Ride Itineraries
Southern Israel Trip 2019
All routes are subject to change
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Everyone will meet at either the pick-up point in Jerusalem or at 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 Lachish, the archeological site of the ancient biblical city. The site, which has undergone recent renovations, tells the story of the Assyrian campaign against the Israelites in the days of King Hezekiah. After a brief tour of the area, we will hold our opening ceremony to officially begin the 2019 Ramah Israel Bike Ride and Hiking Trip. We will stop for lunch along the way and then head to Mashabei Sadeh for our orientation meetings, including setting up bicycles, safety briefings, and dinner.
Overnight
Shoafim
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
We will begin the day with a ride out of Mashabei Sadeh and head to the Western Negev. We will pass by the new renewable energy center, continuing to the Nitzana Educational Eco-Village. We will then head towards the Egyptian border and proceed to bike down to the remote village of Ezuz ( pop. 76). Here, we will stop for lunch and visit this unique community. We will then transfer by bus to our hotel in Mashabei Sadeh.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
We will begin our day with a bus ride down to the Arava Valley, to the village of Hatzeva. We will enjoy biking along very quiet farm roads known as The Peace Route that go along the Israel-Jordan border. Along the bike route, we will be able to see some of the amazing achievements of Israeli desert farming. We will stop for a short break in the village of Ein Yahav and sample the local wine and honey. From there we will ride north to the Vidor R&D Center, where all riders will enjoy lunch and a tour that will provide insight into the achievements of Israeli farming. From there we will take the bus to Mitzpe Ramon.
Friday, April 5, 2019
We will depart directly from our hotel and bike north. We will spend the morning riding to Kibbutz Sde Boker, where we will visit the home of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s founding Prime Minister. From there we will ride through the Sde Boker College and the Ben Gurion Memorial. After this visit, we will board the bus, heading back for lunch and free time before Shabbat.
Mountain Bike Option –Â After Breakfast we will go by bus to the area of Sde Boker where we will head out for a ride on the Halukim single track trail. The route will be approximately 15 miles, all off road deep into the desert. At the end of the ride we will return to Mitzpe Ramon and join the rest of the groups for lunch. This ride is suitable for riders with some mountain biking experience, and is physically demanding.
Riding time will be approximately 5 hours. This is a moderate to challenging route. Pre-registration will be required.
Sunday, April 7, 2019
We will start our day with a visit to the recently renovated visitor center in Mitzpe Ramon before we head out of town. We will bike towards the Ramon Crater overlook and then descend into the basin below. We will head south, riding the same route as the 2018 Giro d’Italia ride, with beautiful desert scenery. With two breaks along the way, we will climb out of the Paran Valley and then transfer by bus to Kibbutz Neot Semadar, where we will all have lunch. From here each person will choose to either bike the final eight miles or take the bus to Kibbutz Ketura, where we will spend the night.
Monday, April 8, 2019
Our ride will begin in the red rock valley of Timna, where we will tour around this large park said to be the site of King Solomon’s copper mines. We will ride through this gorgeous valley and intermittently stop, taking brief walks in order to see ancient rock carvings, copper mines, and the valley’s unique scenery. We will then board the bus to Kibbutz Eilot, the southernmost kibbutz in Israel, located on the outskirts of Eilat. Once we are here, we will finish the trip with a beautiful ride into Eilat along the seaside boardwalk, ending at the Red Sea.
Part 1
Part 2
Bogrim
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Today we will explore Nitzana and the western Negev. We will begin the day by riding out of Mashabe Sade past the new renewable energy center and have a short visit at the ruins of Nabatian city of Shivta. We will ride through the area of Nitzana and will proceed to bike down to the remote village of Ezuz ( pop. 76). Here, we will stop for lunch and visit this unique community. We will then transfer by bus to our hotel in Mashabei Sadeh.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
We will take a short bus transfer and head toward the town of Yerucham and visit the Yerucham Park and Lake. We will stop for a break at the beautiful scenic overlook before descending into the crater known as the Yerucham Makhtesh, or Makhtesh HaGadol. Our ride will continue with a challenging climb along the old road to Eilat, reaching the top of the Scorpion’s Ascent. A breathtaking descent will take us down to the Arava Valley. The final portion of today’s ride will take us through part of The Peace Route along the Israel-Jordan border and then to the Vidor R&D Center, where all riders will enjoy lunch and a tour that will provide insight into the achievements of Israeli farming. From there we will take the bus to our hotel in Mitzpe Ramon, which is on the edge of the Maktesh Ramon, the famous Ramon Crater.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Today we will offer several riding options.
Pre-Breakfast Loop Ride – Riders may choose to start the day with an early morning ride to enjoy the desert during its most beautiful hours. We will head out of the hotel before breakfast for a loop around town and then back on road 171 to see and hear how the Negev wakes up for another day. We will return to the hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, riders will have a choice to either continue on their road bikes or to swap out for a mountain bike ride experience
Road Bike Option – We will depart directly from our hotel and bike north. We will spend the morning riding to Kibbutz Sde Boker, where we will visit the home of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s founding Prime Minister. From there we will ride through the Sde Boker College and the Ben Gurion Memorial. After this visit, we will board the bus, heading back for lunch and free time before Shabbat.
Mountain Bike Option –Â After Breakfast we will go by bus to the area of Sde Boker where we will head out for a ride on the Halukim single track trail. The route will be approximately 15 miles, all off road deep into the desert. At the end of the ride we will return to Mitzpe Ramon and join the rest of the groups for lunch. This ride is suitable for riders with some mountain biking experience, and is physically demanding.
Riding time will be approximately 5 hours. This is a moderate to challenging route. Pre-registration will be required.
For those completing both the Pre-Breakfast Loop Ride and the road bike option after breakfast, below is the total mileage and elevation gain for the day.
Sunday, April 7, 2019
We will bike out of the hotel and head towards the Ramon Crater overlook and then descend 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. The last eight-mile section of the ride will take us down to the Arava Valley and Kibbutz Ketura, where we will spend the night.
Monday, April 8, 2019
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 22 km. 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.
Mumchim
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
We will begin the day riding out of Mashabe Sadeh and heading to the Western Negev. We will pass by the new renerable energy center, continuing to the Nitzana Educational Eco-Village. We then ride back to Mashabei Sadeh for lunch.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
We will bike out of the hotel and head toward the town of Yerucham and visit the Yarucham Park and Lake. We will stop for a break at the beautiful scenic overlook before descending into the crater known as the Yerucham Makhtesh, or Makhtesh HaGadol. Our ride will continue with a challenging climb along the old road to Eilat, reaching the top of the Scorpion’s Ascent. We will take this iconic road both ways, riding down and then climbing back up, before continuing to ride towards the Arava Valley. The final portion of today’s ride will take us through part of The Peace Route, along the Israel-Jordan border and then to the Vidor R&D Center, where all riders will enjoy lunch and a tour that will provide insight into the achievements of Israeli farming. From there we will take the bus to our hotel in Mitzpe Ramon, which is on the edge of the Makhtesh Ramon, the famous Crater.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Today we will offer several riding options.
Pre-Breakfast Loop Ride – Riders may choose to start the day with an early morning ride to enjoy the desert during its most beautiful hours. We will head out of the hotel before breakfast for a loop around town and then back on road 171 to see and hear how the Negev wakes up for another day. We will return to the hotel for breakfast.
After breakfast, riders will have a choice to either continue on their road bikes or to swap out for a mountain bike ride experience.
Road Bike Option – We will depart directly from our hotel and bike north. We will spend the morning riding to Kibbutz Sde Boker, where we will visit the home of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s founding Prime Minister. From there we will ride through the Sde Boker College and the Ben Gurion Memorial. After this visit, we will board the bus, heading back for lunch and free time before Shabbat.
Mountain Bike Option – After Breakfast we will go by bus to the area of Sde Boker where we will head out for a ride on the Halukim single track trail. The route will be approximately 15 miles, all off road deep into the desert. At the end of the ride we will return to Mitzpe Ramon and join the rest of the groups for lunch. This ride is suitable for riders with some mountain biking experience, and is physically demanding.
Riding time will be approximately 5 hours. This is a moderate to challenging route. Pre-registration will be required.
For those completing both the Pre-Breakfast Loop Ride and the road bike option after breakfast, below is the total mileage and elevation gain for the day.
Sunday, April 7, 2019
We will bike out of the hotel and head towards the Ramon Crater overlook, and then descend into the basin below, and then climb back to the top. From here, 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 eight-mile section of the ride will take us down to the Arava Valley and Kibbutz Ketura, where we will spend the night.
Monday, April 8, 2019
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.