Bike-Mission-brochur..

2015 Bike Mission Itinerary
MONDAY, october 26: MEET AND TRANSFER TO UPPER GALILEE
We will arrive to Ben Gurion airport. Meet and assist and we will travel north. We will stop at Caesarea and will continue
to Haifa and visit Akko. Drive to our hotel.
Overnight: Kfar Giladi
TUESDAY, october 27: TZFAT AND THE NORTHERN BORDER ROAD.
After breakfast we will ride to the ancient town of Bara’m, and visit the synagogue there that was built in the second century. From here we will begin to ride through the small roads of the upper Galilee, with breathtaking views of the villages
and vineyards around us. We will stop for a tasting at the Adir winery and continue to Tzfat (optional shuttle available for
the last 15km of this ride). On our way, we will pass through Rehania; one of 3 Circassian villages in Israel. Once we arrive
in Tzfat we will take a walking tour of the home of Jewish Mysticism and delve into the unique Judaica market.
After lunch in the Old City we will continue through the Birya Forest down towards the town of Rosh Pina. If time permits
we will explore the historic houses there and then board the bus in order to return to our hotel for the night.
Overnight: Kfar Giladi
WEDNESDAY, october 28: NORTHERN GOLAN LOOP
This morning we catch a ride to the plateau of the Golan Heights
and will spend the day biking back to the hotel, making the most of
the topography and the scenery as we go. Our ride will take us to the
Valley of Tears where we will talk about the battles that took place of
the Golan Heights in 1973, and we will continue through agricultural
landscape of the Northern Golan and the Odem Oak Forest. We will
pass through Druze Villages where we will stop for a lunch break in
a local restaurant, before starting our descent past the foothills of
Mount Hermon and the Nimrod Fortress, and stopping for a visit
at Tel Dan National Park where remains of the biblical town can be
seen, and the only archaeological reference to King David was discovered. From there it is a short ride back to the hotel where dinner
will await us.
Overnight :Kfar Giladi
THURSDAY, october 29: SOUTHERN GOLAN HEIGHTS
After breakfast we will take a short transfer to the top of the Golan Heights. This vast plateau, overlooking the Galilee on
one side and Syria on the other, is home to some of Israel’s most interesting places and people. We will start the day at
Gamla, a city that resisted the Roman Empire, several years before Masada.
From Gamla we will ride along the back roads of the region, enjoying a short wine tasting stop in one of the local(Golan)
wineries. After a long descent to the shores of the Sea of Galilee we will stop for lunch on the water’s edge. We will bike
along the bike paths connecting the Kibbutzim of the region and end at our hotel
Overnight: Kinar – Sea of Galilee
FRIDAY, october 30: MT GILBOA TO THE VALLEY OF SPRINGS
We will check out of our hotel in Tiberius and drive to the foot of Mt Gilboa, overlooking the Jezreel Valley and the Jordan
River. We will begin to climb up this quiet scenic road and enjoy the views of the whole Galilee (optional 10 km shuttle to
the top). From here we will descend to the valley below and ride along the streams fed by natural spring water leading into
the Jordan River. We will enter the Spring Valley Park and end our ride at the large pools in Gan Hashlosha National Park.
We will enjoy a swim and a picnic in this beautiful corner of Israel and toast the end of the ride. After visiting the park we
will continue by bus to visit the ruins of Beit Shean and then continue by bus to Jerusalem. Kabbalat Shabbat option at the
Kotel. Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Mount Zion Jerusalem
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31: FREE DAY IN JERUSALEM - NIGHT RIDE
Our day will focus on the 3000 year old city of Jerusalem, a world of its own, enclosed in walls and history.
Optional Shabbat Morning Services or free time.
Afternoon walking tour will take us through the alleys of the Old City, the Western Wall and market. Havdallah service on
the rooftop of the Mt. Zion hotel overlooking the Old City.
Around dusk, we will leave for the breathtaking experience of a night ride in the city of Jerusalem. We will pass the Prime
Minister’s home, Israeli Parliament and Supreme Court and then head through the market to the Jaffa gate. Here we will
devote some time for riding inside the allies of the Old City, ending back at Jaffa Gate for a cold drink and a midnight
snack.
Overnight: Mount Zion Jerusalem
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1: JUDEAN HILLS
The hills surrounding Jerusalem hold some of the best cycling routes in Israel, and we will probably see dozens of other
cyclists as we head on our way. We will start riding from Bar Giora and head downhill towards Beit Shemesh (optional ride
out of the city- additional 20 KM). We will ride through the Adolam Park, where we will get a glimpse of the famous caves
where Bar Kochba and his supporters hid from the Romans in the year 135 AD. From here we will ride to the Ella Valley,
the Biblical site of David and Goliath’s battle, and continue for a lunch and wine tasting from Israel’s leading wine region.
After Lunch the group will depart by bus to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at the Cramim Spa Hotel
Overnight: Cramim Spa hotel – Judean Hills
Monday, NOVEMBER 2: Departure
Relax and enjoy your Spa hotel until 4 PM when we will check out and depart to visit Old Jaffa and Neve Tzedek.
Enjoy a farewell dinner in Tel Aviv. After dinner transfer to Ben Gurion airport for our departure flight home.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3:
Depart EL AL @ 00:50
subject to change for the better
Medium difficulty, Approx. 60 km/day
BIKE BY DAY, WINE COUNTRY & RELAXATION BY NIGHT
PARALLEL TOUR - NON BIKERS ITINERARY
OCTOBER 25 - NOVEMBER 3, 2015
SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25
Depart Canada
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26
Arrive at Ben Gurion airport
Caesarea, Haifa and Akko
Overnight: Kfar Giladi – Upper Galilee
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27
Hula
Blue Valley Park
Adir Winery including lunch
Safed
Biriya
Overnight: Kfar Giladi – Upper Galilee
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28
Tel Dan
Banias
Jeep ride in the Golan
Gamla
Overnight: Kfar Giladi – Upper Galilee
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
Gamla
Katzrin
Golan Winery
Mt. Bental
Oz 77
Overnight: Kinar – Sea of Galilee
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
Beit Alfa
Beit Shean
Gan Hashlosha
Jordan Valley to Jerusalem
Overnight: Mount Zion Hotel – Jerusalem
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31
Opt #1: Shabbat Morning Services
Opt #2: Free time
Afternoon Walking tour in the Old City
Sound and Light Show at Tower of David
Overnight: Mount Zion Hotel – Jerusalem
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Yad Vashem
Sorek Caves or Latrun tank Museum
Drive to Cramin Hotel to enjoy the spa
Overnight: Cramim Spa Hotel – Judean Hills
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Relax and enjoy the spa
Check out at 4:00p.m.
Old Jaffa
Neve Tzedek
Farewell dinner
Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for departure flight.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Depart EL AL @ 00:50