Walking Palestine

“Szepesi’s consummate guide to walking the West Bank is a must-have for visitors to the area”

“When most of us consider the West Bank it is more than likely that our thoughts run more along the lines of security and political issues rather than hiking possibilities on offer. That, at the very least, is the refreshing added value provided by Szepesi’s book. There is far more to Walking Palestine than just informative descriptions of where to go, and how to get there… [it] is both informative and entertaining.”

“Walking Palestine: 25 Journeys into the West Bank is one of the most captivating and informative guide books I have ever seen. I came away with a new appreciation for the value of Palestine to the traveler, as well as much more knowledge of the people and the country than I have from shocking headlines and pictures of the Wall.”

“Few places in the world are as controversial as Palestine. Indeed, it is rare to see Palestine written about as a travel destination. And yet, in this well-written and fascinating book, Stefan Szepesi, a Dutch economist by training, spent many hours walking in the West Bank. What he found surprised even him as he explored rural Palestine, a land of ‘green rolling hills and spectacular gorges’ as well as ‘charming villages, good restaurants and very hospitable people.’”

“For visitors based in Jerusalem or one of the West Bank’s cities and wishing to understand more of the rural environment, Szepesi’s book opens up ways to do this that maximize engagement. For travelers unfamiliar with the West Bank, it’s ‘a supplement for those wanting to get out of the cities, to places which it would be very difficult for most visitors to otherwise find and safely explore.’ There is no disputing Stefan Szepesi’s passion for the Palestinian people and the stunning scenery of the West Bank. For the increasing number of people wanting to experience the area on foot this guide will be indispensable.”

“Walking for pleasure is a concept unfamiliar to most Palestinians. But over the past five years, hikers—mainly foreign diplomats, aid workers and journalists, but also locals—have become a more common sight in the West Bank. Their hikes range from the rolling lush hills and valleys of the north to the dramatic arid desert landscape of the south. . . Walking Palestine [is] a guide to 25 walks, the fruits of a four-year project by a Dutch diplomat, Stefan Szepesi. It details tracks, paths and dirt roads; supplies maps and information on historical sites, wildlife and natural attractions; and provides practical details on local guides, parking, public transport, restaurants and places to stay.”

“It is no exaggeration to say that Palestine is a walker’s paradise. The twenty five walks described here provide an excellent guide to the small but varied area of the West Bank: the desert, the plain, the hills, the wadis… Each walk serves not only as an occasion to encounter a different terrain but to comment on the various facets of Palestinian life and history… Walking Palestine: 25 Walks into the West Bank is indispensible… It is a guide to enjoy and to trust. So read along, put on your boots and start walking. And be prepared for experiences that will surely be memorable.”

“No place on earth is better known yet more misunderstood than Palestine and there is no better way to get to know the spirit of the place and its hospitable people than walking. In graceful and evocative prose mixed with practical information and stunning photos, Stefan Szepesi does us the great service of introducing us to the art of walking in the surprisingly safe, beautiful, and welcoming countryside of the West Bank. May this book inspire many from around the world to come walk!”