Our Guest House, while it represents a space to leave the daily grind of the city and enjoy the slower pace of Bedouin living, it also is a space of community and togetherness.

Guest House

Documentaries, historical and cultural literature, and scholarly articles can’t replicate the deep understanding that comes from immersing yourself in the life of a Bedouin community. The Good Shepherd Collective’s “Desert Shepherd Guest House” offers a unique experience to spend the night in a Bedouin community, learning about the customs, culture, and coming to a deeper understanding of indigenous communities resisting violence, military occupation, and colonization.

Your time will start with an introduction to the community, the history, the personal story, and cursory overview of the life inside of the village and what to expect during your stay. A geopolitical tour of the small enclave shows the resiliency of the community and they ways have adapted, while still retaining their unique heritage.

Your stay includes the traditional Bedouin breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you have specific dietary restrictions, we are more than happy to prepare a meal that suits you.

Our nights always include a campfire, a time for us to share our personal and family stories. Our people share their historical account of the family’s journey into exile from their ancestral homes in al-Arad. This is the time that we spend together to build deep relationships with all the members of the community.

Depending on the time of your stay, we encourage you to add on one of our cultural workshops to further engage with the Bedouin lifestyle in a hands-on way.

PRICING

The cost per person for this workshop is 50 USD, but for each additional participant you wish to bring, we offer bigger discounts.

1 visitor: 50 USD
2 visitors: 90 USD (10% discount)
3 visitors: 127.5 USD (15% discount)
4 visitors: 160 USD (20% discount)

If your group is larger than 4 people, email us at info@goodshepherdcollective.org and we will let you know what discounts we can offer.

TRAVEL

There are many ways to get to Um al Khair, but if you wish to come by private taxi, let us know right after you book your trip and we will organize your transportation to make sure you get a fair rate. You can reach us at info@goodshepherdcollective.org.

FOOD & DRINKS 

We’ll provide the fresh tea, coffee, and water for this workshop–just remember, alcohol is haram or forbidden, so please make sure to leave it out of your day bag! 

A breakfast of bread, eggs, hummus, vegetables, and other assorted dips–along with the obligatory cup of tea–will be provided as part of this workshop, along with light snacks, tea, and water throughout the day. 

WHAT TO BRING

  • For this workshop, sturdy boots are extremely important!
  • Modest clothes you will feel comfortable in throughout the day–check the weather beforehand to know exactly what kind of climate you will want to dress for
  • Raincoat (during winter, our rainy season)
  • Passport/ID
  • Any medicine you may want
Making bread in Um al-Khair, Palestine
Bedouin judges operate outside of a traditional Western approach, operating on long held customs that view justice as restorative and family-centered. As such, is more about making amends than punitive.


This engaging lecture from a Bedouin judge tears apart preconceived notions about justice and culture, reorientates the discussion out of traditional Western discourse, and repackages the logic of civic stability through the rule of law in a local, indigenous context.

Good Shepherd Collective

What people are saying

Zelda Rose
These few days were fabulous. I’ll never forget my time in the beautiful place of Um al-Khair and it is the best memory of this trip. What I learned about this community will last a life-time. I promise to come back.
Zelda Rose
France
Maureen Jack
Thank you so much for welcoming our Church of Scotland Behind the Wall Group to Um al-Khair. Everyone spoke warmly of our visit and of how impressed they were by your commitment to nonviolent resistance.
Maureen Jack
Scotland
Shirah Karus
The joyful children, the entrepreneurial young people, the steadfast grandparents are inspiring and humbling. It is a privilege to breathe the rural air, listen to the wind’s whistle, and gaze across the olive tree and goat-speckled hills.
Shirah Kraus
United States
Vallie Rourke
Visiting Um Al-Khair is being welcomed into a community. It’s an experience you don’t find everywhere. You are comfortable and cared for, while also given a genuine glimpse into the lives of those who live there.
Vallie Rourke
United States
Aaron Bhatoya
The ways in which Um al-Khair brought me in as if I had always been there not only showcases its desire to connect with the world, but also highlights its steadfastness in the face of adversity.
Aaron Bhatoya
United States

Register Today!

For individuals the cost is $50. Bring more people and get a discount on each subsequent person. Bringing a party of more than four? – check out our special group rates.

Group & Special Pricing

Step 1 of 3

Build relationships with the ancient tribes that have shaped the Holy Land.

Stunning landscapes, historical accounts of resistance, and deep cultural experiences.


$35 per person for the bread making class. If you’re here in Palestine, learning the traditional way of making bread is a must!

BREAD MAKING
Learn how to make traditional bread and how the process fits into the ecosystem of sustainability from the women of the village.

Join us
Making bread in Um al-Khair, Palestine
$50 per person to join the local shepherds in a day of practicing their daily traditions. Reduced rates for couples and groups.

SHEPHERDING
Join the village’s shepherds to learn about the role they, along with their sheep and goats, play in supporting the community’s economy and traditions.

Join us
Making bread in Um al-Khair, Palestine
$100 per person to join us in our ancestors’ lands. Reduced rates for couples and groups.

CAMPING IN THE DESERT
See first-hand the beauty and history our deserts have to offer–watch the sun rise and set, listen to local stories, all while you sip traditional Bedouin tea.

Join us
Making bread in Um al-Khair, Palestine
$35 per person to learn hands-on about the pragmatic and cultural value of our goats and sheep. Reduced rates for couples and groups.

MILKING WORKSHOP
Sit side by side with shepherds who will explain the importance of carrying on their traditions while teaching you how to milk goats.

Join us
Making bread in Um al-Khair, Palestine
$40, $60, or $80 per person to join this tour and gain insight about the local history of the lands. Reduced rates for couples and groups.

DESERT TOUR
Historical sites, a striking landscape, wild camels, and more! Join our tour of the desert to learn about the land’s past and our hopes for the future.

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Making bread in Um al-Khair, Palestine
$60 per person, reduced rates for couples and groups. Visiting our local judge can give offer a rich experience for those interested in traditional peace building and restorative justice practices.

BEDOUIN JUDGE
Bedouin communities have a special history of conflict resolution. Meet a local judge to learn more about the practices useful in reconciliation.

Join us
Making bread in Um al-Khair, Palestine
$35 per person to learn about traditional textile creation side by side with a few of the women of the village. Reduced rates for couples and groups.

TEXTILE WORKSHOP
Learn about this treasured tradition of textile creation from a few experienced women of the village, and take yours home with you when you leave.

Join us
Making bread in Um al-Khair, Palestine
$50 per person to stay in the comfiest guest house the south has to offer, with the best tea around. Reduced rates for couples and groups.

GUEST HOUSE
We really hate to brag, but we know we have one of the most comfortable guest houses in the whole region–and best of all, it’s on our very own land!

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