The village of Mukhmas, located northeast of Jerusalem, 8 km from the city, is one of the villages of its province. It is located at an altitude of 500 meters above sea level. It is bordered to the north-east by Deir Dibwan, to the west by Burqa, to the south by the village of Jaba and to the east by Jericho.
MOST IMPORTANT ATTRACTIONS
AL DWAER SHRINE AND LANDSCAPE
To the east of the village, the road Al-Dwaer starts and after a while leads to the shrine of the same name on top of the highest hill of the village.
From there, the view of all the surrounding territory and mainly of the Al-Swaneet valley is breathtaking.
AL SWANEET VALLEY
From Al Swaneet road, in the eastern part of Mukhmas, a path for hiking along Al Swaneet valley starts. With a guide (there are scanty maps) the visitor can go for 8 km until the Oval cave and then back to Mukhmas.
The valley is 20 km long and crosses over-changing landscapes, leading to the Fara valley until the beginning of Wadi Al-Qilt and then to Jericho. It’s a 10-hour walk.
It is a hard valley, rich of unexpected surprises: animals (falcons, deer, foxes, besides the sheep and goats of the shepherds), flowers (daffodils, iris, daisies), refuges (caves, catacombs, tunnels, formerly inhabited grottos). But mainly during the walk, you understand the spirit of interiority and contemplation of the hermits who inhabited the grottos of the valley for hundreds of years.
In the middle of the valley, in an arid but fascinating landscape, populated mainly by sheep and goats and their shepherds, the most famous cave, on the northern side, is the Elijah cave with the silos of the monks, called also “Oval Cave”, accessible only with guides, intersecting other caves, rooms, catacombs.
BEDOUIN CAMPS OF ABU SHUSHA AND MUKHMAS
Near the village, there are two camps. The local guide will be able to make the visitors meet some of the Bedouins and open the opportunity to understand one of the most traditional way of living, maintained through the millenniums.
And also, the Bedouin will be glad to show how they live, their products, their traditions and even to taste their meals and sleep in their tents.
THE HOME STAY: GASTRONOMY AND EXPERIENCE
In Mukhmas there are no structured guest houses or home stays, but in the nearby village, Jifna (20 km), there is a very well organized guest house run like a home stay.
Costs:
B&B 35$ per night/person, additional 10$ per main meal
Services: Wifi, self-contained top floor apartment; large view of the valley, laundry service, transport to/from bus station in Jifna; tourist and educational trips in the surroundings and in the refugee camp
Contact:
Address: Jifna (Ramallah)
Mobile: Rawda Khouriya +972 599587476
Mobile: Issa Khouriya Mob +972 599673817
Email Rawda: rkhouriya@yahoo.com
Info: Khouriya homestay
