Extreme Cycling Tourism in Israel

 

8th February 2024 Israel is a great destination for recreational cycling – be it a leisurely ride while birdwatching at Agamon Hula Nature Reserve in the north or the convenience of urban cycling in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, with their bike-sharing schemes. But for the adrenaline-seeking cyclist, Israel, with its sunny climate throughout the year and diverse scenery and topography, is nothing short of perfect. The country, relatively small, spans forests, streams, and lakes to primeval desert landscapes, snow-capped mountains, and the lowest point on earth, connected by a developed cycling infrastructure stretching from north to south and east to west.

Picture by Epic Israel   Development of cycling infrastructure Cycling has become an integral part of Israeli society, and the demand for cycling experiences around the country has fuelled the development of essential infrastructure. A driving force behind this growth is Groopy, a community of professional and amateur cyclists (website and Facebook in Hebrew) who make recommendations for new trails, share navigation files, and cycling tips, and exchange opinions and ideas. Private organizations and public and governmental bodies are constantly working to build and improve cycling paths, attentive to the demands of the public and using the opinions of these riders as a barometer to identify new trends in the field of off-road cycling. KKL-JNF, an organization committed to environmental conservation, invests significantly in developing cycling paths for both amateurs and professionals, recreational and extreme, in the many KKL-JNF parks, nature reserves and forests throughout the country. The public is invited to enjoy, free of charge, these trails, including singles as well as more challenging trails with jumps and descents. Future KKL-JNF cycling infrastructure projects include trail restoration in the Western and Northern Negev; creating a trail network around Beer Sheva and connecting it to the Lahav Forest; establishing a circular bike path around Mevasseret Zion, near Jerusalem; developing bicycle paths in the Ma'anit forest and Begin Park, and a single track at Nir Etzion.

Picture by Melanie. Jerusalem Mountains  Desert Cycling Adventures The desert, with its warm and dry winters, remains one of the most sought-after locations in Israel for extreme and off-road cycling enthusiasts. International and Israeli cyclists alike are attracted by hundreds of kilometres of challenging singletrack with breathtaking views, especially in the Eilot region, in the southern region of the Arava. Countless singles in the area connect the community kibbutzim, most of them long and winding with challenging climbs, fast descents, bends and turns, and spectacular views of the Red Mountains. The Yahel-Ketura single mountain bike trail is one of the highlights in the Eilot region, setting out from Kibbutz Elifaz. The 16-kilometer trail, considered one of the most beautiful in the world, takes just over 90 minutes to complete. Another highlight in the Eilot region is Timna Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the world spread over about 70,000 dunams featuring spectacular geological sites and extraordinary landscapes that can be discovered on foot, by mountain bike and in a car. With more than 70 kilometres of paved single tracks, much of which is reminiscent of Mars with its craters, sculpted desert landscape and varied soil colours), Timna Park offers cycling trails at different levels from singles for families to singles for professional riders. Constant development of cycling trails in the region, for families as well as experienced extreme cyclists, ensures the area’s popularity for adventure and cycling tourism from Israel and around the world.

 

Picture by Dotan Halevi                                                                                                                    Picture by Melanie. Timnna  Samaraton in Timnna Cycling competitions As Israel becomes more and more popular as a cycling destination, it is only natural that Israeli cycling competitions should attract growing numbers of international participants. Epic Israel Epic Israel is an annual mountain bike competition event, now in its tenth edition and taking place from 18-21 September. This challenging four-day MTB stage race (prologue and three stages) features a versatile and balanced route of 75 to 110 km per day, with spectacular scenery all the way. In honour of the tenth competition, the “Decade Stage” will be the longest and most challenging of them all. The competition routes include many ascents and descents, with more technical sections in both uphill and downhill sections known as "single trek" in the language of the cyclists - flowing and fun, yet also extremely technical to answer the needs of the mountain biker. Epic Israel attracts some of the world’s top riders alongside amateurs and professionals from Israel and overseas, with the average rider age range between 20-30, whereas the cycling tourists range between the ages of 45-60. In previous years, riders from 26 countries have participated, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, and South Africa. The competition takes place in the northern part of the country, along the most beautiful sections of the Mediterranean coastline and at the foot of Mount Carmel. Participants enjoy full-board hospitality at the Nachsholim Hotel and Dor Resort, right on the beach.

Picture by Epic Israel The Samarathon, also celebrating its tenth edition this year, is a desert mountain bike race featuring tough cycling on ancient singles, historically used by camel convoys, and adapted for cyclists by some of the world's best trail planners. One of the most unique and beautiful stage races in the world, Samarathon takes place in the extreme, arid and isolated environment of the desert, presenting challenges to the rider's equipment, body and mind. Cyclists, both international and Israeli, participate in this race, appreciating the perfect desert weather and breathtaking scenery unique to the region, creating optimal cycling conditions. Whether you consider yourself an amateur or a professional cyclist, someone who enjoys a leisurely ride or the thrill of extreme adventure, Israel is the optimum destination for you to bring your own bike or hire one on arrival. Cycling is a year-round sport in Israel – set off early or late on a long summer’s day to beat the heat or enjoy a full day of cycling during the cooler winter months.                                               Picture by Eliran Kadosh  Samaraton.Sout Arava About Israel: Whether road trips, city trips, swimming, wellness, active and cultural trips, rental car tours or family vacations, the Israeli State Tourist Office provides information about the various regions, cities, and sights in the Holy Land. Located in the eastern Mediterranean, Israel is no more than a seven-hour flight from India. The country offers a sunny climate, a wide variety of historical, archaeological, and religious sites, including houses several UNESCO World Heritage sites across the country, displaying an intriguing contrast between the ancient and modern periods Experience the dynamic vibe of Israel. For information about the different tourism offerings, visit www.goisrael.in For the most up-to-date information on the guidelines and requirements for entering Israel, visit https://israelsafe.com For more information reach out to us at info-israel@goisrael.gov.il or 022 61370700. Link for Images:  https://we.tl/t-3JkyxMYLyo  (Please give credit to image holders)