Location and Design
Sianji Wellbeing is perched on the serene shores of Bodrum, and it offers some pretty incredible mountain and sea vistas while the white facade contrasts perfectly with the bright purple Bougainvilleas and many other flowers - there are loads! Here you will overlook distant Greek island, Kos, as well as a speckle of numerous other islands, and you will certainly feel the focus on both indoor and outdoor living as the spaciousness of the resort, with its open floor plans in communal areas, is evident. Sianji style has some traditional characteristics of Turkey with a mix of timeless, quintessential Mediterranean overall. I found the decor to be marked by a few different styles: from gold and white flecked columns and ancient statues (undoubtedly a nod to cultural heritage), to warm woods, bright walls, stone detail and classic iron stairways traditional to the Med. For me, the real stand out features were the lobby area. I loved the sunken-look, 70s-style lobby bar and the chandelier above it. I loved the curved edges, floor-to-ceiling windows and most, I love and spent most time on the terrace there. It was quiet on most occasions.
The Team
The warmth and dedication of the team at Sianji is not to be overlooked. As a family-run operation, which sees a lot of repeat custom, you really feel the sense of ‘family’ throughout the place. Whether English is an excessive language or not, all members of staff clearly give a lot to add their guests’ experience and what comes across, when receiving that, is genuine care and attention. Henny, the spa therapist, stood out to me with her exceptional skills, while Ceren, the nutritionist, provided such invaluable guidance about my detox. Billur, who manages all aspects of Sianji Life, ensures that every detail is perfect for our wellness guests.
Food
I found the detox programmes to be refreshingly flexible and personalised overall - and what I thought worked well was that the team avoided an overly medicalised or strict approach. So where I was seamlessly able switch between raw food and juice detox plans, I was also allow to group my meal times together to suit my schedules. I also really liked that I was able to get a pack to-go on one of the days - it meant I could head out and explore the local markets without missing my nutrition goals. It was all meticulously time-coded and my supplements were included. Needless to say, both menus I tried were thoughtfully crafted - low in calories but rich in nutrition. As for the main restaurant, for non-detox guests, there’s a wide array of healthy, local buffet options - but also lots of beige foods on offer too. The restaurant down by the beach hadn’t yet opened for the season.
Wellness Facilities and Activities
The spa is comprised of two indoor pools; saunas, steam rooms, Turkish baths and various treatment rooms, as well as the most calming relaxation area to lounge in. There are various bits of tech and machinery that help with everything from cellulite to flushing the body of its toxins, and there is also a small but functional gym with reformer pilates machines available. Outdoorsy types will love the pools offering, the yoga shala, the walking track or tennis and basket ball courts - of course there’s the salty sea to swim in too!
My Wellness Experience
It took some time to grow on me but I found a lot of charm with Sianji, and I really respected the way in which the healing properties of the region's natural resources and traditions were drawn on throughout the wellness concept. It felt authentic right the way through, from the traditional Turkish baths to the unique brown thermal pool enriched with iron, magnesium, and sulphur, and these offerings felt great for my skin and even better for my nervous system. What took me the time to come around was likely my own tiredness and wanting more quiet, whereas this is a place that will have music, will have families and the walls can feel thin as a result! As an aid for my detox, I made the most of exploring first-time therapies such the angel of water and ozone therapy and I also attended at least one fitness class a day. Over my trip, I did the restorative and hatha yoga; nature walks and my own 1:1 reformer pilates session - all helped alleviate menstrual discomfort and bloating as well as supported my detoxification process.
My Personal Highlights
• The comfort of the hotel and beauty of spaciousness throughout. Most days I had things like the lobby terrace and the beach to myself, which was a delight to unearth although may not be the reality of high season.
• The reformer pilates. I’m embarrassed to say I had never done a reformer class before Sianji, but I loved every second and have vowed to keep it up!
• Relaxing at the spa, and rejuvenating body and mind! Indulging in two massages, a Turkish bath and scrub was worth it for my few short days on retreat.
Areas for Improvement
• The music from the pool bar doesn't entirely fit with the hotel's overall ambience. Improvements could be made by having low levels of music whilst activities are taking place in the yoga shala, and having relaxing lounge-inspired music in general, to better suit the flow of the hotel.
I Would Recommend This Wellness Resort/Retreat To:
• Singles seeking affordability, sunshine by the sea and possibly finding likeminded friendships.
• Couples or Singles who want to be guided through a detox but without a strong medical approach.
Insider Info
• There is an activity WhatsApp group you can opt into, where guests and facilitators plan up and coming classes. It’s worth finding out in advance which nature walk is talking place as there’s are different routes of varying challenges on rotation.
• Travel here outside of the peak summer months of July and August to avoid the inflated prices, loud music and crowds. May, June, October and November are particularly great months to go to take advantage of the best climate.
Visited in May 2024
Why Wellbeing Escapes?
