Israel as you have never seen it before

We will meet you at Tel Aviv airport and drive north to our hotel in Kfar Vradim. After lunch we’ll fit or help set up your bike before a late afternoon warm up ride to the beautiful white cliffs and underwater caves of Rosh Hanikra on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, and with views back along the coast to Haifa. Back at the hotel, we'll adjust bikes, give out the GTP kit and have a welcome meeting. Our first dinner together will be at the hotel.

Our local expert cycle guide will join us in the morning lead us to ancient Safed, where we can visit the Synagogue Quarter and the amazing Artists’ Quarter. There is also the ruins of the 12-13th century former crusaders castle. Safed is the highest city in Israel at 900m so we have a long descent to our destination on the biblical Sea of Galilee.

The Sea of Galilee is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and is about 200m below sea level! Tonight, we will feast on local produce on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Make sure to eat plenty at breakfast, today we have the longest and highest ride of the tour. We are heading to Israel’s only ski resort, on the border with Syria and Lebanon. The summit and Herman Hotel, “the highest permanently manned UN position in the world” is at 2,814m, although we will only ride to around 1,600m – but it is still a huge climb climbing from - 200m! The views are astounding and there is a well-deserved long long descent to our lunch destination at Golan Brewery. After a cold ale or two and lunch, we will transfer to our hotel in Jerusalem where we can change and relax before dinner will be at the hotel.

After the huge effort of yesterday, today we can have a leisurely breakfast…or you can rise early and enjoy a short morning sunrise ride through Israel’s capital.

In the afternoon we have arranged for a private guided tour to see the magic of Jerusalem – including the Dome of the Rock, the Citadel, and the Jewish and Christian Quarters.

You can wander the streets after the tour and experience the flavours and vibrant colours of the markets and food and spice stalls. We will meet up at the hotel before dinner in a really special place in the heart of Jerusalem.

We have a long descent to Ein Bokek for lunch. This a unique ride, it's not often you can boast of riding much of the day below sea level! We can also offer you the opportunity to do a 350 metre climb to Metsoke Dragot and take in the astounding view of the Dead Sea. Fun fact – Metsoke Dragot is 7m altitude!

At the hotel we can change and drive to the ancient fortification, the legendary Masada and have lunch there.

You can also stay and swim or float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea.

We will depart the Black Sea early and find the steepest climb in Israel - Ma`ale `Aqrabbim - The Scorpion’s Pass! In 1954, 11 Israelis were ambushed and killed. as a result, a new road was built to avoid future ambushes and the climb is now closed to traffic. There is an abyss and drop offs with no guard rails – an opportunity to check it off your list of world ascents!

We’ll continue through the huge Negev desert until we reach the ancient and modern city of Be’er Sheva for lunch.

Then we'll transfer to our hotel in Tel Aviv and have our last dinner.

Sadly, today we bid you farewell. We’ll help pack up the bikes and after breakfast, transfer you to Tel Aviv airport or you may opt to stay and enjoy a weekend of exploring the hip city of Tel Aviv.

We hope that this tour of Israel was inspirational and opened you to the idea of riding in places that are part of our history and continue to influence our contemporary world.

Despite the news stories, Israel offers so much more and we trust you will have many photos and stories to inspire friends and family.