10-Day Spiritual Pilgrimage in the Holy Land
Overview
This is truly a one-of-a-kind life-changing experience that will awaken your soul as you visit the most sacred places in history. Together, we will spend 10 days in a divine fusion of ancient biblical touch points and modern-day cultures, while immersing in daily group discussions, mindful practices and exclusive activities.
You will receive door-to-door access and private, guided tours of Israel’s great sites, museums, churches, mosques and synagogues, and more. Additionally, you will taste all the diverse culinary delights the region has to offer, including a private Sabbath dinner and a visit to a premiere winery for an amazing wine tasting experience (just to name a few…).
Join me as we walk in the steps of Jesus, King Solomon and the Prophet, as we explore the holy sites of Jerusalem, Galilee, Bethlehem, the Western Wall, the Muslim Quarter, the ancient city of Jericho, the mount of Olives, the Dead Sea, and the Dome of the Rock, immersing into the most ancient and modern touchstones of history and religion.
This sacred spiritual journey will be led by me and my brilliant friend, teacher and powerful archetype of divine feminine energy… Shelly Tygielski (aka @MindfulSkaterGirl). Shelly is a “sabra” – a Jew born in Israel – and was raised in the U.S. as an Orthodox Jew in the Sephardic tradition. Shelly’s interest in mindfulness began over twenty years ago while she was a graduate student at Columbia University. Since then, her journey took her to undertake studies at the Shambhala Buddhism Center and then at the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness. You can learn more about Shelly here.
A Spiritual Journey Through Israel
This is a trip of a lifetime. Israel’s rich culture, remarkable history, breathtaking natural beauty and impressive landmarks combine to make it one of the top vacation destinations on Earth.
All-Inclusive Luxury Travel
We’ve taken care of all the details, including accommodations, guides, excursions, and spared no expense to ensure your comfort, health, safety, and exclusive access to magnificent experiences.
davidji is with You Every Step of the Way
davidji and Shelly will escort you everywhere to famous and undiscovered sites in the Holy Land, including the location of the Great Confession; Israeli Meditation Center; village of Ein Hod; Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, and the Dead Sea.
Program
This is not a cookie-cutter trip! We have curated a profound, customized, hands-on experience hosted and led from morning to evening and from beginning to end by davidji and Shelly. This is an intimate pilgrimage and attendance is limited to ensure the best possible experience for you. In 10 magical days with me, you will:
- Walk in the steps of Jesus;
- Tour the Old City’s Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites;
- Stargaze in the desert;
- Swim in the Dead Sea;
- Meditate at sunrise on the mountaintop fortress of Masada;
- Understand the complexity of the Middle East as we raise the planet’s vibration;
- Discover kibbutz life;
- Celebrate a group Sabbath dinner;
- Visit the original Holocaust Museum; and
- Engage in group discussions about faith, peace, history, acceptance and spirituality.
Details
Together, we will explore the most famous and undiscovered sites in the Holy Land: Rabin Square; Caesarea Philippi, location of the Great Confession; Banias Waterfall; Mount Bental, overlooking the Valley of Tears; Israeli Meditation Center; the artist village of Ein Hod; Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust Museum, Herod’s mountaintop fortress of Masada; the Dead Sea; Bethlehem; Mount of Olives; and so much more! Registration is all-inclusive with lots of perks. It includes:
- 9 nights’ accommodations;
- Experienced Israeli & Palestinian guides, who have been personally vetted by us;
- Private bus transportation, including group arrival and departure airport transfers;
- Breakfasts each day, 2 lunches, 6 dinners;
- Entrance and site fees, and honorariums for speakers;
- Wireless headsets to keep us connected throughout the tour; and
- Customary tips for drivers, guides, and hotel staff.
What is NOT INCLUDED: International airfare, travel insurance, meals not mentioned in the itinerary, individual airport transfers outside of the group transfer.
FAQ
How do I begin? You simply need to arrange your own travel from wherever you live to the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv arriving the morning of February 25, 2020, where you will be greeted by our representative. From that moment on, you can simply surrender to a 10-day life-transforming itinerary. You will be returned back to Ben Gurion Airport on March 5 for your journey home.
Of course, you are welcome to arrive early and stay longer if your schedule permits. We will assist you with making those arrangements.
What hotels will we be staying at? We have selected some beautiful, high-quality boutique hotels to help us stay refreshed and nourished: Harmony Hotel Jerusalem, Kfar Hanokdim, Bayit Bagalil, and Alexander Boutique Tel Aviv.
What documents do I need to travel to Israel? For U.S. and Canadian citizens, all you need is a passport that’s valid at least six months longer than your date of arrival in Israel. (For stays up to three months, you don’t need a visa.) If you’re not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, the same conditions apply to citizens of most western countries, but just to be sure: click here.
Do I need travel insurance? YES. Travel insurance is MANDATORY for all davidji Israel travelers and should be taken out right after you register. At a minimum, your travel insurance should be comprehensive providing coverage for cancellation of your trip, loss of luggage, personal items, personal accident, medical expenses, and personal liability (with a minimum coverage of US$100,000).
Get Travel Insurance Here: We recommend WorldNomads.com
What are the medical and vaccination requirements? Of course you should consult with your doctor or medical professional. But we recommend that you get a Hepatitis A and a Typhoid vaccination before your journey. Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.
What to Pack
Light-weight rain gear and umbrella: Our trip unfolds during Israel’s spring, so there may still be some spring showers in the northern and coastal areas of the country. The southern areas of the country tend to experience year-round desert conditions.
Layers. Layers. Layers: Although the mornings might be cool, the afternoons will be warm. There are plenty of desert areas of the country that are dry and hot, and others that experience showers and cool ocean breezes. Pack short-sleeved or sleeveless shirts and shorts or pants that are made of a light breathable fabric, and make sure to bring sweatshirts/sweater and a jacket. Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must.
Be mindful of Holy Sites: Pack some shirts that will cover your shoulders, and pants or long skirts to cover your legs. In order to visit many of the holy sites throughout the country, you’ll need to cover up. That means no exposed shoulders and pants below the knees or to the ankles. It’s a good idea to pack some items that you can throw into a backpack while sightseeing. For men, many sights require head coverings. Some sites offer yarmulkes for rental, which are head coverings worn by Jewish men. You can also wear any type of hat or ball cap.
Dress for Adventure Activities: Bring comfortable walking shoes or sneakers. And, pack a bathing suit and sandals for our bucket-list dip in the Dead Sea.
Payment Plans and Cancellation
You may cancel your registration and receive a FULL refund within one week of booking your trip. There are no refunds after that. This is why travel insurance is so important in the event you need to cancel. The Cancellation Policy only applies to paid-in-full accounts at registration. Payments made via our installment plan are non-refundable at anytime.
Trip insurance is compulsory to protect you from an unexpected cancellation, losing your luggage, and any medical emergency during the retreat.
Do not confuse this with flight insurance. Trip insurance covers all aspects of your trip including your flight. You must submit proof that you have trip insurance 60 days before the retreat. Please purchase trip insurance with at least $100,000 worth of medical coverage since you never know what the universe has in store.
Click here to purchase insurance.
As costs for this retreat are all-inclusive the cancellation and refund policy is firm.
