George Kefford
Walking the Holy Land: A 17 Year Old’s Solo Journey Across Israel, Palestine and Jordan
( Feb. 22, 2020)
The Middle East: one of the most fascinating, beautiful, alluring and dangerous regions of the world.
"What a perfect place to walk across!" decided a bored and wanderlust-infected teenager (much to the dismay of his mother) as he was sitting in his Year 12 economics class in Australia. It would be a journey of discovery, of survival and risk, and a journey through history and religion.
At the age of 17, English-Australian explorer George Kefford set himself an ambitious goal: to walk across the Holy Lands alone. His walk would take him across some of the most beautiful, yet politically sensitive countries in the world.
The journey would take him 500 miles from the great Mediterranean port city of Acre in northern Israel to Jordan's Aqaba, which sits on the Red Sea. He would pass through the stunning metropolises of Nazareth, Nablus, Jerusalem, and Kerak; through the archeological marvels of Samaria, Jericho, and Petra; and through the beautiful geographical formations of the Jordan River Valley, Dana, and Wadi Rum. He would cross the West Bank of Palestine, meeting the ordinary people whose hospitality is nothing short of extraordinary. All of this whilst following the routes walked by armies, emperors, merchants, pilgrims, and explorers before him.
This is the story of a boy becoming a man. A story of discovery, hardship, success, and exploration.
"What a perfect place to walk across!" decided a bored and wanderlust-infected teenager (much to the dismay of his mother) as he was sitting in his Year 12 economics class in Australia. It would be a journey of discovery, of survival and risk, and a journey through history and religion.
At the age of 17, English-Australian explorer George Kefford set himself an ambitious goal: to walk across the Holy Lands alone. His walk would take him across some of the most beautiful, yet politically sensitive countries in the world.
The journey would take him 500 miles from the great Mediterranean port city of Acre in northern Israel to Jordan's Aqaba, which sits on the Red Sea. He would pass through the stunning metropolises of Nazareth, Nablus, Jerusalem, and Kerak; through the archeological marvels of Samaria, Jericho, and Petra; and through the beautiful geographical formations of the Jordan River Valley, Dana, and Wadi Rum. He would cross the West Bank of Palestine, meeting the ordinary people whose hospitality is nothing short of extraordinary. All of this whilst following the routes walked by armies, emperors, merchants, pilgrims, and explorers before him.
This is the story of a boy becoming a man. A story of discovery, hardship, success, and exploration.