The trip to Palestine: You are invited to join the Excellence Center for a Trip to Palestine 2020, Hebron, Palestine. The Excellence Center, centrally located in Hebron, is an English language school providing the best in English language instruction and opportunities for the local population.
The Trip to Palestine program 2020 is an immersion program allowing international participants to become cultural ambassadors for their home countries while experiencing and familiarizing themselves with the daily life of Palestinians, and the region’s rich history. The Excellence Center will provide participants with an entertaining, enriching, and dynamic stay. Please click here to watch a short video Trip to Palestine.
Program participants, led by Palestinian guides, will gain an authentic perspective of the West Bank. They will experience firsthand the many traditions, foods, and personalities of this vibrant land. Those interested in the political situation will have the opportunity to acquire first-hand impressions of the occupation, through the first-hand accounts of those affected.
Come Experience Palestinian Daily Life!
Our Goal: By hosting people from around the world, the Excellence Center seeks to achieve a diverse cultural exchange and social dialogue via the Trip to Palestine program. The diverse perspectives bringing all together will enrich the participants, the program, and the Excellence Center itself.
The Trip to Palestine will provide internationals with opportunities to:
- Live in Hebron, and visit the Old City, holy sites, and the local refugee camps.
- Learn spoken Arabic from native speakers, with the opportunity to communicate with local residents.
- Travel to historic locations, and nearby cities including Jericho, Ramallah, and Bethlehem.
- Live with a local Palestinian family if desired.
- Visit Palestinian universities, and local institutions & organizations specializing in culture and education.
- Eat authentic Palestinian foods.
- Attend cultural nights featuring entertainment, activities, and sports.
- Listen to distinguished persons discuss Palestinian heritage and history.
| Tentative Daily Schedule for Trip to Palestine (subject to minor change): |
| Day 1: Arrival. Meet Excellence Center representatives for “Meet and Greet” and an overview and discussion of the program. Meet the host families and spend the evening with them. Day 2: Tour the Old City of Hebron. Visit the Ibrahimi Mosque and Shuhada Street where you will meet the families who live there. Upon visiting them, you will gain insight into their living conditions and circumstances, as well as the area’s vital history. Overnight in Hebron. Day 3: Travel to Bethlehem where we will visit the Church of the Nativity and tour the city. Dinner in Bethlehem. Return to Hebron and overnight with a host family. Day 4: Visit the Al Fawwar Refugee Camp which is located south of Hebron. You will meet with the refugees and talk with them about their history. The tour will return to Hebron, spending the evening in a traditional coffee shop. Overnight in Hebron with the host family. Day 5: This day will be spent in Hebron visiting local shoe, glass, and keffiyeh factories, the latter producing the world-famous Palestinian checked headscarf. You will also visit the beautiful Al Maskopiah Church, Russian Orthodox, which is the only Christian church in Hebron. Dinner and overnight in Hebron with host families. Day 6: Travel to Ramallah where you will tour the city. You will visit the city center and the tomb of Yasser Arafat, as well as the grave of Palestine’s most famous poet, Mahmoud Darwish. Dinner in Ramallah. Return to Hebron and overnight with the host families there. Day 7: Travel to Jericho where the tour will spend a full day, including a swim in the Dead Sea, and a visit to the ancient Hisham Palace. Lunch in the city center, and dinner in Jericho. Return to Hebron and overnight with host families. |
| Day 8: Departure home |
Traveling to Palestine on your own?
No worries, you’ve come to the right place!
You will easily meet many Palestinian university and school students as well as community members with a variety of interests. Especially in Hebron, Palestinian people love to meet new people from different cultures and exchange ideas and experiences.
Moreover, the Excellence Center hosts many international visitors from all over the world who will be studying, volunteering, visiting or interning at the center. Of course, you will engage with them in some educational and community activities that the Center organizes.
Everyone at the Excellence Center – Palestinian students, international visitors, and staff – are like one family and there are always activities to do together. Hebron is a good place for international visitors to stay at and offers a great social atmosphere.
Eligibility for Trip to Palestine
People who are 18 years and older are eligible to participate in this unique Trip to Palestine experience.
Send an email requesting an application to Rafat@excellencenter.org We will send you an application form. Please read the enclosed information and return the completed application to us at Rafat@excellencenter.org
The trip to Palestine’s Dates
The Excellence Center will organize the Trip to Palestine From the 10th to the 18th of August 2020
Does this time suit your schedule?
If not, no worries. You can join the Trip to Palestine with one or two friends anytime during the year. The Excellence Centre will organize all according to your time and availability. Please email Mr. Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org for further information.
Deadline to Apply
5th of July 2020 There are, however, limited places for the Trip, so applying sooner is better!
Fees and Costs
The cost for the Trip to Palestine is 550€ Euro. All accommodations, food, and travel costs within Palestine during the week are included in this fee. Airfare to and from Palestine is the responsibility of the participant. Participants who organize groups of three or more persons will receive a discount on his/her individual program cost.
Acceptance Confirmation
We will confirm your acceptance to participate in the Trip to Palestine Program and your selected dates via email. Following this confirmation, we will arrange a meeting with you via Skype in order to discuss the details of your trip and travel arrangements.
Accommodation
Travel arrangements and accommodation within the West Bank will be scheduled and coordinated by the Excellence Center. Participants have the option of staying with a host family or in a rented apartment.
Which Airport Should I Start Checking for Flights to Palestine?
The easiest way to get to the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine is to fly to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv (Israel). It takes about two and a half hours from the airport to the Excellence Center via shared Taxi.
You can also fly to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan and then cross to Palestine, but it takes more time and is more expensive.
Visa to Palestine
Upon your arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel, you will be granted a tourist visa valid for 90 days. There is no need to obtain a visa ahead of time.
Traveling to and from Hebron
Upon enrollment in the Trip to Palestine program 2020, instructions for best travel to and from Hebron will be emailed to you.
Questions
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact at Rafat@excellencenter.org.
Whatsapp:+972599479880
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Rafat Shantir at Rafat@excellencenter.org.
Excellence Center’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ExcellenceCenter
Excellence Center’s Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/RafatECHebron
Watch us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQSLdFZWZcBm6Uj0XMYuKg
Visit and Explore Palestine: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorePalestine
Thank you very much! We would be happy to welcome you at our Center in Hebron, Palestine
