Feel free to reach out to info@israelride.org if you would like to host an information session or lead a local ride.
2024 Arava Institute Mission: Insights into the Region
October 27 - November 1
Registration is now open! Join us for the Arava Institute Mission: Insights into the Region (Sunday evening October 27 – Friday afternoon November 1st, 2024) and embark on a mission like no other. This mission is focused on supporting and uplifting the people of Israel who are still struggling, having profound learnings from the Arava Institute’s unparalleled network and partners, and finally, returning to cycling through the places we have ridden through for the past 20 years and love so dearly.
This will be an unforgettable journey to experience the true essence of the region firsthand, and seize the opportunity to take meaningful action that demonstrates your support for Israel and the vital environmental peace work the Arava Institute does. Supported by attentive staff and a knowledgeable guide, we will connect with different local communities, learn about their daily lives since October 7th, and offer our support.
In addition to touring around Israel, the Mission will include a full day of immersion at the Arava Institute. This opportunity allows you to dive deep into the culture, academics, and transformative peace-building curriculum of the Institute.
On the immersion day at the Arava Institute, participants will:
- • Engage with the esteemed Arava Institute faculty
- • Meet the leaders of the Institute’s research centers
- • Interact with students and attend a class
- • Discover innovative projects students have developed to tackle the region’s environmental challenges
This opportunity offers a deep, nuanced, and authentic understanding of the region—far beyond what you’ll find in the headlines.
Tentative Itinerary
| October 27 – November 1st, 2024
(Since everything is dynamic, the final itinerary will be posted closer to the event to reflect the latest situation on the ground.) |
| Sunday eve: Meet in Tel Aviv Monday: Meeting/volunteering with various groups, including internal refugees, as well as visiting Kibbutzim and sites in the Gaza envelope, such as the Nova music festival site Tuesday: Meeting/volunteering with different groups and visiting an Arava Institute project at a Bedouin school Wednesday: Two Options: Bike riding from Mitzpe Ramon to Kibbutz Ketura or an opportunity to engage with the Arava Institute community Thursday: Arava Institute Immersive experience for everyone Friday: Two Options: Bike from Kibbutz Ketura to Eilat or meet with internal refugees in the Eilat area. Airfare is included from Eilat, back to Ben Gurion at the end of the trip. |
Mission Details
Cost: Participants will be required to pay $3,600 per person to cover the cost of the Mission.
Deposit: There is a $500 non-refundable deposit for the trip to be paid upon registration.
Payment Schedule:
• Upon Registration: $500 Non-refundable deposit per participant
• August 30, 2024: 50% of full payment due
• September 27, 2024: Full payment due
Each participant is asked to fundraise or make a tax-deductible gift of a minimum of $2400 to support the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.
All riders will use our rental road and hybrid bikes. While we currently don’t have electric bikes available, we could explore adding them if there’s enough interest.
We will ride in one riding group at a pace of ~13-15 mph on a rolling hill terrain; 45-65 miles/day. We will all use rental bikes. We will have Lead & Sweep Riders and SAG support.
Mission Size: The Mission will be limited to 35 participants.
Refund Schedule:
• Cancellation before August 30, 2024: Full refund besides deposit
• Cancellation between August 30, 2024 and September 27, 2024: 50% refund of funds paid
• Cancellation between September 27, 2024 and October 13, 2024: 25% refund of funds paid
Join the Israel Ride! October 28 – November 4, 2025
The Israel Ride is the premier cycling experience in Israel benefiting The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies.
