Jossef's face lights up when asked about the SPNI's tours (tiyulim in Hebrew). "We show you the country through your legs and eyes, not through the window of a bus. What you won't find is time for shopping; we set out to discover the land through walking. If you're looking for a different experience, a look at Israel from the other angle, try us- we know what we're doing.

"Our tours focus on nature in every meaning - culture, ethnicity, communities and lifestyles. The guides are in another class - the regular tourism course is not enough for us; they also undergo a professional course on the environment, including history and geography of the country."

"All our activities center on preserving nature and this is what we aim to convey to the visitor," says Jossef.

For that road less travelled, the desert trip includes sleeping in a Beduin tent and coming to grips with another culture while watching the flickering coals of the fire. A jeep trip in Sinai brings the traveller to little-traversed mountain areas, while up north the abundance of the Banyas nature reserve with its gushing waters brings to life the conflict of water and desert in this tiny country.

And if you're looking to unearth Jerusalem from a fresh angle, there's the one-day getting-to-know Jerusalem trip.

"Whether it's bird watching or camel riding, our tours aim for the most fascinating aspects, to awaken your senses to ancient times and to the immense significance of preserving our nature."