Villa Gokbel, Dalyan Delta, Turkey

The views from Villa Gokbel need to be seen to be believed!

Situated on the edge of the tiny hamlet of Gokbel, overlooking the national park, this charming little country house has a spectacular birds eye panorama over the whole of the Dalyan delta.

Your host: Arslan is your host and he lives at Villa Gokbel with his wife and takes great care of you. Arslan is a former yoga teacher and a sailing enthusiast who fulfilled a dream and sailed around the world on his yacht 2 years ago.

The area: the house has outstanding views directly over the lake, which is just inland from Iztuzu beach.

The area between the house and the lake is part of the conservation area that surrounds the beach - there are no permanent buildings at the beach because turtles nest there and any light prevents them from returning to the sea when they hatch. The small hamlet of Gokbel only exists because it has the good fortune to be situated in a valley.

The scenery in this area is stunning (as is the beach). To reach the beach you walk to the edge of the village and take the bus which then takes about 5 minutes to reach the sand and the sea, or just laze by the pool and watch the light as it changes on the surface of the water. Whenever possible we also do a courtesy ride to the beach at around 10.30 in the morning.

Those of you who are sure of foot and not deterred by the steep climb, can take a twenty minute walk to the small secluded beach on the lake below the venue.

Out and About:

Dalyan Village is a fifteen minute bus ride away and has restaurants and shops.

On Saturday morning there is a large market in Dalyan village (pictured right) selling local produce, spices, fabrics etc. and local shops sell fake designer goods.

Also in Dalyan village there is an excellent hardware store with all sorts of 'goodies', a spice shop, a patisserie where you can have a genuine cappuccino and Turkish cakes and small supermarkets where you can purchase olives and nuts to bring home.

A variety of trips can be arranged;

Visit the local Turkish baths, there are hot springs, mud baths and a huge lake to explore. The day trip to the 12 islands is spectacular, as are the ancient ruins of the city of Kaunos where some teachers hold yoga classes.

Also visit the turtle hospital which is at the far left hand end of the beach.

Yoga takes place in one of three locations.

There is a shaded purpose built yoga space within the garden

The tree house is magnificent for gentle yoga and meditation (pictured left)

The large spacious lounge in the old house has picture windows with wonderful views and air conditioning and is a third option if the group prefers to be inside for any reason

All three options share the same fantastic view

August 9th - 16th. Hatha Yoga.

£395 Sharing. £495 Single.

Zodiac Yoga with Michaela Augustin

"For the last eight years I have been teaching the Swami Satyananda Saraswati Hatha Yoga style to which I have added the astrological system.

Zodiac Yoga is based on Hatha Yoga and I have added the influence, rhythm and power of the astrological signs as practiced in the Vedic philosophy.

I combine these two systems to empower your awareness and self knowledge about the rhythms in your body and its systems (circulatory, hormonal and nervous) to help you to understand their natural cycles. Each star sign has an affinity to a particular organ, system, mood and personal characteristic and these change every two to three days as the moon passes through each sign.

The moon is a powerful influence: sometimes you may feel un-focused, unsettled and nervous, this is the influence of the moon in Aquarius; on other days you might experience more physical symptoms like a bloated abdomen (moon in Virgo); a stiffness in the neck and shoulders (moon in Taurus); or restrictions in your chest (moon in Leo).

The yoga on this holiday is aimed at those with experience, but beginners are extremely welcome. There are many things beginners and experienced can both do in a yoga class.

When we teach postures that some beginners may find difficult, we modify the poses so that beginners may start gently. Beginners may be offered something different and more suitable to do, while experienced students face a challenge. Dynamic and challenging variations are given to those who are ready to benefit from them. "

There's no pressure to attend all the sessions, you are free to enjoy yourself as you like. But there is an opportunity to go deeply into yoga if you want to.

Everyone is encouraged to practice at their own pace

Accommodation

This boutique hotel has 8 guest rooms, all the rooms have air conditioning and en-suite facilities and views across the countryside.

The guest rooms are all different with their own characteristics and were converted from the original farmhouse and its outbuildings. Whilst not blessed with the same stupendous views as the pool and the lounge, the rooms have tranquil countryside vistas. All are prettily furnished with colourful linen and soft furnishings and a minibar.

Villa Gokbel feels more like a large private house than a hotel. It is perfectly situated for nature lovers and those seeking relaxation. The large lounge area has a huge fireplace and an attractive beamed ceiling. The panoramic windows have fabulous views of the Dalyan delta.

Arslan, the owner, is a keen music lover and has an extensive music collection.

A large Turkish breakfast will be served after the morning yoga class and an evening meal on the arrival night and 6 other evenings.

Food at this venue is of excellent quality and will be vegetarian unless you request otherwise. A small fee may be charged for non-vegetarian meals.

Getting There

Fly to Dalaman airport - call Debbie in the Free Spirit office for help finding flights on the internet.

Please make certain you do not arrive on a night flight as we cannot do night transfers to this venue, try to arrive during the daytime or early evening.

Transfers

Both group and individual taxi transfers are offered by the centre. We will provide you with the airport meeting point and the names of the other guests in your transfer taxi. A taxi is 40 Turkish lira per person (£16) for a group transfer or 55 Turkish lira for an individual taxi (£22). The journey takes 40 minutes.

Includes:

Tuition, accommodation, breakfast and dinner on 6 evenings (one to be the arrival night),

Not included:

Flights and insurance, meals other than as specified.

For more information please contact us at: Free Spirit Travel or call on: 01273-564230

pictures below of the beach, Dalyan village viewed from the river, yoga in the ancient city of Kaunos and a yoga pose in the mud bath at the hot springs!

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