Transfer to awarta village and begin our walk along the Masar Ibrahim al Khalil (Abrahams Path) at the village of Awarta, from where we'll head south through Palestine’s northern highlands a cultivated Mediterranean landscape of olive groves, wheat fields and limestone villages. There is an interesting exploration of herbal lore and traditional plant medicine to be done along the way. Reach Duma, visit the burned house.
From Awarta the trail leads out of the village following a ridge with expansive of views of the surrounding hilly countryside. Halfway between Awarta and Aqraba sits Mt. Arma or Orma, whose name means pile of wheat. At the mountain’s are the remains of an ancient – likely Roman – watchtower and spacious cisterns cut into the mountain’s face.
A few kilometers ahead, the trail passes through Aqraba, a village whose name (scorpion in Arabic), according to oral tradition, came from Canaanites who compared Aqraba’s inhabitants’ strength to that of scorpions. From Arqaba, the route takes hikers along the rim of the Jordan Valley with incredible views of Jordan and Al-Qarn (or Sartaba), an ancient mountain-top fortress. Continuing through the village of Majdal Bani Fadil, the trail ends in Duma, a Palestinian village whose name comes from the Canaanite word for quietness or rest.
- Walking Distance: 18.6km
- Time: 5-7 hours
- Accommodation: Dinner and overnight with local families in Duma