Taste & See
A Fair Trade – Alternative Encounter Tour
Of Palestine
This Program introduces the rich Palestinian cuisine and the mesmerizing world of crafts to tourists by visiting Palestine, including Jerusalem, in a unique, one of a kind experience that gives you the chance to experience an Alternative, Fair Trade, eco-friendly, geographical, artistic pilgrimage and culinary tour.
In an amazing 8 nights and 9 days trip, you will have a life-time chance to meet Palestinian fair trade artisans, touch their raw materials and work with them to produce unique master pieces, experience their unique culture and indulge your senses with great famous Palestinian food.
How and where?
The answer is Our Taste & See Program, travelers are directly contributing to the livelihoods of everyone involved in their trip, from the families they meet and stay with to the artisans they support and the suppliers who provide them with services. You will live a real Palestinian experience, visit places you have never been to and then go home and tell about it.
Is it really the land of beauty and conflict? This is what you are about to find out. Sign up now on a tour operated by Alternative Tourism Group and Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans.
Keep in mind that you are that you are supporting fair trade, helping spread the beautiful stories behind the people and encouraging alternative tours to Palestine.
The tour will take place on the following dates:
21.3.2020 – 29.3.2020
12.9.2020 – 20.9.2020
Our tour is available for both individuals and groups – can be customized based on group preferences.
Proposed Schedule
Day 1 -: Arrival at Ben Gurion airport, Tel Aviv, and head to Bethlehem.
- Meet our driver at the airport and transfer to Beit Sahour.
- Welcoming and orientation of program. Then meet your host families from Beit Sahour who will invite you into their homes and family life
Dinner and Overnight with host families.
Day 2 –: The start of your amazing journey
Breakfast with host families in Beit Sahour.
- Half day at BFTA’s Craft Village spend the morning enjoying the beauty of the renovated old historical building, enjoy the facilities our Craft Village has to offer, learn about BFTA’s work and Fair trade practices in Palestine.
. Visit a variety of Fair Trade Artisans producing different kinds of beautiful handicrafts Embroidery, recycled glass, Mother of pearl, Olive Wood and finally homemade organic and pharmaceutical olive oil soap.
. Watch the hand designing of those great handicrafts and assist the artisans in the process
- Visit the Shepherds’ Field in Beit Sahour
- Drive to Bethlehem and enjoy a falafel lunch at the famous Afteem restaurant
- Visit the Nativity Church and Manger Square.
- Visit the famous Banksy ‘Walled Off’ Hotel and museum, look at some of Banksy’s amazing art, and check out the impact of the Separation Wall.
Dinner and overnight with host families in Beit Sahour.
Day 3 –: Welcome to Hebron, a hub for Palestinian trade and successful fair trade
Breakfast with host families in Beit Sahour.
- Drive to Hebron to visit Alsalam Glass factory and learn more about the beautiful ceramics and recycled glass industry and how it got involved with Fair Trade. / prepare yourself to work with clay
- Visit to Ithna women cooperative to learn about hand designed embroidery and enjoy a delicious meal cooked by the women.
- Visit the old city of Hebron and the Ibrahimi mosque at the heart of the old city.
- Visit Peace steps factory, the first authentic Fair Trade leather products factory in Hebron, view their amazing collection and check out the production process of one of the leading suppliers of leather production.
- Return back to Bethlehem for some free time
Dinner and Overnight with host families.
Day 4-: The beauty of Jericho and mosaic art
Breakfast with host Family
- We start our day by driving through Beithan Valley to reach Jeftlik village and learn about the farmers’ situation there.
- In the world oldest city visit the last Palestinian salt producing factory for an amazing Dead experience and much more
- Visit to Jericho’s Mosaic Center where you will have the chance to custom make your own mosaic master piece, that you will take home as an amazing souvenir to remember your journey by and have lunch at the center .
- Continue to visit Jericho’s most amazing historical sites Hisham’s Palace & visit the Mount of Temp- station by cable car!
Drive to Nablus dinner and overnight at Jasmine hostel Nablus old city
Day 5 –: A day in Jenin & Sebastya
Breakfast at your hotel in Nablus.
- Start the day with a short visit to Burqin Church.
- Next to Burqin Church visit Canaan Fair trade the first Fair Trade olive oil produced in the west bank ,taste delicious Palestinian Olive Oil and more products.
- Visit to the famous Jenin Freedom Theater and the refugee camp of Jenin.
- Continue to the charming city of Sebastya to visit the famous archaeological site, where the ruins of the Roman city of Herod the Great stands.
- Optional: Finish your day off at an amazing Turkish bath where you can relax, be pampered and have fun.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Nablus.
Day 6 –: A journey in Nablus, known as the ‘Uncrowned Queen of Palestine’
Breakfast at Hotel in Nablus.
- Drive up to Mt. Gerizim to meet the Samaritan Community living there, one of oldest communities in the Middle East.
- We will visit the old city of Nablus and visit to the largest Nablus Soap factory one of the oldest soap factories in Palestine.
- Lunch in Nablus followed by famous Kinafeh for dessert as we walk around the beautiful old city of Nablus.
- Finish your day off at an amazing Turkish bath where you can relax, be pampered and have fun. / This activity is optional
Head back to Bethlehem to have dinner and overnight at hotel/host family.
Day 7 –: Jerusalem: the City of History
Breakfast at the hotel In Bethlehem
- Visit “Together for Life” organization – L’Arche – handmade felt products in Bethlehem
- Drive to Jerusalem- tour to the Al Alaqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock, Via Dolorosa and the church of Holy Sepulchre. Visit to the Western Wall.
- Drive Visit Saraya Center a great center to learn about Palestinian living in Jerusalem, meet and interact with people there.
- Stop for a street snack of Kaek al-Quds, famous Jerusalem snack
- Optional: After lunch, by bus, we visit Mount of Olives, the Church of Mary’s Tomb, Gethsemane Church and Pater Noster Church or free time in Jerusalem or Bethlehem.
Dinner and Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 8: Hiking, reflections and supporting Fair Trade in Palestine
Breakfast at the hotel In Bethlehem
- Visit Alrashayda Bedouin community to check out the fascinating landscape and learn about new projects done by BFTA to help those communities.
- We hike in the landscape of southern Jerusalem and explore the village of Battir – the land of olives and vines followed by Lunch in Battir.
- Free time
- Spend your last evening at our Craft Village to reflect on this journey of a lifetime while dinning a delicious cooked meals at the fair trade dining area and have a nice farewell gathering.
- Shop beautiful sustainable handicrafts at our fair trade shop in the Craft Village
Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 9: The end of an amazing journey
Drive to Tel Aviv- Ben Gurion airport for departure
The price is: US$ 975 per person in a double/twin room
Single supplement is: US$ 175
The price includes the following:
Accommodation, breakfast and dinner, transportation during the program, English speaking guide, entrance fees, all visits, tours, activities mentioned in the program.
The price does not include the following:
Airfare, transportation from and to the airport (can be arranged for an extra cost), Turkish Bath, lunches, tips.
Alternative Tourism Group (ATG)
Tel.: +970 2 277 2151
Email: info@atg.ps
Sign up now and reserve your seat https://atg.ps/program/