All the net proceeds from the fundraising efforts will support the Tikvah programs of the Ramah camps. Children, teens, and young adults with a wide variety of developmental and intellectual disabilities are included in Ramah summer camp programs throughout North America. Funds raised by the Ramah Bike Ride and Hiking Trip will support scholarship assistance for families with financial need, as well as the critical training of the staff members who support, nurture, and supervise campers with disabilities.

The minimum fundraising commitments are $4,000 per rider and $3,600 per hiker. It is rewarding to raise money for a great cause and it will be easier than you think. Our staff will guide you and help you to meet and exceed your fundraising goal (reduced fundraising minimums for spouses, 30 and under, and Israeli citizens).

Most participants will find that exceeding the minimum amount should be easily achievable, and our website and National Ramah staff will provide you with all the tools to help. In the event that a participant falls short of this goal, they must commit to paying the balance, which will be charged to the participant's credit card prior to the beginning of the trip.

The Ramah Bike Ride and Hiking Trip is a program of the National Ramah Commission on behalf of all the Ramah camps and their Tikvah programs. Funds raised by this trip are allocated by the National Ramah Commission to all of our camps. If any of your donors wish to donate specifically to the special needs program of one Ramah camp, please encourage them to donate directly to that camp. However, those direct donations cannot be included toward the fundraising goal of a rider or hiker for the trip.

In addition to meeting their fundraising minimums, all riders and hikers must pay a registration fee of $1,200 ($1,050 early registration) as well as their own airfare. Your registration fee will be applied toward the costs of: seven nights of accommodations in hotels and kibbutz guest houses along our hiking and cycling route; great meals throughout our trip; plentiful healthy snacks and drinks at rest stops along our route; support vehicles to transport gear and luggage; expert trip leaders; security, medical and mechanical support; group transportation to and from the airport; tour guides, and evening programs.

No. The registration fees we charge cover only a portion of the cost of your trip. A portion of donations and sponsorships covers the balance. The more participants are able to exceed their fundraising minimum, the greater the percentage we are able to provide for our Tikvah programs.

Our days will be filled with cycling and hiking through some of the most stunning scenery in Israel. On most days we will begin with an early wake-up followed by tefillah and breakfast. Along our route there will be regular rest stops with snacks and drinks (approximately every 15 miles for riders, and every few hours for hikers). At selected spots, our veteran tour guides will provide explanations and insights about the scenic and historical sites along our route. Everyone returns to the hotel mid-late afternoon, followed by a relaxing dinner, mandatory safety briefings, and an engaging evening program.

No. This won’t be a competition; anyone with distance biking experience will find the routes to be challenging yet manageable. More advanced riders will have an opportunity to “go the extra mile.” So long as you’re in good health and willing to train before the tour, this ride is for you. There will be three riding groups – Shoafim, Bogrim, and Mumchim. Riders may opt to join the Shoafim group, bike at a slower pace, and spend more time touring with an experienced guide. Bogrim will bike a full day, riding approximately 40-50 miles daily. Mumchim, the most advanced riders, will ride approximately 60-70 miles daily, with over 4,000 miles of climbing each day. For all three groups, support vehicles will be available for riders who choose to take a break and hitch a ride at any point during the day.

While the ride is primarily for adults (including college-age students), we welcome you to make this a “family experience” as long as your kids are over 13 and have the stamina, training, and cycling experience to enjoy the trip. The range of ages on prior trips has been 13-82.

We will all start together on Tuesday, March 26. We will provide shuttle transportation from Ben Gurion Airport to our starting hotel. If a sufficient number of participants will be originating in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, we will provide a bus from a central location. As we gather more information from our participants, we will determine shuttle origin points.

Click here to check out our logistics and travel page.

No. If you do not want to bring your own bike, you may rent one (arrangements to be made in advance). There is an extra fee for rental bikes. Information about bike rentals is coming soon.

• Cancel by November 1, 2023: eligible for 100% refund
• Cancel between November 2, 2023 and January 1, 2024: eligible for 50% refund
• Cancel after January 1, 2024: refund no longer available

If you cancel, you may convert all or part of your registration fee to a tax-deductible donation.

Yes. Canadians donating to a Canadian rider/hiker must use the rider/hiker's specific CANADIAN fundraising page.

Riders/hikers who expect to have Canadian donors should refer to the Canadian Fundraising Guide or contact us at [email protected].