Long and challenging, this hike will prove to be rewarding. Hike along the Jerusalem wilderness through the isolated, barren and rocky wadi that hosts the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Saint George which appears to hang on the Jordan Valley cliffs. The wadi offers a unique variety of flora and fauna through your journey until you reach your final destination at the Sea Level Community where you will learn more about the Bedouins, their culture and life style.
Jericho is believed to be one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and the city with the oldest known protective wall in the world. Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of more than 20 successive settlements in Jericho, the first of which dates back 11,000 years (9000 BCE), almost to the very beginning of the Holocene epoch of the Earth’s history.
St. George Orthodox Monastery is a monastery located in Wadi Qelt, in the eastern side of Palestine. The sixth-century cliff-hanging complex, with its ancient chapel and gardens, is active and inhabited by Eastern Orthodox monks. It is reached by a pedestrian bridge across the Wadi Qelt, which many believe to be Psalm 23’s Valley of the Shadow. The valley parallels the old Roman road to Jericho, the backdrop for the parable of the Good Samaritan. The monastery is open to pilgrims and visitors.
Wedged between Jerusalem and Jericho with the threat of eviction looming large, Al-Jahalin Palestinian-Bedouins (Sea Level Community) were forcibly evicted from their homes during and following the Nakba. They are originally from Tel Arad region of the Naqab, a territory that stretches 50 km northeast of Bir Essabe’, 30 km west of the Dead Sea and 30 km south of Hebron.Though it is deserted and vast, Al-Jahalin adapted to the desertscape, grazing their flocks and migrating bi-annually to follow the rains and vegetation. Many from Al-Jahalin still possess the Ottoman-era documents proving their ownership over the lands from which they were ethnically cleansed by Israeli authorities between 1949 and 1951. Most fled to the present day West Bank, settling in the semi-arid region which extends from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Info:
Walking Distance: Approximately 23 km
Walking Time: Approximately 7 – 8 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Recommendations:
- Lightweight walking boots
- Walking poles
- At least 3 – 4 liters of water and snacks for the hike
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Your camera
Accommodation:
- Sea Level Community