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Horseback riding tours
Rides in
Israel
Intro to Israel
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 Northern AfricaMiddle East
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Kaleidoscope Ride across Israel
Galilee
Israel
This is our most complete and challenging exploration of the Israeli countryside on horseback. This intensive horse tour touches three different geographic locations all in one trip. Starting in Nazareth we will ride through the mountainous Galilee into the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. We will follow in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims to Jerusalem on horseback and we will explore the desert expanses and climb majestic Masada. Later the horses are transported southwards where you ride across the Judean Desert and climb to the ancient ruined forts and UNESCO world heritage site at Masada.
There is tremendous variety of terrain from the beautiful Jordan valley to the bleak, haunting scenery of the southern desert. As well as a journey through changing and dramatic landscapes this is a cultural experience. Characters and places from the Old and New Testaments will be brought to life as you ride to the sites of Roman battles, follow ancient trading routes and visit places mentioned in the Bible. Your guides will accompany you on walking tours of the important holy sites in the old parts of Nazareth and Jerusalem.
Lodgings are a mix of countryside hotels and a night of camping in the desert, where after a long hard day in the saddle you will be able to admire the view from a biblical mountain top. At the end of the trip there is the opportunity to take a dip in the healing waters at a thermal spa at the banks of the Dead Sea. Last night is back in Tel Aviv, a modern, vivacious city with lots of fun things to do including a colorful market, great shopping and beautiful beaches.
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Progressive Ride (no camping)
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Meeting:
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Moshav Sharona
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Airport:
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Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport.
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Transfer:
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Tel Aviv
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Riders:
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Min
6 riders
Max
12 riders
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Trip Brochure (PDF) 
Trip Rating
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Rates and Dates for 2012
Rates include:
Accommodations (country lodges, one night camping in the desert and one night hotel in Tel Aviv), all meals and 7 riding days and a walking tour of Nazareth, visit to the thermo mineral spa at the Dead Sea.
| A | 2012 | 9 day trip, AP | 9d / 8n | $2680 |
Transfer Option:
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2012
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Transfer from Tel Aviv at set time pp return
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$50
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Tour Dates for 2012
Additional dates are available for groups of 4+ from October to May
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Day 1 (Saturday)
Arrival in early evening at Moshav Sharona in the lower Galilee. After introductions and explanations followed by dinner, you will enjoy an enlightening lecture on the history of Israel. We will sleep in a cozy country lodge located on the Moshav.
Day 2 (Sunday)
Today, we will set off for our first day of trail riding in the Galilee’s beautiful natural landscape. After matching horses and tack with riders, we leave the stables in Shedmoat Devora to ride along the tributaries of the Tabor Stream, going past Kfar Keesh. We will eventually come to the Tabor Stream and visit Tel Rechesh where, according to some sources, part of King Solomon’s legendary stables were located. Afterwards, we will canter in almond orchards and fields, returning to Shedmoat Devora. Following a short break, we will drive to Mt. Tabor to visit the Church of Transfiguration. Afterwards, we will continue on to Nazareth for a walking tour of the holy sites and markets. You will enjoy the unique sights, aromas and tastes of this intriguing city. A delicious dinner will be served in an authentic Bedouin village. We will return to Sharona for the night.
Length of tour – 18 km/ 11 miles
Day 3 (Monday)
Our day will begin with a ride in the remarkable Sirin Heights to enjoy the stunning natural scenery along its streams and around its springs. We will ride to the lookout point of Mitzpe Ayloat for a breathtaking view of the Jordan Valley. Riding in the direction of Jordan, we will pass through the Yaela Grove, the site where Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, killed Sisera. We will then cross the fertile Jordan Valley heading towards the Jordan River. Upon reaching the Jordan River, we will cross with our horses (in the summer time we will swim in the river) and then ride to Kibbutz Degania. Kibbutz Degania was the first kibbutz in the world. There, we will learn all about this unique way of life. We will sleep in the lodge on Sharona.
Length of tour – 22 km/ 15 miles
Day 4 (Tuesday)
Early in the morning, we will set out for Tel Megiddo, riding through the rolling hills and groves of the Ramot Menashe National Park. Tel Megiddo is the supposed site of Armageddon – the epic battle associated with the end of time. Once an important city on an ancient trade route, today only ruins remain as testimony to the peoples that inhabited this site for centuries. We will investigate the archeological ruins, learning about life in biblical Israel. On our way back, we will stop to explore a cave used for training in 1947 by the Palmach, the elite fighting unit of the underground Hagannah army. We will spend the night at the beautiful lodge on Kibbutz Dalia.
Length of tour – 22 km/ 13.5 miles
Day 5 (Wednesday)
The majestic Carmel region is the location of this day full of adventure. A ride up Mt. Carmel will bring us to El-Maharrakah, the site where the Prophet Elijah supposedly slaughtered the prophets of Baal. The views are as amazing as the biblical stories. After touring the Carmelite Monastery located there, we will go down into the Jezreel Valley to the Kishone Stream and then back to HaZorea. We will sleep on Kibbutz Dalia.
Length of tour – 25 km/ 15.5 miles
Day 6 (Thursday)
This day is dedicated to Jerusalem. We will travel by car from Kibbutz Dalia to the city of Jerusalem. We will drive to the Old City to follow the Via Dolorosa, the path that Jesus walked on his way to crucifixion. Along the way, we will visit the holy sites of the three monotheistic religions. After the tour and a typical Israeli lunch, we will drive to the Judean Desert to spend the night in a very special place.
Day 7 (Friday)
Today our desert adventure begins – we will ride in the desert expanses, experiencing the fresh air and open space that only the desert can provide. We will pass the morning riding in the area around the Tselim Stream learning about the hardships the Bedouin nomads face in the desert. We will see an ancient water systems and then ride up Mt. Tselim to take in the beautiful view. From here we’ll go down to where the stream runs through canyons and finish by following an ancient camel route which will lead us to our camping site in Kanaim Valley. Under the starry desert sky, we will sit around a camp fire, relaxing after our day of intensive riding.
Length of tour – 27 km/ 17 miles
Day 8 (Saturday)
Another day of exhilarating desert riding ahead of us. After breakfast, we will ride through the expansive plains of the Kanaim Valley. Then we will head east riding above the Tselim Stream until we again reach cliffs overlooking the Dead Sea. Along an old mule path, into the Dead Sea Valley, we will ride north until we come to a trail once used by the Roman Legion forces. Suddenly, Masada will stand majestically before us. Parting with our horses and trail guides, we will walk up the monumental site of Masada. Immediately following Masada, we will drive to a spa on the banks of the Dead Sea. As a treat after many days of hard riding, we will cover ourselves in the black mud of the Dead Sea and go for a dip in its healing waters. In the afternoon, we will drive to Tel Aviv to spend the night in a 4 stares hotel. (the dinner in this evening is not part of the program)
Length of tour – 14 km/ 8.7 miles
Day 9 (Sunday)
Today you have the option of either exploring Tel Aviv on your own or resting. Tel Aviv is a modern, vivacious city with lots of fun things to do including a colorful market, great shopping and beautiful beaches. After breakfast, the trip is officially over. You can relax in the hotel until the afternoon or our staff will be happy to advise you on what to see in the city.
We reserve the right to change the itinerary as necessary to accommodate weather conditions or additional unforeseen events.
Meeting:
Moshav Sharona
Airport:
Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport.
Transfer:
Tel Aviv
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Tack:
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Western, English on request
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Horses:
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Quarter and local Arabian mix (purebred Arabian horses on request
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Pace:
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There is a mix of paces and speed is determined by the terrain. 3 - 6 hours riding per day
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
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Level:
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(3
to
3.5
out of 5) Intermediate+
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Age:
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Min
14
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Weight:
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Max
230 lbs
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Riders:
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Min
6 riders
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Max
12 riders
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Horses...
We use only well trained horses
accustomed to trail riding in our equestrian vacations. Our horses are a
mixture of Quarter horses and local (Arabian) horses and trained in
Western riding. They are well groomed, in great shape and perfectly
suited for horseback vacations. We match you with a horse and tack
according to the information you provide when signing up for a riding
holiday. For riders with greater riding proficiency, we can provide a
more spirited horse; for less experienced riders, we pair horses that
are easily handled. Also, upon request, pure Arabians from our breeding
program, Sirin Arabians, can be provided.
Tack...
Quality Western tack for comfort and ease. In
general, we use Western tack made in the USA. In our experience with
trail riding vacations, riders who are used to English tack quickly
adapt to riding Western style. Nevertheless, we can arrange for English
tack if given notice ahead of time. If you would prefer to use your own
tack, this is possible only if it fits the horse we have assigned you.
You are welcome to bring your own tack but we cannot guarantee you will
be able to use it.
Riding Level...
The overall success
of a
horseback holiday depends on all riders having the skills to safely
perform at the pace expected. Riders with insufficient skills are a
danger to themselves and to others. As a result, it is crucial that you
be experienced and fit enough to ride 30-40 km (18-25 miles) a day. On
our part, we make every effort to clearly explain to people inquiring
into our horseback riding vacation packages the riding difficulty of
each tour. These horseback vacations are designed for riders with a good
intermediate riding skills. During the trips we walk, trot and canter.
Safety...
Safety
is of utmost importance on all our horseback vacations.
Your safety
is always a top priority. Our staff is comprised of trained
professionals who are certified trail riding guides. We know the land
and the trails, having chosen them for their suitability for these types
of riding holidays. Also, before every trip, our guides make a run
through to ensure the trails are safe. We use only quality, highly
trained horses. We know each of our horses well and are able to expertly
match horse and rider.
It can get very hot in Israel, especially in
the summer and in the desert. We have strict rules regarding weather
conditions, including never riding in temperatures over 90°F (32°C). In
addition, there is always a first aid kit.
Security...
Despite
what appears in the media, Israel is generally a safe and easy country
to travel in. Both Jordan and Egypt are committed to peace, and on-going
talks with Syria have made this area relatively stable and quite
favorable to tourism. All of our equestrian vacations are conducted in
secure areas of Israel with guides well versed in handling security
situations.
Passport and Visa Requirements:
Passport required Return ticket required Visa required . more
With a
Mediterranean climate, Israel enjoys hot, rainless summers and
relatively short, but rainy winters.
Summers are humid along the
Mediterranean coast but dry in the central highlands and in the Negev
Desert.
It does not rain from June through September, with July and
August being the hottest months at 22-33°C (72-91°F) on average across
the country.
More than 90% of the rainfall occurs between November
and March, with January being the coldest month with temperatures
ranging from 6-15°C (43 to 59°F).
Recommended riding gear:
Riding pants or Jodhpurs
Riding
boots (short) + full or Mini-chaps
Riding helmet
Riding gloves
Sun
hat (with chin strap)
Clothing:
Windproof jacket
Waterproof
jacket and pants (in the winter)
T-shirts/ long-sleeve shirts
Jeans
Warm
jacket and hat for cool evenings (in the winter)
Underwear and
socks
Pajamas
Bag for dirty clothes
Trekking boots/ comfortable
shoes
Swimsuit
Additional items:
Personal
Toiletries
Insect repellant
Personal medications
Flashlight
Adapter
for electric appliances
Camera
Water bottle
Sunglasses with
strap
Suntan lotion and lip balm
Sleeping bag - which can be provided on request.
Sorry, no video is currently available for this tour.
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
..view other reports for different trips
Lodgings are a mix of countryside
hotels, a night of camping in the desert, and a night in a hotel in Tel Aviv.
We have carefully chosen our sleeping locations for cleanliness and comfort. Amenities always include hot showers and running toilets.
When camping, we stay deep in the wilderness. Being this close to nature sometimes means cold showers and no toilet facilities. We will do our best to provide hot showers every other day.
 Food
& Beverage
Riding makes you hungry. Our staff will prepare
healthy, fresh, filling meals so no one ever rides on an empty stomach.
Our tours are not kosher. However, no pork is served on any of our
trips. We can accommodate vegetarians and other special dietary
(including kosher) requests if given prior notice. As for drinks, we
know there is nothing more satisfying than a cold beer after a long
ride. Some of our meals, usually dinner, include beer, wine or liquor.
These drinks are free of charge. When dining in Arab restaurants, no
alcoholic beverages are allowed.
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Tack:
|
|
Western, English on request
|
|
Horses:
|
|
Quarter and local Arabian mix (purebred Arabian horses on request
|
|
Pace:
|
|
There is a mix of paces and speed is determined by the terrain. 3 - 6 hours riding per day
|
Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
|
|
Level:
|
|
(3
to
3.5
out of 5) Intermediate+
|
|
Age:
|
|
Min
14
|
|
|
Weight:
|
|
Max
230 lbs
|
|
Riders:
|
|
Min
6 riders
|
Max
12 riders
|
|
Horses...
We use only well trained horses
accustomed to trail riding in our equestrian vacations. Our horses are a
mixture of Quarter horses and local (Arabian) horses and trained in
Western riding. They are well groomed, in great shape and perfectly
suited for horseback vacations. We match you with a horse and tack
according to the information you provide when signing up for a riding
holiday. For riders with greater riding proficiency, we can provide a
more spirited horse; for less experienced riders, we pair horses that
are easily handled. Also, upon request, pure Arabians from our breeding
program, Sirin Arabians, can be provided.
Tack...
Quality Western tack for comfort and ease. In
general, we use Western tack made in the USA. In our experience with
trail riding vacations, riders who are used to English tack quickly
adapt to riding Western style. Nevertheless, we can arrange for English
tack if given notice ahead of time. If you would prefer to use your own
tack, this is possible only if it fits the horse we have assigned you.
You are welcome to bring your own tack but we cannot guarantee you will
be able to use it.
Riding Level...
The overall success
of a
horseback holiday depends on all riders having the skills to safely
perform at the pace expected. Riders with insufficient skills are a
danger to themselves and to others. As a result, it is crucial that you
be experienced and fit enough to ride 30-40 km (18-25 miles) a day. On
our part, we make every effort to clearly explain to people inquiring
into our horseback riding vacation packages the riding difficulty of
each tour. These horseback vacations are designed for riders with a good
intermediate riding skills. During the trips we walk, trot and canter.
Safety...
Safety
is of utmost importance on all our horseback vacations.
Your safety
is always a top priority. Our staff is comprised of trained
professionals who are certified trail riding guides. We know the land
and the trails, having chosen them for their suitability for these types
of riding holidays. Also, before every trip, our guides make a run
through to ensure the trails are safe. We use only quality, highly
trained horses. We know each of our horses well and are able to expertly
match horse and rider.
It can get very hot in Israel, especially in
the summer and in the desert. We have strict rules regarding weather
conditions, including never riding in temperatures over 90°F (32°C). In
addition, there is always a first aid kit.
Security...
Despite
what appears in the media, Israel is generally a safe and easy country
to travel in. Both Jordan and Egypt are committed to peace, and on-going
talks with Syria have made this area relatively stable and quite
favorable to tourism. All of our equestrian vacations are conducted in
secure areas of Israel with guides well versed in handling security
situations.
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Passport required |
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Return ticket required |
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Visa required |
British
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Yes |
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Yes |
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No |
Australian
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Yes |
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Yes |
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No |
Canadian
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Yes |
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Yes |
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No |
USA
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Yes |
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Yes |
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No |
Other EU
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Yes |
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Yes |
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No |
Application to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Contact Addresses for details.
Passports:
Passport valid for a minimum of six months from date of entry required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Types and costs:
Visitor visa: £13; Student visa: £26.
Validity:
Visitor visas are usually valid for three months.
Visas:
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to three months.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Read more: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/israel/passport-visa#ixzz144coyw3m
Health Overview
There are no special precautions required for travel to Israel, but insect protection from August to November is recommended due to the prevalence of West Nile virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. A Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended as well as a tetanus vaccine. Bird flu has been discovered in Gaza as well as in a number of towns in Israel. The risk to travelers is very low, but close contact with live birds should be avoided, and all egg and poultry dishes should be well cooked as a precaution. Medical facilities are excellent but treatment can be very expensive so it is essential that travelers take out full insurance.
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
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Kaleidoscope Ride across Israel
Tour Code:
IT-ILRT04
9 days /
8 nights
~$2,680.00
Dates :
October to May
Trip Rating :
Difficulty :
Lodging:
Introduction
Day to Day Itinerary
Rates | Dates
Accomodation
Tack:
Western, English on request
Horses:
Quarter and local Arabian mix (purebr...
Pace:
There is a mix of paces and speed is d...
Walk,
Trot,
Canter,
Airport:
Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport.
Location on Google Map
Image Gallery
Image Slide Show
Customer Trip Rating
Climate
What To Bring
Download tour PDF
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