Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee; the milestones on a recently opened 40-mile walk through the Holy Land come straight from the pages of the New Testament. There’s no way this could be anything but an amazing experience, and here’s a first-hand report from The Columbus Dispatch.
Photo by smontagu
Anyway, I’ve done a bit of internet archaeology and uncovered as many facts as possible on The Jesus Trail. Read on ...
Length: 65 kilometres; three to five days for an average walker. Add another three to five days if you’re doing the return loop (see below).
Terrain and route: the terrain is a mix of hilly, rugged and gentle, with some soul-stirring, stunning views. Most of the walk is on dirt tracks, although there are sealed and paved sections. A portion near Nazareth is on an ancient Roman road.If you start in Nazareth, you’ll be walking downhill most of the way to Capernaum, where you can either finish the walk or take a different route back to Nazareth via Tiberias (a town founded by King Herod), the Jordan River and Mount Tabor (site of the Transfiguration) to complete a loop. Here’s an interactive map of the trail.
Main sights (Nazareth to Capernaum): Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth Old City Market, Mensa Christi Church, Greco-Roman city of Zippori, Cana, olive groves, Horns of Hattin (Hittim) National Park, Druze monastery, Arbel Valley, ancient synagogue, Arbel Cliffs and fortress, Tabgha, St Peter's Primacy, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum. On the return loop: Tiberias, Jordan River, Mt Tabor, Mt Precipice and many more.
Photo by hoyasmeg
Why walk? If you’re able-bodied, can you seriously imagine taking another option? They do exist (buses, taxis etc), but let’s face it: walking will be way more rewarding.
Where can you stay? The choice is yours, and the official website gives some suggestions, including the irresistibly-named HooHaa Cyclists' House at Mount Tabor. If you happen to go there, please tell the rest of us what it’s like. You can also camp, find accommodation at a kibbutz or with local Arab communities.
Photo by hoyasmeg
Is it all about Jesus? Obviously it is, if you’re a Christian. But atheists, agnostics, apologists, Jews and Muslims – anyone, from any faith (or lack thereof) – will get a huge buzz from doing this walk. As well as Christian sites, there are places sacred to Judaism (e.g. Tiberias, one of the Four Holy Cities) and Islam. Plus: amazing views, archaeological sites, mountains, countryside and unparalleled panoramas of the Holy Land.
When should you go? Spring (February to mid-May) is best, for the wildflowers and milder temperatures. Autumn is good as well, but the landscape will be looking a lot less lush. Summer is too hot and winter is too wet.
Is there anything you need to be aware of? Yes! Some of this is wilderness country and pretty remote. You'll need to bear the following in mind when you're making plans.
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Thirst. Water is available at reasonable intervals along the way, but it’s wise to carry some, especially in the section from Galilee to Mt Tabor (on the return loop). That's Mt Tabor in the photo on the right.
Photo by heatkernel
Clothing. Walkers are asked to dress reasonably modestly and remember that shorts are unacceptable at some of the holy sites.
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Footwear: sandals will be hopeless, no matter how biblical they may seem. Wear something sturdy and make sure, well in advance, that your feet will be comfortable.
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The Sabbath: Buses stop running early on Friday afternoon in Israel, and don’t resume their service until an hour after darkness falls on Saturday.
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Finding your way: The route isn't marked yet, but the organisers have made it possible to use global positioning, or download the very detailed itinerary from the website's
databook. You can also hire a tour guide, if you wish.
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Food. Yes, you should carry some, but you won’t need to burden yourself with more than two days’ worth at any time. There are places to buy provisions en route.
Nazareth: how, where and what’s it like?
With just 60,000 inhabitants, Nazareth isn’t big but it’s the largest Arab city in Israel, where Arab Christians and Muslims manage to get along pretty well. It’s in the northern part of the country, inland from Haifa (a one-hour bus trip), about two hours by bus (102km) from Tel Aviv; a bit longer from Jerusalem (131km). There are regular bus services.
The trail ends – then what? If you’re doing the one-way walk, you’ll end up at Capernaum, which is in the north-western part of Galilee. There is some accommodation in this area, but it’s advisable to book in advance. If you want to head for a town, Tiberias (pictured right) is around 15kms; public transport is available, and there's a full range of visitor facilities - plus an impressive number of sights. If you’re walking the loop, it's wise to book your Nazareth accommodation in advance too.
Day walks
Sections of the trail can be taken as a day walk – great if your time in Israel is limited.
Photo by Emmanuel Dyan