I am usually not one for taking tours while traveling, since I usually like to explore on my own, and hate being rushed. However, I can unequivocally recommend the walking tours offered by the Society for the Preservation of Nature in Israel (SPNI). SPNI is often called the Israeli equivalent of the Sierra Club. While staying in Jerusalem, I took two tours: one of the Judean desert via a kibbutz built genuine Israeli desert vehicle and the other of the archeology of old Jerusalem. I wish I had taken more tours.
Our Israeli tour guides were extremely capable. (I later learned that tour guides in Israel are college educated and licensed by the government.) Also, what made the tours especially enjoyable were the other tour participants. They were kindred spirits, bright, sensitive to the experience and intent on making the most of the opportunity to learn. Most of them were Americans, but there was a smattering of people from Britain, South Africa and Australia.
The tours delved into history, anthropology, and biology; and skirted around politics. There are SPNI day tours and extended backpacking tours. I spoke with a woman from New Orleans who had taken a 4 day SPNI camel trip through the Eliat mountains, that was so fabulous, she did it twice. She claimed that contrary to popular belief camels, if kind people raise them, are very lovely and gentle creatures.
SPNI offers:
SPNI has a new website and it seems to be more reliable than its predecessor. For addresses and phone numbers go to http://www2.iol.co.il/teva/contact.htm
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Last updated 07/02/98 (RGE)
Copyright Bob Evans 1997
