Secret Compass today launches the first ever horseback expedition to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, retracing Mark Twain's 1867 route across the Holy Land as described in his classic 1869 travel book 'The Innocents Abroad'.

“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 April 2016, a team of 12 will set off on this two-week horseback adventure, visiting key sites of literary and historical significance within Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” said Kerry O'Neill, marketing director with Secret Compass.

“Comparing sketches from Twain's book it will be fascinating to see first-hand how the Sea of Galilee, Mount Tabor and the approach to Jerusalem have changed since the 1860s, both visually and culturally. Meeting the different communities in the region will be fascinating for the team.”

"The team will meet Israelis, Jewish settlers and Bedouin, Muslim, Christian and Druze Arabs as they experience first-hand the many sides of the Holy Land today, visiting historical and Biblical sites and wild-camping or staying at or near kibbutzes, moshavs, Arabic and settler villages as they progress southwards on horseback from the Sea of Galilee." 

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” – Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad 1869

Israel: The Innocents Abroad expedition highlights 

• Be part of a unique literary adventure (eight days on horseback)
• Explore Galilee, the Dead Sea, the Judaean desert, Jericho, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and more
• Visit Israeli, Jewish settler and Christian, Druze, Muslim and Bedouin arab communities
• Wild camp and visit kibbutzes (communal farms) and moshavs (smallholders' co-ops)
• Witness first-hand the changes in the region since the 1860s
• Facts: 2 – 26 April 2016, 14 nights, £2,999 all inclusive except international flights

“For this unique, wolrd-first literary expedition on horseback we partner with experienced Israeli horseman, Yair Sharet, for whom bringing Twain's Holy Land experiences to a new audience is a long-held ambition,” said Tom Bodkin, founder of Secret Compass.

“Mixing literature and an adventurous horseback expedition with a real insight into modern-day Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories makes for a very appealing, multi-faceted adventure,” concluded Bodkin.

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

NEW for 2015 and 2016

In 2015 – 2016 Secret Compass expeditions and adventure travel destinations include Afghanistan, Armenia, Burma, Ethiopia, Iran, Kurdistan, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Panama, Siberia and Sinai. Activities range from mixed-terrain trekking to minimalist desert traverses and mountain-biking and horseback expeditions. 

New for 2015 (August) is our trekking expedition to explore and summit 3,500m+ peaks in Armenia's Lower Caucasus mountains. 

New for 2015 (September) is our mountain biking (MTB) expedition to Kyrgyzstan, where the team will be the first to ever cross the Talas Mountains by MTB. The team includes one woman who'll therefore become the first woman ever to have done this. 

New for 2015 (September) is our minimalist, nomadic traverse of the deserts of southern Sinai with a camel supported expedition team.

New for 2015 (October) is our trekking expedition to Burmese Nagaland, where a team of 12 will summit mainland South East Asia's highest mountain, Saramati Peak.

New for 2015 (November) is our expedition to cross Iran's Lut Desert, which will be repeated in 2016 now that improved diplomatic relations are faciitating travel to Iran.

New for 2016 (March) is our expedition to herd reindeer across a frozen gulf in Siberia's Yamal Peninsula with the Nenets Nomads. 

New for 2016 (April) is our trek and rafting expedition to Madagascar, with our epic Peak to Sea challenge.

New for 2016 (April) is this horse trekking expedition to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

For further information on Secret Compass expeditions, email info@secretcompass.com. 

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Secret Compass Expeditions

Secret Compass is a pioneering expedition company creating world-first experiences for teams of like-minded adventurers. Through group and bespoke adventures, Secret Compass helps each team member achieve the extraordinary in the world's wildest places. Founded by ex-British Army Parachute Regiment officers, its expeditions reach the planet's most remote regions in the spirit of exploration's earliest pioneers.

www.secretcompass.com
All enquiries: 0207 096 8428
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www.twitter.com/Secret_Compass

Secret Compass TV and Film  
Secret Compass provides expert pre-production and in-country location management services to the TV and film industries. Clients to date include the BBC, National Geographic, Animal Planet and Channel 4, in countries from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan, South Sudan to Siberia. www.secretcompasstv.com
www.twitter.com/SecretcompassTV