The Start:
We start Sunday morning from the city of Arad, our gateway to an amazing experience in the Negev desert, the Arava and the Judean Desert!
On-Road Riders:
After riding through the magical Yatir Forest - the largest planted forest in Israel - we will stop at Mt. Amasa, a lookout post over the stunning Judean desert and Arad Valley. While traversing much of the Negev over the next 4 days, we will become intimately familiar with the Negev’s impressive desert craters (machteshim) and its magnificent unspoiled landscapes.
Challenge Riders:
Prepare yourself for a fast descent from Arad down to the rarely visited back entrance to Masada, and then the big climb up. This is one of the most beautiful descents and climbs in Israel on a virtually deserted road. We will ride in the world-famous and magnificently colored craters of the Northern Negev and will reach Mt. Harif on the border with Egypt. Our physical ability will be stretched to the limit with the “WOL Gran Fondo": riding 100 miles (160 km) in one day!!
Off-Road Riders:
We will enjoy some of the outstanding landscapes and sights of the Negev and Judean deserts which can be best appreciated riding off-road: the occasional oasis, breathtaking geological formations and amazing wadis! For 2 of the 4 nights, off-road riders will split into 2 different groups.
- Off-Road Enduro / Outdoor accommodation (max. 80 participants)
We will ride from Arad to the Small Crater, and from there to Zofar. Reverting to the unique experience of the 2010 Enduro ride, we will spend the night camping in the desert. But don’t worry. It will not be totally roughing it. As we did in 2010, we will have showers, cots, and a roof – albeit a canvas one! – over our heads. This is not an experience to miss!
- Off-Road / Rural guest house accommodation (max. 40 participants)
We will enjoy riding at a more leisurely pace and on a slightly shorter route than the Off-Road Enduro riders, and spend two nights in a row in the same “pampering” rural guest house in Ein Yahav.
Touring Riders:
We will be riding on many of the more tranquil parts of the On-Road route and experiencing many of its main attractions. Additionally, we will visit some of the most fascinating tourist sites in the area.
All riders:
Together, we will all gather in Be'er Sheva on Wednesday evening to enjoy the long-awaited Wheels of Love "Bar Mitzvah" party!!
On Thursday morning we will all take a deep breath and begin the challenging climb up to Jerusalem.
The ALYN Children will be waiting for us at the finish line!
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