Dead Sea Circuit by Road Bike

DestinationsIsrael, Jordan
Tour MeetsJerusalem
Tour EndsJerusalem
Fly in toBen Gurion International Airport
Fly out ofBen Gurion International Airport
Group Sizen/a
Minimum Age18 (on scheduled departures)
733kmTotal cycling distance
73kmAvg distance / day
834mAvg climbing / day

Trip Profile

You will cycle a total of 733 km on paved roads in 10 cycling days. We ride through endless stretches of arid deserts, skirt the shores of the Dead Sea, and pass canyons, erosion craters, and towering massifs. There is plenty of climbing to keep our legs busy, especially Israel’s Scorpion Ascend in the Negev, though equally as prominent are swift and thrilling downhill sections. The riding is complemented with plenty of off-saddle exploration, including no less than 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Masada Fortress, Petra, and Wadi Rum)!

Your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.

Suitability: This tour can be enjoyed by anyone comfortable on a road bike and in reasonably good physical condition. Daily distances are manageable, averaring 73 km - some days more when the terrain is flat/undulating and some days less when there is more climbing or off-saddle experiences to complement the cycling. Downhill sections are thrilling though having good handling skills is an asset to navigate twists and turns. The fitter you are the more you will enjoy the trip, though less experienced riders looking for a challenge are more than welcome to join. A support vehicle is following close by at all times to provide refuge for weary riders.

Biking Conditions: The roads are all tarmac and, for the most part, in good condition. In more remote areas, potholes or loose desert debris can affect road surfaces requiring more careful navigation. Some traffic can be expected close to towns and popular destinations, but mostly we will enjoy quiet roads with scenic views over the rugged landscapes of Israel and Jordan.

What's Included

  • SpiceRoads jersey
  • Water bottle
  • Support vehicle
  • Guide(s)
  • Meals (as indicated)
  • Accommodation
  • Snacks and drinks

What's Excluded

  • International flights
  • Domestic flights
  • Airport pick up
  • Airport drop off
  • Visa fees
  • Alcohol
  • Tips

Nuts & Bolts

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.

If you bring your own roadbike, please make sure it is in good mechanical order.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

The Nitty Gritty

Jordan

Passports and Visas

A passport with a validity of at least six months and a visa are required for entry into Jordan. We require all clients to purchase the Jordan Wanderer Pass online prior to arrival. This pass includes your visa-on-arrival fee and entrance to 40 attractions, including Petra. The Jordan Wanderer Pass can be purchased here for around USD 100. Make sure to get your pass well in advance and please print it out to show at immigration (you'll also need to show it at the attractions).

Note: On our "Dead Sea Circuit" tour, we cross the border into Israel. There is a departure tax of 10 Jordanian Dinar (around 15 USD). This cost is not included in the tour price and you are responsible to have the cash with you and make payment to the border officials. Prices are subject to change with no prior notice.

Health

No vaccinations are needed.

Weather

The optimal months to visit Jordan is March – May, and Sept- Nov when the temperature is comfortably warm, not scorching. The heat will hit in summer from June – September, when temperatures can rise up to 40 C, and lots of water and sun cream is a must! However, it's dry heat rather than humid. December – February is winter time; snow and rain can be found throughout the country along with short days and freezing nights. It is also regarded as a quiet time for visiting.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Middle Eastern cuisine is a highlight of this tour in both Israel and Jordan. Popular everyday snacks include hummus, falafel, baba ghanioush, tabbouleh, olives and pita bread. Israel continues to adapt, elements of various styles, but also incorporating local agricultural products such as avocado. As Jordan is one of the largest producers of olives in the world, olive oil is the main cooking oil. Jordanian cuisine ranges from baking, sauteeing and grilling of meats to stuffing of vegetables – leaves and eggplants. Also common is roasting or preparing foods with special sauces. In Southern Jordan a specialty and delicacy of the area that you will get to enjoy is the Zarbs, which is prepared in a submerged oven called a taboon.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously, especially in a desert environment. Cold water, some energy-restoring soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. But you may also want to bring electrolyte in powder or tablet form. Alcoholic drinks are available in Israel everywhere but only in hotels in Jordan. Alcohol is NOT included in the tour price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra liras for possible incidentals that might arise. It is always wise to have some paper currency in case of ATM absence or credit card problems. This will save you a lot of unnecessary worries. It is also customary to tip local tour guides and drivers; however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive.

Money

The Jordanian Dinar (JOD) is the currency of Jordan. ATMs are available in Amman and Aqaba. The use of credit cards; American Express, Visa, Master Card, Diners club are accepted at some hotels, however, it is recommended to have some cash at hand.

Be Aware

Overall, the level of petty crime is much less than in most Western countries. However, take the usual precautions about avoiding rowdy political demonstrations, not flashing money around and being aware of pickpockets in crowded places.

Israel

Passports and Visas

Many countries do not require a visa for travel to Israel, generally for a maximum stay of 3 months. See here for the full list. If you require a visa to visit Israel, please get in touch with the Israeli embassy or consulate nearest to you. For more information, see here. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of departure from Israel. In Israel, instead of stamping passports at airports and land crossings, an electronic gate pass system is used. Travelers receive small slips of paper with a barcode, which serves as their exit permit from the passport control hall. Make sure you keep this with you throughout the trip.

Health

No vaccinations are needed.

Weather

The most popular time to travel to Israel and Jordan is in the late spring and fall, when the weather is warm but not oppressively hot, and fairly dry. Summer brings extreme heat, especially in July and August when temperatures can rise up to 40 C. In the fall daytime temperatures are very pleasant; around 15-25 C degrees in most of the country, though they are usually higher around the Dead and Red Seas. Jerusalem will be in the 5-10 C degrees range in the evening. There is a chance of rain towards the end of the year.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Middle Eastern cuisine is a highlight of this tour in both Israel and Jordan. Popular everyday snacks include hummus, falafel, baba ghanioush, tabbouleh, olives and pita bread. Israel continues to adapt, elements of various styles, but also incorporating local agricultural products such as avocado. As Jordan is one of the largest producers of olives in the world, olive oil is the main cooking oil. Jordanian cuisine ranges from baking, sauteeing and grilling of meats to stuffing of vegetables – leaves and egglants. Also common is roasting or preparing foods with special sauces. In Southern Jordan a specialty and delicacy of the area that you will get to enjoy is the Zarbs, which is prepared in a submerged oven called a taboon.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously, especially in a desert environment. Cold water, some energy-restoring soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. But you may also want to bring electrolyte in powder or tablet form. Alcoholic drinks are available in Israel everywhere but only in hotels in Jordan. Alcohol is NOT included in the tour price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra liras for possible incidentals that might arise. It is always wise to have some paper currency in case of ATM absence or credit card problems. This will save you a lot of unnecessary worries. It is also customary to tip local tour guides and drivers; however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive.

Money

Israel's curency is the New Israel Shekel (NIS). ATMs give standard rates and are available in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in heavily touristed areas, but there are few in other cities so it is reccommended to have some shekels on hand before departing Jerusalem.

Be Aware

Overall, the level of petty crime is much less than in most Western countries. However, take the usual precautions about avoiding rowdy political demonstrations, not flashing money around and being aware of pickpockets in crowded places.

General booking info

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:

FLEXIBLE BOOKING CONDITIONS

Booking a SpiceRoads cycling adventure is easy and we try to do everything possible to make sure you have full flexibility and peace of mind. We do not require a deposit to hold your place on a tour and once full payment has been made your money is protected in our client account and you have the flexibility to cancel or change your booking if needed.

CONFIRMING YOUR BOOKING

Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.

You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.

TRIP STATUS

There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.

BOOKING ONLINE

From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).

If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

BOOKING OFFLINE

Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.

The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.

In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.

In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.

The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

FULL FLEXIBILITY FOR TOUR CANCELATIONS

If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).

If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).

Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.

If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.

Loyalty Riders Club

For those who have been on several long tours with us, we reward customer loyalty by offering repeat customers a special discount off the tour price (excludes single supplement and bike rental). If this is your fourth scheduled tour or more you will receive a 5% discount. If this is your eighth scheduled tour or more we will extend a 10% discount. The discount will be reflected in your online booking, but please contact us if any questions. Loyalty discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Note: Only tours of 7 days or more will be applicable for a loyalty discount.

International Flights

International flights, to and from the start and finish points are not included in the tour price. Once your tour is Guaranteed to Depart you can book your flight. Please contact us for advice before arranging flights for the best arrival and departure times. We would only cancel a trip for an extreme circumstance, but in that case, where we cancel your trip, we cannot be liable for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made. Please claim any losses from your travel insurance that you acquired when you booked your holiday.

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