Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BIRDWATCHING
coast between Tel Aviv
A
and Haifa. Vered ha-
Galil , just north of the
Sea of Galilee, is the
largest riding school
in the country, while
the Haela Ranch is
conveniently close
to Jerusalem, up in the
hills east of the city.
In Jordan it is possible
to explore the desert
landscapes of Wadi
Rum on horseback.
Among the agencies
who can organize this
are Bait Ali and Rum
Horses . It is also
possible to ride at
Petra, although this is
limited to a one km
(half a mile) canter to the
site entrance.
In Sinai, several resort hotels
offer horse riding by the hour,
while in Dahab, Bedouin rent
horses on the beach.
Israel and Sinai lie on one
of the principal bird migration
routes between Europe and
Africa and so are something
of a birdwatcher's paradise.
In Israel, interested parties
should visit the International
Birding and Research Centre ,
which is in Eilat, near the
Arava border crossing with
Jordan, a short distance north-
east of the town centre.
In Jordan, the Royal Society
for the Conservation of Nature
organizes birding trips (visit
them at the Wild Jordan Centre
in Amman), typically out to
the Azraq Wetland Reserve,
which is about 80 km (50
miles) east of Amman. For
information on birding in
Sinai, and throughout Egypt,
see www.birdingegypt.com.
Horse riders passing the Bab el-Siq Triclinium
en route to the entrance at Petra
CLIMBING
Wadi Rum (see p232-4)
offers some of the Holy
Land's best rock climbing,
with the ascent of Jebel Rum
high on most climbers' lists.
For information on route
options see the topic Treks &
Climbs in Wadi Rum, Jordan
by Tony Howard and Di
Taylor (easily available in
Jordan) or try the website
www.wadirum.net. Several
guides offer instruction in
basic climbing techniques,
including Wadi Rum Mountain
Guides , which is run by
Attayak Aouda, one of
Rum's best climbing guides.
Experienced climbers should
bring their own equipment.
Jebel Umm Adaami, near
the border with Saudi Arabia,
is Jordan's highest peak at
1,832 m (or 6,045 ft). It's a
fairly easy hike to the summit,
plus an hour-long jeep drive
each way, and you can
stop off at some interesting
petroglyphs and lovely
scenery en route.
Rope-assisted descents of
spectacular gorges in Israel's
Judaean Desert are organized
by the Metzoke Dragot
Centre . The same company
also offers climbing, hiking,
and jeep or truck excursions
into the desert.
WORKING ON
A KIBBUTZ
GOLF
Not as popular as it once was,
Israel's pioneering, socialist-
style kibbutz movement
continues to employ young
volunteers (who must be
aged between 18 and 32)
from abroad to carry out
manual work. Typical work
involves picking fruit out
in the fields, working on a
factory production line, or
being attached to a dining
room, kitchen or laundry. The
kibbutz will normally expect
a minimum commitment of
two months, during which
time volunteers work for their
accommodation, meals and
a small personal allowance,
plus one day a week holiday.
The kibbutz facilities are
Israel has precisely two golf
courses and, of these, the
Caesarea Golf Club is the only
one that meets international
18-hole standards. The
course, designed in 1961,
passes through ancient
Roman and Byzantine ruins.
In recent years Egypt has
sought to market itself as a
golfing destination and it has
several new courses. Two of
these are in Sinai: the Jolie
Ville Golf Resort at Sharm el-
Sheikh, opened in 1998, and,
further north, the Taba Heights
Golf Resort with its views
across the Red Sea to Saudia
Arabia and Jordan, which
opened in 2006.
HORSE RIDING
Stables and riding schools are
located throughout Israel,
particularly in Upper Galilee,
the Golan region and on the
Volunteers working on a kibbutz in northern Israel
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