Recommend July 2011 - (Page 45)

that sunshine doesn’t enter. There is Wadi Mujib running down through rugged landscape all the way to the Dead sea and through Wadi Karak, a canyon that begins in jordan near the city of Karak and where tourists are a rarity as they rappel down three waterfalls to a small Arab village on the beach of the Dead sea. Prices depend on the size of the group, season, number of days and itinerary. However, according to Meyers, the cost is generally about $500 per day for a group of seven for tours in the jerusalem and judean Desert area; about $600 for activities in eilat and about $520 in jordan. An outre vacation exclusively for those seeking to connect with their inner rambo is offered by Lionops, a self-proclaimed “military tourism” company offering packages designed by former officers and instructors from the country’s elite Israeli Defense Forces, who imbue participants in an extensive crash course on modern warfare techniques. This is the equivalent of participating for a few grueling days in the Israeli version of u.s. Marine Corps boot camp. Lionops teaches the basics of automatic weapons firing, hand-tohand combat, navigation, hand grenade techniques, the finer elements of rocket-propelled grenades, house-to-house fighting, parachuting, camouflage and basic wilderness survival skills. According to natan Levi, Lionops’ operations manager, “We organize, operate and instruct short extreme military trips to Israel that range from seven to 10 days. During this time, our clients train, experience, live, breath and especially enjoy the fascinating world of the Israeli special operation units, considered among the most experienced and well trained special operation units in the world. “This is no honeymoon. We take groups of civilians from around the world and provide them with extensive training in modern warfare. The training is a shortened version of the top-secret techniques of the Israeli special Forces.” Levi explains that because Lionops’ packages vary in content, the price isn’t fixed, although they range from $3,960 to $8,120 pp, airfare not included. This is definitely a custom-made experience for clients who crave the rush felt when jumping from a cargo plane into the silence of the clouds above the Israeli desert with the West Bank, jordan, Lebanon and syria in the distance—those who thrill at the recoil of an automatic weapon while returning fire from a team of ambushing commandos with paintball guns. After the engagement, participants move to high ground to set up camp for the night, eat militarystyle rations and rotate standing guard while preparing for a counter assault. of course, there is a wide variety of milder adventures calling those who travel and march to an active and loud drum, but Africa and the Middle east stand above the others for those who thrive on adrenaline rushes. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa With Goway Travel (July 2010) ro chure r 2 011 -1 2 B R equ est ou G S . It is not only our name...it defines what we do...personalized vacations, introducing travelers to the best of Africa. Dave Herbert CTC Chief Experiential Oﬃcer Southern & Eastern Africa, Egyp t W W W . G R E AT S A FA R I S . C O M contact information Abercrombie & Kent: (888) 785-5379; abercrombieandkent.com African Horseback Safaris: africanhorseback.com Deeper Africa: (888) 658-7102; deeperafrica.com Israel Extreme: israel-extreme.com Lionops: lionops.com 800 409 7755 info@greatsafaris.com CST 2070685-10 http://WWW.GREATSAFARIS.COM http://www.recommend.com http://WWW.GREATSAFARIS.COM http://www.abercrombieandkent.com http://www.africanhorseback.com http://www.deeperafrica.com http://www.israel-extreme.com http://www.lionops.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2011

Editor's Notes
Design Hotels
Gap Adventures
Spiritual India
Experiencing the Not-So Familiar Vietnam
Sailing the Seas
New World Adventures in Food
Little Whale Cay, The Bahamas
Into the National Parks
Journeys Beyond the Ordinary
Heritage Tours to Europe
Grand Solmar at Land's End Resort & Spa

Recommend July 2011