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.
About 400 km from Ashkelon to Tel Aviv, the long way round: the coastal plain, the lowlands, the edge of the Negev and the Judean Hills, with about 5,000 m of climbing. The Sluggers 400 event route, and a great route to ride on your own.
394 km from Ashkelon to Tel Aviv Port. You head south into the western Negev as far as Nahal HaBsor, climb through Ofakim, Beit Kama and the Lachish lowlands to the Jerusalem hills and the Old City, descend through the Kfira reserve to Modi'in and Ben Shemen, and finish along the Yarkon to the sea. About 5,000 m of climbing: the route of the Sluggers 400 event, and an excellent route to ride on your own.
One-way · Ashkelon3–4 daysOct–AprModerate
394km
5,042m climbing
93.3km, longest stretch without fuel
17fuel stations within 200 m
78water taps along the way
19night campsites near the route
Between Beit Kama (km 149.8) and Jerusalem (km 243) there is no fuel station, and only one shop, at km 200.5. There is no marked water between km 74.7 and km 201.4: fill up in Ofakim and Beit Kama.
Firing zones on the way
The route crosses 4 firing zones, about 40 km of 394. Entering a firing zone requires advance coordination and approval, and zones can be closed on weekends and holidays too.
Firing zone 208km 281–284, 286–290Central Command coordination center02-5305042
Firing zone 203km 331–334, 339–347, 355–356Central Command coordination center02-5305042
Boundaries from OpenStreetMap (source: IDF) and may be out of date.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 0–50
From Ashkelon to the western Negev
You leave Ashkelon marina, through Sea Park and past Ashkelon national park, and ride south-east across the plain, close to sea level. You cross Nahal Gea and Nahal Shikma, with the Or HaNer picnic site, and reach Nir Moshe forest. There are a few water points here, but after km 16.8 there is no shop until km 106.6.
Along the way
km 0.7Sea Park, Ashkelon
km 3.7The Roman basilica, Ashkelon national park, 420 m off the route
km 17.1Nahal Gea
km 31.6Nahal Shikma, until km 34
km 48.6Nir Moshe forest night campsite
Resupply · km 16.8 Delek fuel station by Mavkiim. No shop until km 106.6
02km 50–95
Shokeda, Be'eri and Nahal HaBsor
Between forests and loess plains, past Nahal Hanun and Shokeda forest, with a campsite and water, to old Be'eri and the Founders' grove. From there you drop to Nahal HaBsor, the big stream bed of the western Negev, and follow it past Tel Gamma and Be'er HaDkalim.
Along the way
km 58.4Nahal Hanun
km 67.9Shokeda forest night campsite, with water
km 74.9Old Be'eri and the Founders' grove
km 81.3Nahal HaBsor
km 89.3Tel Gamma, 200 m off the route
km 92.2Be'er HaDkalim, a well house and pool
Resupply · km 70.5 Food by Be'eri. Water in Shokeda forest, km 67.9, and at the Founders' grove, km 74.7
03km 95–150
Ofakim and Beit Kama
By Eshkol national park a Dor Alon and an Aroma are waiting, the first shop since Ashkelon. Then on to trig point 3M, the first vertex of the British survey network, to Ofakim and Gilat, and across Nahal Grar and past Tel Sera, climbing gradually to about 250 m at Beit Kama, with fuel stations and restaurants.
Along the way
km 103.9Eshkol national park
km 111.9Trig point 3M, from 1922
km 117.1Nahal Patish
km 118.2Ofakim train station, 210 m off the route, if you need to bail out
km 134.5Tel Sera, 250 m off the route
km 149.7Nahal Shikma
Resupply · km 146.2 Beit Kama: Paz, a 24/7 Yellow, Aroma and McDonald's. A 24/7 Paz at km 149.8, then no fuel until Jerusalem
04km 150–196
Gevaot Gad and Lachish
You climb from the Negev into the Judean lowlands, about 200 m, past Tel Kelekh and the Gevaot Gad reserve, along Nahal Lakhish and the East Lachish reserve. Beit Loya has a Byzantine church with a large mosaic, then comes a string of ancient ruins, as far as Hurvat Adulam. No water, fuel or shops here.
Along the way
km 157.2Tel Kelekh, 200 m off the route
km 163Gevaot Gad nature reserve
km 172East Lachish nature reserve, until km 177
km 177.9The Beit Loya church and its mosaic
km 188.3Horbat Yonim, 260 m off the route
km 195.6Hurvat Adulam, 200 m off the route
05km 196–236
Climbing into the Jerusalem hills
From the Ela valley and Netiv HaLamed He the big climb begins, from about 290 m to almost 750 m, past rock-cut steps of the Roman road from Jerusalem to Beit Guvrin and Ein Uzan. At the top come the Nes Harim, Begin Park and Ein Kobi campsites, with water, and at the end of the section Ein Itamar, a tunnel spring with a clear pool.
Along the way
km 196.6Nahal HaEla, until km 201
km 211.1Rock-cut steps of the Roman road, 270 m off the route
km 218.3Nes Harim Ktalav picnic site, water and toilets
km 220.2Begin Park night campsite, 300 m off the route
km 226.5Ein Kobi night campsite, with a water tap
km 234.8Ein Itamar
Resupply · km 200.5 A shop by Netiv HaLamed He, 190 m off the route, and water at km 201.4
06km 236–270
Jerusalem and Nahal Sorek
You enter Jerusalem through Malha and Park HaMesilah, pass the Yemin Moshe windmill and Jaffa Gate, and reach the route's highest point, about 820 m, near Mahane Yehuda. You leave the city by the Snail bridge, along Nahal Sorek and Einot Telem, past the Beit Zait reservoir, to Tzuba.
Along the way
km 244.6Park HaMesilah
km 246.6Montefiore Windmill, 100 m off the route
km 247.6Jaffa Gate
km 250.8Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station, if you need to bail out
km 256.5Einot Telem
km 259.4Beit Zait reservoir
Resupply · km 248.4 Jerusalem: restaurants, cafés and grocers along km 243–251, and a 24/7 supermarket at Mamilla. A 24/7 Paz at Tzuba, km 267.2
07km 270–300
Through Kfira to the Ayalon valley
From Ein Rafa and Aqua Bella you climb again, through the Judean Hills national park, to almost 800 m near Har Rafid. Then the route's big descent begins: about 570 m through the Kfira reserve, Nahal Beit Hanan and Nahal Yitla, down to the Ayalon valley.
Along the way
km 271.8Aqua Bella national park
km 272.1Ein Hemed night campsite, 110 m off the route
km 277Judean Hills national park, Har HaHagana
km 281Har Rafid, 787 m, 190 m off the route
km 282.9Kfira nature reserve, until km 294
km 296Beit HaKshatot, 250 m off the route
Resupply · km 270.3 Mifgash HaRochvim at Ein Rafa, and water. Rama's Kitchen at km 284.2
08km 300–345
Modi'in, Ben Shemen and Shoham
Past HaTmarim lake and Nahal Ayalon to Modi'in, along Anava Park and its lake. Then on to Ben Shemen forest, with several campsites, and to Shoham, past Horvat Tinshemet and its mosaic, the Barkat and Charta winter pools and the Hanya monastery.
Along the way
km 300HaTmarim lake
km 308.6Modi'in Center station, 150 m off the route
km 321.6Ben Shemen forest night campsite, 290 m off the route
km 322.8Avraham Dubinsky night campsite, 160 m off the route
km 335.7Horvat Tinshemet, a mosaic and church remains
km 340.5Horbat Hanya and its monastery
Resupply · km 308.4 Modi'in: Tiv Taam, McDonald's and Cofix, 150 m off the route. Fuel at km 317.8 and km 337.6
09km 345–394
Along the Yarkon to the sea
You descend along Nahal Shillo, past Migdal Afek, to Rosh HaAyin and its lake. From the Yarkon sources you ride along the river, through Yarkon national park, past the Abu Rabah watermill, the Ten Mills and the Seven Mills, to the Reading promenade and Tel Aviv Port, on the seafront.
Along the way
km 354.1Migdal Afek (Mirabel), 300 m off the route
km 363.1Rosh HaAyin lake
km 370Nahal Yarkon
km 374.1Abu Rabah watermill
km 386.7The Ten Mills
km 393.2The Reading promenade and Tel Aviv Port
Resupply · km 385.2 Cafés and restaurants in the Ever HaYarkon area, km 385, and plenty more at Tel Aviv Port
Where to sleep
Over four days, for example: Shokeda forest (km 67.9) or HaBesor (km 103.5, paid, 900 m off the route), Ein Kobi (km 226.5) and Ben Shemen forest or Dubinsky (km 322–323). Between km 104 and km 213 there are no campsites near the route.
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.
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 0.2–1.1
3 cafés and restaurants
km 16.8
Delek
km 70.5
A café or restaurant
km 106.6
Dor AlonA café or restaurant
km 115.9–116.1
Fuel station, Mega Bul
km 124
Fuel station
km 146.2–146.324/7
Paz6 cafés and restaurants
km 149.824/7
Paz, Yellow
km 200.5
Grocery
km 238.1–238.9
Grocery2 cafés and restaurants
km 239.2
A café or restaurant
km 243–243.5
Fuel station, Grocery2 cafés and restaurants
km 244.4–245.3
Oranim, Neeman Bakery, Grocery +17 cafés and restaurants
km 245.5–246.524/7
Paz, Sonol, 24/7 +18 cafés and restaurants
km 247.3–248.3
Grocery, La Patteserie Abu Seir12 cafés and restaurants
km 248.4–249.424/7
The supermarket, Goa smoke, Zol Uvegadol +572 cafés and restaurants
km 249.5–250.5
Grocery ×3, Tzidkiyahu Deli, Zol Uvegadol +335 cafés and restaurants
km 250.6–251.3
Sonol ×2, Paz6 cafés and restaurants
km 251.9
Makolet Tzion
km 257.6
Grocery
km 260.5
Grocery
km 264.6
A café or restaurant
km 267–267.524/7
Paz, Grocery2 cafés and restaurants
km 270–270.9
5 cafés and restaurants
km 271.1–271.5
Grocery ×2
km 272.7–273
3 cafés and restaurants
km 284.2
A café or restaurant
km 308–308.9
Tiv Taam5 cafés and restaurants
km 317.2–317.8
Delek Modiin Forest2 cafés and restaurants
km 337.6
Paz
km 363.8
A café or restaurant
km 365.2
A café or restaurant
km 384.8–385.8
15 cafés and restaurants
km 387.7–388.2
3 cafés and restaurants
km 389.7–390.7
2 cafés and restaurants
km 391.5
PazA café or restaurant
km 392.9–393.6
Big Super Baba, Super Baba, Grocery7 cafés and restaurants
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.
