Cycling The Abraham Path

Through History Culture
and Incredible Landscapes

Special Tour 10 Days - 9 Nights
Tel Aviv The Abraham Path Hiking and Bicycling Tours

An adventure cycling tour…explore the culture and landscape while on bicycle

 Experience a chance to meet local people and learn traditions

This tour is designed as a hiking route of the Abraham Path. You will pass by bicycle through roads, fertile valleys, oasis and rocky canyons. Unforgettable journey and wander through the country’s hidden treasures, explore the heights and depths of its wonder and encounter the local hospitality, rich history and heritage. This path named Abraham Trail regarding to Prophet Abraham; who is recognized as a prophet and messenger of God. Abraham plays a prominent role as an example of faith in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Highlights
Itinerary
Practical Info
Tour Map
Dates And Prices
Reviews
Highlights
  • Visit the old city of Jerusalem and the Shops.
  • Church Holy Sepulcher, Wailing Wall and Al-Aqsa.
  • of Olives Panoramic view.
  • Visit Bethlehem city center and Nativity Church.
  • Hisham Palace and Jericho.
  • Swimming in the Dead Sea.
  • Wadi Qelt, a valley with a variety of flora and fauna.
  • Visit Aqabat Jaber Camp and Aida refugee camps.
  • Meeting association.
  • Camp in the desert
  • Mar Saba monastery
  • Wadi Jihar
  • Visit Hebron
  • Bethlehem and the “wall of shame”
  • Nights in Bedouin camps
Itinerary

Day 1: Tel-Aviv - Jerusalem
Arrival at Tel-Aviv airport. Welcome and reception by a member of our team transfer to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Jerusalem

Day 2: Jerusalem
After breakfast, visit the Old City of Jerusalem. In the Old City you will encounter oriental charm and be plunged into the souk’s colourful alleys, which take you to the meeting places of the three major monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Visit the Via Dolorosa, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to His crucifixion, the Holy Sepulchre which houses both the place of Calvary and the tomb of Christ. Passing through the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Armenian districts, you can contemplate the vestiges and the religious and architectural imprints left by the different peoples who lived there. Continue the visit by taking the ancient Roman road, the Cardo, located in the heart of the old city, up to Mount Sion where you will discover the Dormition Abbey, the cave of the Last Supper and the tomb of King David. Visit the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicante, also known as the “Rooster Church”. The day ends walking in the Armenian quarter to the Jaffa gate. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem

Day 3: Jerusalem – Bethlehem
After breakfast, visit the Wailing Wall, the holy place of Judaism, then the esplanade of the Haram Al-Sharif; the third holiest religious site in Islam. It contains the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the gem emblematic of the Holy Land, with its golden dome shining brilliantly on the Jerusalem skyline. Then visit the Mount of Olives, with its 827m altitude, it offers a wonderful panoramic view of the old town and has places of great importance for the three monotheistic religions. Visit the chapel of Dominus Flevit, recalls the Gospel incident in which Jesus wept over the future fate of Jerusalem. Descent from the Mount to the Garden of Olive Trees with the Church of All Nations, Gethsemane, the place where Jesus would have prayed before his arrest. Departure for Bethlehem located 10 km from Jerusalem to discover the Basilica of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in the world, built above the cave where Jesus was born. Visit the Milk Grotto and the historic city center, walk through the old quarters and market. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel in Bethlehem.

Day 4: Bethlehem – Auja – Jericho – Dead Sea – Aqabat Jaber
On the first day of the cycle tour, transfer to Auja village to see the oldest traditional water channels. The historical roots dating back to the reign of the Roman Emperor Herod, after Auja, continue cycling to Jericho, known as one of the oldest cities of the Levant dating from the eighth millennium BCE.  Jericho is also the lowest city in the world, at 250m below the Sea level.  Visit Deir Quruntel, better known as the Mount of Temptation. Continue cycling to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the Earth, over 400m below Sea Level. You will experience the indescribable feeling of floating on the Dead Sea.  Journey to Aqabat Jaber refugee camp to the Aqabat Jaber Guesthouse and meet with the Aqbat Jaber Women's Association, a nonprofit organization of the refugee camp, who will introduce themselves and their production of local products. Dinner and overnight in the camp. Cycling distance: Approximately 45 km.  6/7h

Day 5: Jericho –Wadi Qelt – Nabi Mousa –Sea Level
After the breakfast start cycling from Aqabat Jaber Camp near Jericho, through the picturesque Wadi Qelt to visit the ruins of King Herod’s Winter Palace and then see the clinging to the side of the rocky canyon Deir al-Qelt (St. George’s Monastery). The view transports visitors to the 4th century when the earliest desert-dwelling monks sought lives of faithful seclusion. The wadi offers a unique variety of flora and fauna. The road becomes easier as it leaves the monastery and heads towards the Roman aqueduct – another spectacular landmark located along that section of Masar Ibrahim.  The trail passes through the remote lands and the wilderness of the Jordan Valley, to lead to the historic road from Jericho to Jerusalem. Continue to the desert sanctuary of Nabi Musa, dating to the 13th century, that is remembered as the final resting place of the prophet Moses in the Islamic tradition. The site consists of the tomb and a mosque and a spacious compound built around them. Continue to the Bedouin’s camp located exactly at the sea level, you will learn more about the Bedouins, their culture and life style, dinner and overnight. Cycling Distance: Approximately 25 km.

Day 6: Kirbet El Mird –Mar Saba – Tal Al Qamar
Start cycling from sea level to Kirbet El Mirdn, the ruins of a Byzantine monastery that Is 5 km in the north-East of Mar Saba Monastery located on the top of a mountain that includes several hermit caves, then continue to Mar Saba. Mar Saba is among the most ancient and wondrous desert monasteries in the Holy Land. Women have not been allowed into Mar Saba for fifteen centuries, but may admire the monastery from afar - over its exterior walls. Continue cycling through the canyons up to Tal al Qmar, where the path was mostly mountains and canyons. There in the middle of the wilderness can be found a guesthouse with a Bedouin-themed lounge where hikes can have a homemade meal, relax and overnight. Cycling Distance: Approximately 30 km. 5/6h

Day 7: Tal Al Qamar –Beit Sahour – Battir – Bethlehem
Start cycling from Tal Al Qamar to Beit Sahour, visit the ruins of the Byzantine monastery of the Shepherds' Field, where the angels announced the birth of Jesus. Continue cycling to Bethlehem, across Beit Jala to Battir village, situated in a picturesque setting to say the least, in the middle of millenary olive groves. We go up towards Bethlehem via a narrow path going up a canyon. Our tour continues to the Israeli-built Separation Wall, also called the Wall of Shame and Apartheid Wall by the Palestinians. Visit Aida refugee camp. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Bethlehem. Cycling distance: Approximately 40 km. 6/7h.

Day 8: Bethlehem – Artas –Wadi al-Jihar –Al-Rashayda
Start cycling from Bethlehem and visit the old pools of king Solomon in Artas village. Continue into the spectacular Wadi Jihar, a deep limestone canyon that winds down into the desert. Arrival at Bedouin camping village of Al-Rashayda, which is located in the desert region between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea. Continue to the beautiful sunset view of the Dead Sea. Back to evening and night in the Bedouin camp. Cycling distance: Approximately 50 km. 7/8h.

Day 9: Al-Rashayda - Beni Naïm - Hebron & Bethlehem
Start cycling from Al-Rashayda, heading towards Beni Na’im, a tranquil village famous for the grape groves surrounding the area. Continue to Hebron, a city had built before 4000 years by the Canaanites, place of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, which contains the tomb of Abraham and a mosque, part of which has now become a synagogue. Tour the Old City and learn about the unique and challenging situation, experienced daily by the inhabitants of Hebron, neighborhoods and streets divided by the settlers and protected by an extremely large garrison of Israeli soldiers. The old city market offers visitors many surprises including the famous ancient glass factories and colorful eastern ceramic workshops. Transfer to Bethlehem, dinner and overnight. Cycling Distance: Approximately 35 km. 6/7h

Day 10:  Bethlehem - Tel Aviv
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Tel Aviv for the return flight.

 

Practical Info
1- Guaranteed departure
2- Budget
3- When you arrive at the airport
4- Cancellation fees
5- Visa – Passport
6- Transport and transfer
7- Accommodation
8-Recommendations  - level
9- Flight and insurance
10- Tours – Guide – Tips
11- Languages - Currency
12- Level – Health
13- Weather
14- Time - Customs
15- Child conditions 
16- Telecom & Electrcity

1- Guaranteed Departures: From 5 Participant
Many of our tours are guaranteed departure with a minimum of 5 paying customers.  All tours offered with a guaranteed departure and insured will have the minimum numbers clearly indicated on each tour costing that we provide. If a departure is not marked as guaranteed, we invite you to register with the free and non-binding option. Once the number of participants on an offered program reaches the minimum number, you will receive an email inviting you to validate your registration. In this case, only then will your credit card will be charged. However, if you book a confirmed tour with a guaranteed departure your reservation and payment will be automatically approved. Our guaranteed departure tours are not private; we bring travellers together from different backgrounds and nationalities on the same tour.

2- Budget: 
Our quoted price for any tour includes the following:

  • Reception and transfer: airport / hotel / airport.
  • Transport according to the program and all transport of luggage
  • Accommodation in hotels, guesthouses, Bedouin camps and homestays. Half-board; includes breakfast and dinner. From dinner on the first day served until 9:00 p.m. to breakfast on the last day.
  • Picnics during the bike days: day 4 to day 9
  • Professional guide for cultural visits according to the program
  • Local bike guide
  • Rental of mountain bikes and their equipment
  • Entrance to all the sites listed in the program.

Our quoted price for any tour does not include the following:

  • All personal expenses such as drinks, etc
  • Optional excursions
  • Lunches during cultural visits
  • Tips for driver and guide
  • Flights & accident, health, luggage or repatriation insurance.
    Unless otherwise noted, our packages concern only land arrangement: hotels, transfers, and visits.

Travel Agencies & Independent Groups: Travel agencies & tour operators may contact us for your unique website access code and special conditions. Independent groups may be offered discounts on posted rates depending on their numbers, tour itineraries and requested services.

3- Arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport:
After customs and passport procedures, you will be greeted by one of our staff holding a Travel Jerusalem sign, waiting for you in the reception hall after you have collected your luggage. Your group will be then transferred to your hotel.  Ben Gurion International Airport has free wifi; program tour leaders will be put into contact with our staff contact stay in touch via WhatsApp prior to departure.

Customs: In most cases with both arrivals and departures, tour participants will proceed through customs and security inspections as they do in any other international airport without significant delay.  On occasion, however, Ben Gurion Airport security may select program participants for questioning.  This is a common occurrence at Ben Gurion security and is no cause for alarm. For more information please click here.

4- Cancellation Fees:
If you choose or are obliged to cancel your trip before it begins (as determined by your arrival date on your program itinerary), you must inform us as soon as possible.

Cancellation fees will apply as follows:

  • Cancellation fee of 30% charged for notification up to 30 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 50% charged for notification from 29 to 7 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 75% charged for notification less than 7 days up to 24h in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 100% charged for notification of less than 24h in advance
  • Cancellation on any day tour will result in no refund.
  • No-show for any tour will result in no refund.

The above conditions do not apply in case of natural disaster, pandemic, and the outbreak of war. For geopolitical or logistical reasons, the tour operator has the right to cancel a departure or propose alternative date. In this case, full amount paid to the trip organizer will be refunded.
If a specific day tour is canceled due to security reasons or natural disaster, it is replaced with an alternate tour for the day, and no refund would be offered.

 5- Visa & Passport:
Passport: To receive an on-arrival visa, your passport must be valid up to 6 months after your return date. An on-arrival visa at Ben Gurion International Airport covering both Israel and Palestine: will be issued for passport holders of the European Union, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as dozens of other nations.  The visa is given in the form of a slip of paper rather than a passport stamp. You must keep this paper within your passport for the duration of your stay.  For other nations outside the European Union, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, check the visa information and requirements. For more information please click here. 

6- Transport and transfer:
As well as additional transport and transfer services.  These services will be offered by van or bus, depending on the number of participants, and offered through a vetted and trusted third party transport provider.
Transfers, arrival and departure from the airport: Regarding the organization of transfer on arrival and departure. For more information please click here.

7- Accommodation:
Accommodation for this program includes stays in hotels, guesthouses, Bedouin camps and homestays.
In Jerusalem and Bethlehem, the hotels will be ranked between 3 and 4 stars: simple, clean and well-kept establishments, with private bathrooms, showers and wifi, with a possibility of requesting single rooms in hotels only, at an additional cost.
In guesthouses and with family homestays, accommodation is more collective in nature: modest but clean and tidy guesthouses with room for 2 to 4 people. Collective toilets and shower provided. In the Bedouin camp: the accommodation is in a large Bedouin tent, with a blanket and mattress provided.  Collective toilets and showers provided.  For much of the trip, you will be in the relatively isolated from the world.  During the winter, there is no central heating in most of these accommodations (in winter several blankets per person are provided) even if the establishments are presumed to provide hot water, the solar panels that heat the water tanks are not always very effective.  While some access to electrical outlets is available in all accommodations, wifi is not universal as of yet. 

Food: Breakfasts will always be given at the various accommodation (hotel, guesthouse, Bedouin camps, homestays). They are generally composed of local bread and preparation. During the days of trekking, the midday meals will be in the form of various picnics. We will stop near the best natural spots, offering shade and beautiful panoramas. The local team will prepare something to refresh you and treat you, based on regional specialties, easy to transport.  Our hosts at the guesthouses, Bedouin camps and the families who welcome us will cook us some lunches and snacks, made with fresh, traditional products. You will taste among other things their homemade stuffed breads and many other delicious local foodstuffs.  While visiting different cities, you can have lunch in local restaurants and snacks, taste specialties such as hummous, tabbouleh, falafel, shawarma etc.
In the evenings, you will have dinner at your accommodation, and enjoy eating cooked meals. Be aware that at night the temperatures drop, making the air very cool.

8- Recommendations - level:
Recommendations and fitness levels, this circuit is for experienced mountain bikers. The course is physically demanding, and some more rocky passages are somewhat tricky in places, but without any obstacles or major technical difficulty. The route is less than 50km per day, is done mainly on tracks or paths, punctuated by passages on tarred sections. Cultural visits are interspersed to constitute a pleasant break between two mountain bike sections.

Bikes and equipment:
MTBs are perfectly suited for this type of trip.
The following equipment is provided common to the whole group and managed by the guide:
.Repair kit
.Bicycle pump
For hygiene reasons, we always advise you to bring your own helmet and water bottles. However, we can provide helmets on request.
If you take your own bike (with MTBs being compulsory):
. 1 helmet

Equipment:
. Sunglasses
. Water bottle (1.5 liter minimum)
. Flashlight or headlamp
. High-protection sunscreen
. Folding knife (to put in checked baggage; do not bring a military-style knife)
. Toiletries (preferably biodegradable products)
. Toilet paper (biodegradable if possible)
. Quick-drying hand towel
. Wide-brimmed hat, cap and light scarf to cover the neck
. Garbage bags

Clothing:
. Sun hat or cap
. The cycling outfit (padded shorts + jersey)
. T-shirts
. Long sleeve shirt
. Fleece fur jacket (for winter months)
. Capri pants
. Walking pants
. Comfortable pants for the evening
. Gore-tex type jacket, simple and light
. Swimsuit
. Underwear
. Walking shoes
. Lightweight shoes
The clothing list should be adapted according to the chosen season

9- Flight and insurance:
Travel Jerusalem is a reception-only tour operator. We do not organize flight bookings. The customer is responsible to book the appropriate flights, and bear in mind that our prices include only land services of their trip. For accident, health, luggage or repatriation insurance; the customer should locate and pro the insurance in his /her country.

10- Tours – Guide – Tips:
Our tours and visits: The tour operator may modify your itinerary where reasonably required at their discretion; for example, a tour may be done in reverse to adjust to sudden, unforeseen circumstances. For reasons of weather or other factors, a tour may be modified or even replaced to a large extent. Please be aware that certain sites can sometimes be cancelled at the last moment. Indeed, some sites are managed by military authorities, free to block access to the sites. In such circumstances we will ensure that your value for cost of the program will be honored. 

Follow the guide: Our local guides are professionals and knowledgeable of the culture and history of the land that you are touring. Generally, a single guide accompanies the group for the duration of the tour. However, for logistical reasons, unavailability and due to the local situation, two or three guides may be used during your program. Our local guides are chosen for their knowledge base, professionalism, ethical standards and willingness to communicate with their tour groups and are always ready to answer questions!

Tips: We recommend a tip of $6 -10 per participant per day, to be shared between the guide 60% and the driver 40%.  Tips are not included in your program costing, and while not compulsory, we do ask that you strongly consider setting aside the suggested amount

11- Languages - Currency:
Currency: In both Palestine - Israel, the currency is the shekel. Please check for daily exchange rate: www.x-rates.com. US Dollars and Euros can also be used for all major payments. There are automated teller machine throughout the country, and credit cards are accepted in many places.

Languages: The official language in Palestine is Arabic, while the official and language of Israel is Hebrew. The unofficial second language of the Holy Land is English, with French and Russian spoken in much of Israel as well.

12- Health:
Health and vaccines: No vaccines are required at present.

13- Weather:
Palestine & Israel: Summer is long (from April to October), hot (25° to 35°) and with no rain or overcast skies. Winter (from November to March) is moderate (5° to 18°), but it can be cold, especially at nights. On occasion, snow falls in Jerusalem during December and January in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other high-altitude parts of the Holy Land. Protection from the sun is important. Remember to cover yourself with long, light, loose-fitting clothing, and to wear a hat. Use pharmacy-purchased sunscreen to protect your body, especially if you wish to swim in the Dead Sea.

14- Time - Customs:
Time: Jerusalem is GMT +2/+3, depending on time zone changes per year.

Clothing restrictions:
There are no clothing restrictions. The cycling outfit (padded shorts + jersey) is perfect. However, it is advisable to dress decently in cities and during visits, so as not to offend our guests (shoulders covered for everyone, no skirts too high for women). For sacred places, clothing that fully covers the legs is often mandatory (and sometimes lent at the entrance to the site).

15- Child conditions:
Participation with children: It is not recommended to bike Abraham path with children.

16- Telecommunications & electricity:
Telecommunications: Israel and Palestine have modern and functional mobile phone networks. Similarly, accessibility to the Internet is available almost everywhere, notably via WIFI in hotels.

Electricity: The electric current is generally 220V, utilizing European-regional sockets (round plugs). An adapter is required for UK-regional appliances.

Abraham Path: electricity is available in all accommodations

Tour Map

Dates And Prices
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Through History Culture
and Incredible Landscapes.

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