Visit Palestine - Travel and tour company advice

The Britain - Palestine Twinning Network - "promoting twinning and friendship links"

2009 - Our priority this year is to build the network ** We specially value new and small groups**

One of the Twinning Group's objectives is to get people to visit Palestine. Once you have seen the Wall, the refugee camps and above all lived with and spoken to the Palestinians themselves, you know the truth about the situation. Visiting with a group is much safer and easier. Its fair to say its quite a traumatic experience, as well as being life changing.

We organise regular visits to places of interest (both religious and political). Our previous tours have been a great success. In general we organise a three or four day education tour, participation in a conference or workshop, and the opportunity to visit your twinned community.

If you have already been on a tour and are keen to spend time with your community, it is possible for a small charge to join the tour on certain days.

“This was one of the best things I have done in my life”

“The visit was extremely well organised”

“I felt safe and well looked-after”

“I loved the people, and I was shocked to find out what life is really like for them”

(visitors on recent visits we have organised*

The next tour will be in October 2009. Download (word doc); About the Twinning network tours / Booking form

2009 tour Costs - budget £300 - £500 for a flight. The four day tour (all inclusive) costs £450 per person (sharing a room).

A deposit of £100 is needed as soon as possible to secure a place, and the full amount to be paid ASAP. Cheques to made out to the Britain Palestine Twinning Network and sent to Twinning Network, P.O. Box 34265 London NW5 2PD.

We will need to know; Your name and full contact details - address, phone, email.

For more information, please contact us.

The twinning network in Palestine can organise visits to potential partner towns/ villages for new groups

Itinerary 2009 tours

(1) Group visit to places and organisations in the West Bank to get to know the situation on the ground - and meetings with a number of twinning groups

(2) Twinning workshop with Palestinian twinning groups (Agenda)

(3) A chance to spend time with your twinning partner (+ we can help you to find a new one if your town doesn't have one yet)

The full itinerary for 2009 is not yet finalised, but last years is listed below.

Agenda for April Palestine Twinning meeting

TUESDAY 14th APRIL

Arrive at 10.30

11.00 am - Introductions

11.10am - Each group English and Arabic - talk about their experience of twinning so far - 5 minutes each maximum.

12.00 - Workshops (1)

1.00pm - Lunch

1.30pm - Workshops (2)

2.30pm - Plenary. This will include feedback from the workshops, and also discussion about how to make an effective twinning committee in Palestine.

(4) WORKSHOPS

MORNING

Identifying particular problems or successes of twinning to date

AFTERNOON

New twinnings + how to get your twinning group moving

Working across the whole community

Communication between Britain and Palestine

Other workshops on issues identified in the morning not covered by these ones.

2008 Tour itinerary

Note, in this version of the programme we have cut meetings down to a minimum to allow plenty of time for wandering, discussion, reflection. THERE WILL BE FEEDBACK MEETINGS AT THE END OF EACH DAY + an invitation to do Arabic classes if enough people want to.

PROGRAMME WILL BE FINALISED WHEN WE KNOW WHO IS COMING AND WHO THEIR TWINNING PARTNERS ARE.

Saturday 25th Arrive, then Jerusalem 7.00pm

Meeting at hotel with human rights coalition Khalil Tufajji

Political geography and current situation of Jerusalem

Sunday 26th - Jerusalem, Abu Dis, Aizariyeh Holy places, women and children’s centre, Abu Dis meeting and tour Aizariyeh local council, History Settlements etc., Women and children The Wall and environment.

Twinnings: Abu Dis, Aizariyeh

Monday 27th - Bethlehem Trade union office and information on Bethlehem area, Olive wood industry Bethlehem tourist places, Aida Camp, Lajee Centre Walajeh village, Handcrafts, History, Workers Children, Refugees Twinnings: Walajeh (Battir possible)

Tuesday 28th - Hebron. University Old city and Ibrahimi Mosque, Kids’ centre Pots and glass, Beit Fajjar Academic/ student life, Hebron settlers Kids, Handcrafts.

Twinning: Beit Fajjar

Weds 29 Ramallah - Palestinian health relief + also info on Ramallah + twinning, Defence for Children International Beit Surik village, (Bil’in possible), BEIT FOURIK and other northern PEOPLE LEAVE WITH FOUAD ON WEDS Kids and prisons etc. health

Twinnings: Beit Surik, (Bil’in), Ramallah

Thursday 30th Twinning place. To find out about your twinning place and work on future links

Friday 31st - Twinning place

Saturday 1st November - Twinning place. Return on Saturday to Abu Dis after lunch. 5.00pm feedback meeting and discussion of twinning and next steps (Palestinian partners invited too)

As above, and also to review findings with others in the group in order to help each other.

Sunday 2nd November - Leave

The cost for travel, tours etc within Palestine will be approximately £450.

The price includes;

Accommodation with Breakfast and Evening Meal every Day. All Transportation & Guide during Touring Days

Entrance fees for sites Donation to your partner town/village

This price does not include

Flights – cost between £300 and £500 to be booked independently by traveller

Transportation to twinning Towns

Lunch Tips for drivers or guides

For more information including the proposed dates for the visit please e-mail Nandita.

Twinning with Palestine