“Detox trip: suffering on holiday?”

A week in Turkey. That makes me think of sun, sea, and sand, delicious food, long evenings with a bottle of wine, sitting out on terraces… Pure enjoyment!

But what if you cut out food *and* have to work out three times a day? Is that still a holiday?

Sorry? A detox trip?

I’m heading to Kaş, Turkey, for a week-long detox. A detox holiday is all about really working on your body. Solid food is a no-go, as are most beverages. The menu consists of a glass of lemon water and three juices that provide all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. On top of that, I can drink as much water and herbal tea as I like (no, not strawberry tea or any other fruity flavor). Combined with exercising three times a day, this serves as a reset for my body; it gets cleansed, and I find both physical and mental calm. Yeah, right, I think—that just sounds like an ordeal.

The elimination week

On the advice of Health Holidays, I begin my preparations a week in advance. I bid farewell to my glass of wine and have my last cappuccino. I try to steer clear of meat, but—without even realizing it—I end up eating a cheese and chorizo ​​sandwich and dining at a chicken restaurant. Oops! Sugar is also supposed to be off the menu, but I feel three eliminations is quite enough. I find it manageable, as I already eat vegetarian meals regularly and usually drink only two cappuccinos a day. Alcohol is trickier for me: I find myself at a concert with a non-alcoholic beer, and I opt for green iced tea at the Rollende Keukens food festival and the dinner out. These are the kinds of moments when I would typically have a beer or a glass of wine.

My dad is sweet enough to drive me to Schiphol in the middle of the night and gives me a few bites of apple pie. Yum! I won’t be chewing anything for a while. That’s a strange thought. After all, chewing kick-starts digestion, and those organs are supposed to be on vacation. Even chewing gum is off-limits.

Spending a holiday on an empty stomach. I’m doing just that for a week with Health Holidays in Turkey—and doing it voluntarily, too. You see, I’m on a detox retreat, which means lots of exercise and drinking juices. It’s a journey with its ups and downs.

Physical and mental detoxing

I am in Kaş to take part in a juice cleanse and fitness program. I am doing this under the guidance of co-founder Henny and fitness instructor Ilona. Henny explains that her late husband, Rob, began organizing detox retreats back in 1985 to boost guests’ physical and mental well-being. Their son, Laurens, is now in charge of Health Holidays. The team in Kaş has currently been expanded to include two cheerful interns, Maxime and Denise—a wonderful group of people who motivate and support the eighteen detox participants with great dedication.

It’s quite a packed schedule. We drink our morning and evening juices together, as that’s when Henny and Ilona explain the benefits of the ingredients—such as information on vitamins or which ailments a particular fruit or vegetable helps treat. At the same time, we receive updates on the program and on potential activities like the hammam, massages, a visit to Kalkan, or a boat trip.

During a detox holiday, you spend 24/7 focusing on food, exercise, and relaxation. But then you come home and have to maintain those good habits while juggling a busy schedule and a world full of temptations. Curious to see if I can hold my own?

Home sweet home

The first few days back home after the Health Holidays detox trip are actually quite easy. I arrive on Saturday night and go straight to bed. It’s raining in the Netherlands on Sunday, yet I go for a run. I feel like a total trooper. I have some fruit for breakfast from the parting gift bag the Health Holidays team gave me when I left Turkey. Then, I go on a massive supermarket spree. A hundred euros later, I have a huge stock of fruit and vegetables—and yes, two bottles of wine and some Tony’s Chocolonely bars, too. Just because I can. Even so, the wine and chocolate remain untouched for a good week. I don’t have my first glass of wine until five days later, at a tasting where I dutifully spit every drop into the bucket. I’ve honestly never done that before! I don’t even like the taste. Bizarre.