Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
Hi all, I'm hoping your expertise may help me!
In March I'm running the Jerusalem marathon with a friend. We fly into Eilat and then intend to ride to Jerusalem, taking about 3 days to do so. We leave from Jerusalem after the run.
Route 90 seems to be the easiest but I'm not sure we can ride the main road into Jerusalem.
Any advice or guidance around a better route, places to stay or anything else would be gratefully received!
Thanks
Luke
In March I'm running the Jerusalem marathon with a friend. We fly into Eilat and then intend to ride to Jerusalem, taking about 3 days to do so. We leave from Jerusalem after the run.
Route 90 seems to be the easiest but I'm not sure we can ride the main road into Jerusalem.
Any advice or guidance around a better route, places to stay or anything else would be gratefully received!
Thanks
Luke
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Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
I have worked in Israel for a while. Personally I would avoid route 90. The road takes you along the shores of the Dead Sea, and that is very low lying and hence hot with lots of flies. Also, it is not the quietest of roads. And indeed, the final stretch between the Dead Sea and Jerusalem is busy and at times quite narrow. I never dared cycling there.
I think the route through the centre of the Negev is far more scenic, with the Mitzpe Ramon canyon as a highlight. There are a couple of Youth Hostels along the route.
I think the route through the centre of the Negev is far more scenic, with the Mitzpe Ramon canyon as a highlight. There are a couple of Youth Hostels along the route.
Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
Thanks, hoping to get a dip in the Dead Sea, would that route allow it?
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Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
No because you would be cycling much further to the west. I was not particularly impressed by a swim in the Dead Sea. It is depressing because the water has receeded so much that you are well away from the older facilities. And it is not really swimming because you are floating on top of the water and hence constantly on the verge of tipping over... And the salt hurts with even the smallest wounds from e.g. shaving.
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Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
Incidentally also looking to do something similar in Spring - albeit get the bus down from Tel Aviv airport and ride back. The option of staying in Israel looked a bit dull so how about rising through Jordan? The south appears very tourist-oriented with Petra in the area and I believe should be cooler with the region being at ~1000 m elevation. The two northern border crossings look tricky for cyclists however (numerous forums suggest that you have to get a bus or hitch-hike across) although the Strava heat map suggests a lot of people ride the direct route from Amman to Jerusalem. Not sure the legal situation though there - at Allenby Bridge do you enter Israel or Palestine and how do you later cross the separation barrier to get into 'proper' Israel?
Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
Ok, thanks, will reassess!
Hopefully the weather will be ok!
Hopefully the weather will be ok!
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- Posts: 98
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Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
You can take your bike on the Egged buses over there so you could always do that for the boring desert bit and spend a couple of days pottering around in the country's north.
Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
Thanks, that's good to know, do they also go the the airport from Jerusalem?
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- Posts: 98
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Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
I guess so, their website is pretty good and helpful.
Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
I had a dip in the Dead Sea in March, it was pretty chilly.
Re: Cycling Eilot to Jerusalem
It'll add to the experience I hope!