ELA EXCELLENCE RESORT BELEK
A luxury, all-inclusive resort on Turkey’s sunshine coast, with an expansive yoga, health and wellbeing programme, Ela Excellence Resort Belek is all you need to unplug from the world of ‘doing’ this summer
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Nestled along Turkey’s sun-drenched Mediterranean coast, less than hour’s drive from the historic city of Antalya, Ela Excellence Resort Belek is a sanctuary for yoga and wellbeing enthusiasts. An all-inclusive resort, everyone here is treated like a VIP, so you’ll soon get to experience that ‘yoga rockstar’ feeling the moment you arrive. The grand entrance feels more like a place to roll out the red carpet, as opposed to your yoga mat, so you know you’re in a very special place right away.
Renowned for its commitment to wellness through the Ela Excellence Feel Well programme, the resort offers a luxurious holiday environment and transformative escape for all, one that is suitable for the whole family. From the private beach with cabanas, water slides and a very impressive kids club (Everland Children’s World), to the outdoor amphitheatre and other evening entertainment, there’s pretty much everything on offer, including a British-themed pub. Once you arrive, everything is taken care of — all you need to do is whatever you please.
The ultimate aim here is to help you feel energised in mind, body and spirit. A central feature of that is ElaZen Spa & Wellness, a stylish oasis of calm offering traditional therapies with modern techniques. As well as Turkish Hammam rituals, expect to see
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Ayurvedic therapies such as Abhyanga and Shirodhara to promote deep relaxation and balance.
The yoga and fitness programme is equally impressive. Expect daily morning and sunset yoga sessions out on the deck, alongside aerial yoga, Pilates, plus a full schedule of other fitness activities, from CrossFit if you’re feeling energetic, to aqua bikes out in one of the many pools here. There are also two fully equipped gyms, plus coaches who will go out of their way to help you
“Ela Excellence Resort Belek is the kind of place where ‘summer holiday’ meets ‘yoga retreat’. You could easily enjoy a family vacation here, yet still immerse yourself in all the things a typical yoga retreat might have to offer.”
The resort seamlessly integrates all of these wellness practices (even the boxing punchbags!) into its serene, natural surroundings of pine trees and manicured gardens. Greet the day by feeding prized koi that came all the way from Japan for a moment of serene connection.
The food is another central pillar of the wellness concept here. With a dozen or so restaurants and bars, serving everything from salads to sushi, you will never run out of options — and you can certainly forget about cooking while you’re here! Mediterranean and Aegean-inspired dishes abound and the resort also utilises herbs and vegetables from local farmers. As well as fresh fruit galore, close to the spa area there’s also a lush juice and smoothie bar for your daily vitamin boost. Or, for something a little more indulgent, explore the patisseries serving eye-catching cakes and other goodies.
In the evenings, head to the bar on the resort’s pier for incredible sunset views, or enjoy gentle harp and piano music in the main lobby area, before dinner. There are lots of entertainment options at Ela Excellence Resort Belek after dinner as well, with a constantly-changing programme of shows, concerts and events. The amphitheatre is an iconic venue, but live entertainment also takes place in many other locations around the resort’s huge territory, from chic beachside dance shows to a bit of 80s music nostalgia.
That’s if you can extract yourself from your accommodation in the first place. As the resort’s name implies, rooms and suites here all exude total elegance, whether you’re a group staying in one of the exclusive villas or swim-up Lake House suites. All rooms include stunning views as standard and are tastefully decorated with nice extra touches, like coffee machines, complementary mini bar (this is an all-inclusive resort, remember), bathrobes and slippers — perfect for those in-room spa vibes!
Ela Excellence Resort Belek is the kind of place where ‘summer holiday’ meets ‘yoga retreat’. You could easily enjoy a family vacation here, yet still immerse yourself in all the things a typical yoga retreat might have to offer, with a full daily yoga schedule, a juice bar at your disposal and a serene spa that will melt away your stress; there’s even a strong commitment to sustainability. Less than an hour away from Antalya airport, which is well served by most major UK airports, it’s also well within reach. There is something most excellent about Ela Excellence Resort Belek — why not discover it for yourself?
For further information and to book visit: elahotels.com
Om Magazine
First published in November 2009, OM Yoga magazine has become the most popular yoga title in the UK. Available from all major supermarkets, independents and newsstands across the UK. Also available on all digital platforms.
