ENGLISH TEXT TRAVELLING THE NEGEV DESERT Israel, a land of religions and history, cities and deserts, is much closer than you might think - a little under a four hour flight from Milan. We enjoyed a week’s Fly & Ride experience, touring some of the most evocative spots in the south. And we took GIVI soft bags from the X-Line and Canyon ranges along for the ride. ISRAEL BY BIKE Photos by Fabio Capone, words by F. Capone and Arianna Meda LONG LIVE THE FLY & RIDE! Israel is a small country but one that is brimming with places and cities to visit. Our week-long tour took us to the most beautiful spots in the Negev desert and the main cities, such as Tel Aviv and particularly Jerusalem. Considering that Israel is a tricky country to reach via land, the “fly & ride” formula makes it all a lot easier and more practical. You land, pick up the rental bike and you’re off (no international license is needed for rental). In Tel Aviv, various companies rent motorcycles, and these include mid-sized models, perfect for this trip. And you don’t need knobby tyres as the roads are mainly tarmacked and the few dirt roads are easy for anybody. THE ROUTE We chose the south of Israel in order to be able to cross the most scenic spots in the desert, which had us feeling as if we were on Mars at times. When did we go? Late February. Temperatures are cool and mild, while they exceed 40°C in the summer. It generally rains very little throughout the year, particularly in the desert, but we did experience a few showers, to the delight of the locals. We barely had time to get wet though and the sun had already dried us off. Those with more time could travel on to the Red Sea, to visit Timna Park and dive at the Eilat coral reef. TEL AVIV AND THE BEERI FOREST After landing in the evening in Tel Aviv, a city that is very lively at night with its many bars and restaurants, also along the beautiful beach, we rest at the centrally-located Brown Hotel Lighthouse in preparation for the following day. In the morning, having loaded the bikes and stored our more bulky luggage, we set off for the north of the Negev desert, very green at this time of year due to the rains coming from the Mediterranean. Travelling south in the direction of Netivot and Sde Boker, you can stop (and even camp) inside gardens famous for their blossoms, both mustard and anemone, which is a type of protected flower. Around Sde Boker, it’s worth stopping at the Tomb of Ben Gurion, founder of the State of Israel, which overlooks a picturesque canyon. We had left any greenery behind a few miles back and were now surrounded by those classic arid desert shades, with an ideal temperature of 18°C. We travelled south, to reach a second breath-taking landscape, Ein Avdat National Park. We recommend you stop here and take a short walk through the canyon, following the stream that leads to a waterfall. NEGEV AND ITS NATURAL CRATERS Mipze Ramon is the small town where we spent two nights exploring the area. We started from the crater of the same name, the Makhtesh Ramon, which looks to be something from another planet. There are many places that can be explored by bike here, and even some easy off-road routes, like the Gvanim Wadi. And, as we came to realise, there are a surprising number of rest stops and areas set up for camping, surrounded by nature and the silence of the desert. We suggest that you always ask for information and directions at local hotels, or by talking to local guides, like Mr. Iftach Dvash, who will be happy to join you, by bike, as you explore the desert and the wadi that he knows like the back of his hand. Other natural wonders here include the archaeological sites of Avdat and Shivta, settlements built by the Nabatei nomads to facilitate trade and movement along the Incense Route that linked Jordan to Arabia. We were even lucky enough to travel many miles in the company of the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, Dani Shahar, 12 Turismo SAINT GEORGE’S ORTHODOX MONASTERY, PALESTINE IL MONASTERO ORTODOSSO DI SAN GIORGIO, PALESTINA
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