Day to Day Itinerary

Sunday – Arrival and gathering. 

We will meet in a hotel in Tel Aviv, have dinner and get acquainted. 

Monday – Mount Gilboa, Sea of Galilee and Mount Tavor (95 km)

After an early breakfast, we will depart from Tel Aviv and drive north for an hour to the Valley of Jezreel.  Following a short warm-up, we will ride up to Ma’ale Gilboa (9 km) on a road that passes through a pine forest, with peeks of amazing view between the trees.  At the top, we will stop for a view of the Valley of Jezreel and the Beit She’an Valley opposite the Mountains of Jordan. 

Thereafter, we will follow the beautiful descent to the Beit She’an Valley, where we will turn north.  We will ride along the Beit She’an Valley to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where we will stop for lunch. 

We will circle the Sea of Galilee from the west toward the Village of Kinneret.  We will ascend east through the village (3+3 km) and continue to Kfar Tavor, crossing Yavne’el and Kfar Kama.  We will pass through Kfar Shibli and conclude with a steep climb to the top of Mount Tavor (7 km), where we will admire the church on site and the expansive view.  Finally, we will get on the bus and head north to our hotel, where we will spend the evening and the night. 

Tuesday – Upper Galilee (100-110 km)

After breakfast, the bus will take us to Metula, the northern most point in Israel, close to the Good Fence. 

We will start the day with a descent through the views of the Hula Valley and the Golan Heights.  We will ride past Tel-Hai and Kfar Giladi and climb toward Manara (8 km), overlooking the Hula Valley and the Golan. 

We will then descend down a beautiful road that winds through apple and cherry orchards, at the end of which we will stop for a breather.  We will continue south, cross the Dishon Stream and start the second climb up to Moshav (a cooperative settlement) Rehania (6 km).  We will cross the Bar’am Forest Reserve and arrive at the foot of Mount Meron, where we will break for lunch.  During the break, you will be free to climb up to the top of Mount Meron (1,208 m.) and back. 

Together, we will continue west through the Druze village of Hurfeish and take a moderate climb up Mount Biranit (8 km) that is embedded with large iron sculptures.  We will turn east on the North Road (Route 899 that crosses the Galilee from east to west) and stop at the Druze village of Jish for Coffee and traditional Arab sweets. 

We will continue cycling to the city of Safed, past the burial places of biblical figures, and end the ride with a magnificent descent (10 km) toward the old settlement of Rosh Pina, on the background of the Hula Valley, the Golan and the Sea of Galilee. 

At the end of the day’s trail, you will have free time to tour Rosh Pina and sit in a café. 

We will return to the hotel by bus and, after a pleasant rest, regroup for dinner at the hotel. 

Wednesday – Golan Heights (106 km)

After breakfast, we will ride out of Kibbutz Hagoshrim and up to the Banias Stream, on to a moderate climb to the Druze town of Mas’ada (13 km) and ascend southwards up Mount Bental (an inactive volcano, 1,171 m.), where we will stop to rest, enjoy the view from the observatory and learn about the history of the site. 

We will then ride down across the Golan Heights (stopping for lunch) and conclude the day’s trail with a steep descent through 7 km of astounding scenery. 

Finally, we will relax in the hot springs and spa of the Hammat Gader Resort.  At the end of the day, we will take the bus to Jerusalem, where we will spend the night. 

Thursday – Walking tour of Jerusalem

In the morning, we will go out with a certified guide on a tour of the central and prominent sites of Israel’s Capital, which has a unique historical legacy and is of special significance to all religions.  At the end of the day we will drive to Tel Aviv. 

Friday – The Carmel (90 km)

Early in the morning we will ride along the Mediterranean coastline in Kibbutz Neve Yam.  After the warm-up across the plane, we will enter the wooded area of the Carmel and climb to Kibbutz Beit-Oren (10 km) and continue cycling on the Carmel Ridge, through the Druze villages of Isfiya and Daliyat al-Karmel. 

At the Carmelite Monastery (Muhraka) we will stop for a rest and an observation of the spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley.  Then we will travel down the ridge of the Carmel and into the hills of Ramot Menashe, the Israeli Tuscany, through fields, vineyards and orchards. 

We will pass through Binyamina, one of the first agricultural settlements in Israel, and end with a short climb (2 km) to another early Jewish settlement, Zikhron Ya’akov.  After a quick regrouping, you will be free to walk around the old town center and enjoy its variety of restaurants, galleries and shops.  The second half of the day will be dedicated to a walking tour of Tel Aviv and the alleys of Old Jaffa. 

Saturday – The Jerusalem Mountains (85 km)

We will start the day on a mountaintop close to Moshav Nes-Harim, with a spectacular view of the Jerusalem Mountains. 

The trail will take us down to the Terebinth Valley, where David had defeated Goliath, and on to a beautiful road toward Beit Shemesh. 

A few kilometers on, we will undertake a challenging climb.  The Tzuba rise (10 km) is considered one of the most extreme and magnificent climbs in Israel. 

Thereafter we will descend in the direction of Hadassah and Ein Kerem, surrounded by the majestic landscape of Jerusalem and the mountains.  We will ride down an amazing wooded road and conclude with the mandatory climb (5 km) back to the starting point, where we will stop for lunch on the background of a breathtaking view. 

After lunch, we will take a short bus ride to the Cave of Avshalom, an impressive stalactite cave.  We will return to Tel Aviv and enjoy some free time in the city. 

Sunday – Departure

For additional information on specific dates and prices, please send us an e-mail to info@israelcycling.com