Cost: $1260 (double) | $1495 (single)
To reserve your spot, fill out the registration form and submit a $250 deposit here.

**Extend your trip by registering for Pink Pangea’s Tel Aviv Retreat and make this an unforgettable Israel experience. Participants of both retreats receive a $120 discount off the total price!*

• Four-nights accommodations at the centrally located TRYP by Wyndham Hotel, Jerusalem Bat Sheva
• An intimate group of women from all over the world
• Breakfast each day
• Daily writing workshops
• Tours throughout Jerusalem, including: the Old City’s diverse quarters; the lively Machane Yehuda market; Ben Yehuda Street’s shopping district. Optional visits to museums include: Israel Museum and Yad Vashem.

• • • Airfare to Israel
    • Lunches and dinners

Day 1

We’ll get together at our charming hotel at 5pm for a welcome and orientation writing session. We’ll review the schedule in detail, meet our fellow participants, and get our creative juices flowing. We’ll venture to a nearby restaurant and sample some of Israel’s fresh and finest cuisine.

Some of us will be jet lagged and others will be raring to go. For the latter, we recommend heading to the Tachanah Rishona, Jerusalem’s converted old train station that now features an array of eclectic bars, restaurants, and outdoor fun.

Day 2

We’ll wake up to witness Jerusalem’s golden stone shining in the morning light. We’ll indulge in a traditional Israeli breakfast of delicious salads, an array of cheeses, eggs, fresh juices, and some of the best coffee you’ve ever tasted. Once satiated, we’ll get to work! Our daily writing workshops are made up traditional writing activities, as well as innovative exercises designed to open up our imaginations.

We’ll break for lunch and set out to explore Jerusalem’s exquisite Old City. We’ll head to Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, dating back over 2,000 years and then we’ll make our way to the Christian quarters and retrace some of Jesus’ steps. To wind down the day, we’ll have the chance to wander through the Arab market and The Cardo. Dinner options range from spots in the Old City, Emek Refaim, or Ben Yehuda Street.

Day 3

Once again, we’ll begin our morning with a sumptuous breakfast followed by an experiential writing workshop. For lunch, we’ll make our way to the bustling Machane Yehuda Market. There, we’ll have the option of eating lunch at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with some of the best falafel or shakshuka or to experience some Israel’s fine dining with one of Israel’s top chefs–it’s up to you! Then, we’ll weave our way through the market’s many alleys, sampling gooey rugelach and a multitude of dried fruits and nuts, all while haggling the Middle Eastern way.

Day 4

Following another magical breakfast and workshop, we’ll have the option of visiting one of several museums. From the Israel Museum, displaying some of Israel’s best modern and ancient art to Yad Vashem, Israel’s world-class Holocaust museum. In the evening we’ll reconvene on Ben Yehuda Street, Jerusalem’s center for shopping, great food and nightlife. Thursday nights are especially exciting with live musicians dotting the streets.

Day 5

We’ll savor our last Israeli breakfast and conclude our retreat with a final workshop. Get ready for laughter, tears, hugs, and promises that you’ll make and keep to meet up again in new exotic locations.

Itinerary specifics are subject to change.

Under Jaclyn’s guidance, I found new direction for my writing and tackled topics that I haven’t been able to put down on paper until now. I shared my work and became part of a community of writers, whose feedback was invaluable to me. I dove into my fears and created new dreams for what I might do with my writing in the future. I cannot recommend this course highly enough. I’m already sad that it’s over.
– Katie Kindle

I now have the motivation and confidence to write and publish, which previously seemed more like a faraway fantasy. I learned that reality is what you create and build for yourself, not something you should wait for or leave for chance to decide.
– Nechama Winston

I appreciated meeting every woman in my group. We were all so different, coming from very different backgrounds and places, but we all shared our love of writing and traveling in common.
– Elayne Sanchez

I came out of it a different person than I went in…[Jaclyn] made us linger in our discomfort long enough to compel us to make a change. In fact, she had to relinquish control in order for it to be a catalyst. That’s a mark of a great teacher.
– Stephen Elliot

I finally remembered what I really need, and who I really am.
— Alex Pendleton

The trip did everything for me. Planned by the amazing team behind Pink Pangea, I can officially say the trip changed my life for the better. I not only practiced my writing in ways that expanded my passion and skill, but I also made friends of all different ages from all over the world that I now consider some of the greatest people I’ve ever met.
– Kathryn Cardin

I stumbled upon Pink Pangea’s writing retreat. I only had to read through the page once to know that this was the right time and the right opportunity to finally take that risk. And I signed up in a heartbeat, and I am so glad that I did.
– Julianne Kanter

The only reason I submitted an article and was accepted was because I went to the writing retreat and gained the confidence needed as a writer to think my writing was even good enough to submit to a major online publication.
— Shannon Whaley

Pink Pangea retreats bring together women of all ages who:

• • • Want to gain new skills and tools that will improve their writing and publishing potential
    • Have an itch to write
    • Are ready to sharpen their unique voice
    • Want to receive feedback and gain confidence in their writing
    • Love to explore new places
    • Enjoy sharing their stories with other travelers
    • First timers to Jerusalem, as well as frequent travelers

Jaclyn Mishal

Jaclyn Mishal is a co-founder of Pink Pangea. Since 2006, Jaclyn has worked in the travel industry, connecting thousands of individuals with international academic, volunteer, and internship opportunities. In addition to her work devoted to making the “gap year” mainstream, Jaclyn played an integral role in developing international service learning programs.

An entrepreneur, writing teacher and an inspirational public speaker, Jaclyn’s speciality is guiding people to express themselves fully. Her creative guided writing activities help even the most seasoned writers break out of their habits and expand their abilities. Jaclyn has led writing and Fearless Living workshops internationally in partnership with colleges and companies, including Google, Barnard College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Wellesley College, Wagner College, REI, Global Yoga Journeys and Hostelling International. According to Jaclyn, writing enables us to access parts of ourselves that we may have trouble expressing otherwise.

Jaclyn is a certified yoga instructor, whose travels have taken her through the Middle East, Europe, North America and Central America. She holds a B.S. from Binghamton University.

Jaclyn’s maternal grandmother survived the Holocaust and her paternal grandmother fled Baghdad, Iraq. To them, Jaclyn dedicates her work to providing a space for women to share their stories.

Jerusalem weather is delightful in May. The days are sunny and in the high 70s F (27 C). The nights are breezy and in the high 50s (about 12 C). We recommend packing layers, as well as a few long pants and long-sleeved shirts for visits to religious sites.

Pink Pangea’s staff will provide all of the information and support that you need to make this experience exceptional.

Trip Resources

Before the retreat, Pink Pangea will send you details about arriving in and departing from Israel; as well as a detailed packing list.

Check out some great articles featured on Pink Pangea about traveling to Israel here:

11 Best Apps to Download Before Your Trip to Israel
20 Hebrew Slang Expressions You Need to Know
Struggling with Israel: Conflicted Feelings about the Holy Land
Witnessing History at the Western Wall

I’m new to writing workshops. Will I fit in?

Absolutely! Jaclyn’s unique writing prompts and exercises benefit both new and experienced writers. The Pink Pangea community is encouraging, and all writers are welcome.

I’m a seasoned writer who has been published in a various media outlets. What will I get out of this retreat?

Jaclyn’s speciality is guiding people to express themselves fully. Her creative guided writing activities help even the most seasoned writers break out of their habits and expand their abilities.

How old are the women who attend the retreat?

Women of all ages attend Pink Pangea retreats.

How will I get to the hotel?

The best way to get to the hotel is by taking the Nesher Shuttle Taxi Service that is located just outside the terminal. No need to reserve. The service will bring you to the hotel for 65 NIS per person. Or you can take a private taxi, which is more comfortable but more expensive.

To reserve your spot, fill out the registration form and submit a $250 deposit here.

If you have any questions at all about the retreat email us at [email protected].