Israel: Ten-week countdown to Mark Twain-inspired horse trek

Jan. 22, 2016 - PRLog -- “The gentle reader will never, never know what a consummate ass he can become, until he goes abroad.” – Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad 1869

In ten weeks’ time, the first Secret Compass expedition team will set off – on horseback – to recreate the 1867 Mark Twain journey across the Holy Land which inspired his book ‘The Innocents Abroad’.

This unique literary journey will be made by up to 12 equine adventurers, keen to experience the on-the-ground reality of life for communities in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“The potential for discovery on this expedition is vast,” said Kerry O’Neill, marketing director with Secret Compass. “Getting beyond the headlines will, I’m sure, be a huge eye-opener for everyone.”

“The team will meet Israelis, Jewish settlers and Bedouin, Druze, Christian and Muslim Arabs as it explores on horseback key sites of historical significance in today’s divided Holy Land.

“Comparing sketches from Twain’s book it will be fascinating to see first-hand how Galilee, Caesarea, Mount Tabor, Jericho and Jerusalem have changed since the 1860s."

Facts: Mark Twain’s Holy Land on horseback

·       A unique, world-first literary adventure (eight days on horseback)

·       Witness first-hand the changes in the region since Twain’s 1867 visit

·       Explore Galilee, the Dead Sea, Judaea, Jericho, Jerusalem, Nablus, Ramallah and more

·       Visit Israeli, Jewish settler, Druze, Muslim, Christian and Bedouin communities

·       Wild camp and visit kibbutzes (communal farms) and moshavs (smallholders’ co-ops)

·       Facts: 2 – 26 April 2016, 14 nights, £2,999 all inclusive except international flights

“We’ve partnered with experienced Israeli horseman, Yair Sharet, for whom bringing Twain’s experiences to new audiences is a long-held ambition,” said Tom Bodkin, director of Secret Compass.

With its military background, Secret Compass is renowned for offering expeditions to countries eschewed by most operators due to their remoteness, post-conflict reputations or inaccessibility.

“Mixing a fascinating literary narrative with this demanding horseback adventure will give our intrepid team-mates a real insight into this culturally complex and tangled region,” said Bodkin.

“Through our expeditions to remote or edgy places, we hope our returning teams go on to share their positive news about often misunderstood regions through blogs, articles and social media. It’s one of the reasons we seek to pioneer new ways of exploring both new and established regions.”

Expeditions for 2016 and 2017

Upcoming adventurous travel destinations for Secret Compass expeditions include Afghanistan, Armenia, Burma, Ethiopia, Gabon, Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Panama, Mongolia, Kamchatka, Siberia’s Arctic Circle, the DRC, Chad and southern Sinai.

Expedition styles range from mixed-terrain trekking and minimalist desert traverses to mountain-biking, rafting and horseback expeditions. Secret Compass welcomes applications from anyone with a good level of fitness who’s keen to achieve the extraordinary in the world’s wildest places.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Secret Compass Expeditions

Secret Compass redefines what is possible by creating pioneering projects in the world's wildest places. It’s built around a team of trusted experts who combine a passion for exploration with industry-leading professionalism. Secret Compass reignites your primal need for adventure, providing the catalyst for you to come alive and achieve the extraordinary.

Press enquiries: 0207 096 8428


Secret Compass TV
Secret Compass TV provides expert pre-production and in-country location management services to the TV and film industries. Clients to date include the BBC, Nat Geo, Discovery, Animal Planet and Channel 4, in countries including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, South Sudan and Siberia.