Bikepacking Israel | Bikepacking tips

Our community has gathered lots of tips, most from personal experience, so read them before you head out. Here's the first one: however hard the climb, the view is always worth it.

Which route should I choose?

Keep it simple

Your first ride is about testing your gear, seeing if you can sleep outdoors, and enjoying the adventure. Pick a 100–120 km route, around 60 km a day at most. Leave at noon, find a nice spot to sleep and see how it feels.

A familiar route

No surprises: you know where the water is, where to stop for the night and how to split the route. Less navigating, more listening to your bike and body.

If you do pick a new route

Do your homework: where you can bail out, which public transport can cut it short, where the gas stations are. Write it all in a note on your phone.

60 km a day? That's it?

Yes. With all the gear the pace is different, and on rides longer than two days the load on your body builds up. Find a comfortable balance.

How much gear to take?

Gear = weight

There'll be gear-heavy rides later, but right now the goal is to feel what sleeping outside is like and test how the bags attach. No point overloading. Not on this ride.

As light as possible

Don't bring the whole house. Your usual riding kit, a yoga mat and sleeping bag rolled together on the handlebar, a little food, a shirt and shorts for the evening. That's it.

The big backpack from India?

No. A backpack holds a lot, but over the hours it weighs on your shoulders and your seat, and chafing isn't far behind. Put as much as possible on the bike.

I'm freezing at night

A cold night after a hot day can leave you under-equipped. Check temperatures at camp and along the ride, and prefer a good sleeping bag over extra layers.

Water and food

This isn't the time to pack a week of sandwiches. Pack only what you need and camp a few kilometres from a gas station to buy dinner. Don't forget a beer.

Getting there and back

Train: the pros

Your bike stays with you, and there are toilets, power outlets and space to stretch. Board only the carriages marked with a bike.

Train: the cons

Bikes are allowed 09:00–15:00 and 19:00–06:00. On Friday bikes are allowed at any hour, and on Saturday bikes are not allowed at all. On a busy line expect some looks.

What about buses?

More flexible and goes everywhere, but you'll need to remove a wheel for the luggage hold. If you don't board at the first stop, it may already be full.

Complexity first

Do all the transfers and connections at the start, and at the end, when you are tired, take a single line home with minimal hassle.

Don't skimp on a shuttle

Treat bikepacking like a trip abroad, where you don't count every shekel. Plan the most comfortable way there and back.

What if the riding gets hard?

Tortoises invented bikepacking

It's not a race. Whoever arrives first probably has fewer photos. Slow down and stop at the viewpoints.

Climbs are really hard

The bike is heavy and the climb looks like a wall. It was hard the first times on a bike too, and your body adapts. And you can always get off and walk.

It's all about pace

Listen to your body and heart rate, and find the pace you could hold for hours. It takes time, but it's worth trying.

Bring a friend

With a friend time flies, morale stays high, long climbs feel shorter and you can split the weight of the coffee kit.

I want to try, but it's scary

Of course it is!

But isn't it time to break the routine and try something that always seemed out of reach? Even if it's not for you, you can be proud you tried.

That's what friends are for

Alone, in the woods, at night... it can be scary. Grab a friend for an evening by the fire, a beer and some stories.

What if I can't sleep?

You're allowed to envy those who fall asleep on a rock. If it's hard for you, ask a doctor or try something natural. And warm nights help.

Start simple and close

Start small: a familiar route near home, 3–4 hours each way, maybe that spot you've passed dozens of times and thought would be great for camping.

I bought all the bags. How do I pack?

Air doesn't weigh much

When a bag has free space you'll want to fill it, but most of that ends up unused. With experience you'll learn exactly what you need.

Quick math

Toothpaste, sunscreen, chamois cream, power bank, pump and more all come in mini versions. Dropping 1.5 kg is easy, and the climbs will thank you.

Think of bags as drawers

One bag for camp, one for riding, one for stops. Sleeping bag with night clothes, creams with sandwiches, snacks with lip balm.

Order, please!

First in is last out. The sleeping bag goes in first, the wind jacket last. You don't want to unpack everything to reach a charging cable.

How do you split the route into days?

Plan by hours, not km

60 km on the flat and 60 km in the hills are completely different days. Check the total climbing, and assume an average of about 10–12 km/h off-road with gear.

Water points are anchors

Mark every tap, spring, kibbutz and gas station on the map, and build your days around them. In the desert, this is the first thing you plan.

A short last day

Make the last day shorter. You'll be tired, and you need time to catch transport home.

Always two camp options

Pick a planned camp spot plus a backup a few kilometres earlier, in case the day runs long.

Weather and seasons

Check the forecast for each area

In Israel there can be a 15°C difference between a hill morning and a desert noon. Check the forecast for each point along the route, not just the start.