Beyond The Visible (Yoga Retreat with Vladi)

BEYOND THE VISIBLE – with Vladi
27 Feb- 5 Mar 2020: 7-Nights Intensive Yoga/Meditation/Travel retreat
see Slovak version here

Welcome to Jericho, Palestine, arguably the oldest, and lowest city in the world, laying 258m below sea level. Whether you want to get off-the-beaten-track, see a new destination on your bucket list, deepen your self-development work, experience new impulses to your senses or just reward yourself with a time-out, Palestine offers all of this to those who are open and curious.

Our intensive meditation/yoga/travel retreat is designed to combine all aspects of physical, mental and spiritual work. Morning silent meditations, yoga sessions, community-building, and daily trips and activities take you on a journey within as well as outside yourself. Palestine’s complex politics and history do not take away from the warmth and hospitality of the local culture and the small joys and fullness of life. They complete each other and create an ideal place for meditation, observation, acceptance, opening our minds and exploring beyond the visible.

Jericho
Jericho is situated between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. We will stay at a traditionally-styled family guesthouse (Auberg-Inn) with a large garden, cats, donkeys, hens, fruit trees, herbs, and love within. It is nestled right at the foot of the biblical Mount Of Temptation.

There are 3 toilets and 3 showers for the entire house and other guests will be present.
We will sleep in an 8-bed dormitory bedroom. This is a good opportunity to practice sharing and consideration of others.
The food is simple, vegetarian and we will do our best to provide vegan food as often as possible.
The idea is to create a sense of community and family warmth which are the main values of Palestinian culture.

YOGA
Multi-styled physical yoga sessions – Shivananda, Hatha, Yin, Dynamic.
On and off our Yoga mats, our main focus will be a continuous observation within and acceptance of the present moment as it is. Emotions and thoughts come and go all the time, let us accept them without judgment.

ABOUT VLADI
Vladi is a 500+ hrs Certified Yoga Teacher in Shivananda, Hatha and Multi-Style Yoga and a student and practitioner of meditation. Throughout the years, she has been traveling, educating herself and exploring various holistic fields including body movement and expression, communication, bodywork, energy work, conscious living and others to fulfill her curiosity about life and its offerings. Simplicity, awareness of each moment and its impermanent nature are the main values she is developing within herself and promoting to the outside. She has visited Palestine before as a tourist, explorer, yoga teacher, volunteer in tourism, and also just like that – for her own pleasure and love for travel, food, people and culture.

What’s included
– Welcome dinner, 6 full days, 7 nights, good-bye Breakfast
– Shared sleeping space in 8-bed dormitory rooms
– Linen, towels, kitchen access and Wifi
– 2 multi-style yoga session a day-Hatha, Shivananda, Yin, Dynamic
– Minimum of 2 meditations a day
– Day trips, hikes & activities to many destinations including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and more (see Program tab)
– 7 x Breakfasts, 4 x Lunches, 6 x Dinners + Good-Bye Dinner – vegetarian food
– Live music on our last evening
– Free time to explore the area and evening life in Jericho
– Free Time: socialize, explore, discuss, or spend time in self-reflection. Make friends, learn new words, cry, laugh, be angry, be happy
– Hospitality, honesty, and transparency
– Off-the-beaten-track experience

What’s NOT included
– Flights – contact us if you need help with flight information and recommendations
– Transport from the airport to Jericho (the transport is available upon request at additional cost, please, contact us for more information)
– 2 x lunches – during Jerusalem and Bethlehem/Hebron tour. This is your freedom to roam the market and taste whatever and as much as you want.
– Travel insurance
– Cost of any additional activities
– Tips and gratuity
– See Terms & Conditions tab

Do you have any questions? Contact us directly or on WhatsApp at these numbers:
Hantourism.com Support +970568966010
Vladi +421940700687

Additional information

Dates	27 Feb – 05 Mar 2020
Destinations	Bethlehem, Hebron, Jericho & The Jordan Valley, Jerusalem, The Dead Sea
Activity	Hiking, Learning, Sightseeing, Swimming, Yoga & Meditation
Tour Type	Cultural Tours, Desert Tours, Eco-Tours, Health Tours, Spiritual Tours
Room Type	Mixed dormitory
Meal	Included

Thursday 27 Feb
Arrival, orientation and welcome dinner. Late meditation session at the end of the day.

Friday 28 Feb
Sunrise Meditation
Yoga
Breakfast
Short hike to the Mount Of Temptation, the place where Jesus Christ fasted and meditated for 40 days and nights, and was tempted by the devil
Lunch + Afternoon break
Visit Tel A-Sultan, the ruins of the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth
Visit Hisham Palace, an Islamic Heritage site from the Umayyad period
Yoga
Dinner
Group discussion about Palestine and Palestinian culture
Mediation

Saturday 29 Feb
Sunrise Meditation
Yoga
Breakfast
Hike through Wadi Qelt to Jericho from visiting St. George Monastery and outdoor Meditation in canyon nature
Free time, rest
Soft after-hike Yin Yoga
Dinner
Meditation

Sunday 1 March
Sunrise Meditation
Yoga
Breakfast
Departure by private bus to Jerusalem: Mahane Yehuda, Old City, Wailing Wall, outdoor Meditation/Yoga session
Lunch in the market or old town
Evening – coming back from Jerusalem, free time, rest
Dinner
Evening program (Movie Night)
Meditation

Monday 2 March
Meditation
Yoga
Breakfast
Departure to the Dead Sea: spending day at Dead Sea on a public, less-touristy and hippy beach. Healing mud, small natural sweet-water pool
Meditation on the beach
Picnic Lunch
Head back to Jericho
Yoga
Dinner
Evening program as per group agreement
Meditation

Tuesday 3 March

Meditation
Yoga
Breakfast
Departure to Hebron and Bethlehem: visit Hebron Old City, Mosque, Synagogue, market. Lunch in the market.
Stop on the way out of Hebron to visit a Glass blowing and Ceramics factory, then head to Bethlehem to visit Manger Square and the Nativity Church, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
Head back to Jericho
Yoga
Dinner
Meditation

Wednesday 4 March

Meditation
Yoga
Breakfast
Visit Jericho’s Mosaic Centre, and indulge in the therapeutic handicraft experience of making your own mosaic souvenirs to take home, while learning everything about this ancient art, particular to Jericho city
Lunch + afternoon rest
Acro Yoga
Group Meditation
Goodbye Dinner
Live music performance

Thursday 5 March
Meditation
Yoga
Breakfast
Group picture, and farewell…

Base prices are in EURO, the exchange rate is to be revised upon confirmation
Prices are excluding V.A.T, flights, travel insurance, border fees and transport from/to airport
25% non-refundable deposit is required upon reservation – 243 Eur
75% of the payment is due at least one month prior to the start date – 726 Eur

THINGS TO UNDERSTAND AND CONSIDER

Read this section carefully to gain understanding about the destination and culture:

While wearing clothes that make you feel comfortable to keep in mind that Palestine is a Muslim country, and almost most of the Palestinian women wear the hijab and fully cover their bodies. If you wear clothing that reveals your arms and legs, it is likely that you will receive a lot of attention. Most female visors opt for long trousers or pants, or skirts that reach the ankles, combined with loose-fitting shirts that reach the elbows, although t-shirts are also acceptable. In addition, men are advised to cover from their neck to below their knees. Sandals are fine for both men and women
AIRPORT: The checks at the airport – especially when leaving Israel – can be a long and stressful experience. It is a standard procedure. Tell the truth, keep calm
We will be moving between Palestine and Israel and there may be checks at checkpoints when entering both Israeli and Palestinian territory. Always carry a passport with you and the blue ENTRY PERMIT issued at the airport upon arrival. It is small and easily lost, take care of it!
Soldiers carrying guns are common in Israel – no need to be alarmed
Weather: the weather changes significantly between places – Jericho is much warmer than Jerusalem and other places even though they are near to each other. The average temperatures at the end of February in Jericho are between 15-20°C, Jerusalem around 13°C. Dead Sea around 21°C. This is a good time for hiking before the temperatures shoot up
The food is simple vegan/vegetarian
Currency used – ISL – Israeli Shekels. If you cannot get this, USD or EURO is ok and you can exchange them either at the airport or at Jericho city center
Electric plug – C and H

WHAT TO BRING

Light clothes covering your skin for the hike – it can be very hot and sunny
Light scarf and/or headcover to protect from the sun and for ladies to cover their hair when entering holy places
Comfortable and good footwear. You don’t need hardcore trek boots, just good, flat, secure shoes you can walk in for 4 hours through the desert
Warm clothes for the nights and possible cold days outside Jericho
Swimsuit
Please, consider the shared living when packing- the fewer items the better
Raincoat
No vaccinations are necessary

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Please, check whether your country requires a visa to Israel. For many European citizens, a 3-month visa is granted upon arrival. You will receive a blue entry permit. KEEP THE BLUE ENTRY PERMIT CARD WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.

There are two international airports in Israel: Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (closer to Jericho)& Ovda / Eilat (south of Israel). There are several flights from Europe – WizzAir, Ryanair, EasyJet, SmartWings..

From Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport to Jericho via Jerusalem Central Station
A shuttle bus number 485 links Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem every hour. Pickup at Ben Gurion Airport will be on the arrivals concourse (arrivals level) of Terminal 3 which is the same level as the airport taxi stand. There is also a pick up from Terminal 1. It will take you to the central station.

Cost: 16 ILS / 4 Eur

From Jerusalem Central Station to Jericho:

Buses 486, 967, 941 leave frequently from Floor 3 – Departures. Click the link for timetable: https://www.bus.co.il/otobusimmvc

Cost: 12-16 ILS / 3-4 Eur

Get off at Almog Junction. From here it is a 10mins drive to AubergInn. We can organize a collection, or if you are more adventurous, you can stop a sherut (yellow transport van) or hitchhike (general caution and common sense applies).

From Ovda Airport

It takes longer to get to Jericho from Ovda Airport via Eilat, about 5-6 hours, though the journey itself is interesting throughout the Desert and alongside the Dead Sea.

There is a bus 282 leaving Ovda Airport –

Cost: single 25 ILS; return 42.5 ILS = 6 Eur ; 10.50 Eur.

The departure times are synchronized with flights. You can get a ticket at the airport. This bus takes you directly to Eilat Bus Station. From here, take a bus going to Jerusalem and get off at Almog Junction (around 65 ILS / 16 Eur). From here it is 10 mins drive to AubergInn. We can organize a collection, or if you are more adventurous, you can stop a sherut (yellow transport van) or hitchhike (general caution and common sense applies).