Lena Knight
Pilates
Lagoon Retreat
Location & Surroundings
Lagoon Retreat rests in a blessed, elevated spot within a forested conservation area, overlooking the serene Sülüngür Lagoon. From here, you can enjoy sweeping views across the Dalyan delta and all the way to Iztuzu beach. Surrounded by nature, the retreat offers peace, privacy, and a wonderfully supportive atmosphere for Pilates practice. It’s a place to move with awareness, breathe more deeply, and let your nervous system settle, with the magical sound of cicadas and birds accompanying you in the background. For those who wish, a private beach on the lagoon can be reached by a 15-minute walk through the forest down the hill. The path is a little steep in places, so good walking shoes are best—but the reward is a refreshing swim in the quiet embrace of the lagoon.
Around the Retreat
Just a short bus ride from the village brings you to the charming riverside town of Dalyan, full of little shops and lovely restaurants. If you go the other way, a 5-minute bus ride takes you to Istuzu—a long, sandy beach in the conservation area, where Loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs. If you’d like to explore a little further, Ian can help arrange visits to the nearby ruins of ancient Caunos, mud baths, boat trips, and other off-the-beaten-track excursions.
A Typical Day at Retreat
8:00 – 9:30 am: Pilates Class 10:00 – 11:00 am: Big, delicious, homemade nourishing breakfast 11:00 am – 6:00 pm: Free time, beach, and other activities 6:00 – 7:00 pm: Gentler Restorative Pilates Class 7:30 – 9:30 pm: Delicious vegetarian dinner
Getting to Huzur Vadisi
Holidays generally run from Saturday to Saturday, as that is when most charter flights fly from UK airports to Dalaman – a four-hour flight from the UK. The airport is about 30 minutes by minibus transfer. Saturday is travel day, and therefore classes begin on Sunday. For more information on the surroundings www.huzurvadisi.com
Su
Stunning rustic location and great food, inspiring Pilates sessions. Thank you for setting up such a fantastic week.
Helen F
Lena, thank you for your positivity and kindness, which always shine through and put everyone in such a good mood!
The Pilates sessions created a great structure to the days and the beautiful pool area offered the rest and relaxation. The beach club and boat trip were very enjoyable excursions...
Marilyn
I just loved the whole week. Couldn’t wish for a better location to relax and enjoy the serenity of classes, and of course the view. The Pilates retreat with Lena was a magical week that will stay with me for a long time. Her Pilates was gentle, restorative, and calming, in a location second to none. Added extras on top of the benefits of the classes included a day trip to a private beach resort, a short bus ride to the local Iztuzu Beach, and a magical boat trip with swimming in crystal-clear waters — all well worth taking. A short walk through the wooded hillside to a secluded lagoon near the retreat offered a cool and tranquil swim, with no one else around apart from fellow residents of the retreat. The food was excellent — healthy, fresh, and delicious without even trying to be! An amazing week to be treasured and remembered.
Helen & Kevin
My husband and I had a really enjoyable week in Turkey at the Huzur Vadisi Pilates Retreat in July 2025. Lena, our Pilates teacher, had put a terrific amount of work into planning the week, and it was all so well organised, with a good balance between twice-daily Pilates sessions and plenty of free time in between. Lena led and managed the morning and evening Pilates workshops beautifully — they were supportive, educational, and very beneficial. I came home feeling great — and the hip pain that had bothered me for several months had completely gone. The retreat was comfortable, with everything we needed, including good air conditioning and excellent vegetarian food. It’s set in a very beautiful location. The boat trip around the local coastline was a particular highlight. But most of all, we had a week to focus on our physical and mental well-being in a beautiful setting, with healthy food and a wonderful group of fellow Pilates participants.
Ant
For me the reason for going was for the Pilates sessions. I'd have happily spent the entire day doing it! I thought the location was brilliant because it was just far enough from "civilisation" to cut you off from touristy distractions but not far enough to make you feel totally isolated. Food was great
Anne
Classes were excellent. Lovely people in the group. The food was delicious, abundant, and nourishing. The view was to die for, and the boat trip was fabulous.