This is a unique and stimulating active adventure into the culture, history, and adventure of Israel, from Jerusalem to Eilat, through green valleys, pine forests, and the Negev desert. The quiet, safe paths and back roads will immerse you in the exciting archeology of the area, and will take you to explore caves, hear tales of Bar Kochba, and learn about Jewish, Greek, Roman and Christian history. This tour was chosen one of the world’s best trips by Bicycling and Outside magazines, and Men’s Journal.
Your adventure will begin with an informed introduction to the sites and sounds of Jerusalem. The desert city of Arad will then be the jumping off point to Masada, where you will be stirred by the history and entranced by the stunning views of the African Rift Valley, the Dead Sea and the Mountains of Moab. You can float in the Dead Sea, and then pass through the machteshim and on to the mountains of the Negev and Sde Boker. Staying two nights on the edge of the Machtesh Ramon, Israel's newest and largest national park, allows plenty of time to explore the area and enjoy the insight offered by your local guide. On the fifth day zoom down into the Machtesh Ramon Crater, riding through geological wonders, dry or flooded wadis.
Finally you will descend to the shores of the Red Sea, getting glimpses of the Sinai Desert, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and stopping to explore the Red Canyon and other special, sometimes secret places on our route. Your adventure finishes in Eilat, where you may choose an extended stay to enjoy the beaches, warm water and world famous scuba diving, or can continue to Egypt or Jordan, both just a short trip across open borders. We encourage you to be prepared for a fascination with new and old world pleasures that will entice you to spend more time surrounded by the history, beauty and civilization of this fascinating country.
2009 Guided Dates: Mar 23-30; Apr 19-26; Nov 22-29; Dec 13-20. Call to check for updates or to add a new date.
Self-Guided: Not Available
2010 Guided Dates: Jan 10-17; Feb 14-21; Mar 14-21; Apr 18-25; Nov 21-28; Dec 12-19. Call to check for updates or to add a new date.
Custom groups any time. Tour starts: Noon day 1; Kibbutz Belmont, Tzuba, near Jerusalem. This is a Kibbutz hotel 10 Km out of Jerusalem and 30 minutes by taxi from Ben Gurion (Tel Aviv) airport. Tour finish: 3:00pm day 8. Eilat, on the Red Sea in Southern Israel, a short plane hop back to Tel Aviv. Route Notes: A moderately easy ride, punctuated frequently with interpretive stops. Advanced riders may pursue longer options and challenges.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1:
18:00 meeting at your hotel in Jerusalem, for introductions, technical briefing, and dinner (included).
Lodging: King David Hotel, Jerusalem.
Day 2:
Jerusalem is (and always was) a small town by international standards. Yet, 75% of humans round the globe have heard its name; people who never heard the names of New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Rome or Beijing- know something about the city that endured 87 regime changes – two thirds of them by battle. Your guided tour in Jerusalem is an essential introduction for those whose knowledge of Israel’s history is not complete. In the morning you will visit observation points round the city, then will visit the old city to see the important sites that draw the attention of millions of tourists, pilgrims, poets, artists, philosophers, politicians, worriers, and media correspondents over the ages. In the afternoon you will see the caves of David’s City. Lunch is included.
Lodging: same as last night
Day 3: Cycling 30 km/19 mi. one medium ascent (4 km/2 mi. 200 meters vertical); the rest – flat or descents! Today you will transfer from Jerusalem (elevation – 800 meters ASL) to the "flat land" or "Eretz Pleshet" as it is named in the Bible (250 meters ASL). You will see the Judea Mountains – and descend to "Emek Ha'Ella" ("The Goddess' Valley") where young David defeated Goliath some 3000 years ago. We will spend the morning visiting the Roman City of Eleutropolis, wandering through breath-taking man-made caves of Tel Maresha, and taking pictures in the famous Bell-Shaped caves of Beith-Guvrin. After emerging to light again, a short transfer south will allow you to mount your bike again, and descend from the Southern tip of the Judean Mountains straight into the Judean Desert, and to the desert town of Arad. Today’s highlights include Beit Guvrin, Amatsiya, (ancient Hebrew ruins, Maccabee period, caves, natural and manmade, along Tefer (pre ‘67 border patrol road), views of Arab and Jewish villages, forests, Yattir forest, Sussiya (time permitting), beautiful views of Judaean desert, Tel Arad (very ancient ruins), modern city of Arad. Lunch and dinner are included.
Lodging: Hotel Margoa Arad
Day 4: Cycling: 60 km/37 mi. flat or descent; 2 hours in Masada by foot; 2 hours at Mount Sodom by foot. Optional: 67 km /42 mi. of cycling including the great descent from Arad to Ein Bokek (22 km, 900 meters vertical!) Nine out of ten visitors to Israel will see Masada: a fascinating archaeological site. It has breath-taking views from the mountain to the desert and the Dead Sea; it has a heroic story to tell; it unfolds a very strong folkloristic and ideological debate; and it has a lot to do with the spirit that made the only independent Jewish state exist. You will enjoy an awe-inspiring early-morning ride from Arad to Masada. You can climb up Masada via Roman ramp, see the lately found and reconstructed sites, and enjoy views of the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, the Moab mountains, and Jordan across the African Rift Valley. You can descend from Masada by foot on the Snake Path, or by cable car, to Ein Boqeq on the Dead Sea below, where you can have a light lunch at a lovely private spa, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the water’s healing power, and to laugh in the amazing experience of buoyancy. Massage and blue mud treatments are also available. Enjoy a relaxed ride from the Dead Sea to Idan and Hatzeva – both villages on the Jordanian border, both surviving well on agriculture, but both struggling desperately to persuade their second and third generations to stay put. Dinner possibilities include Fata Morgana (historically an Arthurian enchantress, but in this case a mirage) and your unique moshav.
Lodging: A charming moshav guest house - Ya'arat Hade'vash Hatzeva
Day 5: Cycling: 134km/83 mi. Flat morning & a very hilly afternoon. This morning you can challenge the Akrabim (Scorpion’s) Ascent where biblical and Roman roads crossed the mountains. This is Israel’s steepest road- 5 Km, 500 meters vertical. Of course, you can take the support vehicle if you prefer! You will then cycle through the odd geological formation – the Machtesh (that resembles a giant crater, only it's not a volcano…). If time permits before sunset, you can pay a short visit to the beautiful mosaics and wall painting of Byzantine Mamshit, before transferring to your lodging for the night on the edge of the largest machtesh. Lunch and dinner are included.
Lodging: The Ramon Inn
Day 6: Cycling: 83 km/52 mi. The Mountains of the Negev and across the desert. Early morning optional hike on the edge of the cliff will let enthusiastic nature lovers see the 1500 feet cliff at sun rise with a good chance of meeting the wild ibex (kind of a local mountain goat) and griffons (a majestic vulture, condor size). The cycling begins with a magnificent descent from the hotel into the Machtesh Ramon crater, followed by a wonderful road through the incredible landscape of the Eilat Mountains Nature Reserve, traversing the real desert, past Wadi Paran, with excellent observation points along the way at Mitzpe HaMeishar and Tsukei Paran. This fabulous ride through wide open Uvda wilderness is real desert, real desolation, real cycling in an excellent almost pollution-free environment.
Lodging: Kibbutz Ye'elim Holiday Village, Grofit.
Day 7: 60 km/37 mi. Take an early morning optional camel ride in the desert then cycle through the outstanding landscape of the Eilat Mountains Nature Reserve. The colors of the granites and sand stones look as if an uncensored hallucinating artist painted them all. Ancient Copper miners left their camps, shrines, melting work-shops and mysterious rock engravings here. You can ride through all these, pushing your pedals towards Eilat where we will have a luxurious last night. Lunch and dinner are included.
Lodging: Le Meridien Eilat, Eilat.
Day 8: Snorkelling, transfers and farewells. Sleep in late or wake early with an option to snorkel and explore some of the most beautiful reefs of the world. The narrowing of the red sea rift valley makes for a spectacular natural wind tunnel, perfect for wind surfing. Finish after lunch, in time for afternoon flights back to the center of the country, some 300km north, where your Freewheeling Adventure started. Lunch is included.
Ask about our multi-sport adventure in Northern Israel, available for custom groups.
Testimonials:
"I am still living and reliving my Israel vacation. The best ever. There couldn't be anyone more knowledgeable… the best biking trip I’ve ever taken…you can use my name as reference…with pleasure."
(Louise Markert)
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
- Guided Cost: $3795 pp. dbl. (8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners, luggage and van support and guides)
- Self-Guided Cost: not available
- Bike Rental: Lightweight mountain bike: $ 195. Road bikes not recommended.
Also see tour packages in:
Middle East
Israel
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
Hiking & Trekking
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