Wednesday, May 18, 2022

We’ll begin our ride heading east and then south out of the Merom Golan Resort Village, looking into Syrian territory at the Kuneitra Lookout Point and learning about the geopolitics of the location from 1967 to the present. Continuing south, we’ll stop north of Moshav Alonei Habashan to visit the moving “Andarta of the Fig and the Cedar,” a memorial for eight soldiers from the 134th Reconnaissance Battalion who died during the Yom Kippur War. Continuing south on 98, we will turn east on route 87 and ride to the access road of 9088 leading north to Katzrin, the main urban center of the Golan Heights, where we’ll stop for lunch. In Katzrin we’ll visit an ancient synagogue and a reconstructed Talmudic village built on the ruins of the town where the synagogue once stood. Riders will then transfer by bus back to Merom Golan.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Today’s ride will take us along a northern route from Merom Golan towards the panhandle of the Galil, the northernmost section of pre-1967 Israel. Our route will take us through the Odem Forest and the Druze village of Massade. Before entering the Galilee Panhandle, we will visit two of the three main tributaries of the Jordan River. We will first stop at the Nahal Hermon Nature Reserve (better known as the “Banias”), where we’ll break for lunch. We will then tour the amazing Tel Dan Nature Reserve. After the tour of Tel Dan, we will transfer by bus to Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, where we will be staying for the next three nights.

Friday, May 20, 2022

We will travel by bus to visit Agamon HaHula, the Hula Lake, which serves as a resting stop for half a billion birds of hundreds of species during the migration seasons between Europe and Africa. The bus will transfer us to the Gadot Junction, where we will begin our ride north, crossing the Jordan River. We’ll make a stop at the heart-rending 1997 Helicopter Disaster Memorial near Moshav She’ar Yashuv. We’ll double back to ride on route 99 past Kibbutz HaGoshrim and then turn south through Moshav Beit Hillel and on to Kibbutz Kfar Blum, where we’ll conclude our ride with lunch, followed by a bus transfer back to Kfar Giladi to prepare for Shabbat.

Sunday, May 22, 2022

We will transfer by bus to the Druze village of Majdal Shams at the foothills of Mt. Hermon, where we’ll begin our ride. We’ll ride south along the picturesque Ya’fouri Valley, returning to the main route 98 near the village of Massade. Riding along route 978, we’ll pass through the beautiful Odem Nature Reserve, past Kibbutz El Rom, and stop to visit the battle site of Emek Habacha, the “Valley of Tears.” There we’ll pay tribute to the IDF unit known as “OZ 77,” which fought valiantly against all odds during the Yom Kippur War (October 1973) under the leadership of Avigdor Kahalani. Continuing south on route 98, we will turn towards the vineyards between the mountains of Bental and Avital, heading south and then east into Kibbutz Ein Zivan. After lunch and a wine tasting at the Bahat Winery, we’ll transfer by bus to Merom Golan for the night.

Riders of all levels have the option to do an off-road bike trail today instead of the regular ride for Day 4 (off-road bikes provided for all interested riders). Email Rami at ridehike@campramah.org by May 3 if you are interested in the off-road trail.

Monday, May 23, 2022

We’ll begin our final day by riding south out of the hotel at Kibbutz Merom Golan, picking up route 91 west on our trek across the northern border of the country. After descending the Golan Heights and crossing the Jordan River into pre-1967 Israel, we’ll climb through the Biriya Forest into the vineyard-filled highlands past the Dalton, Adir, and Leuria wineries. Continuing on route 89 west to 899, we’ll pass by the north side of Mt. Meron along the Lebanese border, descending the switchbacks at Nahal Betset and eventually arriving at the Mediterranean Sea at the stunning seaside town of Rosh Hanikra. Transferring by bus to the seaside city of Hadera, we will celebrate the conclusion of our trip at Wyndham’s newly renovated Ramada Resort Beach Hotel.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

We’ll begin our ride with a loop around the area north of the Merom Golan Resort Village via route 959 past Ha’Emir junction and all the way to Kibbutz El Rom. After riding north on 98, we will ride east to visit the battle site of Emek Habacha – the “Valley of Tears.” There we will pay tribute to the IDF unit known as “OZ 77,” which fought valiantly against all odds during the Yom Kippur War (October 1973) under the leadership of Avigdor Kahalani. Continuing south on 98, we will turn east on route 87 and ride to the access road of 9088 leading north up to Katzrin, the main urban center of the Golan Heights, where we’ll stop for lunch. In Katzrin, we’ll visit an ancient synagogue and a reconstructed Talmudic village built on the ruins of the town where the synagogue once stood. The last section of the ride from Katzrin up to Merom Golan is about 12.8 miles and 2,135 feet of elevation. A bus will be available for those riders who wish to transfer by bus back to Merom Golan.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Today’s ride will take us along a northern route from Merom Golan to Kibbutz Kfar Giladi in the panhandle of the Galil, the northernmost section of pre-1967 Israel. We will head north through the Druze village of Majdal Shams, where riders can transfer by bus up Mt. Hermon, the highest point in Israel, or choose to climb by bicycle. (The ride up to Mt. Hermon is about 5 miles and 1,500 feet of elevation.) After a break at the top of the mountain, riders will have the option to transfer or cycle down Mt. Hermon, eventually riding west along route 99 towards pre-1967 Israel. On the way, we will pay our respects at the memorial for the Egoz Commando Unit near the grave of the Druze prophet Nebi Hazuri, then stop at the Nahal Hermon Nature Reserve (better known as the “Banias”) to see one of the three main tributaries of the Jordan River and break for lunch. Continuing west on route 99, and then for a short time on the Israel Trail, our ride will end at Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, where we will be staying for the next three nights.

Friday, May 20, 2022

We’ll begin our day with a bus transfer to Baram National Park, which is famous for its ancient synagogue as well as its beautiful landscape. On our bikes we will head north, along route 889, and east following the Northern Road along the border with Lebanon. Route 886 takes us through the Galilee Panhandle, around Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, and continuing on route 99. We’ll stop at the heart-rending 1997 Helicopter Disaster Memorial near Moshav She’ar Yashuv. We then head south past Kibbutz HaGoshrim on route 918, turning at Lehavot Habashan towards Neot Mordechai, and on to Kibbutz Kfar Blum, where we’ll conclude our ride with lunch, followed by a bus transfer back to Kfar Giladi to prepare for Shabbat.

Sunday, May 22, 2022

We’ll begin our ride at Kfar Giladi, heading north for a short time on route 90, and then heading east and south along the Israel Trail. After reaching route 99, we’ll head east and then south on route 918 to Kibbutz Gadot. Turning at route 91, we’ll cross the Jordan River and make the steep climb up the embankment of the Golan Heights until we arrive at Mitzpeh Gadot (the Gadot Lookout), the former Syrian bunker which used to rain rockets down on Kibbutz Gadot. After lunch and a tour of the stunning memorial to the soldiers who died capturing the Golan Heights, we’ll continue our ride south along route 888, passing through the community of Had Nes and the Jordan Park. Turning west on route 87 toward the Kinneret Sea, we will complete today’s ride cycling along the shores of the Kinneret, then transfer by bus back to our hotel at Merom Golan.

Riders of all levels have the option to do an off-road bike trail today instead of the regular ride for Day 4 (off-road bikes provided for all interested riders). Email Rami at ridehike@campramah.org by May 3 if you are interested in the off-road trail.

Monday, May 23, 2022

We’ll begin our final day by riding out of the hotel at Kibbutz Merom Golan and descending from the plateau of the Golan Heights toward the Kinneret Sea. Riding south along route 98, we’ll visit Tel Saki, site of one of the most intense battles of the Yom Kippur War. At Kibbutz Afik, in the southern Golan, we’ll turn northwest toward the Kinneret Sea along route 789. Arriving at the Kursi Junction, we will head south on route 92 along the eastern shore of the Kinneret. We will arrive at the finish line at the southern tip of the Kinneret, known as Tzemach Beach, where we will have lunch. Transferring by bus to the seaside city of Hadera, we will celebrate the conclusion of our trip at Wyndham’s newly renovated Ramada Resort Beach Hotel.

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

We’ll begin our ride with a loop around the area north of the Merom Golan Resort Village via route 959 past Ha’Emir junction and all the way to Kibbutz El Rom. After riding north on 98 for just a few minutes, we will ride east to visit the battle site of Emek Habacha – the “Valley of Tears.” There we will pay tribute to the IDF unit known as “OZ 77,” which fought valiantly against all odds during the Yom Kippur War (October 1973) under the leadership of Avigdor Kahalani. Continuing south on 98, we will veer west onto a small road (9882) between the two defunct volcanoes of Mt. Avital and Mt. Bental, which will bring us back to Merom Golan for a short break. We’ll then return to 9881, this time riding south past Kibbutz Ein Zivan leading to Katzrin, the main urban center of the Golan Heights, where we’ll stop for lunch. In Katzrin, we’ll visit an ancient synagogue and a reconstructed Talmudic village built on the ruins of the town where the synagogue once stood. Riders will then ride back to our hotel at Merom Golan.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Today’s ride will take us along a northern route from Merom Golan to Kibbutz Kfar Giladi in the panhandle of the Galil, the northernmost section of pre-1967 Israel. We will head north through the Druze village of Majdal Shams, ascending Mt. Hermon, the highest point in Israel. Our descent from Mt. Hermon will take us on route 99 west towards pre-1967 Israel. On the way, we will pay our respects at the memorial for the Egoz Commando Unit near the grave of the Druze prophet Nebi Hazuri, then stop at the Nahal Hermon Nature Reserve (better known as the “Banias”) to see one of the three main tributaries of the Jordan River and break for lunch. We will then turn northwest along the Israel Trail and onto the main route 90 all the way to Metulla, at the northern tip of Israel. From the Dado Lookout (named for former Chief of Staff of the IDF, David Elazar), we can see Israel’s northern border and into Lebanon. Doubling back south on route 90, our ride will end at Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, where we will be staying for the next three nights.

Friday, May 20, 2022

We’ll begin our day with a bus transfer to Baram National Park, which is famous for its ancient synagogue as well as its beautiful landscape. On our bikes we will head north, along route 889 (climbing Mt. Bental), and east following the Northern Road along the border with Lebanon. Route 886 takes us through the Galilee Panhandle, around Kibbutz Kfar Giladi, and continuing on route 99. We’ll stop at the heart-rending 1997 Helicopter Disaster Memorial near Moshav She’ar Yashuv. Continuing on route 99, we’ll pass the Banias and head south along the Petroleum (Tapline) Road, eventually turning west to descend the Golan Heights and cross the Jordan River at Kibbutz Gonen. As we approach Lehavot Habashan and Neot Mordechai, we’ll conclude our ride with lunch at Kibbutz Kfar Blum, followed by a bus transfer back to Kfar Giladi to prepare for Shabbat.

Sunday, May 22, 2022

We’ll begin our ride at Kfar Giladi, heading north for a short time on route 90, and then heading east and south along the Israel Trail. After reaching route 99, we’ll head east and then south on route 918 to Kibbutz Gadot. Turning at route 91, we’ll cross  the Jordan River and make the steep climb up the embankment of the Golan Heights until we arrive at Mitzpeh Gadot (the Gadot Lookout), the former Syrian bunker which used to rain rockets down on Kibbutz Gadot. After lunch and a tour of the stunning memorial to the soldiers who died capturing the Golan Heights, we’ll continue riding northeast along 91 towards the twin volcanoes of Mt. Avital and Mt. Bental, eventually turning into Merom Golan for the night.

Riders of all levels have the option to do an off-road bike trail today instead of the regular ride for Day 4 (off-road bikes provided for all interested riders). Email Rami at ridehike@campramah.org by May 3 if you are interested in the off-road trail.

Monday, May 23, 2022

This route is subject to last minute changes due to police regulations in the northern Galilee and the area of Mt. Meron.

We’ll begin our final day by riding south out of the hotel at Kibbutz Merom Golan, picking up route 91 west on our trek across the northern border of the country. After descending the Golan Heights and crossing the Jordan River into pre-1967 Israel, we’ll climb through the Biriya Forest into the vineyard-filled highlands past the Dalton, Adir, and Leuria wineries. Continuing on route 89 west to 899, we’ll pass by the north side of Mt. Meron along the Lebanese border, descending the switchbacks at Nahal Betset and eventually arriving at the Mediterranean Sea at the stunning seaside town of Rosh Hanikra. Transferring by bus to the seaside city of Hadera, we will celebrate the conclusion of our trip at Wyndham’s newly renovated Ramada Resort Beach Hotel.