One Day Tour of Nablus: 

Nablus is one of the oldest cities in the World. The original name of Nablus “Shechem” was given to the city by the Canaanites. Later the Romans called the city “Neapolis. Today, Nablus is the largest city in the West Bank and has a rich and long history. It has many significance sites for the three monotheistic faiths, as well as for the Samaritans, whose religion is based on the Torah.

Tour Program & Highlights                                                 

- Literature distribution and orientation.

- Jacob’s Well: The Greek Orthodox Church was first built in AD 380 (Byzantine period). The water of the well inside the church is believed to have supernatural qualities.

- Tell Balata (Shechem): Tell Balata is the ancient Canaanite city of Shechem, whose ruins from the Middle Bronze Age and later periods are to be seen until today.

- Joseph’s tomb: The site which has in recent years been the subject of a fierce conflict between the people of the village of Balata and the Jewish settlers in the region. 

- Old City of Nablus: The Highlights of the old city: Souk’, Grand Mosque “jami’ al-Kabir”, An-Nasr Mosque, Turkish Bath, Al-Nimer Palace, Khan al-Wakala, Soap Factory, al-Khadra Mosque.

- Mount Gerizim and the Samaritan Community: About 300 Samaritans live in Nablus on the holy Mountain of Gerizim. The present synagogue of the Samaritans treasure the world’s oldest Torah scroll ‘the Pentateuch’.

One day Tour of Jericho & Vicinity

Tour Program & Highlights  

- Literature distribution and introduction by guide.

- Good Samaritan Inn:  Half way between Jerusalem and Jericho is the Turkish Khan (Caravan Sarai), a trade post on the major historic trade route.

- Maqam al-Nabi Musa: Dating back to the Crusader period. It was first built by Salah al-Din half way between Jericho and Jerusalem.

 - Tulul Abu al-Alaiq (Herod’s Winter Palace): Tulul Abu al-Alaiq are a group of hills, which includes remains from the Hellenistic-Roman period of Jericho. Highlights: Hasmonian Palace, Herodes’s 3^rd Winter Palace

- Jericho City Center: The City Center is dominated by the city’s main square, which is surrounded by all kind of shops and restaurants, and has its own special charm.

- Tree of Zacchaeus: The large sycamore Tree symbolizes the History of the tax collector, Zacchaeus and his story with Jesus Christ.

- Tell Jericho & Ain al-Sultan: The Ancient site dates back to 9000 BC and reflects Jericho’s old History.

- Mount & Monastery of Temptation: This is the Place where Jesus spent 40 days and nights fasting and meditating while rejecting the temptations of Satan.

- Sugar Mills: Built by the Crusaders to expand the sugar production for export to Europe.

- Hisham’s Palace: The Palace of the Arab Umayad King is a complex of buildings, baths, mosques and colonnaded courts. It’s a fine example of early Islamic art and architecture.

- Dead Sea: Short Stop at the lowest point on earth, Dead Sea shore.

One Day Tour of Ramallah & al-Bireh:

Program and Highlights

Literature distribution and introduction by guide.

- Old City of al-Bireh: Al-Bireh was founded by the Cannanites around 3.500 BC. The city has been built and rebuilt many times, today the old city offers its visitors many historical sites including: Al-Ain Mosque, Khan al-Bireh, Church of Holy Family, Omari Mosque ..etc.

- Tel al-Nasbeh: The location of al-Bireh during the late Bronze and Iron Ages.
Highlights: Old city walls, Crusader Church, Ottoman Khan.

- Khirbet Shuwaikeh: Khirbat al-Shuwaikeh is another important center of the city during the Byzantine, early Islamic periods.

- Old City of Ramallah “Ramallah al-Tahta”: The old city of Ramallah is full of historic buildings from 18^th - 19^th century.
Highlights: Archeology Museum, Al-Kamandjati, Ottoman Court, Orthodox Church.

- Manara Square: The lively new city center from which the main six streets of the two cities branch: Main Road (Rukab Str.), Jerusalem road, Nablus Road, Birzeit Road (Broadcasting Str.), Jaffa Road (Beitunia Str.), Court Road (Chiken Str.).

- Mukaata: The Palestinian President’s headquarters and the resting place of the late president Yaser Arafat.

One Day Tour of Ramallah Vicinity

Program and Highlights

- Literature distribution and introduction by guide.

 Beitin: Beitin is located 3 km northeast of Ramallah. This small village was once an important Cannanite city-state of the rank as Shechem (Nablus), Kiryat Arba (Hebron) and Megiddo.  The modern name is clearly a drivaton from the Biblical name Bethel, meaning “House of god”. Highlights: Tell, Tower of Beitin, Water System, Roman Pool, Ancient Mosque, Khirbat al Maqatir

- Ai/Deir Dibwan: The historical Mountain of Tel al-Tal and the site of Ai are located in the modern village of Dair Dibwan 5 km east of Ramallah. Biblical tradition holds that Joshua burned the city of Ai and it turned it into a heap of ruins forever. Highlights: Tell al-Ai/ancient city walls, Acropolis Palace, Village center

- Jifna: Jifna is located 8 km north of Ramallah. It was once a major Roman/Byzantine city and regional capital. On our way we will pass the village of Birzeit and it’s University. Highlights: Byzantine Church, Crusader Fortress, Ancient Oil press, Spring of Mary

- Birzeit: The village gained international reputation through Birzeit University, which is the oldest University in Palestine.  The origins of the village date to Roman-Byzantine periods Highlights: Khirbat Birzei - Byzantian Site, Latin Church, Old and new Campus

- Aboud: Aboud is located 25 km northwest of Ramallah. It is the only village in the region in which Christians settled and remained for centuries. Arab Muslim families came to the village during the Ayyubid and Mamluk dynasties 12-13^th century. The Old village center of Aboud has numerous historical buildings. Highlights: Church of Saint Mary, Monastery of St. Barbara

- Shuqba: is about 25 km west of Ramallah. Shuqba is famous for its paliolithic cave in Wadi al-Natuf. Highlights:Shuqba Cave & Wadi al-Natuf

One Day Tour of Bethlehem

Program and Highlights:

 Literature distribution and introduction by guide. 

- Church of Nativity: The Church is in the center of the modern city of Bethlehem and is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The Nativity complex is built over the birthplace of Jesus.

- The church of the Milk Grotto: The holy family hid at this site during the slaughter of the innocents and Mary let a drop of her milk fall, which turned the rock from red into white according to local tradition.

- Old City: The old city is embossed by wonderful rehabilitated narrow streets containing markets, workshops, souvenir shops, exhibitions and museums.

Solomon’s Pools & Artas: Local tradition attributes the three great pools to King Solomon, while they actually date back to the Herodian era. The pools supplied water to the cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem as well as for Herod`s fortress and palaces down the valley.

Shepherds Fields: Is believed to be the place where the angels appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus, and the shepherds hared the Angels sing.

One Day Tour Vicinity of Bethlehem

Program and Highlights:

 Literature distribution and introduction by guide.

- Mar Saba Monastery: The Monastery was founded by St. Saba of Cappadocia in the 5^th century. It is a complex with 110 rooms and living quarters for the monks. The monastery used to have around 5000 monks, but today it is tended by only a few. Only men are permitted to visit the monastery. Woman and even female animals are forbidden to enter. Woman can however have a look at the monastery from a special tower to the south of the building.

- Wadi Kharitun & The Fraidees Mountain – Herodion: Herodion is a unique archeological site and one of the greatest architectural achievements of king Herod. It was used at a summer palace and a shelter in times of danger and as a regional capital and a burial place for Herod the Great.

- Shepherds Fields: This is the place where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus, and where the shepherds hared the Angels sing. The Franciscan Church of the Angels is built over a cave in which the shepherds are supposed to have lived.

- Church of Saint Georges: This beautiful small church in the Palestinian village of al-Khader is a popular center for pilgrimage. The church is holly to both Moslems and christens of the region.

- Deheshe Refugee Camp: One of some 20 Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank on the main Bethlehem – Hebron road just outside of Bethlehem. It was established in 1948 and houses more than 10000 people in an area of no more than one square kilometer.

One Day Tour of Hebron  - Al-Khalil:

Hebron is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Palestine and the world. The city and the region is known for it grapes, limestone, pottery and glass factories. The Cave of the Patriarchs is the most famous historic site in Hebron. Due to the connections of all three monotheistic faiths to Abraham, the city is holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians. Because of this religious fervor that the city inspires, it has often been the scene of conflicts between people of different faiths.

Program and Highlights:

 Literature distribution and introduction by guide.

- The Hebron Glass and ceramic Factories: Hebron is famous for it brilliantly colored and hand- blown glass and handmade pottery.

- Mamri (Ramat al-Khalil): The place is believed to be the site where Abraham received the three angels of God who told him that he would have his son Isaac.

- Hebron Old City: The old city of Hebron is characterized by narrow, winding streets, flat-roofed stone houses, and old bazaars. High Lights: The souq (market), Hebron Rehabilitation Committee and  CPT (Christian Peace Makers Team)

- Ibrahimi Mosque (Haram Al – Khalil ­) - The Tomb of the Patriarchs: King Herod built the first temple over the cave of Abraham. It is also believed that Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca and Leah are buried in the cave under the present Mosque. The Mosque has in recent years been segregated into two parts, one for Jews and the other for Muslims.

- Russian Orthodox Church (Holy Trinity Church): Built in honor of the three angels who appeared to Abraham and the rest of the holy family on their way to Egypt under the Oak Tree (Ballut es Sebta – Oak of Rest)

One Day Tour of Jenin

- Literature distribution and introduction by guide.

- Sebastia (Samaria): Visit to the historic Tell and the village on the Nablus – Jenin road.

- Bal'amah Tunnel: The Iron Age Tunnel is at the entrance of the city of Jenin.

- Zababdeh and the Arab American University:

- Tell Jenin and Jenin City Center: Tell Jenin is located right in the modern center of the town of Jenin. Although it has been excavated in recent years not much can be seen there. But the city center of Jenin itself is quite lively.  

- Jenin Refugee camp: is one of 20 refugee camps in the West Bank. It is one of the largest camps and reputed for being very active politically in the struggle against Israeli occupation. It was the sean of a massacre by the Israli army in 2002.

- Church of Burqin: or the church of the ten lappers as some call it is in the small Palestinian village of Burqin east of Jenin.

- Tell Ta'anek and village of Ta'anak: this important Bronze Age site is located on a major highway north of Jenin.

Thematic One Day & Half Day Tours: Bedouins, Monasteries, Refugee camps, Separation wall,  Hiking tours.

An evening at the Turkish Bath in Nablus: Dinner with Nabulsi sweets followed by a presentation of oriental music. Those who desire can take a bath. Suggested time: 4:00 – 10:00 PM.

Bedouins of the Wilderness of Jerusalem (Judean Desert): Half day tour exploring the customs and way of life of Bedouins in the Judean Desert. Suggested time: 1:00 - 6:00 PM.

Monasteries and Maqams of the Jerusalem (Judean Desert): Highlights: Good Samaritan Inn, Nabi Musa, St. George's Monastery, Monastery of Temptation, Dair Hajlah, Byzantine church in Ojah, Khirbat Qumran.

Walking Tours:

Walking Tour from Ain Harasheh to Ein Qenia: Tour starts from the Spring of Harasheh in al-Mazra'a al-Gharbieh to the village and spring of Ain Qenia. Transportation from Ramallah by bus.  

Walking tour in Wadi Sarida: Walking tour in the prehistoric Wadi Sarida starting from the spring of Kufur al-Dik , continuing to the prehistoric caves of the Wadi and then into the village of Kufur al-Dik or Dair Ghasaneh. Trip from Ramallah to the entrance of the Wadi and back by bus.

One Day Hiking Tour in Bethlehem: Hiking part starts at Solomon Pools and ending in the village of Artas (2,5 hours). Highlights on the Way: Solomon’s Pools: Traditions attributes the three great pools to King Solomon.The pools supplied water for Herod`s fortress and palace at Herodion. Mourad’s Castle: On the opposite of the pools are the remains of the crusaders fortress Qal’ at al-Burak (Castle of the Pools). It was built by the Ottoman Sultan Murad in the 17^th century to defend the water source. Artas Village and its Monastery: The convent and church of the Sisters of Notre Dame du Jardin are in the picturesque village of Artas.

One Day Tour of the Separation Wall in Qalqelia

Tour Program and Highlights:

- Literature distribution and introduction by guide.

- Drive to Qalqelia via Nablus Road, the Ariel Settlement, and Wadi Qana Road.

- Walk around the Israeli separation wall in Qalqelia, and talk to people who have been affected

by the wall.

- Drive through the tunnel in the separation wall to the villages around Qalqelia.

- Visit some of the agricultural villages around the city (Habla & Ras Atia).