Bike Travel

Biking has really taken off in Israel, and tens of thousands of people hit the trails every year. With mountains, deserts, and wooded hills, this small country is ideal for bicycling. Off-road adventure tours take you to remote archeological sites and other places not reachable by car. Although keep in mind, the going can get rough due to the extreme heat much of the year, the winding and hilly roads, and aggressive drivers. Biking is best enjoyed from September to June. Trains don't accept bikes, but buses do.

Israel Bike Trails has a Web site with comprehensive bike trail information listing elevations and level of difficulty. Several companies offer organized guided bike tours throughout the country, including Israel Cycling. Biking maps in English are hard to find. Serious bikers use the Israel Hiking and Touring Maps published by the Society for the Protection of Nature. At this writing, only one in this series (#20, Eilat Mountains) has been published in English.

Bike Contacts

Israel Bike Trails (www.israelbiketrails.com.)

Israel Cycling (052/247-8821. www.israelcycling.com.)

Tel-O-Fun (Tel Aviv. www.tel-o-fun.co.il/en.)

Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael—Jewish National Fund (Tel Aviv. www.kkl.org.il/eng/tourism-and-recreation/bicycle-paths-tracks-israel.)