The 65-kilometer, multi-day pilgrimage hiking route in the Galilee region of Israel - known officially as the Jesus Trail
The 65-kilometer, multi-day pilgrimage hiking route in the Galilee region of Israel - known officially as the Jesus Trail - has become so iconic that even the likes of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler have trodden its unique path.
The brainchild of American hiking specialist David Landis and Israeli tourism entrepreneur Maoz Inon, the first of its kind trail connects major historical and significant sites from the life of Jesus, while providing an economic stimulus to local communities in the Galilee through responsible, grassroots ecotourism.
The hiking trail has been marked and open to the public since 2008, weaving through the major sites of Nazareth, Zippori National Park, Cana, Kibbutz Lavi, the Horns of Hattin, Arbel Cliffs, Tabgha, Mount of Beatitudes, the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum. Whether you are a pilgrim or an avid hiker, guided or unguided, this trail provides an adventurous and educational journey through the stunning and rugged landscape of northern Israel, without a bias theological or political perspective.
The Jesus Trail is as much about the local people today as it is about looking at the life and times of Jesus, encouraging interaction and the building of relationships between nationalities, cultures and religions in the Middle East.
Steady growth of tourist numbers has propelled the growth and preservation of local communities, both already established and unknown. The trail connects Jewish, Christian and Muslim neighbourhoods, providing a bridge to friendships between diverse people; aids the sustainability of small businesses, with locally run guesthouses located at convenient intervals along the path; and encourages environmental care through a ‘leave-no-trace’ approach.