The Forgotten Palaces

Characteristics: ·       Category: Culture and life, nature, heritage and history. ·       Duration: 13 days, 12 nights ·       Difficulty level: Moderate / Difficult ·       Type of trip:Multitasking (Transported, hiking, camel riding, swimming,cable cars) ·       Leg length: 20km ·       Period: All year, customized to the tourist interest. ·       Accommodation: Home stays / Guest houses / Tents ·       Notes:The selected accommodation facilities offer Internet services free of charge.

The trip: Day 1 Arrive from airport and spend the night in Battir CLC village (CLC) near Jerusalem (arrival will be in the evening) Day 2 Jerusalem: We will have an early start at 6:30 to get ready and have breakfast at the guesthouse in Battir CLC village before heading to the old city of Jerusalem to visit Al-Aqsa mosque and the dome of the rock and have a tour in the city. The members of Nabi Samuel women society in the old city will prepare a traditional lunch for the group before returning to the guesthouse in Battir CLC. There, we will visit the women of Battir CLC productive collective and have a tour in the old town of Battir CLC before starting the evening program at 18:30. Day 3 After having breakfast in the guesthouse, the group will visit the Mount of Olives to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and visit the churches there. After that we will go to Abu deis village to have a look at the apartheid separation wall and visit the center of the popular committee against the wall. Lunch will be served at the Jerusalem Hotel before going to see an artistic or cultural event in Jerusalem before heading back to guesthouse. Day 4 Bethlehem: The group will gather at Abu Hasan guesthouse to go to Saint George church in Alkhader village. The next stop will be Bthlehem city to have a tour and visit the famous historic places. Lunch will be served at Al Sammakrestaurant. The evening program will start at 18:30 at the Bedouin Tentsof “Tal Al Qamar” – Hill of the Moon where the group will spend the night over Day 5 After having breakfast at the Bedouin Tents, the group will visit the closed paradise monastery in Artas village. After that we will visit Bethlehem University to have a tour and learn about the different departments. The tour will include visiting thePalestine Museum of Natural History. Then, the group will head to Dheisha refugee camp to visit the Dheisha Creativity Center and learn about the activities of the center. Lunch will be served at the one of the local restaurants/ associations before leaving to the Arrabah (CLC) to spend the night over. Day 6 Arraba CLC: The day starts early at 7:00 am by AbdAlhadi(Arrabah) palaces to have a tour in the place and learn about the history of the ruling families during the Ottoman period and the British mandate. Then we will  start the hike by heading to Alhufeira historic area and the Dothan hill that dates back to the Byzantine and Canaanite periods. After having traditional tea and taking a break we will go to Sanour village and have a tour in one of the oldest castles and palaces in the area. Prepared by Jaba’ women association, the traditional lunch will be served at 15:00. After lunch we will visit Alfakhara traditionalpottery workshop before heading to Arrabah village to have a break then an evening tour to visit the local artists and participate to the “Arabic Names Writing” and finally enjoy the artistic evening program at 20:00. Day 7 After having breakfast in the home stays, we will go to Kferet village to have a tour and visit the traditional “Banat Al EEd“Tree and Canaan Fair Trade Company. Then we will meet one of the women’s succeeded micro projects in the area to learn about the socio- economic reality of the women in the rural areas. Before having the delicious meal prepared by members of Ya’bad women’scenter they will introduce the activities and events of the center. At 16:00 we will visit  one old lady “BasemaAlarda” to learn about the Traditional Palestinian herbal medication before going to Arrabah association for the development of rural women to participate in a “make your own dish” workshop and  enjoy the evening program (story telling) Day 8 At 7:30 we will walk to one of the local restaurant to have traditional breakfast. Then we will visit Alnajda association and Arrabah association for the development of rural women to learn more about the legal, political, socio-economic situation of women in the area. At 11:00 we will participate in Graffiti in Arrabah village before visiting Khatwa youth association to learn about the youth activities in the area. After having lunch in AbdAlhadi palace we will go to Tura village to have a tour among its historical monuments a close look at the apartheid separation wall. The evening program will start at 18:00.(Palestinian Movie night) Day 9 We will reach Burqin village at 8:30 to visit the historic Burqin church and Alkhoukha palace in the old village. At 11:30 we will participate in a “traditional soap making” workshop and visit Burqin women’s center to have lunch there. After lunch we will visit the historic sites of Jenin city such as Bala’ma tunnel and T’innik historic hill. The artistic evening program will start at 19:00 Day 10 The starts with a visit to Sheikh Lawainsufishrine to learn about the Sufi history in Palestine , followed by a tour in the old city of Jenin.  At 12:00 we will visit the Jenin theatre in Jenin city n about its activities and the theatrical movement in Palestine. Lunch will be served at one of the women associations before moving to Jericho city to have the dinner at the guest/ family house in and spend the night. Day 11 Jericho: Theday starts with a breakfast  in a Bedouin tent and have a taste of the special handmade Arabic coffee that will give us the energy to walk to the remains of the historic palace of Herodosand start the adventurous hike in narrow roads of WadiAlqilt ( Al Qilt Valley ) to reach  the historic Saint George monastery . A traditional lunch will then be served at the local YWCA before using the cable cars to climb the Mount of Temptation, and then a documentary film will be shown in Tel Alsultan to learn more about the location’s history before heading to Hisham’s palace to watch another documentary film. The evening program will start at 17:30 in Albakri guesthouse. Day 12 Early in the morning , after having breakfast in the guesthouse the group will head toNabiMousa shrine to learn about the Sufi history in Palestine, after that camels will carry the group to the dead sea for swimming and a relaxing time, homemade sandwiches will be prepared for lunch. Traditional Palestinian mealswill be served for dinner in the guesthouse. Day 13 After having breakfast at the guesthouse, the group will visit the Russian museum, the  Historical sycamore tree and the mosaic center before heading to the Baptism site of Jesus Christ and DeirHijleh where we will have a Barbeque in the garden. After lunch, we will visit Al-Jiftlik Bedouin community to learn more about the suffering they face because of the Israeli occupation before leaving to the airport. RATE PER PERSON (min 12 participants)                                                                      1,350 EUROs Rate includes: ·       A visit to the main three cities in the West bank (Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho) Jenin City, and mainly to the CLC of Arrabah. ·       Private 20 seats bus with driver for all the duration of the journey ·       Private courier ( English speaking), and local guides in all CLCs ·       Accommodation in home stays, guesthouses, tents in the CLC and cities. ·       Full board basis (meals will be in the hotel , restaurant or woman associations  as planned), ·       Entry fee for all the monuments according to the program, official guides ·       Evening programs : Dinner, traditional  and Sufi performances and dances ·       Traditional olive oil soap making work shop, cooking workshop“ make your own dish”, Graffiti and storytelling session, movie nights,  introduction about  the traditional herbal medication, and discussion circles and debates , Arabic Names writing workshop ·       Several hikes(Green, mountain, city tour) including breaks under the trees and in the wild. ·       Camel riding ·       Swimming in the Dead sea. Rate does not includes: Anything that is not present in "Rate includes". Visa fees: Passports of certain countries may not require a visa for entry to Israel. Travelers/visitors/guests are solely responsible for obtaining the correct visas prior to arrival at point of entry. Travel insurance: Travelers/visitors/guests are solely responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy prior to their travel. Exit tax at border crossings if applicable Tips, gratuities etc Events and experiences: Sibat Jenin festival in April, Ya’bad Village Spring festival , Plain “Marj Bin Amer” spring festival , Nabi Musa  Sufi festival in April . Equipment& Supplies: ·       Lightweight walking boots ·       Walking poles. ·       At least 3 - 4 liters of water and snacks for the hike. (Possibility to buy from the village) ·       Raincoat. ·       Your camera. Documents and information ·       Passport:  for European travelers: passport or identity card. For not European travelers: visa according to the reciprocation laws with the Israeli/ Palestinian Authority Government ·       Sanitary precautions: none ·       Climate: according to the period ·       Things to buy: original handicrafts, food specialties, mainly in the CLCs Centers of Local Culture, Notes: ·       Camping available upon request ·       Every day of the  program has 2 hours break in the home stays/ guest houses before the evening cultural program ·       Accommodation can be either in a single or double room based on the vacancy and season. ·       Rates are based on today's currency exchange rate of the € to the Israeli Shekel. If the exchange rate decreases significantly (above 5%) we have the right to re-quote based on the exchange rate on the day of the booking.  Limitations in accessibility:wheelchair-bound people must inform the Tour Operator during the registration, to take care of,

How to register TOUR OPERATOR: 1.      Diwan Voyage: For more information and registration:  communication@rozana.ps t Address: Ramallah, Oweidah Commercial Center Bldg., Al-Awdah St. Websitehttp://www.diwanvoyage.net 2.      Universal Tourist Agency: For more information and registration: communication@rozana.ps Address: Jerusalem 42 SalahEddin St. Websitehttp://www.universaljerusalem.eu