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SACRED SITES
RETREATS
Sacred Site : Sacred Turkey (only 7 spots left!)
SACRED SITES RETREAT
IN ISTANBUL & EPHESUS
September 7-15, 2023
Join me for a journey through the ancient temples & mystical sites of Turkey!
Turkey is home to countless sacred sites steeped in ancient history. This 9-day journey will guide you through Greek, Roman, Byzantine & Ottoman history as you deepen your innate spiritual connection with mother earth & the cosmos.
From Istanbul to the Aegean Sea, we'll deepen into the heart of the Divine Feminine as we visit the holy places of Istanbul, House of of Mother Mary, explore sacred temples dedicated to gods & goddesses, & the ancient city of Ephesus. We'll also sample the culture of Grand Bazaars, tiny villages filled with winemaking & extraordinary craftsman.
Group ceremonies will offer potent activations & knowledge seamlessly woven into our itinerary to allow time for integration of these powerful energies.
DATES:
SEPT 7-15, 2023
LENGTH:
9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS
MAX GROUP SIZE:
15 - 5 spots left!
ACCOMMODATION:
DOUBLE & SINGLE OCCUPANCY
DEPOSIT:
$800 DUE BY MAY 1, 2023
Our itinerary
Istanbul Days1-3
Sept 7-Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul!
Group transport from Istanbul International Airport to your luxury boutique hotel on the Sea of Marmara & conveniently situated in the Sultanahmet, one of the oldest historical districts in Istanbul. Istanbul, formerly known as "Constantinople" is one of the largest cities in Turkey and is the country's economic, cultural and historic hubs dating back to the 7th century BCE.
Afternoon/Evening: Sunset cruise on the Bosphorus which offers views of Ottoman palaces, mosques and seaside neighborhoods, a wonderful tour of the waterway that connects the continents of Europe and Asia.
Afterwards dine on your own or with others in one of many waterfront restaurants. (no meals included on this day)
Istanbul
Bosphorus Sunset Cruise
Sea of Marmara
Istanbul
Sept 8-Day 2: Istanbul: Holy Places & Palaces
Morning: Traditional Turkish breakfast in the garden of our hotel. We'll explore the narrow streets of historic Istanbul to connect with important places such as the Harem at Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cisterns and Hagia Sophia, which means "Holy (or Divine) Wisdom". Sophia is considered the Divine Feminine in Gnostic texts.
Afternoon: After lunch at a local Turkish restaurant, we'll have time to explore the vastness of the Grand Bazaar, a lively marketplace and one of the oldest in Istanbul. Here you'll find artisan shops, exotic spices & sweets.
Evening: We'll gather for dinner at an iconic, Michelin-listed restaurant & share our experiences of the day.
(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included, beer & wine avail for purchase)
Mosaics in the Harem at Topkapi Palace
Hagia Sophia
Local restaurant
Mosaics in the Harem at Topkapi Palace
Sept 9-Day 3: Istanbul: Integration
Morning: After breakfast at our hotel, you'll have time to integrate energies from the day before with free time to yourself. You may want to book spa services at the Cağaloğlu Hamam built in 1741, one of the oldest operating hamams to receive a luxurious turkish bath. You can also explore local shops or walk along the waterfront.
Evening: We'll embark with a local guide who will take us on a walking food tour of both the European & Asian continents of Istanbul. We'll sample amazing delicacies at the hidden gems of the Istanbul food scene. Afterwards, we'll gather at one of the many rooftop restaurants to say a fond farewell to Istanbul.
(Breakfast & Dinner included, beer & wine avail for purchase)
Hammam
Local artisans
Local sweets
Hammam
Selçuk Days 4-9
Sept 10-Day 4: Arrive in Selçuk
Morning: After our final breakfast in Istanbul we'll be transported to Istanbul's SAW airport for a quick domestic flight down to the city of Izmir. From here we'll be transported to Selçuk, home of the ancient city of Ephesus.
Afternoon: We'll arrive at our beautiful hilltop Ephesus Retreat Center for time to relax, explore the grounds, swim in the infinity pool or schedule a restorative massage.
Evening: We'll gather that evening for a delicious Turkish dinner prepared on-site by the chef. After dinner we'll gather for a Meditation, Reiki healing & Group Wisdom Circle preparing for the next day's powerful activations.
(Breakfast & Dinner included, beer & wine avail for purchase)
Sept 11-Day 5: House of Virgin Mary & Ephesus, "City of the Divine Female"
Morning: After breakfast, we'll visit a very special sacred site, the House of Virgin Mary. Said to be her final resting place, this site is filled with her loving energy and offers powerful activations. We'll spend time beneath the shade of ancient olive & sycamore trees deepening into these energies and opening to her guidance. An eternal spring allows you to bottle water here and use it for healing purposes. Afterwards, we tour the grand ancient city of Ephesus. A Unesco World Heritage site, it's one of the largest, most well-preserved ancient cities dating back to the 2nd millenium BCE. You'll walk through the original stone streets once tread by Cleopatra, still lined with grand monuments from the Roman Imperial period. Visit the Library of Celsus, Hadrian's Temple and the half-circular theatre originally built by the Greeks 2500 years ago.
Afternoon: We'll have a relaxing lunch in the garden of a textile school where local women learn the art of weaving Turkish rugs. There will be time to peruse the beautiful textiles and jewelry made by local craftspeople.
Evening: We'll gather for a delicious dinner at our retreat center. Afterwards, we'll hold an wisdom circle to integrate the powerful activations of the day, then relax for an evening sound healing.
(breakfast, lunch & dinner included, beer & wine avail for purchase)
house of mother mary
House of Virgin Mary
Ephesus
house of mother mary
Sept 12-Day 6: City of Aphrodisias & Şirince
Morning: After an early breakfast, our guide will take us on a 2-hour drive through the Turkish countryside to visit the ancient city of Aphrodisias, a Unesco World Heritage site and home to the Temple of Aphrodite, Goddess of love & beauty. The site dates back to the 3rd century BC and offers many areas to explore, spend quiet time or wander through the museum which is home to many larger-than-life-size marble statues of popular figures during its day.
Afternoon: Lunch at a local restaurant, then back to our retreat center to relax and integrate.
Evening: A visit to the quaint village of Şirince for dinner. Made up of both, Greek & Turkish influences, the village dates back to the Hellenistic period and offers scenic mountain views through cobblestone streets, delicious local food, wine tasting and authentic marketplaces.
(breakfast, lunch & dinner included, beer & wine avail for purchase)
Shrine of Aphrodite
Aphrodisias
Fruit wines of Sirince
Shrine of Aphrodite
Sept 13-Day 7: Beach Day on the Aegean
Morning: After breakfast, we'll be transported to one of the beautiful beach clubs dotting the Aegean coastline. You can spend the day beneath an umbrella reading a book, napping and swimming in the warm Aegean sea.
Lunch & drinks available for purchase at beach club.
Evening: We'll enjoy one last dinner at our retreat center, gather for an evening wisdom circle and Reiki & Restorative Yoga.
(breakfast & dinner included, beer & wine avail for purchase)
Beach Bar
Beach Day
Beach Bar
Sept 14 Day 8: Temple of Apollo
Morning: Our guide will drive us out towards the Aegean coast to Didmya to visit the Temple of Apollo. Built in the 7th century BC it became an important center for oracles to share their wisdom and prophecies. Here we will spend some quiet time soaking up the sacred energies and meditating.
Afternoon: Lunch at a local restaurant offers opportunity for discussion and intuitive downloads.
Evening: We'll gather for a farewell dinner in Izmir (formerly ancient Smyrna) before departing for an early morning flight back to Istanbul
Sacred energies
Temple of Apollo
Turkish kitties everywhere
Sacred energies
Sept 15-Day 9: Depart
Morning: We'll say our goodbyes and a group bus transports you to the Izmir airport to connect to Istanbul, and flight home.
Return home from the trip of a lifetime and integrate all the powerful energy absorbed from these sacred earth sites.
(no meals included this day)
The Journey of a Lifetime!
What's Included
You'll be cared for & guided each day!
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Luxury boutique accommodations for 8 nights in Istanbul & Selçuk
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Turkish-style meals most days, unless otherwise specified
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Group Airport transfers to & from Istanbul hotel
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Group Airport transfers to & from Ephesus Retreat Center
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Guided tours & passes for all sites on our itinerary
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Domestic RT airfare from Istanbul/Izmir
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Day entry to Aegean beach club
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Sound Healing Ceremony
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Reiki & Restorative Yoga
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Discussion & Integration
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Evening Wisdom Circles
Not included:
international flights, Turkish travel visa (about $50), separate airport transfers or hotel bookings, gratuities for guides, hotel and waitstaff , alcoholic beverages, laundry, spa services, meals not noted on itinerary, personal shopping & excursions.
Pricing (5 spots left!)
$3195* (shared occupancy in luxury room)
*includes your non-refundable deposit
add $750 for single supplement
$800 non-refundable deposit due at booking
Deposit deadline is May 1, 2023.
Must be at least 18 years old. Space is limited to 15 ppl.
By paying your deposit you agree to the Terms & Conditions.
Please click here to read the Terms & Conditions before paying your deposit.
About EphesusRetreat Center
Ephesus Retreat is situated in the midst of history and heritage of different cultures. Surrounded by five natural lakes, extensive forest areas, fertile fields and extensive vineyards, this region forms the ideal setting for relaxation and integrating the powerful activations received by the sacred sites.
For thousands of years, seekers and artists have been called to this place to find wisdom and knowledge, mystery, community life and inspiration, and to encounter the ancestral energy and stories that vibrate alive to our day!
On a hill, surrounded by old trees and olive groves, all rooms promise an immersion in nature!
Amenities include a hilltop infinity pool, yoga studio, massage services, spacious outdoor areas to relax, plus acres to hike & explore.
The food: Inspired by traditional Mediterranean cuisine, we combine local fish, meat and dairy products with seasonal and local fruits, vegetables, Aegean herbs and olive oil in a symphony of the senses.
We pay attention to sustainable cultivation and therefore all products come from our own cultivation, from local suppliers or from the region.
Our kitchen offers vegan, vegetarian and traditional Turkish dishes. We are happy to adapt the menus to individual needs such as allergies and special diets.
Meet Your Guide
It is my deepest honor
Since 1999, I've accumulated wisdom from my trainings in yoga, meditation, massage therapy, Reiki, shamanism, energy medicine, somatic healing, psychic healing, animal communication and most importantly, my innate connection to Earth & Cosmos.
And since 2008, I've traveled to sacred sites around the world, from the vortices of the southwest, to the mystical Neolithic sites of the UK, trekking over towering Andean mountains that hold ancient Incan wisdom, bathing in purifying waters of Hawaiian Islands, to ancient temples of Turkey which hold divine feminine energies. Each site has provided me with powerful activations and wisdom which influence my teachings, healings and personal practice.
These retreats offer a tapestry of experiences, soul activations and a transference of ancient wisdom for you to embody and utilize as a powerful change agent in your life.
I am committed to ensuring a safe, supportive container by teaming up with trusted guides, lodging, transport, etc so that you feel secure in deepening into these experiences and allow your soul to flourish.
It is my deepest honor to be a guide on your journey!
XOXO Jennifer
ENROLLMENT TERMS:
By submitting your non-refundable deposit, you are booking your spot and you agree to the following Enrollment Terms:
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A deposit of $800 is due at the time of booking. This is a non-refundable deposit unless the retreat is cancelled, in which case participants receive full refund of any fees paid.
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Deposits may be transferable up until June 23, 2023
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All remaining balances must be due by June 23, 2023.
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Any participant wishing to enroll after the June 23rd due date will be admitted on a space-available basis & $150 late fee.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
• Cancellations received in writing at least 60 days prior to the Retreat Start Date are refundable, minus the $800 nonrefundable participant deposit.
• Less than 60 days before the Retreat Start Date, the full balance is non-refundable and non-transferable.
TRAVEL INSURANCE is not included in your trip fees, but strongly suggested.
The best way to protect yourself from any unforeseen circumstance is to purchase travel insurance.
Travel insurance can protect against:
• loss or damage to baggage and personal effects,
• trip cancellation and interruption
• emergency evacuation, accidental death or injury, illness and medical expenses sustained
or incurred in connection with your retreat, if applicable.
Liability Release:
Retreat Participants agree and understand that the stated itinerary may offer slight changes in toured sites and schedules.
Retreat host and/or lodging will not be liable and shall not be held responsible for any direct or indirect loss or damage to baggage or property, or for personal injury or death,delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of, or failure to provide, any goods
or services resulting from acts, omissions, or negligence of any third party provider of services or accommodations, or due to any other cause whatsoever beyond the direct control of lodging and/or retreat host, Jennifer Brinn
Retreat host and/or lodging will further not be liable, and shall not be held responsible, for any loss, damage or additional expenses, delay or inconvenience caused by changes in schedule due to the actions, omissions or decisions of any carrier or other supplier of
services, and/or disruptions to the schedule caused by, including without limitation, force majeure events, weather, strikes or civil unrest, political strife and demonstrations, mechanical or other failure of vessels and other means of transportation, reasonable health
precautions, or any other reason whatsoever beyond our direct control.
Each each participant agrees that he/she engages in any and all activities at or during the retreat at his/her own risk, including, but not limited to, yoga, meditation, hiking, excursions, and any other activity or use of any facility on the premises of lodging.
Each participant acknowledges that participation in the retreat carries with it certain risks, known and unknown, including the risk of personal injury and risks related to high altitude, and release retreat host, Jennifer Brinn & lodging (including its managers, officers, directors, instructors, employees, and agents) from their own negligence and any duty of reasonable care to protect the Retreat Leader /participant from injury.