Abo Al-Orkum is a small village scattered over a grassy hill overlooking the larger Rabud. Its cubic homes are separated by charming stone terraces and rows of olive trees. Many of the village’s residents work in the factory which produces solar panels for heating water in roof tanks, and it is this for which the village is best known in the area.
Population: 5,000 (2015 approximation)
Abo Al-Orkum is just a stone’s throw from the delightful Old Town of Rabud, where the remains of traditional Arabic houses can be explored while the incredible views are fully enjoyed. From this lofty vantage point, it is possible to see the whole of Rabud surrounded by greenery like a typical English countryside village. It is also well worth exploring Rabud on foot, as it is one of the prettiest villages in the Hebron governorate. At the other side of Abo Al-Orkum, the view includes a spectacular quarry.
Abo Al-Orkum is also just 5km northwest of Samu’a, the southernmost town in the West Bank and a very green, scenic place. While 13km northeast is Hebron, a city which is hurting from decades of unrest but remains at the heart of all things Palestine.
In Samu’a, 5km to the south, there are several small restaurants serving up the delicious, traditional Palestinian fare; think shawerma, falafel and hummus. Otherwise, in Hebron you will find a great variety of street food and sit-down restaurants. In particular, the Ras al-Jora neighbourhood is famous for its dining scene.
There are four hotels in Hebron, 13km away, but alternatively there is a great range of accommodation options to be found in Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Ramallah.