Jezreel Valley, Druze Villages and German Templers

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מועצה אזורית עמק יזרעאל, מחוז הצפון, IL

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Route Overview

Northern Israel and More

Beautiful Road Cycling Routes

55 mi.

4,923 ft.

A gorgeous ride that combines views of the Jezreel Valley, riding through the Mount Carmel park, enjoying food in the Druze Villages of Daliat El Carmel and Isfiya, and ending with a tour of two German Templer settlements. Some climbing, including a couple of challenging steep (but short) climbs.

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Route Details

This route combines some classic roads in the Haifa suburbs, with mild climbs in Mount
Carmel.  We start in the Alonim strip mall, where you have plenty of parking space and a few convenience stores and coffee places to prepare for the ride, and for recovering after.  The routes are for the most part side/beautiful roads, but there are some sections where you may hit traffic.  This route can be done all year around, except on very hot days.

Start by leaving the Alonim Center on route 7593 (left in the roundabout) and then an immediate right on route 75.  This is a short ride on a very busy, multi-lane road, so be careful.  On early Saturday mornings, traffic is not bad.  After a few meters, take a left onto route 722 (consider using the pedestrian crossing on busy traffic hours).   Enjoy 5 kms of a flat road to warm up. At the end, you will do a small loop on your right to get onto route 66.

Here again you are onto a fairly busy road for about 7 kms bordering the Yoqneam village (moshava), Kibbutz Hazorea and Ramat Menashe Park. Just before Kibbutz Mishmar Haemek,  turn right onto road 6953.  Now you are onto a nice climb towards Kibbutz Ein Hashofet of about 5kms, with a fairly steady gradeof 3-4%.  On the way you will pass near the [Hagana Museum in Joara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo'ara), in stone scolding the Ottoman period and  based in the heart of Gadna scold Menashe Hills. The purpose of the museum is to commemorate the training base of the Haganah" scold between 1938 - 1948.

At the main roundabout, take a right onto route 6954 towards Ramat Hashofet, and then another right onto road 672 towards Elyakim.  You will pass the town of Yoqneam Illit on your right, continuing straight.  Once you cross over road 70, you will be on a @photo[second climb](6584456) towards the Druze village of Daliat El Carmel across the Mount Carmel park.  You will @photo[pass](6584445) many @poi[improvised food posts](13526421) where you may enjoy a Druze Pita with Labaneh cheese, olive oil and Zaatar herbs...  Don't miss it.

Once you get to Daliat El Carmel, you will be greeted by a @photo[large roundabout ](6581339).  Continue straight on this and the next roundabout  On your right you will find one of the greatest sweet pastries shop @poi[Shafiq](13526423).  Then take a right towards the Carmelite @photo[Muhraqa](6584475) Monastery.  You will be bordering at first the@photo[ busy market](6581342) and then entering into the @photo[magic of the forest](6584481). As you reach the end there is a short steep climb that takes you to the @photo[monastery](6584473).  Enjoy the @photo[views](6581601) to the Jezreel Valley from the monastery, a recommended visit.

Go back on your tracks towards the village, and take a right on the main roundabout back on route 672.  Take another right to avoid entering in the center of the village or continue straight towards the center if it is not too busy.

Continue on route 672 towards the village of Isfiya, where you will be "greeted" by a couple of steep climbs.  The @poi[second climb](13526422) has a sharp left turn, and it is usually quite busy, so ride carefully.  Along the way, you will pass many local restaurants.

Exit Isfiya and stay on the road until you reach a main roundabout. Going left would take you to the Bet Oren downhill (a beautiful ride, but that will be in a separate story).  Take a right in the roundabout and continue towards the antenna. As you pass the antenna, there will be a steep descent...  Take it slowly as you will need to turn right before the end of the descent.

Now you are into a 6km @photo[downhill](6581338) towards the town of Nesher.  This is another beautiful road, and is renowned as one of the "tough" climbs in Israel...  but this time you are doing it downhill.

When you reach the end, take a right onto route 752.  Continue on the road for about 4.5kms towards Kibbutz Yagur. Passed the kibbutz and the main junction with route 75, you will take a right towards Kfar Hasidim and Nofit.

Again, a nice 3km climb and when you get to Nofit you can enjoy the @photo[views](6581944) and go back on your tracks towards the main roundabout.  Take a left towards the arab village of Basmat Ta'abun, continuing straight in the roundabouts, until you reach the junior high  school , taking there a left in the roundabout.  You are now into a beautiful downhill towards road 7513.  When you get to the stop sign, you can take a left to visit the German Templer villages on @photo[Bet Lehem HaGelilit](6581341) and @photo[Alonei Abba](6581340).  I suggest you visit the villages and learn about the German Templers: In the mid-19th century, a number of Protestant families in southwest Germany decided to establish a religious group that was distinct from Lutheran Protestantism. They established several settlements in what was then Palestine.  Now get back on road 7513 until you reach back the Alonim center where you started.

There are many places where you can celebrate after you complete your ride.  One of my favorites is a Yemenite style restaurant in Bet Lehem HaGelilit called [Pundak Hajachnun.](https://www.google.com/maps/place/%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%93%D7%A7+%D7%94%D7%92'%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%9F%2F+%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%9C+%D7%94%D7%99%D7%A2%D7%A8%E2%80%AD/@32.734608,35.18549,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x8c648f70e5316460!8m2!3d32.735945!4d35.1890014?hl=en-US)  .  Enjoy the typical dishes of @photo[melawach](6581942) and @photo[jachnun](6581941)!

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Jezreel Valley, Druze Villages and German Templers

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