Saturday, September 12, 2009

Israel: An Off-Road Adventure

By Barry Weldon

If you want an off-road adventure in the arid settings of the Middle East, head to Israel. The deserts and canyons are just what the avid Jeep Wrangler enthusiast wants - a place worthy to test his vehicle. With deserts and sands spanning a wide area of the nation, there is no reason why you would not take your jeep 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.

However, bringing your own Jeep Wrangler with you might put a big dent to your expenses. The taxation on non-Israeli vehicles is very heavy indeed. Good thing there are many Jeep addicts here. 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. Other interesting desert trails for Jeep Wranglers include the trail to the Big Maktesh. The trail gives any riders a lot of bumps and rocks and erosive craters along the way. In the end of the trails, you'll get to experience the cool waters of the Spring of Ein Yorkeam.

The Scorpion Pass, an old road used by the British Empire, also gives you a good off-road driving. You can use the Scorpion Pass to descend to the Zin Valley, another great spot for rough riding. Near the area is the supposed tomb of the Biblical Aaron in a place called Hor HaHar.

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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