Off the Beaten Path : Isreal

Off the Beaten Path Israel’s most splendid scenery is often accessible only by foot. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) is an invaluable source of information, maps, guidance, and advice. They have offices in the big cities and a network of “field schools” (beit sefer sadeh) throughout the country. Their excellent hiking map, though in Hebrew, is (at 1:50,000 topo) color-coded to match the marked trail system (NIS30, available in most SPNI locations); SPNI people will be happy to mark English names on the map for you.

You can join any of their many English- or Hebrew-speaking tours; a large group may want to hire one of their field school-based guides (NIS36O a day, arrange in advance) for expert instruction in the area. SPNI stores carry two key publications for nature explorers: A Guide to Hiking in Israel and Hikes in the Jerusalem Hills and Judean Desert, both by Joel Ruskin (NIS32 and NIS15, respectively). The SPNI are also most knowl-edgable on the Sinai, a region they got to know well in the years of Israeli rule there. Beside hiking, other forms of nature exploration are offered in many nature sites in Israel; information on Jeep tours, mountain biking, horseback riding, and kayaking is given throughout the book.