Israel - Tour Israel
Starting near Nazareth, these rides take you through the hills of Galilee to the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. You have one non-riding day in Jerusalem. You then re-join the horses, which have been transported south, to explore the wide open spaces of the Judean Desert.
There are two versions of this ride: the six night Israel Adventure and the longer eight night Tour Israel, during which you also visit Mt Carmel and ride on the beaches too.
There is tremendous variety of terrain from the lush Jordan valley to the dry Judean Desert.
As well as a journey through changing and dramatic landscapes this is a cultural experience. You ride to the sites of Roman battles and visit on foot places mentioned in the Bible; characters and places from the Old and New Testaments will be brought to life. You will have a guided walking tour of the important holy sites in the old parts of Nazareth and Jerusalem. You also visit the ancient ruined forts and UNESCO World Heritage Site at Masada. At the end of the trail there is time to relax at the Dead Sea.
These rides are suitable for confident fit riders who are capable of controlling a horse at walk, trot and canter in open across rugged country. There is a mix of paces and the speed is determined by the terrain.
The horses are mainly Arabian horses ridden in Western tack and with a loose rein.
Accommodation in the north is in country lodges on a kibbutz or a moshav. There are two further nights in a permanent desert camp and the last night in a three star equivalent hotel in Tel Aviv.
The lodges are comfortable but not luxurious they have twin bedded rooms with en suite or private bathrooms.
The kibbutz cooperative farming lifestyle is one where all the members share in the work. The original philosophy of a kibbutz was to produce as much as you can but only take what you need, therefore all the members were comfortably taken care of. They were a close knit community with their own schools dining halls and shops. Things have changed slightly over the years but there is still a great sense of community amongst the members.
A moshav has a similar ethos to a kibbutz being a farming community. However the farms tend to be individually owned so can operate as a private business.
Camping is in a permanent desert camp overlooking the Dead Sea. If you would prefer not to camp, it is possible to upgrade to a room with a private bathroom. This needs to be pre-booked and is an extra cost which is payable locally.
Set arrival and departure dates arriving Saturday.
| Holiday | Experience LevelExp Lvl | Arrive - DepartArr - Dep | Price | Itinerary | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour Israel | 4 May 2024 - 12 May 2024 | 8 nights 8 ngts | £2,870.81 |
|
Book | |
| Tour Israel | 26 Oct 2024 - 3 Nov 2024 | 8 nights 8 ngts | £2,870.81 |
|
Book | |
| Israel Adventure | 23 Nov 2024 - 29 Nov 2024 | 6 nights 6 ngts | £2,050.58 |
|
Book | |
| Tour Israel | 28 Dec 2024 - 5 Jan 2025 | 8 nights 8 ngts | £2,870.81 |
|
Book |
INCLUDES Accommodation; riding; meals and soft drinks.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £311.69 for Tour Israel or £237.87 for Israel Adventure is payable if you are in a single room. If you are prepared to share this will be refunded if we find you a sharer.
PAYABLE LOCALLY Bar bills; tips; dinner in Tel Aviv on the last night; lunch on final day; transfers; optional camping upgrade if chosen.
NEAREST AIRPORT Tel Aviv.
TRANSFERS (shared) from Tel Aviv airport or hotel to the start of the ride are US$35 per person (payable locally). The tour ends in Tel Aviv and you are responsible for making your own way to the airport (we can prebook for you if required).
The shared transfer collection time at Tel Aviv airport is scheduled for 16:20. Please book a flight with a scheduled arrival time by 15:20 to allow for immigration and luggage collection.
If you have arrived in Tel Aviv early, we can arrange collection from your hotel at 15:45.
Return flights can depart at any time. This transfer is payable locally.
Tour Israel visits three distinct geographic locations: the mountainous area of Galilee following the Jordan River to the Sea of Galilee the Carmel region and the wide open spaces of the Judean desert which includes a visit to Masada and the Dead Sea.
The temperature in Israel varies widely, especially in the more mountainous regions, but as a general rule the north has a mild more Mediterranean type climate while in the Judean Desert in the south the climate is semi-arid with hot summers, and cold winters.
In springtime (March, April and May) the scenery is green and the autumn (from late September to November) is mild and pleasant.
In winter, daytime temperatures in the desert will be around 13°C and could fall to zero at night. Temperatures at the Dead Sea will be hovering around 15°C.
Rain is possible from October to April and is most likely between January and March. Between May and September, rain in Israel is rare.
The riding and pace was varied; ever changing terrain which made you feel like you were riding in a different country every day, fast pace where terrain permitted. The horses knew their job very well and were fit and well-mannered. Very satisfied with the horses, riding, pace and terrain. I can't think of anything that could be improved; communications were excellent and all questions answered. What a fantastic trip.
Angela ,Staffordshire
Overall rating: 4/5
