Israel will captivate you at every turn. Delve into this place shaped by prophets, kings and crusaders. Discover a rich tapestry of cultures. And explore a diverse landscape, from the azure Mediterranean to the green hills of the Golan Heights, via the unique perspective that only a bicycle can offer.
Days 1-2 Bask by the sea or walk with our local guide through Caesarea’s Roman ruins, built by Herod the Great | Dine on innovative, modern Israeli cuisine beside the Mediterranean | Pedal through kibbutz orchards and Druze Arab villages | Spin in the Carmel mountains to hilltop Zikhron Ya’akov, known for superb wine.
Days 3-4 Ride along quiet coastal roads lined with mango, avocado and orange orchards to the Hills of Galilee | Chat with members of the Arab-Israeli community | Witness the crumbling remains of Bar’am, one of Israel’s oldest synagogues | Bike past vineyards near the Lebanese border and taste local wines | Wander the cobblestone lanes of entrancing Safed, the highest city in Israel and one of Judaism’s four holy cities.
Day 5 Explore the secret passageways of medieval Nimrod Fortress | Savor traditional Arab sweets in the Druze village of Mas’ade | Take in views of Syria and a memorial from the Yom Kippur War | Gear up for a unique experience at an authentic kibbutz.
Days 6-8 Get to know the old city of Jerusalem on a private walking tour | Enjoy a spin to the Sea of Galilee | In Jerusalem, see the Western Wall as the sun sets, marking the beginning of Shabbat | Pedal into the Judean Hills along with a multitude of local bicyclists | Be welcomed into a local home for a special Shabbat dinner | Picturesque Ein Karem village is a delight to explore on foot.
We biked from Tel Aviv to the Lebanon boarder to the Syrian boarder and then to Jerusalem - We LOVED every second. An AMAZING once in a life time experience. Our Guides Hannah T., Tal and Ben were fantastic and we can't wait to book another trip with BACKROADS!- Newport Beach CA
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception. Read the Straight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
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This arts-focused hotel features splendid views of forests and the Mediterranean Sea. (pool, spa)
A Mediterranean-style property overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. (pool, spa)
Enjoy the simple guest cabins on this kibbutz, ideally located in the northern part of the Golan Heights on the slopes of Mount Ben Tal. (pool)
Built atop ancient Ottoman ruins, this family-owned boutique hotel—and member of Leading Hotels of the World—embodies both modern Jerusalem and its historic past. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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Reviewed by 1 customer
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Comments about Israel Bike Tour:
We biked from Tel Aviv to the Lebanon boarder to the Syrian boarder and then to Jerusalem - We LOVED every second. An AMAZING once in a life time experience. Our Guides Hannah T., Tal and Ben were fantastic and we can't wait to book another trip with BACKROADS!
Displaying review 1
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 25* | 500 | ||||||||
| 30* | 600 | |||||||||
| 2 | 18 | 1700 | ||||||||
| 25 | 1700 | |||||||||
| Walking Tour of Bet She'an Ruins (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 3 | 12* | 1400 | 38 | 4900 | ||||||
| 18* | 1600 | |||||||||
| 4 | 14* | 600 | 34* | 2600 | 51 | 5800 | ||||
| Walking Tour of Safed (1 Hour) | ||||||||||
| 5 | 17* | 1200 | 39* | 3100 | ||||||
| 6 | 35 | 300 | ||||||||
| 7 | 32 | 2000 | 47 | 2400 | ||||||
| 8 | Walking Tour of Jerusalem (2 - 4 Hours) | |||||||||
Note: To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires. You'll appreciate this on those stretches of the route with hard-packed dirt (approximately 15% dirt and 85% paved).
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
Backroads doesn't use subcontractors – in Israel or anywhere else. During the time we've been offering trips in this fascinating country, it has developed into an attractive destination for those seeking a culturally focused active travel experience with luxury accommodations. We design and operate all aspects of the trip, complementing our Trip Leaders' deep knowledge with the expertise of trusted local guides, all to ensure you enjoy the best possible experience.
We design and support our Israel trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Israel, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
On this Premiere Inn trip, you can count on the best lodgings Israel has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.
Thanks to our extensive connections in Israel, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politic—and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.
It may seem obvious to say the great hotels we tell you about are the ones you'll actually stay in. But the fact is many companies haven't even booked the places they promise and are later forced to settle for inferior alternatives. We book our hotels and exact rooms long in advance—often over two years—so you stay where you expect to stay.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Israel—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
On our Israel trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group; some dates are only available for 16 or more guests while other dates are available for 8 or more guests. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
