As a seasoned traveler to Israel I knew it was time to answer the call and challenge - of the Negev Desert, that covers over half the country. I wanted to take the entire family beyond the bustling cities that we knew, and explore this arid, desolate yet spectacular landscape and its infinite horizons. And what better way to experience the Negev than by sampling the way of life of its indigenous inhabitants, the nomadic Bedouins?
By bedding down at a Bedouin campsite we could see this land through their eyes; giving my family the chance to relive the ancient tradition of nights by a campfire, under the starry skies. My older boys loved our rugged Jeep journey, tracing the Old Spice Route across the desert’s rocky terrain and dry riverbeds, and ancient roads of the Arava Valley. Heading south from Jerusalem, we enjoyed encountering the many sights on the way, from towns and cultural attractions to cooperative “moshav” farming communities and dramatic craters.