Wander Women Wednesdays: Last Chance on our Aerial Arts Retreat in Israel!
Wander Women Wednesdays are back! This mid-week feature is all about highlighting an upcoming Wander Women Retreat, or a new aspect of our retreat business we’re excited about. Now that y’all know what a blast we had in Mexico,...
JaneWalter
Wander Women Wednesdays are back! This mid-week feature is all about highlighting an upcoming Wander Women Retreat, or a new aspect of our retreat business we’re excited about.
Now that y’all know what a blast we had in Mexico, it’s time to tell you about Brenna and I’s next High Flying Retreat in Israel — happening in just a few weeks! And the timing couldn’t be better, considering Israel just announced that they are dropping a ton of their entry requirements, including on-arrival testing.
After three years of anticipation, it feels like the timing is finally perfect. I’ve been dreaming of running retreats in Israel since 2018, and this as well as my Wander Women Israel yoga retreat are the trips I’ve had to delay the longest thanks to COVID, so this is going to be a pretty big pinch-me -moment for me.
I first visited Israel and fell wildly in love with the country in 2018. In 2019, aerial became my new obsession, and so it was only natural that on my next visit to The Land of Milk and Honey that year, I sought out aerial spaces and teachers and started dreaming of a High Flying Retreats collaboration there.
Brenna and I were so excited to launch in January of 2020 — in fact, it was to be our first ever co-hosted retreat together! We all know where this story goes… though in this case not only did we have to delay the retreat (twice!), Israel’s accommodation and aerial scenes were so drastically changed by the pandemic, we pretty much rebuilt the entire retreat from scratch.
What’s the same: we’re diving into the very best workshops in aerial hammocks, lyra, silks, and trapeze throughout the hottest city in the Middle East. Each day will also include an adventure like a bike tour, a market trip, and tons of beach time, and end with sampling Tel Aviv’s best restaurants and epic nightlife.
Of course, we knew we couldn’t plan a retreat to Tel Aviv and not give everyone the opportunity to visit one of the world’s most storied cities. Hence, the option to whisk away to the ancient Old City of Jerusalem and to the infamously salty Dead Sea on our Pre-Retreat Jerusalem + West Bank Extension. And let’s just say Brenna and I literally spoke to the municipality of Tel Aviv before re-releasing to make sure we’d align the dates correctly for our Post-Retreat Pride Party Extension, including a wild seaside parade one day, and an epic day rave in Yarkon Park the next.
And while we initially did release this trip as intermediate, we had some enthusiastic new aerialists sign up, so have now opened to all levels. Did somebody say apparatus party!?
Read on for all the details!
The Details
The retreat will be held from June 4-9th, 2022, and starts at $2,750.
What’s Included in the Retreat
• Five nights accommodation at a chic design hotel in Tel Aviv
• Daily breakfast, an opening and closing dinner, and most importantly… a daily happy hour with free wine!
• Three aerial arts workshops with Brenna in silk, hammock, and hoop
• One flying trapeze workshop with local trapeze artists
• One stand up paddle conditioning class with a local surf goddess
• One bike tour with a local tour guide extraordinaire
• A professionally produced aerial shoot
• A custom welcome bag
• All tips for tour guides and drivers
• Professional photos of the trip
What’s Not Included
• Flights + airport transfers (optional upgrades available)
• Additional meals, alcohol or activities not specific in the itinerary
• Optional Contortion or Pole Arts Workshop upgrade
• Mandatory travel insurance
The Itinerary
Subject to change, and expect surprises, but here’s the general idea.
Day 1: Let’s get retreating! If you’re joining our Pre-Retreat Jerusalem + West Bank Extension, we’ll pack up together and head to Tel Aviv to meet the new arrivals at our hotel. Once everyone’s accounted for, we’ll gather for a rooftop acro-yoga class by a local Israeli guest instructor designed to loosen up tired travel muscles. Next, we’ll toast with a free hotel happy hour and head over to dinner at a iconic Arabic restaurant known for it’s endless servings of pita and dips to get to know your fellow aerial artists.
Day 2: Kick off the morning with a traditional Israeli breakfast before heading around the corner to a plant-filled aerial arts studio for the first of our daily aerial workshop with Brenna. After lunch at a fave local restaurant overlooking the sea, it’s time for afternoon as you wish in Yafo, Tel Aviv’s charming old city — go beach bumming, explore Jaffa Flea Market, or walk to a famed viewpoint. At sunset, we’ll reconvene for a stand up paddle board strengthening session overlooking the Jaffa Port. At night, Tel Aviv roars to life again.
Day 3: We’ll start the day again with another aerial workshop with Brenna. Later, we’ll enjoy lunch at Alex’s favorite Arabic restaurant in the Levinsky Market. After free time to wander the market or, as is always an option in Tel Aviv, head to the beach, we’ll meet back up to head north of the city for a private flying trapeze lesson! Once back in the heart of the city, we’ll stop for dinner at a beloved Tel Aviv pita joint.
Day 4: Get your day off to a strong start with another aerial training session with Brenna. After lunch at the Carmel Market, packed with small stalls + cafés and open for nearly a century, we’re off on a tour of Tel Aviv on two wheels. Enjoy the city’s Bauhaus architecture, seaside breezes, and buzzing energy while giving your upper body a break and letting your legs take over! In the evening, return to our retreat rooftop for a private shopping night browsing local aerial brands’ wares over the complimentary happy hour back at our hotel (excuse me, but are the bartenders our best friends yet?). Finally, we’re off to a favorite garden-like restaurant named — we couldn’t help ourselves — Bicicletta.
Day 5: Join us for one of Brenna’s famous aerial warm ups on our private rooftop before we set off for the ultimate aerial adventure — an urban photoshoot shot in style around the city with Backyard Circus. We did it! Time to head to a beach club and toast (with shots of arak, of course!) to a high flying week — the summer beach scene in Tel Aviv is not to be missed! In the evening, we’ll return to our hotel for one final hotel happy hour followed by a special surprise closing dinner.
Day 6: We’ll send off those heading home today with a final goodbye breakfast, and lots of hugs! Before folding yourself into a plane seat, sign up for an optional upgrade Contortion Workshop with Jonathan Nosan, founder of Contorture. Not ready to say shalom to Israel? Join us for our Pride Party Extension!
Where We’ll Stay
For the retreat, we’ll stay at The Market House Tel Aviv, a chic boutique hotel in Southern Tel Aviv! Private rooms have one bed while shared rooms feature two twin beds unless otherwise requested. While you can of course room with a friend, if you’re traveling solo, fear not, so are many of our guests! We’ll do our best to pair you with someone we think you’ll click with — and we’ll all be one big aerial family by the end anyway.
Enjoy perks like a daily Israeli breakfast, a happy hour with free wine, complimentary bike rentals, and more. Plus, the location is perfect — just around the corner from our aerial home and centrally located to enjoy Tel Aviv’s best nightlife and restaurants.
What We’ll Eat
Breakfast is included every day, as well as an opening and closing dinner. For the non-included meal of the day, we’ll bring you to a favorite spot where you can order at your own expense, or branch off and do your own thing. Israeli cuisine is perfect for our high activity level — it’s not only delicious, but also healthy and well balanced.
Of course, there will be plenty of hummus along the way (and bonus — learn to make your own one day, if you join the extension tour!).
Getting There and Away
Most international flights to Israel arrive and depart from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV).
Upon arrival, you can take a private taxi, Uber, or Gett (Israel’s own, much more affordable Uber!) to and from Ben Gurion airport. We will send additional information on airport transfer upgrades once you’ve booked, but don’t worry — the options are safe and simple!
Extend Your Adventure
Want the full Israeli experience? Before traipsing (and trapezing) around Tel Aviv, join us for our Pre-Retreat Jerusalem + West Bank Extension for a much fuller picture of what Israel is all about! After we finish swinging from the ceiling literally, do so metaphorically for the wildest party in the Middle East — Pride! Join us for our Post-Retreat Pride Party Extension to experience Tel Aviv’s epic beachside Pride Parade, followed by a wild day rave in Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv’s answer to New York’s Central Park.
Join Us
This retreat is right around the corner! Sign up for The Wander Women Retreats newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats, or check out our sales page for the FAQ’s. Or, if you’re ready to book — say no more, we’re ready for ya!
Have a ton of questions about Israel and this trip? Schedule a 15 minute Zoom chat with me for all of your burning questions! Otherwise, don’t hesitate to email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions or concerns over if this is the right retreat for you.
I can’t wait to be back in Israel and show some of you this infamous destination through my own eyes and perspective.
Any questions? Ask away questions in the comments!
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