A soft cross-country tour with easy to moderate riding. This is a relaxing pleasure ride mostly on dirt roads and wide trails requiring no special training and skills. Everyone capable of riding 4-5 hours a day several days in a row is good for our soft XC tours. Our soft XC tours are designed for bikers of all ages and levels.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Airport - Jerusalem
Our team will meet you at Ben Gurion Airport and take you to Jerusalem - the capital of three world religions. We will leave the bikes at the Montefiore hotel near the Old City and have a walk in the magical streets of the city center and Old City of Jerusalem. After a short rest in the hotel, we will have one of the most fascinating night rides in the city to see the String Bridge, Knesset (Parliament), all four quarters of the Old City, Mount Scopus, Mount of Olives, and many other interesting sites (2.5 hours, 19 km, elevation range 730-739 m). Night in the Montefiore hotel.
Day 2: Judean Hills
We will start the day by exploring the stunning area of Judean Hills and ride in pine and oak forests, hilly landscapes with hidden springs, rocky mountains, and ancient terraces built by many generations (5 hours, 36 km, elevation range 480-769 m). Night in the Montefiore hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 3: Arad - Dead Sea
From Jerusalem, a bus will take us to the city of Arad, where we will start our trail in the Negev desert with its extreme environment and changing scenery. Passing roaming camels and Bedouin settlements, we will ride down to Masada - a site overlooking the majestic Dead Sea, the lowest place in the world at 1,300 feet / 412 meters below sea level. If time and weather permit, we may have an opportunity to bathe in saline waters of the Dead Sea (5 hours, 35 km, elevations from 608 m to minus 412 m). Night in the Ramon hotel in Mitzpe Ramon.
Day 4: Ramon Crater
We will ride into the Ramon Crater - the largest crater in the world and an impressive geological window rich in shapes and colors, with rocks over 200 million years old, visit Khan Saharonim along the Incense Route - the ancient trade route used by Nabataeans 2,000 years ago, and have a charming evening at a Bedouin Haffla feast (5 hours, 32 km, elevation 859 m). Night in the Ramon hotel in Mitzpe Ramon.
Day 5: Negev Desert
We will take a bus from the hotel to Sde Boker, a fascinating observation point near the graves of David and Paula Ben Gurion. From there, we will roll down outstanding trails to Ein Akev and Zin Valley to our destination in Mitzpe Ramon, riding along the eastern part of the Negev Mountains (6 hours, 52 km, elevation range 474-879 m). Night in the Ramon hotel in Mitzpe Ramon.
Day 6: Eilat Region
A bus will take us from Mitzpe Ramon to the Timna Valley Park - a national park with ancient copper mines, multicolored hills, and natural sandstone formations, such as King Solomon's pillars, Mushroom and Arch rocks, etc. The copper mines over 6,000 years old were continuously used by Egyptians, Midianites, Romans, Nabateans, Umayads, etc. We will discover the unique beauty of the Eilat turquoise stone and visit the Red Sea (5 hours, 25 km, elevation range 100-150 m). Night in the Dalia hotel in Eilat.
Day 7: Eilat - Airport
On the final day of the biking tour, we will ride through spectacular colorful multilayered mountains and steep cliffs contrasting with flat plains, valleys and dry gullies. We will see a great variety of interesting landscapes reflecting the geological history of this land. After a short rest, a bus will transfer us to Ben Gurion Airport for departure. A special surprise offer on the way to the airport.
Groups
Minimum 10 and maximum 25 bikers over 14 years old.
Food
Breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Snacks, fruit, and mineral water during the ride.
Accommodation
Nice and comfortable hotels are offered. Prices are based on double occupancy (two in a room). Single occupancy (one in a room) raises the price.
High Season
Tours in high seasons cost a little bit more due to higher hotel rates.
Bikes
VELOLAND offers you a high-quality hard-tail mountain bike (MTB) with a light aluminum frame, 100 mm front suspension, and 24 speeds. Rental of a bike and a helmet is included into the price together with mechanical service of your bike during the tour. Most riders enjoy our rented bikes for XC tours. You can come with your personal bike, especially for All Mountain tours, and get a discount from the price.
Trails
All trails of our tours are approved by cycling authorities of Israel. Access to some trails may be restricted in certain hours to keep the habitat of the local fauna undisturbed.
Environmental protection
We require environmental consciousness and discourage littering.
Personal insurance
Every biker should have a tourist insurance for the entire period.
In addition, a biking insurance is provided by the bicycle rental company for their bicycles.
Prices:
| 20 - 25 riders | ||
| your own bike + double occupancy | $1,330.00 | high season addition - $70.00 |
| our bike + double occupancy | $1,470.00 | |
| your own bike + single occupancy | $1,620.00 | |
| our bike + single occupancy | $1,755.00 | |
| 10 - 19 riders | ||
| your own bike + double occupancy | $1,510.00 | high season addition - $70.00 |
| our bike + double occupancy | $1,650.00 | |
| your own bike + single occupancy | $1,800.00 | |
| our bike + single occupancy | $1,940.00 | |
| Prices do not include air fare | ||
- Small comfortable backpack for riding
- Your own seat, biking shoes and pedals, and gloves
- Riding pants, more than one pair
- Comfortable clothes and shoes for visiting sights
- Underwear and socks according to weather
- Sealed pouch for passport and insurance
- Sunglasses, hat, and sun cream
- Vaseline or talc for sore skin
- Lipstick, mosquito repellent
- First aid kit and required medicines
- Camera and accessories
- Isotonic gels, power bars
- Equipment for cycling in rain
- Required hygienic stuff, baby wipes, toiletries
- Spare glasses or contact lenses
- Cash and credit card for purchases
- Ear plugs against snoring roommates
- Swimming suit and goggles
If you bring your own helmet, put your name on it.
If you bring your own bike, take an extra inner tube, extra rear derailleur hanger, and toolset.
If you are an extreme rider, take your knee and elbow guards.
Mechanical service is free, but you will be charged for replacement of parts.
Please take care of your personal stuff.
VELOLAND is not responsible for any damage or loss of your belongings.