Network of Experiential Palestinian Tourism Organizations www.NEPTO.ps
Palestinian Initiative for Responsible Tourism www.pirt.ps
Masar Ibrahim Alkhalil “Abraham Path “Palestine www.masaribrahim.ps
Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem www.arij.org
Holy Land Handicraft cooperate Society www.hlhcs.org
Israelis Community Against House demolishing www.icahd.org
Palestine Museum of Natural History www.palestinenature.org
Paltrips www.paltrips.ps
The Switchers www.theswitchers.eu/en
From Jenin to Jerusalem
A day-by-day breakdown
Day 1:
Arrival
On the first day of the cycle tour, we will meet you at 12:00 noon at the Jerusalem Hotel located in Nablus Street, close to Jerusalem's Damascus Gate, opposite the Garden Tomb. From there a service bus will take you to the El Beit Guesthouse in Beit Sahour for a brief orientation. After that, our driver will transfer you to Jenin where you will get acquainted with our local guide, discuss any special needs, expectations and any other relevant information before the tour begins. Dinner and overnight in Hadad Resort.
Day 2:
Jenin to Nablus (40 km)
Cycle from Jenin towards Sebastia, the ancient Canaanite, Hellenistic and Roman city. Starting at Haddad Resort, cycle towards the village of Zebabdeh, towards the village of Missilieh. Continuing to the village of Sanour and its beautiful plains. Onwards towards the villages of Yassid and Beit Imrin by hilly roads. Arrive at the hilltop village of Sebastia.
A mixture of up and downhill.
Sebastia is believed to be the place where John the Baptist was beheaded. Lunch in Sebastia, then tour the ancient city and meet the local community. After lunch, cycle to Nablus, tour the old city and enjoy a Turkish bath - optional – at participant’s own expense. Dinner and overnight in the Al- Yasmin Hotel, in the old city of Nablus.
Day 3:
Nablus to Taybeh (40 km)
Start cycling in the old city of Nablus towards the south passing the villages of Huwarah and Beita. Continue towards the village of Aqraba – beautiful views of the Jordan Valley. Continue towards Majdal Bani Fadil, and rest in the village of Duma. Afterwards, cycle towards Mughayyar and Khirbet Abu Fallah villages. Next, push the bikes up the highest hill in the Ramallah area. With the support vehicle in attendance, we head towards the village of Kufur Malik, and then Dier Jarir. Arrive in Taybeh in the late afternoon.
Tour the old village center and visit the ruins of the 4th century Byzantine church of St. George. Visit the Peace Lantern Factory, the Taybeh beer factory, and enjoy dinner with local families. Overnight in the Church Guest House in Taybeh.
A few gentle hills to start with then one difficult uphill.
Day 4:
Taybeh to Jericho and the Dead Sea (45 km)
Cycle to Jericho. Visit Hisham's Palace and the Mount of Temptation. Cycle through the Jerusalem Wilderness to the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight in the Jericho Resort Village.
This section is easy - mostly downhill. Cyclists pass through the hills overlooking the awe-inspiring Jordan Valley. Jericho is 300 meters below sea level and is warmer than other locations.
Day 5:
Jericho to Mar Saba
Cycle part of the way to Bethlehem. Visit Nabi Musa, and then walk the dirt road to the Greek Orthodox Mar Saba Monastery. Enjoy the wilderness and experience the dramatic landscape. After visiting Mar Saba Monastery, cycle to Bethlehem. Dinner in Bethlehem, and overnight in the El Beit Guesthouse in Beit Sahour.
Set off from Jericho by bike. Uphill for a while, but not too difficult. Then a long stretch of level road passing sand dunes. Disembark from bikes, and walk across the desert to the Greek Orthodox Mar Saba Monastery. A pleasant walk taking approximately 3 -4 hours. Water and sun-block needed. From Mar Saba, the mini-bus transports the cyclists back to the hostel in Beit Sahour.
Day 6:
Bethlehem to Hebron (25 km)
Cycle around Bethlehem. Visit the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd's Field. In the afternoon, cycle to Hebron and visit the old city. Transfer by mini-bus back to Bethlehem. Farewell dinner party in a local restaurant in the Bethlehem area. Overnight in El Beit Guesthouse, Beit Sahour.
Day 7:
Bethlehem to Jerusalem
An easy ride from delightful Bethlehem to the divided city of Jerusalem. Visit Jerusalem’s Old City. Enjoy an alternative political and cultural tour in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
A short ride. Shallow hills.
Day 8:
Departure
How difficult will it be?
You will need to be reasonably fit to take this tour. There are some long uphill stretches that will tire even the most experienced cyclist. Fortunately, these are few and far between. There will be a support vehicle at all times to take you and your bike on-board if the going
gets tough.
For more information and registration, please click on the link below:
https://www.walkpalestine.com/en/bike-tours
Sherrill Group 2013
From October 28 to November 1, 2013 a five member delegation of Americans used Siraj’s expertise and excellent guide, Mohammed Barakat, to expand our visit to Palestine, which we had started by participating in the Olive Harvest Campaign organized by JAI.
Abraham PathTour, By:Janice Gwilliam
In Nablus, we first visit a soap factory in the middle of the modern city. We are allowed to wrap some soap. Fascinating! Then we walk around the old city, a university lecturer, joins us, and we see more of the old city, including a wall of photos of local martyrs. We have coffee in a coffee shop recently opened in the old city; it is also a sort of local history museum. Lots of talking, including a fascinating political discussion about Palestine. Café is full of young people, although all in single sex groups. Visit the hammam; it is men’s day so Brigitta and I just see the main hall, a lovely old building.
Included in the price of the program: Breakfast and dinner daily, ground transportation, entrance fees and experienced guides during the travel program; lectures; homestays; dabka and cooking classes; speaker fees and administrative fees.
Program price does not include: optional costs such as single room supplement and travel insurance; personal expenses such as laundry; individual travel arrangements; beverages at meals; lunches; tips for bus drivers and guides (where applicable); passports and foreign visas; or fees and surcharges imposed after the time of registration.
Payments:
payments could be done cash upon arrival or by wire to our bank account, if you want to pay by credit card please note that 3 % will be add to the amount.
Registration and payment: a deposit of 180$ is required with registration at least 45days prior to arrival. Full payment is required 30 days prior to arrival. A late fee of 45$ will apply thereafter. In order to keep prices low, Siraj center for Holy Land studies doesn’t accept credit cards.
Passports and visas: each person must procure a passport valid for six months after your return. All passengers must submit to Siraj center for Holy Land studies copies of their travel documents not later than 30 days prior to departure. Siraj Center is not responsible for applying to Visas if Required.
Lodging: if it is my hosting family there will be no surcharge for the Single Supplement, but if the Lodging on a Hotel or Guest House, the price is based on double occupancy, and there will be supplement for the Single room.
Cancellation conditions: Siraj center for Holy Land studies will make every effort to recuperate program payments in the event of cancellation. However, our ability to do so is sometimes limited to the following schedule: 30 days prior to Arrival, 30% of the total program plus the Registration Fees; 30- 15days prior to Arrival, 50 % of total program cost plus the Registration Fees; 14-03 days prior to arrival, 70% of total program cost plus the Registration Fees, 2 days prior to arrival date to date of arrival, 85 % of total program cost plus the Registration Fees; on or after day of departure, 100% of total program cost plus the Registration Fees.
Travel & Health Insurance: Siraj center for Holy Land studies encourages it’s passengers to purchase travel insurance. Siraj center is not responsible of any of your health expenses during your stay or its not liable if any things happened to participates during the programs and activities.
We are pleased to announce that Bethlehem University in cooperation with Siraj Center is offering students of the Summer Arabic Program the opportunity to discover Palestine by participating in various activities that Siraj will organize!
Please note that these activities are optional for Bethlehem University’s Arabic students and these activities are not included in the course fees for the Arabic course.
WEEKEND TOURS: DISCOVER PALESTINE!
Learn more about Palestinian history, culture, traditions, and you will have the chance to get a deeper understanding about the current political situation.
WHEN: Every Saturday of each month, one-day tours through Palestinian cities will be lead by our professional guides.
WHERE:
*visit various religious sites,
*tour along the separation wall,
* learn about the settlements in the West Bank,
* walk through the ancient old cities of Nablus, Jerusalem, Hebron and Jericho
FEE: Per person: 4 tours => 280 USD, which includes guiding, entrance fees and transportation.
Note: The rate is based on a minimum 10 participants. Siraj reserves the right to charge an extra fee in the event that there are less than 10 participants. 
COOKING CLASSES
Learn how to prepare a Palestinian meal, and be able to recreate the experience at home for your family and friends! Our professional cooking instructor will teach you the ins and outs of each traditional recipe. At the end of the course, you will enjoy a dinner which you the students will prepare!
WHEN: Every Thursday evening, one hour each class
WHERE: Bethlehem Area – Beit Sahour
FEE: 4-day cooking course => 120 USD
DABKA DANCE CLASSES
Our Dabka dance instructor will be pleased to teach you the techniques and steps of the traditional Palestinian Dabka. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the origins and importance behind Palestinian cultural dances. The four evenings will be filled with music dance and a lot of fun!
WHEN: Every Friday evening, one hour each class
WHERE: At Siraj Center
FEE: 4 Dabka dance classes => 80 USD
ACCOMMODATION
Siraj Center, one of the leading organizations with a wide network of families that are willing to host international students during their stay in the Bethlehem area, is prepared to help you find suitable accommodation.
Options for accommodation:
• HOME STAY WITH FAMILY
*Live with a local Palestinian family, experiencing daily life with your hosts.
*Share Palestinian breakfast and dinner with your host family, spend any of your free time with them,
*Get a closer feel and understanding of Palestinian daily life, customs and traditions.
*Practice your Arabic
Fee: 850 USD per month, which includes the home stay, breakfast and dinner.
• RENT A PRIVATE APARTMENT
Siraj can help you find an apartment in the Bethlehem area where you will have your own private place to stay.
Rent: 550 USD per month, which does not include food, water and electricity bills.
• SHARED APARTMENT
Share an apartment with other students. You will have your own room.
Rent: 300 USD.
The water and electricity bills will be split among the tenants.
For More information please email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Register here
"On Old Shepherds' Trails", by Johannes Lüthi
Under this title IMBACH-REISEN in Lucerne, a pioneer of hiking holidays and tours, presented a new destination to their customers.
A friendly Palestinian guide took us to villages and refugee camps,at some distance Jewish settlements. Again and again we got in touch with the Bible and the Holy Land : Abraham and Jacob, miracles by Jesus, the woman at Jacobs well.
Nativity Trail Dec 2013
A multinational delegation walked the entire Nativity Trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The delegation started with a day tour in Nazareth, visiting the Church of Annunciation, the House of Mary, and the Sea of Galilee.
The group then began their walk from Faqua’a, heading south across the West Bank through the towns of Zababdeh, Fara’a camp, Nablus, Duma, Ain Auja, Jericho, Nabi Musa and Mar Saba.
More...
Italian Hiking Group, by Graziano, Lorena, Manuela, Pino, Renate and Sabrina
While we were walking from Nazareth to Bethlehem, we were able to observe the way of living of the people in Palestine, their hopes, their achievements, their sorrows. We experienced the smell and taste of the food, the smoothness and roughness of the soil under our feet crossing the fields, along the path, down the ravines. We touched and sipped the water in pools and wells. We drank Arabic coffee or tea, during our rests. We listened to stories of the places we traveled through, of the people who used to live there and of those who live there now.
"In the Steps of Abraham", by Pierrette Nicolosi
Describing the beauty of the Palestinian landscape and its fascinating diversity, the privileged witness of timeless scenes, the shepherds driving their herds across thousand-year-old landscapes of cliffs, the Bedouins in their traditional daily life, would all be incomplete and inequitable toward those women and men met along the trail and who bring to this journey all its powerful humanity.
Abraham’s Path is as well, a rich encounter with each person involved in the project, the local guide who bridges the voyageur to his family, and the communities the voyageur will meet on the way.
"Far Adventures Travel, LLC", by Fran Mikaloff
The Abraham Trail in Palestine took our group of 8 through barren landscapes in Awarta, lush olive orchards between Awarta and Duma, scrubby desert-like terrain and fertile farms planted with a variety of fruits and vegetables in the terracing of the Aqraba hillsides. In Taybeh, we had a private tour of the only microbrewery in the Middle East! And we will never forget Nablus with its traditional soap factory and the delicious “kanafa”. But the best part was the people we met, conversed, laughed with and learned from.
"Back from Palestine", by Janice Gupta Gwilliam
A new place to walk, in the olive groves and wadis of Palestine. It was too late for wild flowers, but we caught the end of the olive harvest. It is a small and encircled place, with a wall and the Jordan river as its effective boundaries. But the people we met were kind and generous, both the guides who led us and the people in whose homes we stayed.