Day 1: Carmel to Caesarea We will leave Tel Aviv early in the morning by van and drive to the Horn of Carmel. It is in this biblical site that Elijah overcame the prophets of Ba’al (I Kings 18). After enjoying a spectacular view of the Galilee from the rooftop of the Church here, we will bike down the slope of the Carmel. We will pass several of the early Kibbutzim along the way, and then ride through the Amikam region, known as the Tuscany of Israel. From here we will ride to Caesarea: Built in the first century BC by King Herod, we will bike along the aqueduct all the way to the ancient port. After lunch in the Caesarea Harbor we will take a short walking tour of the city that was once the Capitol of Judea, and is today a true gem on the coast. From here we will head by car to Tiberius on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We will enjoy dinner together in a local restaurant and get to know the people we will be sharing the tour with. Meals included in package: Dinner Day 2: Tzfat and the Northern Border road. We will drive after breakfast to the Forests of Dalton from which we will start our ride towards the ancient town of Bara’m, and visit the synagogue there that was built in the second century. We will pass through the town of Jish, as we head north towards the Northern border of Israel. We ride along the small roads of the upper Galilee, with breathtaking views of the villages and vineyards around us. We will follow the northern border into the finger of the Galil, riding past al-Nabi Yusha and the Yesha Fortress before heading down to the Koach Junction in the Hula Valley from where we will drive to Tzfat. Our afternoon will be spent touring the ancient city of Tzfat, the home of Jewish Mysticism and a modern art lover’s heaven. You have a guided tour through the Old City and time to wander alone through the market street and artists’ quarter with its many art galleries. Meals included in package: Breakfast & Dinner Day 3: Nazareth to Kfar Tabor We will start the day with a short walking tour of Nazareth, the biblical home of Jesus, including the Church of Annunciation and the local market. From here we will begin to ride to Mount Tabor, overlooking the Galilee. We will ride through the Beit Keshet Forest to the village of Daburia, named after the prophetess Deborah who lived in the area over 3,000 years ago. We will arrive at the foot of Mount Tabor and have an optional shuttle for those who want to skip the 6 km climb up the mountain. Mount Tabor is mentioned in the New Testament as the place of The Transfiguration, and houses a beautiful modern monastery as well as ruins of a Byzantine and Crusader fortress, and incredible views over the Jezreel Valley and the Galilee. After our visit here, we will bike to Shibli and Kfar Tabor for a late lunch. From here we will shuttle back to Tiberius. Meals included in package: Breakfast & Lunch Day 4: Southern Golan Heights After breakfast we will take a short transfer to the top of the Golan Heights. This vast plateau, overlooking the Galilee on one side and Syria on the other, is home to some of Israel’s most interesting places and people. We will start the day at Gamla, a city that resisted the Roman Empire, several years before Masada. From Gamla we will ride along the back roads of the region, enjoying a short wine tasting stop in one of the local wineries. After a long descent to the shores of the Sea of Galilee we will stop for lunch on the water’s edge. We will bike along the bike lanes connecting the Kibbutzim of the region and return to our hotel in Tiberius. Meals included in package: Breakfast Day 5: Sea of Galilee Loop We will enjoy a day of biking around the Sea of Galilee, taking time to visit some of the historical sites along the way. The Sea of Galilee was the backdrop of early Christianity, and several sites around the lake mark important events in the life of Jesus. We will visit Capernaum, and visit the ruins of the town where Jesus began his ministry. From there we will climb (or opt for a shuttle to cover the 6km) to the Mount of Beatitudes where a beautiful church overlooks the Sea of Galilee, marking the traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount. After riding along the east shore of the lake we will arrive at Kibbutz Dgania. Kibbutz Dgania was the first kibbutz and was instrumental in the development of the kibbutz movement and the ideology of collective living. We will enjoy a light lunch and then return to Tiberius. Meals included in package: Breakfast Day 6: Mt Gilboa to the Valley of Springs We will check out of our hotel in Tiberius and drive to the foot of Mt Gilboa, overlooking the Jezreel Valley and the Jordan River. We will begin to climb up this quiet scenic road and enjoy the views of the whole of the Galilee (optional 10 km shuttle to the top). From here we will descend to the valley below and ride along the streams fed by natural spring water leading into the Jordan River. We will enter the Spring Valley Park and end our ride at the large pools in Gan Hashlosha National Park. We will enjoy a swim and a picnic in this beautiful corner of Israel and toast the end of our ride. From here there will be transportation to Jerusalem. Meals included in package: Breakfast & Lunch Optional Extension: Day 7: Jerusalem Bike Ride We will take advantage of the Sabbath in Jerusalem, and ride through the city streets and allies. Our tour will include the Israeli Parliament, The Valley of the Cross, the pioneer neighborhood of Rehavia, The German Colony, and an overlook of the Old City. This trademark ride follows small streets, bike lanes, short cuts and hidden alleys unknown to most. For lunch we will stop at the Old City gates, and continue independently for a free afternoon in the Old City with its colorful markets, and local food. Meals included in package: Breakfast Approximate Cycling Distance: 20 km Overnight: Jerusalem Day 8: Jerusalem by Foot & Jerusalem Night Ride Our day will focus on the Old City of Jerusalem, a world of its own, enclosed in walls and history. Our tour will take us through the alleys of the Old City, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall. We will also visit the Jewish Quarter and the underground tunnels that go along the walls of the Second Temple. After passing through the market you will be free to choose whether to return to your hotel or explore on your own in the Old City until we meet again in the evening. Around dusk, we will leave for the breathtaking experience of a night ride within the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City. On our way to the Old City we will pass the Prime Minister’s home and the Supreme Court before crossing the main market of the city to get to the Jaffa gate. At this point we will delve into the warren of alleyways making up the Old City, exploring the different quarters under the cloak of darkness. We will finish our tour back at the Jaffa Gate where we will enjoy a refreshing cold drink and a midnight snack. Meals included in package: Breakfast Overnight: Jerusalem Day 9: Judean Hills The hills surrounding Jerusalem hold some of the best cycling routes in Israel, and we will probably see dozens of other cyclists as we head on our way. We will start riding from Bar Giora and head downhill towards Beit Shemesh (optional ride out of the city- additional 20 KM). We will ride through the Adolam Park, where we will get a glimpse of the famous caves where Bar Kochva and his supporters hid from the Romans in the year 135 CE. From here we will ride to the Ella Valley, the Biblical site of David and Goliath’s battle, and continue for a lunch and a taste of wine from Israel’s leading wine region. After lunch we will continue our ride to the ruins of Beit Guvrin where we can explore a labrynth of ancient caves dating back over 2,000 years. The bus will take us back to our hotel in Jerusalem and we will enjoy a farewell dinner together to mark the end of our tour. Meals included in package: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner Overnight: Jerusalem Day 10: Departure Enjoy the morning in Jerusalem on your own, our staff will be happy to assist you with your travel plans. Meals included in package: Breakfast |
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Price per person: $1960* for 6 day tour. Additional $980 per person for the additional 4 days.
Prices based on DBL occupancy. Tour starts on Sunday Morning and ends on Friday; optional extension ends on Tuesday.Pre-tour Meet & Brief in Tel Aviv; overnight accommodation not included. *This tour is guaranteed departure with a minimum participation of 2. The price of the Program includes:
*In the event that there are no confirmed participants 8 weeks prior to the departure date the tour will be cancelled without notice. |