Cultural Exchange Tours

Together with our partner the Zikra initiatve, we are pleased to offer our guests Cultural Exchange excursions! The Zikra Initiative is centered around the impoverished Ghor al Mazra’a community near the Dead Sea. Translated from Arabic, Zikra means “memory”, the initiative creates positive memories between urban and rural communities through various activities ranging from trips to rural workshops to stimulate social developments. Its goal is to promote greater equality through its “Exchange concept”, where communities exchange resources, knowledge, experience and skills. The overall concept denotes a personal and ‘equal’ relationship that shatters stereotypes leading to a harmonious peaceful society. Tourists are invited to visit the local villages and engage in tomato picking with the community, learning how to basket weave, cook a traditional Arabic dish, learn how to make mattresses, and create rosary beads from olive seeds. ZIkra encourages greater understanding of the culture and lifestyle of the Ghor al Mazra’a inhabitants by engaging international tourists and students with the local community. The activities bridge social gaps between the inhabitants of cities and ethnic minorities residing in rural areas through the exchange process. For example, visitors meet the local community, learn how to make bread, enjoy a traditional lunch, and pick vegetables – as well as experience the regions natural beauty. Each trip connects city inhabitants to their roots and history, as they learn traditional skills and crafts. In exchange, the monies that the visitors pay as part of their entrance fee bulk funds various Zikra projects such as a revolving micro-loan fund, scholarships, workshops, etc. With these funds, ZIkra has provided micro loans to families to develop businesses ranging from handicraft production to beekeeping and funded one student for a university scholarship. For more information on the various Zikra activities available, please contact us and let us our team advise you on the different programs and program durations available to suit your needs. Zikra excursions can range in length from a few hours, to a full day or even an overnight.