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Freewheeling Adventures
, RR#1, Hubbards, Nova Scotia. B0J 1T0, Canada.
8 days: Cycling on paved roads and occasional hard packed desert tracks.
Chosen one of the world's best trips by Bicycling, Outside, and Men's Journal
Israel is an esoteric place full of wonder-filling culture, history, and geology, where many roots of western civilization are clearly evident. It is where the Torah and the Bible were lived, and is a great place to celebrate a Bar or But Mitzvah, a family re-union, or a life fulfilling dream.
From Jerusalem to Eilat, you will travel through green valleys, pine forests, and the Negev desert. Our quiet route will immerse you in exciting archaeology and carry you past unique rock formations. You will explore caves, hear epic tales, and learn about Jewish, Greek, Roman and Christian history. Your adventure will begin with an informed introduction to the sites and sounds of Jerusalem. You will see David and Goliath's field of battle. You will zoom into the Judean desert in Arad and on to the Roman fort at Masada. You will see stunning views of the African Rift Valley, the Dead Sea and the Mountains of Moab. You will float in the Dead Sea, observe mountains of salt and pass through machteshim. You will see Israel's newest and largest national park. Finally, you will descend to the shores of the Red Sea, getting glimpses of the Sinai Desert, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, stopping to explore the Red Canyon and other special, sometimes secret places. Your adventure finishes in Eilat, where you will enjoy beaches, warm water and world famous scuba diving. You may continue to Egypt or Jordan, both just a short trip across open borders. This trip will let you see fascinating new and old world pleasures that have for thousands of years been the foundation of western civilization.
Your accommodation will range from luxury hotels to humble kibbutz guest homes, allowing you proximity to remote hidden treasures. You will be pleased by the wonderful people and magical places, and may begin to understand the marvellous complexity of Israel.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Noon meeting at your kibbutz, for technical briefing, lunch, and introductions, followed by a walking tour in Jerusalem, and dinner in the old city. Jerusalem is (and always was) a small town in international scale. Yet, 75% of humans round the globe have heard its name; People who never heard the names of N.Y., London, Paris, Tokyo, Rome or Beijing- know something about the city who saw 87 regime changes – 2/3 of them by battle. Your guided tour in Jerusalem, an essential introduction for those whose knowledge of Israel's history is not complete, is in two sessions: First, you will visit observation points round the city , then you will visit the old city to see the important sites that draw the attention of millions of tourists, pilgrims, poets, artists, philosophers, politicians, worriers, media correspondents over the ages. We will stay in Jerusalem for a dinner in the center of the old city, before returning to the kibbutz. Lunch and dinner are included. Lodging: Kibbutz Belmont.
Day 2: 45 km of cycling; one really tough ascent (3 km, 300 meters vertical), one medium ascent (4 km, 200 meters vertical); the rest – flat or descents! Today you will cycle 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 cycle through the Judea Mountains – and descend to "Emek Ha'Ella" ("The Goddess' Valley") where young David defeated Goliath some 3000 years ago. You can cycle through the ancient ruined Biblical Cities of Socha, Azeka and Midras – and try to understand the significance of this area in past as the agricultural main area of ancient Judea. You will have lunch in the middle of the vines area – the red wines and their cellars have replaced the grains of the past as the leading income for local countrymen. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Lodging: Kibbutz Gal-On Country Guest house.
Day 3: 35 Km of cycling mostly flat with some undulations and one major descent (3 Km 300 meters vertical!). Morning: Cycle in the flat land, 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. Afternoon: 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 Mounains 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 Judaen desert, Tel Arad (very ancient ruins), modern city of Arad. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Lodging: Margoa Arad Hotel.
Day 4: Cycling: 45 km, flat or descend, 2 hours Masada by foot, 2 hour round Mount Sodom by foot. Optional: 67 km cycling including the great descend from Arad to Ein Bokek (22 km, 900 meters vertical!). Nine out of ten visitors to Israel will see Masada: a fascinating archeological 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 the Dead Sea below. You will then cycle South, visit the Dead Sea coast at Ein Bokek, have a float and lunch, then resume pedalling towards the mountain of Sodom, etymological source of one of our language's more infamous acts. At the end of the day, there is a short van transfer to Hatzeva. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Lodging: At one of the Moshav's enchanted country houses.
Day 5: Cycling: 55 km, mostly flat with one extreme ascent (5 Km, 500 meters vertical). From the North Arava Valley – into the mountains of the Negev. You will start with a relaxed ride from Hatzeva to Idan – 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. From there, cycle to Old Hatzeva and visit the old ruins of the town – which saw Romans, Edomite, Jews, Nabatean and perhaps Assyrians occupying the place building citadels, irrigation projects and shrines. You can then challenge the Akrabim Ascent : the Biblical and Roman roads crossed the mountain's slope here, and those of you who are into a serious challenge - 5 Km, 500 meters vertical - are invited to work their your way up to meet the van at the top. 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. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Lodging: The Ramon Inn.
Day 6: The Mountains of the Negev. Cycling: 35 km easy ride, mostly downhill. 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). After breakfast, mount your bike, and set off northbound to visit Kibbutz Sde-Boker and Avdat Nature reserve. You will hear the story of people who have struggled to survive in this desert for the last 3000 years: Early Israelites wandered here before settling down in the so called "settled land". The Calcholitic era; the Nabatean, Byzantine, Bedouin, and early Zionist styles - all left their mark everywhere here. Optional evening activity: Let the hotel's Jacuzzi or heated swimming pool spoil your muscles: you will need their full co-operation tomorrow. Breakfast is included. Lodging: Same as last night. Massage may be possible.
Day 7: Across the desert. Cycling: 100 km, all sorts of topography. A good day for enthusiastic cyclists. Starting with a magnificent descent from the hotel into the Machtesh Ramon (Crater), followed by moderate ups and downs on a magnificent road that traverses the real desert, past Wadi Paran, with excellent observation points along the way, at Mitzpe HaMeishar and Tsukei Paran. This long day through wide open Uvda wilderness suggests real desert, real desolation, real cycling in excellent almost pollution-free environment. You can use your support van for part, or all, of the way if you prefer.
Optional afternoon visits to Timna, and King Solomon's Mines in Solomon's Valley. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Lodging: Kibbutz Lotan.
Day 8: (90 km, or less) A beautiful ride to Eilat, an optional visit en route to Red Canyon, views of the Egyptian Border and crossing at Netifim, a swim in Red Sea, goodbyes. Cycle through the imaginary 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 deliver you to your hotel to relax or continue your vacation by exploring the tropical reef, or to the airport to catch one of the evening flights back to the center of the country, some 300km north, where your Freewheeling Adventure started. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are 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
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