Recent rain? Check the mud forecast before you go. Download the route’s GPX and upload it to ‘HaSingletor’ – you’ll get the chance of mud from the nearest rain station and the soil type.
Four days of the best of the Jezreel Valley, the Golan and the Galilee, from Afula to the sea at Achziv beach. Stunning views and water stops, and enough climbing (about 5,600 m) to swing you between despair and euphoria.
307 km from Afula to Achziv beach, just north of Nahariya. You drop from the Jezreel Valley to the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee, climb the Golan Heights to more than 1,100 m, plunge into the Hula Valley and cross the Upper Galilee by Nahal Dishon and Nahal Kziv to the sea. About 5,600 m of climbing, with plenty of springs and streams on the way.
One-way · Afula3–4 daysMar–May, Oct–NovHard
307km
5,609m climbing
77.1km, longest stretch without fuel
10fuel stations within 200 m
17water taps along the way
42night campsites near the route
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses 6 firing zones, about 21 km of 308. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 106km 8–12Northern Command coordination center073-3483007
Firing zone 122 גkm 103–107Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 122 בkm 108–113Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 131 אkm 157–161Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 131km 161–163Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Firing zone 123 אkm 176–183Golan fire-zone ops room04-6977224
Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date. Some sections are a road that crosses the zone. Either way, check and coordinate before you go.All coordination centers →
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The route at a glance
Fuel stationGrocery or supermarketWater tapNight campsite
01km 0–38
From the Jezreel Valley to the Jordan
You leave Afula station and ride east across the valley, through Merhavya, Sulam and Gazit. By Tel Rekhesh you pass Ein Rekhesh, a shallow rectangular pool, climb to about 280 m near the Noach Kinarty overlook, then drop almost 500 m into the Jordan Valley, about 220 m below sea level.
Along the way
km 23.1Water point
km 25.5Tel Rekhesh
km 26.4Ein Rekhesh, a shallow pool
km 31.9Noach Kinarty overlook, 310 m off the route
km 36.1Tel Shaharit
Resupply · km 1 Victory in Afula and a restaurant at km 4.9. The next resupply is at Beit Zera, km 47
02km 38–75
The Jordan and the Sea of Galilee
You ride along the Jordan River to Beit Zera, then on to the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Tzemach, by the historic railway station, is the section's big service hub. Then along the eastern shore, past Rotem and HaShitim beaches, to Ein Gev, where the climb to Susita, the ancient city above the lake, begins.
Along the way
km 38.2The Jordan River, until km 44
km 59.7The historic Tzemach railway station
km 67Rotem beach night campsite
km 68.3HaShitim beach night campsite
km 74.1Susita, the ancient city
km 74.6Water in the Susita national park
Resupply · km 58.9 Tzemach: Paz 24/7, Yellow, Aroma and KFC. Sonol at Ein Gev, km 71, the last fuel station until Ein Zivan, km 148
03km 75–117
Climbing the Golan
Above Susita the climb goes on, past the Omri Tal viewpoint, to Ein Fiq and Afik. Then along the Nahal El-Al reserve, with Mitzpe HaBanim and Ein Kif, and further on Ein el Fares, a concrete swimming pool, and Rujum el Hiri, 330 m off the route. At the end of the section, at about 660 m, the Orcha pool waits, with a campsite right on the route.
Along the way
km 77.3Mitzpor Tal night campsite, 230 m off the route
km 80.2Ein Fiq
km 95.9Mitzpe HaBanim, above Nahal El-Al
km 96.4Water by Ein Kif
km 108.8Ein el Fares, a concrete pool
km 116.5Orcha pool night campsite, on the route
Resupply · km 85.7 A grocery at Bnei Yehuda
04km 117–150
Hushniya and the Bashanit ridge
After Keshet, with a grocery by the route, you reach the ruins of Hushniya and the Golan iris reserve. Then up into the Bashanit ridge reserve, riding between Mount Hozek and Mount Kurtam, above 1,100 m. The section ends at Ein Zivan, with a campsite with water and a fuel station.
Along the way
km 128.9Hushniya grove night campsite
km 130Golan iris reserve, Hushniya
km 137.6Water point
km 138.9Mount Hozek, Bashanit ridge
km 148Ein Zivan night campsite, with water
Resupply · km 148.1 Paz at Ein Zivan, the first fuel since Ein Gev. A grocery at Keshet, km 125
05km 150–175
The high Golan to Mas'ade
North across the high Golan, with a water point and the Palsar 7 campsite right by the route. After Buq'atha you reach the route's highest point, about 1,110 m, near Har Odem, a dormant volcano. Birkat Ram lies 450 m off the route, and in Mas'ade a row of restaurants and a fuel station line the road.
Along the way
km 162.9Water point
km 164.1Palsar 7 night campsite
km 167Har Odem, 470 m off the route
km 172Birkat Ram, 450 m off the route
Resupply · km 173.1 Mas'ade: Delek, a shop and restaurants. Sonol at Buq'atha, km 165.5
06km 175–210
Plunging into the Hula Valley
From Mas'ade the route plunges more than 900 m, from about 1,000 m to below 100 m on the valley floor. On the way you pass Ein Fit and the Golani lookout, with a view over the Hula Valley, then follow Nahal Hermon and Nahal Snir. Past Beit Hillel there is a big service hub, and at the end of the section you climb to Kfar Giladi and Tel Hai.
Along the way
km 181.2Ein Fit
km 183.1Golani lookout, a view over the Hula Valley
km 189.6Nahal Hermon nature reserve
km 195.2Nahal Snir (Hatzbani), until km 201
km 206.6HaAri HaSho'eg night campsite
km 207.1Israel Trail library, Tel Hai
Resupply · km 200.3 Dor Alon and Alonit 24/7, Aroma and McDonald's. The last shop until the Hurfeish junction, km 275
07km 210–255
Ramim ridge, Kadesh and Dishon
Above Kiryat Shmona you climb along the Ramim cliff: Ein Roim, the Geological campsite and the A"H lookout with its Israel Trail library. Then through the Nahal Kadesh reserve to Nahal Dishon, which the route follows for about ten kilometres past small springs, up to Ein Halav and Gish, at about 770 m.
Along the way
km 211.5Ein Roim
km 218.4Yochai and Dor night campsite, by the A"H lookout
km 229.4HaEla night campsite
km 236.2Ein Dishon and Nahal Dishon, until km 247
km 246.6Ein Halav night campsite, with a water tap
km 249The lower synagogue of Gush Halav
Resupply · km 249.9 Gish: the Beit HaTzayad restaurant and Baladna café. Water also at km 234.8
08km 255–307
From Baram down Nahal Kziv to the sea
The ancient Baram synagogue, the Sasa pool and a climb to about 820 m near Har Adir. After the Hurfeish junction and Ma'alot you drop into Nahal Kziv and follow it down, between springs and pools and below Montfort castle, to the Achziv national park on the sea shore.
Along the way
km 255.1The ancient Baram synagogue
km 265.2Har Adir lookout, 310 m off the route
km 277.7Barzit night campsite
km 289.1The Dlavim pool and Ein Tamir
km 291.9Montfort castle, 190 m off the route
km 297.2Ein Hardalit night campsite
Resupply · km 274.8 Hurfeish junction: Delek 24/7 and Menta, 180 m off the route. Shufersal Deal at km 282.5 and Dor Alon at km 304.8
Where to sleep
Over four days, for example: HaShitim beach (km 68) or Mitzpor Tal (km 77), Ein Zivan, with water (km 148), and HaEla (km 229) or Ein Halav (km 247).
Straight-line distanceDistances from the route are straight-line distances, not riding distances. Before you set out, check on a map that a trail or road actually reaches the place.
km 67Free
חוף רותם80 m off the route
km 68.3Free
חוף השיטים60 m off the route
km 116.5Free
חניון לילה בריכת אורחה ג'וחדר0 m off the route
km 128.9Halfway
חורשת חושנייה30 m off the route · Free
km 148Halfway
חניון לילה עין זיוון20 m off the route · With water
Fuel stations, groceries and food within 200 m of the route. Fuel stations usually have water, toilets and a convenience store.
Straight-line distanceDistances from the route are straight-line distances, not riding distances. Before you set out, check on a map that a trail or road actually reaches the place.
km 0.8–1
Victory3 cafés and restaurants
km 4.9
A café or restaurant
km 47.4–47.9
Victory3 cafés and restaurants
km 52.1
Dor Alon
km 58.9–59.724/7
Paz, Yellow5 cafés and restaurants
km 70.7–71.1
Sonol, GroceryA café or restaurant
km 85.7
Grocery
km 125.4
Grocery
km 148.1
Paz
km 165.2–165.5
SonolA café or restaurant
km 172.9–173.3
Delek, Grocery5 cafés and restaurants
km 194.9
A café or restaurant
km 200.3–200.724/7
Dor Alon, Alonit, Pina BaGan +19 cafés and restaurants
km 206.3
Sonol
km 249.9–250.3
2 cafés and restaurants
km 271.5
A café or restaurant
km 274.824/7
Delek, MentaA café or restaurant
km 279.9
2 cafés and restaurants
km 282.5–282.6
Shufersal Deal, Mega Bul
km 304.8
Dor Alon
Distances along the route are calculated from the GPX file; the distance of each place from the route is a straight-line distance. Night campsites come from the site's campsite map, other places from OpenStreetMap. Not checked on the ground: confirm before you go.
Firing zones: OpenStreetMap, IDF data import
Distance, climbing and recommended months come from the routes table. Highest and lowest points are calculated from the GPX file, and difficulty is an estimate based on climbing per kilometre.
An Israeli maker of sealant, lubes and repair kits. They built a full bikepacking repair kit with us: everything you need so a flat never ends your ride.
Rents out satellite trackers and communicators. In the desert and in areas with no signal, your family can follow your location, and in an emergency you can call for help.
An Israeli company making quality glasses at fair prices. Protection from sun, dust and wind over long days on the trail, and 20% off for the community.
