Ride Itineraries
Southern Israel Trip 2024

Ride itineraries subject to change as we continue to update our routes


Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Everyone will meet at one of the pick-up points in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Ben Gurion Airport and head south by bus. On the way to Mashabei Sadeh (our lodging for the first two nights), we will visit Tel Gezer, the archeological site of the ancient biblical city. This site, which has undergone recent renovations, tells many concurrent stories, including the history of the polytheistic city during Abraham’s time, and the Solomonic city at its zenith. We will stop for a lunch break along the way and then head to Mashabei Sadeh. After a brief tour of the kibbutz, and an opportunity to set up and try our bicycles (for riders), we will hold our opening ceremony to officially begin the 2024 Ramah Israel Bike Ride and Hiking Trip. After dinner, we will begin our orientation meetings and safety briefings, and meet our trip leaders.

Overnight


Shoafim


Wednesday, March 27, 2024

We will begin the day with a transfer by bus to the outskirts of Beersheva, spending the day riding and touring throughout the “capital of the Negev” on bike paths and back roads. We will see many of the new and traditional sites of this amazing city which includes a wonderful mix of Arab, Jewish, Christian and Bedouin culture, from ancient biblical sites to the most modern high-tech companies and biomedical facilities.

Distance

14.1
Miles

Elevation

434
Feet

Thursday, March 28, 2024

We will begin the day with a transfer by bus to the Israeli-Egyptian border. The border road, inaccessible to general traffic, will take us north, as we enjoy the open road and amazing views. We have special permission from the Israeli government to bike on this road, which provides unique views of the Israeli desert and a number of outlooks into the Egyptian Sinai peninsula, which was captured by Israel in 1967 and returned to Egypt under the Camp David Peace Accord of 1979. We will end our ride in Nitzana, home to the Jewish Agency’s Eco-Village, the site of several Israeli environmental and social action programs. We will conclude our day with a bus transfer to the Kedma Hotel and Spa, our home for the next three nights.

Distance

29.3
Miles

Elevation

1358
Feet

Friday, March 29, 2024

We will ride directly out of our hotel and bike south and visit the grave of David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel. We will continue riding south to the Avdat National Park, then we will ride to the site of the Avdat ruins, where we will tour the impressive remains of an ancient Nabatean city. Riding back north, we will end our day at the modern Carmey Avdat Desert Winery. We will return via bus transfer to the Kedma Hotel and Spa for a restful Shabbat.

Distance

20.9
Miles

Elevation

1553
Feet

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Shabbat

Overnight


Sunday, March 31, 2024

We will start our day with a bus ride to the Tzuchor junction, which connects the Negev desert to the Jordan Valley and the region of the Dead Sea. From this point we will enjoy the desert landscape on our ride to the Neot Semadar Kibbutz for a relaxing lunch and a brief explanation about desert life. From the kibbutz, we will begin a four-mile climb to one of the most beautiful Negev mountain peaks, Mt. Ayit, with views of Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, from the Mediterranean Sea, to the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. We will have the option of continuing on a five-mile descent to Kibbutz Ketura in the Arava Valley, where we will spend the night.

Distance

25.4
Miles

Elevation

980
Feet

Overnight


Monday, April 1, 2024

For our last day of the ride, we will transfer by bus to the region of the Red Canyons of the Negev, where we will ride along the Israeli/Egyptian border on Route 12, with spectacular views of the Eilat mountains. We will finish the trip with a breathtaking ride into Eilat, a long descent with spectacular views of Eilat, Aqaba, and the Red Sea. Our final two miles of the ride will take us along the seaside boardwalk, ending at the beach on the Red Sea.

Distance

16.5
Miles

Elevation

818
Feet

Bogrim


Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Today we will explore the western Negev. We will begin the day by riding north out of Mashabei Sadeh, turning south on route 224 toward the town of Yeruham, continuing south until Sde Boker, the birthplace of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. We will then ride north completing the northern Negev loop and returning to Kibbutz Mashabei Sadeh.

Distance

35
Miles

Elevation

1868
Feet

Thursday, March 28, 2024

We will begin the day with a transfer by bus to the Israeli-Egyptian border. The border road, inaccessible to general traffic, will take us north, as we enjoy the open road and amazing views. We have special permission from the Israeli government to bike on this road, which provides unique views of the Israeli desert and a number of outlooks into the Egyptian Sinai peninsula, which was captured by Israel in 1967 and returned to Egypt under the Camp David Peace Accord of 1979. We will end our ride in Nitzana, home to the Jewish Agency’s Eco-Village, the site of several Israeli environmental and social action programs. We will conclude our day with a bus transfer to the Kedma Hotel and Spa, our home for the next three nights.

Distance

40.9
Miles

Elevation

1985
Feet

Friday, March 29, 2024

We will depart directly from our hotel and bike south enjoying beautiful desert scenery. We will arrive at the Salman Bedouin Hospitality Center for a coffee break and snack. We will then head back north toward our hotel in Sde Boker, taking some detours along the way to experience other views of the Negev desert.

(Alternative Mountain Biking Option may be offered. Details to follow.)

Distance

35.8
Miles

Elevation

2296
Feet

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Shabbat

Overnight


Sunday, March 31, 2024

We will bus out of the hotel and head towards the Ramon Crater overlook and begin our ride by descending into the basin below. We will head south, riding the same route as the 2018 Giro d’Italia ride, with beautiful desert scenery. We will continue to ride until our lunch break at Kibbutz Neot Semadar. From the kibbutz, we will begin a four-mile climb to one of the most beautiful Negev mountain peaks, Mt. Ayit, with views of Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, from the Mediterranean Sea, to the Dead Sea and the Red Sea. The last five-mile section of the ride will take us down to the Arava Valley and Kibbutz Ketura, where we will spend the night.

Distance

62
Miles

Elevation

3035
Feet

Overnight


Monday, April 1, 2024

We will transfer by bus out of Kibbutz Ketura to begin the ride at Neot Semadar, with an option to start the ride in Ovda, saving ten miles of climbing. From there, we will follow a scenic route that takes us from the Negev into the Eilat Mountains. This route will showcase rock formations that change colors as we make the climbs up and down, while additionally peering into the Sinai desert. The final section of the ride will take us down to the Red Sea and then through Eilat to meet all groups for lunch and a dip in the Red Sea.

Distance

46.7
Miles

Elevation

2827
Feet

Mumchim


Wednesday, March 27, 2024

We will begin the day riding out of Mashabei Sadeh heading north, then turning south on route 224 toward the city of Yeruham. We will ride east out of Yeruham, descending into the Machtesh Hagadol (the great crater), then resume our ride south to Sde Boker, the birthplace of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. From there we will turn north, back to Kibbutz Mashabei Sadeh for our second night.

Distance

52.1
Miles

Elevation

3639
Feet

Thursday, March 28, 2024

We will transfer by bus out of the hotel and begin our ride near the Egyptian border, turning north along the border road with amazing views of both Israel and Egypt. We will turn east at Nitzana, home to the Jewish Agency’s Eco-Village, the site of several Israeli environmental and social action programs. We continue riding south on route 40 until we arrive at the Kedma Hotel and Spa at Sde Boker.

Distance

79.5
Miles

Elevation

4502
Feet

Friday, March 29, 2024

We will ride out of our hotel and head east toward Yeruham, then descend into the breathtaking Great Crater and turn south toward the world-famous Scorpion’s Ascent. After descending and then climbing Scorpion’s Ascent, we will finish the day’s ride in Yeruham, and then transfer by bus back to the hotel at Sde Boker for a relaxing Shabbat.

(Alternative Mountain Biking Option may be offered. Details to follow.)

Distance

53
Miles

Elevation

4647
Feet

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Shabbat

Overnight


Sunday, March 31, 2024

We will ride south out of the hotel and head towards Mitzpe Ramon Crater overlook, and then descend into the basin below. We will continue south, riding the same route as the 2018 Giro d’Italia ride, with beautiful desert scenery. We will continue to ride until our lunch break at Kibbutz Neot Semadar. The last five-mile section of the ride will take us down to the Arava Valley and Kibbutz Ketura, where we will spend the night.

Distance

84.1
Miles

Elevation

5029
Feet

Overnight


Monday, April 1, 2024

We will begin our day with a challenging climb back up to Neot Semadar. From there, we will follow a scenic route that takes us from the Negev into the Eilat Mountains. This route will showcase rock formations that change colors as we make the climbs up and down, while additionally peering into the Sinai desert. The final section of the ride will take us down to the Red Sea and then through Eilat to meet all groups for lunch and a dip in the Red Sea.

Distance

56.4
Miles

Elevation

4125
Feet