Photos of the most epic hiking trail you've never heard of

I decided to celebrate breaking and healing my foot by walking 17 miles across Israel. I wasn't alone: Dan Ariely, a famous Israeli behavioral economist and Duke University professor, invited the world to join him in a hike to celebrate his birthday. A bunch of his Facebook followers and I came along for what turned out to be a very intellectual hike along the Israel National Trail, a 680-mile path that runs all the way through the country.

The portion of the hike I joined him for started in Yarkon Park, a gigantic park in the Mediterranean metropolis of Tel Aviv, and ran far from the city into the country. Naturally, I took a lot of photos along the way.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

Dan Ariely pointed out the Israel National Trail marker.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

Only four out of 10 people hiking the trail complete it.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

Tel Aviv's Yarkon Park actually reminded me a lot of Prospect Park in Brooklyn.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

I wasn't the only one to stop and take a photo of these gorgeous bunches of purple flowers.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

We eventually hiked out of the park and into the country.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

Fruit grew in orchards by the trail, including this attractive lemon.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

We had no idea what this structure was, other than a pretty cool trail marker.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

The trail runs through historical sites as well as natural areas and farmland.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

We also told embarrassing stories about ourselves. Mine involved an attempt to boil chocolate chip cookie dough like dumplings.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

We had to take off our shoes and walk through a lot of these puddles. I got to practice my new favorite hobby: walking barefoot.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

As we surveyed the beautiful landscapes, we talked about behavioral economics. I wish my college classes could have been more like this.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

We weren't sure what these plants were for. Either hummus, peanuts or something else.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

You know when you're walking through farmland and you see people riding motorcycles everywhere?

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

We took a break to eat pita and wished we had more pita.

(Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

Local kids had way more fun splashing in puddles than we did.

Lots of pretty fantastic flowers on the hike ... (Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

National Geographic named the Israel National Trail one of 20 most epic trails in the world.

Dan and Ilana. (Photo: Ilana E. Strauss)

No hike is complete without a selfie.