Coming in 2013, Backroads is inviting you to see the Holy Land by bike. Israel bike tour departures begin April 4, 2013 and run through November 2013.
Step back into ancient history as you venture into Israel, a land shaped by prophets, kings and crusaders, and where the past blends into the present. Explore the area’s beaches and mountains by bike where you can interact with the locals as you stop for a rest at a small village or take in the magnificent Western Wall as the sun sets.
This eight-day, seven-night bicycling adventure begins in Ein Hod, a communal artist’s village overlooking the Mediterranean coast, after which you’ll cycle through orchards and more villages as you make your way to sunny seaside Caesarea. Then, have the pleasure of sampling wine in a land where grapes have been cultivated since Biblical times. Head to ancient Bet She’an, once the center of Egyptian rule and where you can discover vast archeological finds.
After passing through Safed and Rosh Pina, guests will explore the Nimrod Fortress, a Medieval site on Mount Hermon, and then venture east with views of Syria, stopping by a memorial of the Yom Kippur War. During the last days of your Israel biking tour, relax as you head downhill to the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem and enjoy a magnificent sunset view of the Western Wall. Your bike trip will conclude in the village of Ein Karem.
One of the highlights of the Israel cycling tour is the chance to sample cuisine from diverse cultures, including Israeli, Lebanese and Druze. Lodging along the route also gives you a variety of experiences and includes stops at a mountaintop spa, a boutique hotel overlooking the Sea of Galilee, guest cabins at a kibbutz, and a contemporary hotel within the Old City of Jerusalem.
The bike tour is available for all cycling levels, with a range of mileage options and routes available with help from your Trip Leaders.
Our Israel regional manager sums up the trip this way: “It’s easy to think you know Israel if you’ve been to Jerusalem, but as you venture out of the cities on your bicycle, you’re exposed to incredibly diverse cultures, cuisine, landscapes and amazing ancient ruins. On this trip, it becomes wonderfully clear that Israel is so much more than what is in the news.”
For more information on our Israel bike tour or to book your reservation, contact us at 800-462-2848 Pacific time.