Forget History, Book An Adventure

Hiking, mountain biking, ‘extreme’ tourism catching on in Jewish state.

by Hilary Larson
Travel Writer

With all of Israel’s awe-inspiring

historical sites, political and ethnic intensity and compelling religiosity, it can be easy to overlook another way in which Israel is a blockbuster travel destination: its outdoor recreation.

Few other countries as small as Israel feature a landscape so dramatic, stunning or diverse. From the singularly salty weirdness of the Dead Sea to the baking hot Central Israel desert to the lush green Galilee and Golan valleys and jagged river canyons of the Far South, Israel offers nearly unparalleled opportunities for the adventurous traveler. And as so-called “adventure travel” — which generally connotes individual sports like hiking, rafting and rock-climbing in natural settings — has lately taken off as one of the hottest trends in global tourism,

Israeli tour companies have been springing up to meet the demand.

They attract those who are drawn again and again to Israel’s natural beauty and vivid culture, but have already seen the major sights and want to experience a different side of Israel. In addition, hiking and rafting in Israel’s national parks can bring foreigners into closer contact with locals who share their interests, allowing tourists to engage with the country in a deeper way. Outdoorsy visitors will find an abundance of resources to plan just about any kind of recreation they have in mind, from guided bike tours to national parks and trails. “There are hiking trails all over Israel; hiking and biking are probably most popular,” said Gail Barzilay, director of media relations for the Israel National Tourism Office in New York. “People go to rappel — to hang by a rope off a mountain. People go skiing on Mount Hermon, they dive and snorkel at Eilat. There are caves that you can crawl in all over the country, places to parachute, camel ride. You can climb up and down Masada.

“You can do horseback riding in the Carmel or the Galilee, or jeep tours through the Negev. And something that’s becoming very popular right now in Eilat is ‘snuba,’ a cross between snorkeling and deep-sea diving, where you breathe through a tube connected to a nearby boat.” Israel’s climate, while varied, tends toward the mild and dry, permitting outdoor recreation all year long.

However, Barzilay said that anytime but winter is good. “Sometimes winter can be 70 and sunny, sometimes rainy — it’s not consistent, so spring, summer and fall are the best bets,” she said. Regardless of your level of experience and fitness, always check the difficulty rating of whatever adventure tour looks interesting, and inquire about personal insurance. Make sure you carry health insurance that covers you while abroad.

For hikers, Barzilay recommends an itinerary based along the Israel Natural Trail — 600 miles from beginning to end, spanning nearly the length of the country and a stunning array of landscapes. “If you walked continuously, it would take you 30 to 70 days to finish,” she said. Bicycling tours have been taking off around the world, as escalating oil prices have sparked new interest in an old form of movement. “Now, El Al will fly your bicycle to Israel with you for no extra charge,” Barzilay noted.

There are two major bike paths through Israel’s countryside, “a north-central route and a southern-central route,” she added. “Some arms of the paths go to the Negev and the Judean Hills and the Dead Sea, and some go to the Galilee and the Jerusalem Hills.” For detailed information on national hiking and biking trails, visit the Israel Tourism Web site or contact the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel. Mountain biking has been gaining popularity recently, combining the Israeli passion for thrill and adventure with the country’s dramatic peaks. Israel Mountain Bike Tours (MTB) is an organization that brings together bike-obsessed locals and foreigners for tours through the desert. Those who wish to include a day of mountain biking on their larger Israel itinerary can select half- and full-day tours, while those who want to book a complete weeklong mountain biking “holiday” can do so as well.

All of Israel MTB’s tours include bike rental, shuttles back and forth from the trailhead, and accommodation and meals as needed. Local guides lead each tour, which can wend through dirt paths and “singletrack” bike routes. The full packages include up to seven riders; the degree of difficulty varies with each tour option, but typically participants ride for 40-50 kilometers each day, according to the company, and climb 600-800 meters along the way.

Those who want to combine hiking and nature with archaeological discovery should head to Bet Guvrin National Park, a 1,250-acre span of rolling hills on the Judean Plain. Sometimes spelled Beit Govrin, this park features a fascinating network of more than 1,000 underground caves, many of which have yielded fascinating historical treasures from the millennia when this area was home to thriving cities. Archaeologists have found 5,000-year-old water cisterns, ancient olive oil presses, burial caves, Roman-era menorahs and even relics from the Second Temple and the Crusades. Today, visitors hike the winding caverns both to retrace history and to witness the astonishing geological formations that are a hallmark of this area.

Those looking to combine day hikes with education about Israel’s unique natural environment should look into the Yarok tours offered by the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel. Founded right after the country’s independence, SPNI has been offering programs that combine outdoor recreation with education about Israel’s diverse geography ever since. Nature lovers from around the world join its hikes, which include tours of the deserts in bloom, hidden valleys and caves, and children’s programs that incorporate sports and cultural activities. The Society’s mission was originally “to set aside the natural resource gems, fearing rampant settlement without regard to the environment,” said Robin Gordon, outreach director of the American fundraising arm of the organization.

The society’s tour organization is currently being redesigned; the full roster of programs, which includes nature walks, camel rides and ecotourism, should be available again next year under new direction.

This year, the Society will only be offering its Yarok day tours (a list of upcoming hikes and excursions is available on the Web site). While Yarok tours are conducted mostly in Hebrew, Gordon said those posted on the American Web site are considered suitable for foreigners and include many non-Israelis. Booking must be done through the Tel Aviv office, whose contact information is posted online.

Desert Eco Tours, a reputable Eilat-based outfit, specializes in rugged outdoor excursions that focus on the unique ecosystem of the Middle Eastern deserts.

The company offers hiking tours, jeep tours, camel treks and deep-sea diving cruises; locations include the Negev, Eilat, Sinai and neighboring Jordan and Egypt. In addition to offering a variety of outdoor adventure options, Desert Eco Tours also has special-interest tours for religious Jews, Christians and those seeking to visit natural hot springs.

If extreme sports are your main agenda, investigate the tours led by Safed-based Israel Extreme, a company developed, in its own words, “to engender a deeper connection to the Land of Israel through exploration and appreciation of her natural beauty.” Israel Extreme offers full- and half-day rappelling, hiking, swimming, jeep, biking and walking tours in the Galilee and Golan Valleys, the Judean Desert, the Negev, Eilat and the area around Safed. The company says it has participants from around the world who come to scale river canyon walls, explore rock craters and hike some of Israel’s highest summits for incomparably lovely views. All guides are local, multilingual and fully insured, and the company said participation has risen every year since its launch.

“There’s absolutely a lot of demand, and we hear all these wonderful stories from people who’ve taken these trips,” Robin Gordon of SPNI said. “This kind of travel is beloved. You discover caves, hidden valleys, things you never knew existed. Even if you’ve been to Israel 20 times, this allows you to see another side of Israel.”

Westchester Jewish Conference

Westchester’s Jewish Community Relations Organization