Battir to Bethlehem Hiking Tour

The tour begins in Bethlehem. Meet a local guide and take public transportation to the village of Battir (15-minute drive, transfer fee included).

Battir is a beautiful, small village with historic valleys containing a lot of human heritage going back as far as 4,000 years. Nowadays, the Palestinian inhabitants of the village are living in anxiety of losing their beloved land. The expansion of the wall and illegal settlements is endangering the place. However, the inhabitants are working hard to keep their village and are organizing a variety of unique projects. Battir also won a UNESCO prize for its cultural landscape.

During this tour, visit Battir Spring, a source of fresh drinking water, and the Roman Pools. Lean about the water system in the village and get a view of the historic railway line connecting Jerusalem to Jafa, located below Battir village. The railway is on the Israeli side of the Green Line. Start the hike in Makhrour Valley, which will take about two hours. Along the way, see different types of trees and plants as well as Byzantine/Roman tombs carved into the rocks of Wadi Makhrour and an Ottoman oven for preparing stone for building in Battir.

At the end of the hike, end up in a local restaurant called Hosh Jasmine for a free beer. After the beer, walk to the city centre where the tour will end with a transfer back to the start of the hike.