High Flying Israel:
An Aerial Arts + Yoga Retreat
Tel Aviv
TBA, 2022
Join Brenna Bradbury of High Flying Retreats and Alexandra Baackes of Alex in Wanderland on an aerial adventure through Israel in which we’ll explore the aerial, acro, pole, and circus communities of seaside Tel Aviv. Extend your trip with an optional pre-retreat adventure to Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, or stick around to celebrate one of the world’s greatest Pride celebrations after!
Get ready to dive into workshops in aerial hammocks, lyra, and silks, plus pole dance and trapeze through the hottest city in the Middle East. Start each day with an aerial-strengthening or recovery yoga class — including one from atop a stand up paddle board — and end it sampling Tel Aviv’s best restaurants and epic nightlife.
Israel is filled with incredible history, yes, but it’s also home to some of the most vibrant cities, stunning landscapes, and interesting people in the world — not to mention home to one of the world’s most drooled after cuisines. Brace yourself for five days of beaches, hummus, sunshine, and flying!
Want more? Again, extend your stay to arrive early and join us for a whirl around some of the top sights of Israel, from the ancient Old City of Jerusalem to the infamously salty Dead Sea to a winery in the Judaean Hills. Still can’t get enough? Stick around for our post-retreat Pride Party, including a wild seaside parade one day, and an epic day rave in Yarkon Park the next.
A local photographer will be behind the lens every step of the way, ensuring everyone leaves with profile-picture worthy shots of themselves in the air, in their favorite asanas, and on epic adventures.
Please note that while this retreat is open to a variety of levels of yogis and aerialists, you must have a passion for aerial arts and a base-level of skill in at least one aerial apparatus before enrolling. Having a confident inversion on your preferred apparatus is highly recommended. Feel free to contact Brenna or Alex to discuss your situation.
The Details
The retreat will be held from June 5-10th, 2021. The cost, including just about everything, starts at $1600. The pre-retreat extension is June 3-5th, 2021 and starts at $550.
What’s Included in the Retreat
• Five nights accommodation at a popular design hostel in Tel Aviv
• Two meals a day
• Four two hour aerial arts workshops with Brenna
• Five mat yoga classes and/or bands and sculpt sessions with Alex
• One pole lesson with a local pole fitness icon
• One trapeze lesson with a local trapeze duo
• One stand up paddle board tour with a local surf goddess
• A professionally produced aerial highlight reel shoot
• A custom welcome bag
• All tips for tour guides and drivers
• Professional photos of the trip
• Donation to local charities
• A private desert party bus day tour stopping for a cable car ride up Mount Masada, a walk though Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, and a float at the North Dead Sea
• Hummus making workshop
• Winery tour
• Daily breakfast and Shabbat dinner
• Daily breakfast
• Alcohol
• Additional meals or activities not specific in the itinerary
• Mandatory travel insurance
The Itinerary
Subject to change, and expect surprises, but here’s the general idea. Joining our pre retreat extension tour? The fun starts here.
Day 1: First stop? A welcome lunch and a visit to a gorgeous vineyard where we’ll learn more about wine production in the land of milk + honey. Next stop, one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world — Jerusalem. That night, we’ll embrace local delicacies with a hummus making workshop. According to native Israelis, you’ve never even tried hummus if you haven’t had it locally made. Bar hopping in the Old City to follow.
Day 2: New profile picture coming at ya from the Dead Sea! Today we’re heading out on a private party bus through the desert, including a cable car ride to Masada, a famous viewpoint and historic fortress overlooking the Dead Sea; a hike through Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, a literal oasis in the desert; and Kalia Beach, where you can slather yourself in black North Dead Sea mud or sit back for a surreal float in one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth. Many consider the Dead Sea to have holistic healing benefits, perfect for our sore post-aerial muscles. As is a drink at the lowest bar on Earth, 1,388 feet below sea level! Once back in Jerusalem, you can relax, enjoy some free time, or take an optional Shabbat tour of the Old City. That night, we’ll break bread at a traditional Shabbat dinner, a beautiful Jewish tradition of a weekly dinner with loved ones.
Jumping in now? You’re just in time!
Day 3 / Day 1: Let’s get retreating! We’ll pack up and head to Tel Aviv, where those on the pre-rereat extension will enjoy some down-time waiting for the rest of the pack to arrive. Those eager to start exploring sunny Tel Aviv can head to Yarkon Park for an epic weekly acro-jam to warm up for the week! Once everyone’s accounted for, we’ll get together at our hostel headquarters for a rooftop yin yoga class designed to stretch out all the tired travel muscles followed by welcome libations at the hostel bar. Next, we’ll head over to dinner in a secret garden restaurant to get to know your fellow aerial artists.
Day 4 / Day 2: Kick off the morning with a roof yoga session and traditional Israeli breakfast. Next, we’ll head to Bascula, Tel Aviv’s urban circus school, for the first of our daily two hour workshops with Brenna in aerial silks, hoops, and hammocks. Later, we’ll then enjoy lunch in Jaffa, Tel Aviv’s charming old city and the perfect base to explore the iconic Jaffa flea market, people watch at a popular surf and dog beach, and take in the best viewpoint in the city. At sunset, we’ll head into the water for a stand up paddle board aerial strength session. At night, Tel Aviv roars to life again.
Day 5 / Day 3: We’ll start the day again with a morning yoga session overlooking the city’s famous Bauhaus architecture before heading back to Bascula for another aerial workshop. After lunch at a hip garden cafe, its time for afternoon beach bummer — the summer beach scene in Tel Aviv is not to be missed! In the evening, he’ll head north of the city for a flying trapeze lesson. After our personal Cirque du Soleil training, we’ll head back into the heart of the city for dinner at an iconic pita joint.
Day 6 / Day 4: Get your day off to a strong start with our morning yoga class specifically designed to cater to aerialists, followed by another training session at Bascula with Brenna. After lunch at an iconic Arabic restaurant (where shots of arak are almost guaranteed), we’ll wander through the famous Levinsky Market, packed with small stalls & cafés and open for nearly a century. In the afternoon, we’re taking a private pole class with an iconic Israeli pole teacher — the pole scene in Israel is unreal! Giggles and feeling empowered guaranteed. We’ll close out the night with dinner and drinks and — and perhaps a few after-hours showings off of our new moves.
Day 7 / Day 5: Time to namaste together again for a final rooftop yoga and aerial arts workshop combo. After a catered lunch at Bascula, we’re showing off our new skills with a professional highlight reel photo and video shoot of your best work. We did it! Time to head to the beach and toast to a high flying week with sunset drinks followed by a lively dinner and an insider’s nightlife tour of Tel Aviv.
Day 8 / Day 6: We’ll send off those heading home today with a final farewell yoga class, a goodbye breakfast, and lots of hugs!
Sticking around for Pride? Here’s what’s on tap for a wild weekend!
Day 9 / Day 7: Parade Day! More than 250,000 people take to the streets and beaches of Tel Aviv to celebrate all things Pride.
Day 10 / Day 8: Party Day! Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv’s most iconic green space, is transformed into a festival-like day party with famous DJs and revelers who came from around the world for the hottest party in the Middle East. We’ll help you nab tickets and navigate logistics.
Day 11 / Day 9: Whew, that was a blast! It’s time to say shalom to Israel — for now!
Where We’ll Stay
For the retreat, we’ll stay at Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv, consistently ranked as one of the best hostels in the world on Hostelworld. There’s a rooftop deck for yoga, a bustling onsite bar, and more. Plus, the location is perfect — a ten minute walk from our aerial home at Bascula and centrally located to enjoy Tel Aviv’s best nightlife and restaurants.
You can choose between a private room, double rooms, or shared dorm rooms private to our retreat group.
Read Alex’s review of the Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv!
For the pre-retreat extension tour we’ll stay at the Abraham Hostel Jerusalem. Again, the same options are available — you can choose between a private room, double rooms, or a shared dorm room private to our retreat group.
Of course if selecting shared accommodation, you can room with a friend — but if you’re traveling solo, fear not, so are most of our guests! We’ll do our best to pair you with someone we think you’ll click with based on your intake forms — and we’re all friends by the end anyway.
What We’ll Eat
Every day, two meals will be included, including breakfast and either lunch or dinner. 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!). 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.
Travel With Us
On this trip you’ll be traveling with Wander Women Retreats founder Alexandra Baackes and High Flying Retreats founder Brenna Bradbury as your hosts.
Alexandra Baackes fell in love with Israel’s hospitality, culture, and adventures immediately upon her first trip in 2018 and loved it so much she’s been back four times since! She is a RYT 200 Registered Yoga Teacher, a Buti Bands and Sculpt instructor, and a regular yoga practitioner for over a decade. She can’t wait to travel with you.
Brenna Bradbury has performed as an aerialist and dancer with an assortment of entertainment companies in New York City, and as a speciality artist at venues such as The Box, The Slipper Room, The Diamond Horseshoe, Galapagos Art Space, and House of Yes. Off-Broadway, she performed aerial moon in “Speakeasy Dollhouse: Midnight Frolic” at the Liberty Theater. Brenna won 2nd place in the 2015 U.S. Aerial Championships, Silks Division, and was selected as a finalist in the 2016 U.S. Aerial Championships, Lyra Division. She has her 200 hour Vinyasa TT from Atmananda Yoga Studio, her 50 hour Aerial Yoga TT from OM Factory, and her 25 hour Flexibility TT from Elevated Education, through Body & Pole.
Getting There and Away
Most international flights to Israel arrive and depart from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV). This is where our tour will begin.
If you’re not joining us for the pre-retreat extension, in which airport pick up is included, upon arrival you can take a private taxi, Uber, or Gett to and from Ben Gurion airport. We will send additional information on airport transfers once you’ve booked, but don’t worry — the options are safe and simple!
Adventure Longer in Israel
Want the full Israeli experience? Before traipsing (and trapezing) around Tel Aviv, join us for our pre-retreat extension for a much fuller picture of what Israel is all about! You can book the pre-retreat extension bundled with your retreat (below) or separately here.
After we finish swinging from the ceiling literally, do so metaphorically for the wildest party in the Middle East — Pride! Tel Aviv’s epic beachside Pride Parade is tentatively scheduled for June 11th, while the wild day rave in Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv’s answer to New York’s Central Park, takes place on June 12th. We’re happy to help you extend accommodation and party your pants off!
To purchase the post-retreat Pride extension, please do so here.
If you want to arrive even earlier, check out Wander Women Israel: An Adventure + Yoga Retreat, for a different kind of Israel holiday, and travel seamlessly with Alex between the two retreats. Guests attending multiple retreats receive 10% off all of them!
Join Us
A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. Can’t make this one? Don’t sweat — sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats.
Once payment is complete, you’ll receive a confirmation email with intake form and an invite to a private Facebook group for your trip (so you can get to know your new travel besties virtually!). We’ll make sure you know exactly what to pack & expect, and help you with any questions!
Have a ton of questions about Israel and this trip? Schedule a 15 minute Zoom chat with Alex 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. We’d love to help!
F.A.Q.
What is the refund policy?
Remaining invoices are due 90 days before departure. The $500 deposit to secure your space is non-refundable. If the trip must be postponed or cancelled due to events beyond our control (for example, a global pandemic resurgence!), you will be offered the choice between a full refund and applying your payment to a future trip.
Will I have time to do my own thing?
This is your retreat and we want you to make it exactly what you want! There’s a lot to see and experience, so we’ve tried to design an itinerary that balances the best of activity and downtime. But any time you want to bow out to have some “me-time” or do your own thing, we’re going to cheer you on.
How much money will I need to bring?
For meals at the local spots we’ll bring you to, you can expect to spend roughly 50NIS ($15USD) for lunch or 100NIS ($30USD) for dinner, depending on where you go and what you order.
I want to extend my trip to explore more of Israel. Any suggestions?
Check out our destination page for our posts about the Dead Sea, Eilat, Jerusalem, Negev Desert, Tel Aviv — and feel free to email us for more info and ideas!
Can I do a payment plan and pay in installments?
Absolutely. We want to make this happen for you! Email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com.
Will I need travel insurance?
Yes, everyone will be required to have travel insurance for the duration of the trip. Our affiliate, World Nomads offers coverage at affordable rates.
Is there an age requirement?
You must be 18 years old or older.
What about visas?
Visas are not required for travel to Israel from the US, Canada, The UK, or many other countries. Traveling to Israel can be slightly intimidating given the more complicated restrictions, but we’re here to help!
As you might have heard, security at the airport can be comprehensive, and many are unclear on implications for their future travel plans. We will provide a wealth of information on the Israeli airport + visa experience and welcome any follow up questions and concerns! Israel no longer stamps passports, but if you have any worries about future travel plans, we have extensive background and knowledge in this area — please just email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with questions. Please also check with your embassy for current visa information.
Is there a waiting list?
There will be a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis in case spaces open up. If the retreat is full and you’re still interested, email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com to be added to the waiting list.
I have questions about the aerial portion of this trip. Who do I contact about that?
Awesome! Contact Brenna at highflyingretreats@gmail.com.
I still have questions about Israel, or cute photos of my dog. Who do I contact about that?
Um, us please! Our email is retreats@alexinwanderland.com.