Israel - Jerusalem to Eilat Bike Tour (2018) Guided Cycling Tour 8 days / 7 nights

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1 Israel - Jerusalem to Eilat Bike Tour (2018) Guided Cycling Tour 8 days / 7 nights Starting in Jerusalem the tour will take you through the City, to the Dead Sea and on to Masada, the Negev Desert and the Red Sea before looping back to Tel Aviv via the Ramon Crater. In just 8 days you will not only ride some of the best routes in the country, but you will visit the important historical and cultural sites on route, and at the end of the day relax in a luxury hotel.

2 Itinerary Day to Day Day 1: Arrival Welcome to Israel! Independent arrival and travel to Jerusalem where you will be welcomed to your Jerusalem hotel by a member of our staff who will be happy to talk you through the arrangements for tomorrow and the plan for the coming week, as well as direct you to things you can do in the area for the remainder of the day. Commons.wikimedia.org Day 2: Jerusalem Our welcome to Israel will begin with focusing on the Old City of Jerusalem; a world of its own, enclosed in walls and history. We will tour the four quarters of the city viewing the sites that are important to the three monotheistic religions that hold this city as holy. Included in our walking tour will be a visit to the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and a view of the Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif. You will visit the famous Western Wall Tunnels that run along the walls of the ancient Second Temple platform under the Muslim Quarter, and you will walk through the famous Jerusalem bazaar. After passing through the market you will be free to choose whether to return to your hotel to rest or explore Jerusalem independently until we meet again in the evening for an opening dinner at the hotel. Breakfast included. Day 3: Jerusalem - The Ride 30 km We will take the day to ride through the city streets and alleys. Our tour will include viewing 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, shortcuts and hidden alleys unknown to most. We conclude the tour at the Old City gates, and continue independently for a free afternoon. You may like to explore further inside the Old City or visit one of Jerusalem's famous museums such as the Tower of David Museum or the Israel Museum. We will reconvene for dinner in a local restaurant, before heading out on our night ride. A little after dusk, we will leave for the breathtaking experience of a night ride within the walls of Jerusalem s Old City. On mountain bikes we will revisit some of the sites we saw previously but this time, under the cloak of darkness enabling us to experience them anew. We will ride through the Jaffa Gate, and wind our way through the narrow stepped alleyways of the quarters. We will finish our tour close to the Jaffa Gate where we will enjoy a refreshing cold drink and a midnight snack. Breakfast included.

3 Day 4: Judean Hills 70 km We will start this morning with an optional ride out of Jerusalem towards Bar Giora in the beautiful pine forest surrounding the city. From there the whole group will continue onwards to the Beit Shemesh area in the Judean Foothills. We will ride through the Adulam 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. Riding through Israel's wine country will whet our palates and we will enjoy a stop and a tasting at a local winery. We will eat lunch together before continuing to the ruins of Beit Guvrin where we can explore a labyrinth of ancient caves dating back over 2,000 years. From here we will transfer by bus back to Jerusalem for our last night there. Breakfast and picnic lunch included. Flickr.com Day 5: Masada and the Dead Sea 40 km We will leave Jerusalem by car and drive south to the desert town of Arad. From here we will begin our ride to the mountain fortress of Masada. Our ride will take us to the lesser known entrance to this world heritage site, where we will climb to the top of the mountain via the Roman ramp. We will have the opportunity to tour the site, and hear the fascinating story of the rebellion that took place here in the year 73 AD. We will continue to lunch at a nearby hotel and have some rest and relaxation in a spa and in the Dead Sea itself. After enjoying a float in the mineral rich Dead Sea and changing into a fresh set of clothes we will board the bus and head south to Eilat. Pinterest.com After the long ride, and check into the hotel, you will be free to enjoy the evening relaxing in your room or in one of the many restaurants and outdoor venues in the city. Breakfast included.

4 Day 6: Explore Eilat 20 km Wake up to the view of the Red Sea and head for a half day ride though the seaside town and its outskirts. We will ride through the desert farmland to the north of the city and then head back to follow the shoreline from the Jordanian border to the Egyptian. We will see some of the historical sites of the town before returning to the hotel. You will have a free afternoon to explore the beach, the coral reef, and the beautiful promenade; all in the winter sun. Breakfast included. Day 7: Timna to Eilat 50 km We will leave Eilat and drive to Timna, the red rock nature park. We will ride through several of its sites including rock carvings from the Pharaonic Empire and beautiful geological formations carved by man and God. From here we will follow the Arava Valley south back towards Eilat, following farm roads, passing a pool for Flamingos and migrating birds, forests of date plantations, and views of the Edom mountains. We will return to Eilat and bike back to our hotel. Dinner will be enjoyed at a local restaurant to mark the last night of the tour. Breakfast included. Panoramio.com Panoramio.com Day 8: Go North 40 km We will start our day with a transfer out of Eilat to the town of Mitzpe Ramon in the heart of the Negev Desert. After touring the visitors' center overlooking the impressive Ramon Crater, and a local craft center, we will begin our ride towards the Nabatean city of Avdat. We will stop for lunch and visit this ancient Nabatean stronghold on the spice route. We will ride to the Sde Boker College and walk to the Ben Gurion Memorial, the father of the State of Israel. From here we will transfer further north to Tel Aviv for departure or post tour extension. Breakfast and dinner included.

5 Route Technical Characteristics: Route Profile: Easy to moderate. Distance: 250 km Travel Season: Departures January 10 and February 22, 2018

6 Price per Person: Deluxe Category Superior Category Double Occupancy $ USD $ USD Single Room Supplement $ USD $ USD Half Board (Dinners not included in program) $ USD $ USD Accommodation: Deluxe Hotels: King David Jerusalem; Dan Eilat Superior First Class Hotels: Dan Panorama Jerusalem, Dan Panorama Eilat Included: Not Included: 7 nights' accommodation as per program Hybrid bike rental for touring days with flat or cage pedals (upgrade to road bike and/or spd pedals available for additional fee) Standard mountain bike rental for Jerusalem night ride Meals as per program Entry fees according to program Transportation according to program Escort van with trailer for bikes and for luggage transfer Licensed tour guide who will bike with the group + 1 support staff Daily handouts with ride and touring information Snacks and water for out-of-city cycling days I Bike Israel T-shirts Personal medical insurance Transportation to Jerusalem before the ride Helmets: please provide your own helmet. Helmets can be rented on request. Tips/Gratuity for guides/bike staff/hotel staff. Anything not stated as included

7 Bikes Hybrid - specialized surris or similar Road - Specialized Allez Sport or similar Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free Local TICO Ontario Registration No: