Palestine Fair Trade Association

Eco Tourism

Palestine Fair Trade Association invites tourists to the Holy Land to visit with Palestinian farmers and learn about their organic farming practice and settings. Visitors are hosted by olive farming families in the Jenin and Nablus areas. The EcoTourism program host groups of 8 to 20 people at a time and include a number of tours in olive orchards and other organic fields. Visitors will learn about the ecological settings of Palestinian organic farming, intercrops, and the nature of the landscape and mountainous faming practices. While the setting is ideal for organic management, it requires farmers working with their hands to reap the fruits of the majestic hillsides. Throughout the tour, people will be introduced to variety of wild plants that make up a part of the local diet and learn about their uses.

There are a number of village guided tours that are arranged and can be tailored to groups' interests and time available. Visitors can select some or all of the following tours:  

Nablus Area: 

• Visit organic farmers of Sabistya and see the Roman ruins in the village of Sabistya north of Nablus that are situated in the middle of olive country.
• Visit Tallouza organic farmers, learn about inter-croping, and visit Al-Far’a springs in Al-Far’a Vally.
• Visit the Old Town of Nablus and walk through the old market and visit ancient spice mills, tahini mills, nut roasting houses, and bakeries using locally cultivated products and creating an array of local delicacies.

Jenin Area: 

• Visit the city of Jenin, the PFTA headquaters, learn about Fair Trade in Palestine, visit Canaan Center for the Arts and Sciences, as well as Jenin Refugee Camp.
• Visit the organic farmers in the village of Berqin, the Canaan Fair Trade olive oil bottling facility in the village, the Church of the Four Lepers and climb the highest mountain in the region nearby, Jabal Al-Bared. From Jabal Al-Bared visitors view the Marb Ben ‘Amer plains and the Nazareth Mountains to the north, the ‘Ajloun mountains in Jordan to the east, the Nablus mountains south, and the Mediterranean sea to the west on a clear day.

Costs:

      Eco-Tourists pay a fee of $100/day per person. This fee covers:  

• Overnight stay at a farmer’s family home
• Breakfast at farmer’s family home
• Daily tours
• Group Dinner at a farmer’s family home