SUFI TOUR & RUMI RETREAT IN TURKEY

September 2025

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ITINERARY

Our journey will begin in the spiritual heart of Turkey in the city of Konya where Rumi is buried, then we will head south to the ancient city of Sagalassos to visit the tomb of the great mystic poet Yunus Emre. From there we will continue to Pamukkale where we will soak in healing thermal waters, and will end the tour in a mediterranean coastal village in Yenice Valley where we will have a 5-day ‘Sema’ whirling dance meditation retreat with a global community of pilgrims. 

  • We will start our journey in Konya, also known as “The City of Hearts” and the burial place of the great Sufi mystic & poet Rumi.

    On the first night, we will arrive at our hotel and have a welcoming dinner to meet and connect with our group of travelers from around the world. For the following two days, we will experience the spirit of Sufism in this city by visiting the tombs of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, his teacher Shams Tabrizi, Sadreddin Konevi (the stepson of the great Andalusian Sufi mystic Muhyeddin ibn Arabi), and many other places. We will participate in Meshks (musical ceremonies) and Sema sessions (whirling dervish ceremonies) at local venues. Additionally, we can wander around the local bazaar to shop for traditional items.

  • We will drive south to Sagalassos, an ancient city from the Roman period located high in the Taurus Mountains of southwestern Turkey. Along the way, we will visit the tomb of Yunus Emre, who is referred to as "our Yunus," and whose hymns are most frequently sung in musical gatherings and semas, guiding and accompanying dervishes in their spiritual journey. A significant portion of the lyrics in Turkish Sufi music comes from Yunus Emre's divan.

    Upon reaching Sagalassos, we will find a breathtaking archaeological site that offers a glimpse into the lives of its ancient inhabitants. As we stroll through the city, we will hear the continuous sound of water flowing from the Roman era to the present day. The mystical atmosphere around the city makes one feel as if they are stepping back in time. While sitting at the agora, we will listen to what history tells us and respond by performing a meshk to convey our message of love to the universe. We will be staying at Sagalassos Lodge, a mountain spa hotel.

  • On this day we will drive to Pamukkale, which means 'cotton castle'. It is famous for its stunning white terraces of travertine, formed by mineral-rich thermal waters cascading down the hillside. The site includes the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis, renowned for its well-preserved theater and necropolis. It is also a very important center for early Christianity due to the arrival of St. Philip, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, who came to Hierapolis around AD 80 to spread Christianity, and was crucified here. Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its natural beauty and historical significance. We will enjoy the ancient thermal pools of Pamukkale before heading to our thermal spa hotel to continue enjoying the healing waters.

  • After a short drive to the southern coast, we will begin our 5-day, 5-night Sema gathering at the Yenice Valley Retreat Center, a corner of paradise in the southwest of Turkey, where Sufis from all around the world will come together for the sake of love and whirling dance meditation. During the retreat, we will also have daily workshops, spiritual discourse and walks in nature.

  • On the last day of our journey, the Sema ends and we can return to Istanbul from Dalaman Airport.

WHY TRAVEL WITH LILA?

  • Authentic, Culturally-Rich Experiences: We collaborate with local communities to offer genuine encounters with sacred traditions not typically accessible to most travelers.

  • Deep Spiritual Exploration: Our tours foster personal transformation through music, dance, and sacred rituals, connecting you with yourself and the Divine.

  • Exclusive Access and Intimate Group Size: Small groups allow for exclusive access to spiritual teachers, local artists and musicians, hidden locations, and deeper, more personalized experiences.

  • Purpose-Driven Travel: Your participation supports the preservation of endangered cultural traditions, helping them thrive for future generations.

PREVIOUS TOUR IN TURKEY

TESTIMONIALS

  • There are no words to describe how nourishing and expanding this Journey with Lila Series Tours was. Firstly the accommodations, food , and travel provided were all exceptional. Most amazingly this was a journey of the heart, of participants and experiencers , not of tourists and intellectual accumulators. We became an international family of joyous participation from whatever varied levels of exposure we had had previously to Sufi culture. I am deeply grateful and astoundingly enriched by this journey. I will never be the same. Thank you , Mahalo, Tesekkur ederim!

    Sarah M

  • The trip was magic. All around us, with us in every way. Magic that awakened dormant seeds and brought to life love, laughter and deep connection. I know I was deeply touched and I believe everyone was deeply touched in some way. Thank you for making this happen.

    Kelley J.

  • Omar and Amira and the team in Turkey did a wonderful job. The community of open-hearted people that journeyed together to Turkey made the trip amazing for me. It gave me a sense of being beyond time and place, which is perhaps the goal of all spiritual experience, connecting to eternity. The semah in cappadocia under the moonlight, the joining a dhikr meditation in Konya with a community that has been doing dhikr together there for decades, these are the experiences that were grounding , spiritually elevating, shaking the dust off of the eyes of my heart as Mevlana might say. The trip was amazing. 10/10 stars.

    Yousef Z

  • “My experience in Morocco was thrilling, authentic and deep. Omar and the guides did an impeccable job curating the experience for us, and above all that, staying present and attentive throughout every step of the journey. I’d recommend this experience for anyone! Particularly those looking to explore an enchanting place in the company of deep souls, who enjoy traveling within a group that feels like home, and who feel called to touch and taste the essence of a place that rests beneath the TripAdvisor seafoam on the surface”

    Emily S.

  • “I can't fully express how fun, adventurous and immersive the trip to Morocco was.

    Traveling through the country's cities, shores, the Sahara desert and the Atlas mountains in a van with 16 semi strangers, we explored such a wide range of what this country has to offer with a focus on Gnawa music; which was incredibly connecting and heart opening.”

    Edyta H.

  • “From the heart: This wasn't just a tour -- it was a total immersion into the rich cultural, musical, and spiritual gifts that Morocco has to offer. I feel so grateful to have had so many amazing new experiences there. Including a full-on Lila ceremony, which was one of the most transcendent experiences of my life.”

    Simi M.

  • “The kind of journey you’ll remember for a lifetime. Curated with the help of local insiders, the team carefully planned an itinerary of authentic cultural activities, musical gatherings, healing modalities, educational opportunities and leisure time to discover breathtaking historic sites. The accommodations are comfortable, food is delicious, and overall, their passionate team does a great job with complex logistics. A genuinely respectful approach, and constant communication, ensures the group feels safe and honors the heritage we are exploring; while sharing the experience with enthusiastic locals. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone looking for a conscious group travel adventure at the intersection of history, music, culture and dance.”

    Beatriz Z.

  • “The best trip I've had in my whole life. Masterfully organized and curated”

    Carlos M.

  • "This trip enriched my life, made it fuller, and will stay with me forever."

    Sallie S.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

Omar Aena

Omar is the founder of the Lila Series and is a world music DJ, community organizer and event producer based in NYC.

His passion is in bringing people together to experience higher states of consciousness through natural means; particularly through sacred music and dance. He has hosted many events around the world, including retreats and group trips in Guatemala & Morocco. He is also working on a docu-series about the roots of Ecstatic Dance, with each episode focusing on a particular traditional culture that integrates art & spirituality. 

As a DJ he mixes together traditional world music with electronic sounds, with a particular focus on songs from his middle-eastern heritage.

Cem Baba

Cem Baba is a Sufi teacher based in Turkey. He received his ijazet (Master initiation) from Sherif Baba who comes from the lineage of Pir Ahmed Er Rifai (11th century).

He studied and experienced various spiritual practices until he met his Master Sherif Baba in New York in 1991. He lived in North Carolina with Sherif Baba and traveled all around the US as well as countries like China, India, Canada, and Lebanon, together as his translator and companion. He speaks Turkish, English, Dutch, and some level of French and German. He moved back to Turkiye in 2008 and currently resides in Samandag, where he and his community are engaged in earthquake relief service.

He continues his teachings both in Turkey and abroad, which are based on both traditional as well as modern universal Sufi wisdom. 

 FAQs

  • Sufism is the poetry, music and mysticism of Islam. It’s vision revolves around realizing the current of love that runs through human life and the unity behind all forms. It’s method is the development of presence and love to awaken from our enslavement to the world and our own psychological processes, and into Unity with the Source of all.

    The Sufis are those who love and are purified by love, free of themselves and their own qualities, and fully attentive to the Beloved.

    (Adapted from Kabir Helminski, Living Presence.)

  • Sema is a devotional ceremony that includes live music, chanting and whirling movement meditation. It is performed as part of a process of remembering our true nature as being one with the divine source.

  • Yes absolutely! This tour is open to people from all walks of life. Sufism in its essence is simply the path of the heart. So we welcome anybody who resonates with this path.

  • The tour will start in Konya so you would fly into one of the two major airports in Istanbul and then either take a connecting flight or high-speed train to Konya

    The tour will end in Yenice Vadi so you would fly out of Dalaman Airport.

  • Yes, in fact the majority of people who come on these tours come by themselves, but return with many new friends.

    We will pair you up with someone who you’d share a room with, or if there are private accommodations available for an additional fee.

  • Yes, Turkey is known to be a very safe place for travelers from all over the world. They take their hospitality seriously, as it is part of their cultural norms and values. Keep in mind, we will be traveling as a group and will have guides with us so you won’t need to worry about being places in unsafe situations.

  • Turkey does not have any COVID protocols in place. To ensure our group’s health safety, however, we will be requiring that anyone symptomatic take a COVID test.

    If you test positive, you will need to quarantine at your own expense. You can rejoin the group once no longer testing positive.

  • Please note that deposits and subsequent payments are non-refundable. In the event of a travel ban due to COVID-19 or any other unforeseen circumstances, trip dates will be rescheduled to a later date. No refunds will be issued. Any unease with regards to travel or quarantine upon return will not be considered. All payments are final and non-refundable.

    If you are unable to attend for whatever reason, you may transfer the trip to a family member or friend, assuming they are approved by the Lila Series.

  • Turkey requires visas for entry for most passport holders. Please check requirements for your passport’s issuing country. Visas can be applied for online here and are granted immediately after paying the $50 fee.