Saturday, September 12, 2009

Israel: An Off-Road Adventure

By Barry Weldon

If you want to explore off-road trails that bleed the desert sands, then head to the Middle East. The deserts and canyons are just what the avid Jeep Wrangler enthusiast wants - a place worthy to test his vehicle. With the whole area virtually made of sand and stone, you will definitely love taking your Jeep Wrangler there.

Israel's desert trails provide great and imposing challenges even on the most avid Jeep Wrangler off-roader. That is the main reason why many Israelis are so hooked to off-road driving in their own backyard. Another reason why many Israelis and other avid Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts dare challenge Israel's terrain is because many of the trails here hold historical value.

If you want to explore the trails of Israel, you might think again if you want to bring your own Jeep Wrangler with you. The taxation on non-Israeli vehicles is very heavy indeed. Fortunately, Israel has several communities of hardcore Jeepers. Not only that, Jeeps are manufactured locally in Israel, mainly because the Jeep is one of Israels armed forces reliable desert vehicle.

If you are ready to roll against the desert winds, then the desert of Judea may be a good starting point. First off, you have to conquer dry river beds that are not only specked with boulders, but are steep and unpredictable as well. A lot of Jeepers have surrender to this place's unforgiving terrain, which are most of the times almost impassable even to the experienced off-road driver.

The desert of Judea is only the beginning. The whole Israel is spattered with desert trails, and among those trails is one leading to the Big Maktesh. The trail gives any riders a lot of bumps and rocks and erosive craters along the way, but knowing that the end means the cool waters of the Spring of Ein Yorkeam, everything is worth it.

The Scorpion Pass is another trail Jeepers and off-road adventurers must not pass. A former road greatly used by the British empire, the Scorpion Pass descend to the Zin Valley, another place that boasts of great desert trails. If you want, you can check out the supposed burial grounds of the Biblical Aaron in a place called Hor Harhar.

Seriously, if you want to really experience the off-road driving only Israels desert can give, you will need a week or more to conquer them all. Jeeping all the trails may be hard, but warm welcomes, great food, and cozy beds await you after you spend the day basking in the desert adventure. The kibbutz inns of Ein Akev and the ancient castles of the Arava Valley are just two of the popular places where you can stay.

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