation
Breakfast: Guests often sleep under the stars on deck, waking with the sunrise to take a refreshing swim in the calm, turquoise waters before enjoying that first cup of tea or coffee of the morning followed by a leisurely breakfast of local yoghurt, honey, eggs, cheese, vegetables It’s the perfect way to start the day.
Workshop: Every day there will be a one-hour session after breakfast to introduce the theme and topics for the day. The rest of the day is yours to spend in ways that suit you most, opting in or out as you wish.There will be suggestions for how you might engage with the theme: you can reflect on your own, explore with a partner (some guidelines will be offered) or simply let the thoughts evolve as you rest, read, swim, chat and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. Alternatively you might choose to take part in the other activities off the boat.
Lunch: In the early afternoon, we will come together to share our lunch which has been prepared using fresh, local ingredients by our onboard chef. We offer a different, delicious lunch every day including moussaka with its layers of tender aubergine, perfectly seasoned vegetables or ground lamb & beef and a rich, savoury béchamel sauce, all baked to golden perfection.
Afternoon tea: After a relaxing afternoon, we’ll come together for afternoon tea and biscuits.
There will be another group session – up to an hour – to reflect on the day and your own responses. There will be no pressure to share, participate in anything or commit to action! The week is designed to give you opportunities to take, learn and apply what is personally relevant to you.
Dinner: A typical evening meal would feature succulent barbecued sea bream, served alongside a selection of 4 or 5 delicious mezes, such as aubergine and tomato shakshuka, and tangy potatoes in a zesty vinaigrette. Each dish is full of vibrant flavours, offering a perfect balance of fresh ingredients to end the day on a tasty note.
Evening: restful mindfulness on deck
There are opportunities to swim throughout the day, plenty of space on deck to rest and relax, and yoga mats are provided for those who wish to practise. Coastal nature walks will also be on offer, and off-boat local visits.
There will be at least one-to-one coaching session with Eve during the week.
Day 1: Arrival & Anchoring into the Journey
Afternoon. Arrival at the gulet in a picturesque Turkish harbour. Settle into your ensuite cabin. Welcome drinks & introductions and an overview of the week.
Sunset. Gentle relaxation session on deck to unwind from travel.
Evening. Getting to know each other and exploring personal goals and aspirations over a nourishing Turkish dinner.
Day 2: Foundations of Wellbeing
Sunrise: Guided meditation, connecting with the environment and your focus for the week.
Introductory session exploring the Foundations of Wellbeing, how to review your wellbeing currently and identify areas for shift or change.
An overview of the session themes day by day, and description of the possible activities and options available to you during the week, so that you can create the best programme for you.
Day 3: Cultivating Positive Emotions
Understanding the science of happiness and how to create more of it in our lives. Encouraging more positive emotions and their impact on resilience. The benefits of gratitude and joy. Journaling and how it can support our wellbeing.
Day 4: Managing stress, energy and achieving greater balance
Understanding how stress affects us, both positively and negatively. You will be introduced to a simple yet effective technique to map and manage the stress in your life, and you’ll understand more the steps to take to replenish your energy and create greater balance
Day 5: Relationships: with ourselves and others
Creating positive and supportive relationships. Learn about the benefits of self-compassion, how assertiveness is a framework for effective and constructive communication and ways to define and maintain boundaries.
Day 6: Creating your own Vison for the Future
Explore ways to create your own vison for your future, and learn a tried and tested approach to setting goals.
Evening: In our final evening session of the week you have the opportunity to reflect on your experience of the week, what you are taking away, and how you can continue to support and maintain your wellbeing back home
Day 7: Sustainable Wellbeing: bringing the retreat home
Morning guided visualisation: What habits, insights and practices will you take forward?
Breakfast: Closing conversations, shared reflections and farewells
Note
*This itinerary is flexible and open to change
* the specific itinerary will be decided much nearer the time running in any direction between Marmaris and Fethiye or Marmaris and Bozburun. All of these ports have easy access to Dalaman airport.
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.
Those who would like to walk can join us once or twice during the cruise; pine forests and olive groves invariably invite us to be mindful enabling us to take note of birdsong, the breeze rustling in the trees, the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore.
We will be walking along forest and goat trails which are rocky, stony and uneven – this isn’t a hiking or walking holiday but rather these trails give us the opportunity to find inspiration and quiet space in nature, whether that’s under the canopy of the pine forest, in an olive grove or at the water’s turquoise edge.
Probably not everyone will choose to walk but if you decide to come you will need to wear appropriate footwear such as hiking boots/shoes/sandals (trainers/sneakers or regular shoes are not robust enough).
You will need a reasonable level of fitness to participate in optional walks and will need to bring a small backpack, suitable footwear (with/without ankle support), and you will find hiking poles are very useful. Bring a refillable, reusable container for water.
This trip is designed to be gentle but if you want to comfortably participate in all activities you should be able to walk on uneven surfaces in nature and be able to join us when we transfer to the shore by dinghy. However, it is absolutely possible to have the most wonderful experience without doing any of those things.
Your home for the week will be gulet East Meets West, she is handcrafted in mahogany, iroko, teak and ash. Cabins are smaller than you’d expect in a hotel but larger than on a sailing yacht, 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. A bath towel, hand towel and a beach towel are provided.
With plenty of sunbeds on the fore deck choose how to relax; maybe sunbathing, reading, chatting or perhaps you’ll even sleep here under the stars.
It’s not unusual for early risers to do their yoga or pilates stretches here in the early morning light.
We will gather around the mahogany tables on the aft deck for our meals and our wellbeing sessions.
There’s a well-stocked bar with reasonably priced soft and alcoholic drinks. Please do not bring your own drinks onboard.
