The nitty gritty of your Israel bike trip

General

Passport and Visa: EU and N. American citizens do not need a visa to travel to Israel, just a 6 months valid passport.

Health and Vaccinations: No compulsory vaccinations are required.  On all our trips, each of our guides carries first aid.

Travel/health insurance: It is a condition of our holidays that you are covered by a medical and personal accident insurance policy that includes cover for sports activities and repatriation to your home country.  Please provide us with your insurance policy numbers and emergency contact details prior to your arrival.  Remember - no insurance, no riding.

Money: The currency in Israel is the Shekel. You can change money upon arrival to the airport, or at your hotel. In major cities there are plenty of foreign exchange facilities and ATM machines.

Language: The official language of Israel is Hebrew.  English is widely spoken, and French is spoken at hotels, restaurants and shops. 

Electricity:  Electricity supply is 220V 50Hz, and we use the standard European two round pin system.

Where to land:  Our biking tours depart from Jerusalem, which is less than an hour from the Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion) international airport.   You will be able to tour this amazing historical city during your stay.    

Find a flight: From Europe:  El Al,  Easyjet, Ryanair, Wizz and many other low-cost and regular airlines.   From North America: El Al, United, Air Canada and others.

Lodging and Food: The quality of accommodations is always comfortable, but can vary from more basic to beautiful hotels and lodges.   Especially in the desert, we cannot always promise luxury.

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Biking

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Cycling Season: Our rides are October-May.  Temperatures are too warm for comfortable biking otherwise.  Over the autumn, winter and spring, riding in the north runs the risk of having some rain.   In the south, the risk of rain is small - on the other hand, we might get the chance of viewing a flash flood (from a safe distance).
Rental: We have a range of modern top quality road and mountain bikes. All our bikes are well maintained and serviced and replaced every year. 

B​ringing your own bike: Most clients prefer to bring their own bike, which is quite easy to organise. Obtain a bike box or bag, then simply deflate the tyres, lower the saddle, turn the handle bars and pedals in and use insulation to protect the frame. It is advisable to check with your airline or travel agent, as carriers have different rules about transporting boxed bikes. Most airlines will not accept bikes unless boxed. 

Fitness level: Our trips vary in difficulty but generally they are suited for fit-intermediate (sport level) to expert riders. A fit-intermediate rider is one who can ride 4-plus hours per day, for several days in a row. Inevitably there will be slower and faster riders in each group but from our experience the differences in ability work themselves out: some will simply enjoy the view for a little longer. You will get more enjoyment out of any trip if you are in good physical condition.

Other equipment: For your own comfort we recommend you bring 2-3 pairs of cycling shorts and tops. For most of the year you will also need sunglasses, sun protection cream, after sun lotion and a cotton scarf to protect the back of your neck from the sun. If you are prone to sun burn, then long sleeved T-shirts and full gloves will offer additional protection. During the winter months we would also recommend that you bring some waterproof cycling gear and a wind jacket….just in case. Finally don’t forget your helmet!

Your bike: We strongly recommend that you have your bike serviced before your trip and that you bring spare inner tubes and tyres (especially those who are riding on tubes) and a full set of replacement brake pads (previous clients have gone through a set in a week). If you are bringing your mountain bike then please also bring a spare rear mech hanger and chain. Our guide is there to help out with emergency repairs but out in the field there is no full repair shop ! 

​Group size:  Our groups are typically between 4 and 12 participants, with 1-2 guides per group. Our groups are kept small so that we can ensure every participant is well looked after. Participants must be 18 and over, unless accompanied by an adult.

​What's included:  Expert leadership, accommodation, designated meals (outlined for each trip). 

Not included: your bike and bike riding equipment, airfare, excess baggage charges, insurance of any kind, entrance fees to churches, wineries and other sites, optional tipping for guides and local staff and items of a personal nature: snacks, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.   We recommend that participants budget for $20-50 USD extra spending per day