5 Days Adventure Cycling Holiday in Negev Desert, Israel

Day 1 Arrival

Meet our team, get acquainted with your tour mates, prepare your bikes or get to know your hired bikes, and enjoy the opening dinner.r.

• Accommodation: Desert Shade Eco-Camp

Day 2 Mizpe Ramon to Makhtesh Ramon (crater)

Yo, Negev! Here you come! Celebrate the trip’s kick off by riding high up on a magnificent cliff, hugging the rim of Machtesh Ramon, the world’s largest crater, 40 kilometers long. Say hello to the Negev ibex and eagles who make this cliff their home.

Use an ancient camels' path to descend to the crater’s floor and ride through magnificent geological formations colored adobe red, turquoise green, pitch black, and desert brown. Exit the crater through the Nekarot Creek and ride along the world-famous Spice Road.

Make your way to the Nekarot Well Camp, in the middle of nowhere built especially for you. Campfire and a cold beer under a million stars, and a great vibe! The central tent concept is great fun, but if you wish to have your own small tent, you can pay a little extra and have it.

• Total distance: 55 kilometers
• Uphill: 190 meters
• Downhill: 710 meters
• Elevation gain: 520 meters
• Accommodation: Desert ‘khan’ in the Ramon Crater. Campfire and cold beer under million stars, and a great vibe!

Day 3 Machtesh Ramon to Tzofar

Exit the Machtesh (Crater) through the Nekarot creek, and ride along the world famous Spice Road, where merchants made their way to the east thousands years ago, climb up a thrilling single track, negotiating huge surfaces of dark stone. Crossing to the other side of the mountain range, you will slide fast to the remains of the ancient Nabatic town of Moah. From there, ride North to an agricultural settlement named Tzofar, where we’ll spend the night.

• Total distance: 40 kilometers
• Uphill: 350 meters
• Downhill: 540 meters
• Elevation gain: 190 meters
• Accommodation: Desert Khan near Tzofar

Day 4 Ktora to Shaharut

After breakfast, we will transfer by bus to Ktora, where we will re-meet the Israel Bike Trail, climb the Ktora ascent, enjoy the amazing scenery of the Arava valley far below from the cliff top, then cross the beautiful white Kasui sand dunes and end up in Shaharut, the most isolated settlement in Israel, placed right on the cliff’s edge overlooking the Arava valley.

• Distance: ~40 km.
• Climb: 400 meters.
• Accommodation: Timna Park

Day 5 The Timna Park single-track

Timna National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Israel. Ages of geological shifts and erosion have created a spectacular façade mostly consisting of red sand stone. Every corner in the park is breathtaking and cycling through this landscape is truly magical.

After breakfast we will ride the 30 km single-track, experiencing the amazing scenery the park has to offer with its endless amount of rock colors and formations.

At the end of the ride we’ll offer you a light lunch, and transfer you to the Tel Aviv airport (*)

Expected arrival time to Tel-Aviv: 17:00

Riding distance: ~30km

Climb: ~200 meters

%We recommend looking at flights departing from Ramon airport, located 15 minutes drive from Timna park. These flights are cheaper, and save the 3 hours transfer to Tel-Aviv, making them attractive even if they include a connection.

The very high standard Israel National Bike Trail is a combination of flowing singletracks dirt roads, with a few technical challenges that can be easily negotiated on a bike or on foot. Bike-friendly for both experienced and casual mountain bike riders.

The Negev Trail is well-marked and easily followed without a map or a GPS. Each day, you will wake up and will start biking whenever you are ready. Biking is either on your own or in small groups, whichever suits you best.

Desert BikeAir experienced mountain biking guides will be last on the trail, bringing up the rear and helping out whenever necessary. After the first two riding days, you will enjoy a hot bucket shower which is another sort of adventure. After the third riding day, you will finally enjoy a real shower.

Safety

Desert BikeAir's four-by-four vehicles are equipped with all the necessary gear to help solve problems along the trail.

Gear

Desert BikeAir recommends a full suspension bike of 100 to 140 millimeters travel. Bring your own bike or hire one of Desert BikeAir's high-quality ones. Your personal bag will be transferred by the crew from each accommodation to the next, so there is no need to schlep anything along the trail.

Bike Hire

Desert BikeAir invites you to leave your bikes at home and hire one of their high-quality bikes for 120 EUR. All of them are 2018 models. Please inform Desert BikeAir of your height and weight, and they will send you a list of the bikes they can offer you. Helmet, reserve tube, and tools are not provided with the bikes. If you use SPD pedals, Desert BikeAir recommends bringing your pedals with you.

Skill level

Intermediate

• Can cycle for 3-4 hours
• Average riding experience
• Little assistance required
• Comfortable with extreme curves and leans
• Average experience with unsurfaced roads
• Steep ascents and descents

Advanced

• Can cycle for 5-6 hours
• Extensive riding experience
• Assistance on demand (if required)
• Experienced with riding a variety of bicycles
• Comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions

This cycling holiday will take place in the Negev Desert, Israel. The Israel Bike Trail, Israel’s spectacular southern mountain biking path, runs mainly on flowing singletracks, along pristine and uninterrupted desert landscape.

Unlike any other desert, the Negev is a fascinating mosaic of wild geological formations, ancient historical landmarks, and the world’s most advanced and fertile organic agriculture farms. Immersed in biblical legacy, you will ride in the footsteps of the Israelis who crossed the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land.

You will be provided with full board meals including breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as beers. Each riding day ends with a campfire and cold beer under the stars, leading up to a sumptuous dinner with meat and vegetarian options. Each day starts with a generous Israeli breakfast, then pick up or make your lunch pack, and head out for another incredible riding day in the Negev!

• 3 days bike tour
• Service of logistical and medical supports
• A downloadable GPS file
• 4 x 4 vehicle equipped with necessary gears
• 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners, local beers
• 4 nights accommodation
• Transfers from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) or Ovda Airport (VDA)
• Transfers to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)

• Personal insurance (mandatory)
• Flight from Eilat Airport (ETH) to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) (~100 EUR)

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 28% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.