David Schoneveld - Licensed Tour Guide

About David

David was born in the Netherlands in 1964, and came to Israel when he was three years old with his family of seven brothers and sisters. David grew up in Jerusalem until age 16, and moved to Germany to finish his high school education. David returned to Jerusalem to study at the Hebrew University, and majored in Jewish History and International Relations. After completing his degree in 1988, he continued on to Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, OH, USA and received his MA in Jewish History in 1991.

In 1997, David moved to Kibbutz Lotan with his wife Lea and two small boys at the time, and three years later they had a daughter.

In 2002, David completed the Tour Guiding Course offered by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, and became licensed by the Israel Ministry of Tourism. David has been specializing in desert tours since then, and have discovered even more beauty in the desert than he had imagined existed. Between the stories of the cultures that made their mark here, from the geologic history writ large in the mountains and valleys and through particular attention to the interdependence of native flora and fauna he has learned the “Torah of the Wilderness”. Being passionate about the Arava Desert, David is eager to share his learning with the world and help you discover your connection to sand, mountain and sky in the Arava.

Lotan and the Arava desert - Background

The Arava valley and the surrounding mountains are a majestic backdrop for quite a few tours that we are offering, from three hours to full-day trips and beyond. The trips are meant to give you an insight into the flora and fauna of the area, the extreme climate we are living in and the ways humans have been able to survive here over the centuries. In addition, we also offer tours where we show the natural beauty of the area and give you an explanation of the geological forces that formed this unique landscape.

Here is a selection of the tours on offer. David will gladly work with you to produce a tailor-made tour that suits your needs.

Touring the Southern Arava with David Schoneveld

• Kibbutz Lotan and its immediate surroundings
• Park Timna - The world's oldest copper mines
• The Arava Valley - 7000 years of human settlement
• Uvda Valley The world’s oldest temple and first signs of semi-nomadic settlement
• Shechoret Canyon
• The Red Canyon
• Four-country Lookout
• Corals and fish in the Gulf of Eilat

Kibbutz Lotan and its immediate surroundings

In this tour, which is done with a vehicle, we look at the types of deserts that surround Kibbutz Lotan, we climb onto a sand dune, see where our water comes from and take a look at the border between Israel and Jordan. If the conditions are right, we can see what happens when a flash flood hits the area, and what its aftermath is. We will also have an opportunity to see wildlife tracks in the dunes, and have an indication of what animals roam around. (2-3 hours)

Park Timna The world’s oldest copper mines

In this tour, we enter into Park Timna, a park that opens up before us the 7000-year old mines, along with some extraordinary rock formations and a host of colors in the various types of rock that make up this unique attractions. We will visit the “Arches”, the “Mushroom” and “Solomon’s Pillars”, and will have an opportunity to have some refreshments, or drink some Bedouin tea. At an additional charge, you can see a full-scale replica of the Tabernacle that the People of Israel tool with them during their 40 years in the wilderness. (3-4 hours)

The Arava Valley - 7000 years of human settlement

We will set out from Lotan, go to a Roman fort from the 4th century CE, continue on to a gazelle trap that took advantage of a “character trait” of that animal and that was active more than 6000 years ago, and look at a large farm that was active 1300 years ago with an ingenious irrigation system that supplied a 500 acre farm. At the end of the day, we will go to the town of Eilat to look at the earliest houses that have survived and how it has grown overt the years. (3-4 hours)

Uvda Valley The world’s oldest temple and first signs of semi-nomadic settlement

From Lotan we go up into the mountains, stop for a lookout at “Caravan Cliffs”, and continue on to Uvda Valley. There we will take a look at the “Leopards’ Temple”, look at the way humans settled in small huts more than 8000 years ago (The pre-ceramic Neolithic age), look at a threshing floor and discuss its significance in the evolution of agriculture. From there we will go up to the Bedouin tent at Shacharut for a  refreshment before returning to Lotan. (3-4 hours)

Shechoret Canyon

We will travel by car to this beautiful canyon, where we can see first-hand the geological formations that make up this landscape. We will have a look at a fault line and what the effect has been of “plate tectonics” in the Eilat mountains. At the end of the trip, we will look at a 19th century Bedouin leopard trap, before returning to the car. (2-3 hours)

The Red Canyon

During this hike we will go down through a wadi (dry riverbed), look at the flora that inhabit and survive in this landscape. After walking through this wadi with towering cliffs on both sides, we suddenly arrive at an extraordinary canyon that has been carved out of the soft Nubian sandstone. After climbing down a few rungs of a ladder embedded into the rock, we continue down the wadi and go up a dry waterfall, arriving at a lone Acacia tree. From there we will return to the car via rolling desert landscape. If we are lucky we may encounter ibex (wild mountain goats). (3-4 hours)

Four-country Lookout

We will be driving through the high Negev plateau towards the mountains of Eilat, go up to a lookout where you can put your hand inside Egypt, go for a short hike through one of the scenic wadis (dry riverbeds) in the mountains and ascend Mt. Yoash for a fantastic panoramic view in late afternoon over the Gulf of Eilat. On a clear day, we will be able to see Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, in addition to Israel’s Eilat mountains.  From there we will descend into the city of Eilat, before heading up back to Lotan. (2-3 hours, best done in the afternoon)

Corals and fish in the Gulf of Eilat

We will be visiting the Underwater Observatory to look at the types of underwater fauna that inhabit the world’s northern-most coral reef. We will discuss the types of corals that thrive here, and their interactions with the fish that inhabit them. We will also discuss the challenges that face this marine environment from human activity along and in the Gulf of Eilat. From there we will continue on to Coral Beach Nature reserve for some snorkeling. Snorkel and mask can be rented at the entrance. Please bring a swimsuit and sunscreen. (4-5 hours).

Lotan and Negev - Desert Hiking Tours

• One-day introduction in the Negev desert
• Ramon Crater
• Lotan, Dead Sea and Jerusalem
• Follow in the footsteps of the People of Israel in the Wilderness
• In the wake of the birds on migration (March through May)
• Reform Bar mitzvah  tour
• Israel six days eco-tour

One-day introduction in the Negev desert

In this full-day tour, we will set out from Lotan and see some of the unique landscape features of the Negev desert. We will be driving through two craters, formed by geological forces and visit some water sources, some of which are year-round. We will pay a visit to David Ben-Gurion's desert hut in Sde Boker and talk about his vision for the Negev desert. After a stop at Mitzpe Ramon, a desert development town, we will head back to Lotan.

Ramon Crater

We set out from Lotan, after an early breakfast, and after a magnificent view of the Arava valley, we head up towards Mitzpe Ramon. We will visit an ancient Nabataean Caravanserai and follow a small part of the Spice Route. We will leave the car for a three-hour hike through Parsat Nekarot, an incredibly beautiful trail that changes its shape after each flash flood. We head back to the car, and proceed to Mitzpe Ramon for lunch. Here we will visit Hai Ramon with its exhibits of desert animals, and continue to the Alpaca farm near town. We end the day with a breathtaking view of the crater before heading back to Lotan.

Lotan, Dead Sea and Jerusalem

We set out from Lotan before dawn, drive up the Arava road towards the Dead Sea. We will have an opportunity to drift in the Dead Sea at Ein Bokek, and continue on to Jerusalem. We will spend the rest of the day touring around the Old City of Jerusalem, ending with a panoramic view of the city, before heading back to Lotan. We will arrive back in Lotan well after dark.

Follow in the footsteps of the People of Israel in the Wilderness

Taking the Bible as a guide, we will try to follow the route of the People of Israel as they passed through what is now the State of Israel. We start at Lotan early in the morning, drive up to Nitzana, from there we follow the road towards Beer Sheva, Hatzeva and head back towards Lotan. We will go to various oases that may have hosted the people on their journey, like Ein Radian (Yotvata), Avrona and end up in Eilat (Etzion Gaver). We will also discuss other routes that have been suggested as the possible routes of the People of Israel, and discuss suggested sites for Mount Sinai.

In the wake of the birds on migration (March through May)

This tour is suited for those who have an interest in migratory birds, but are also interested in touring the Eilat mountains for its beauty and spectacular hikes. We will go to various places where we have a chance to see migratory birds at rest or passing by. We will concentrate on raptor migration over the mountains, but will also go salt ponds north of Eilat to see water birds, especially flamingoes that are on migration. 

Reform Bar mitzvah  tour

Interested in a Reform/Progressive Bar/Bat Mitzvah in Israel? We can tailor a tour program for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah plus family, including the services of an Israeli Reform Rabbi to guide you through the Bar Mitzvah ceremony itself.

Israel six days eco-tour

In this tour we will travel through the country visiting various eco-sites and what each one has done. Some of the sites that are included are “Fouzi” - Nazareth, “Al alim” – Zipori, Rik lakish – Zipori, Dovrat hatavor eco-center – shedmot, “Bustan pkiin” and “Orit Liran baskets”, beit Miriam museum, “Tal bashan” eco-center – Jerusalem, “Nekuda yeruka eco-center – kibbutz nir oz, “glass musium” – “arad, “Matanat midbar” eco-ranch - haluza,” Almog coral resort” - Eilat    
Two days are spent on Lotan learning “Reform ecology”.