Hiking in the Galilee
Israel is one of the world’s well-kept hiking secrets – Israelis spend plenty of time trekking on the many marked trails throughout the back country, but most tourists come and go without seeing any of the wild landscapes hidden away from the popular attractions. Despite the country’s tiny size, the diversity of its landscapes rivals that of California. The Galilee is a microcosm of the country, with hundreds of miles of marked hiking trails, and numerous, startingly different biomes, all packed together within an hour’s drive of each other.
The Galilee Hiking Club organizes free group hikes twice a week, meeting at the Fauzi Azar Inn, and led by a Jesus Trail volunteer who knows the route, and the history and background of the places we’ll pass. Check www.jesustrail.com for scheduled hikes, including information on length and difficulty – everyone’s welcome on the hikes, so we hope to see you for the next one!
In the Galilee, you can hike in the rolling hills of the coastal plain, climb the looming, forested mountains of Carmel, Tabor, Gilboa, and Meron, trek through the gazelle-filled savannas down to Beit She’an, or follow a lush stream valley from the Golan Heights down to the Sea of Galilee. And you can do it all in day trips from Nazareth, with its ideal location in the center of the region, halfway between Haifa on the Mediterranean and Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. Camping in Israel is also a great and easy option, and in the north, food and water are never far away, so backpacking doesn’t involve carrying a week’s worth of supplies.
Anyone can go hiking in the Galilee, and at the Fauzi Azar Inn we’re glad to suggest routes, provide maps, and give tips and advice for less experienced hikers. There are plenty of marked hiking trails to explore, and the Jesus Trail is a scenic route leading from Nazareth to Capernaum, through scenic landscapes and many sites of religious and historical importance. The Jesus Trail Guidebook is an excellent guide to hundreds of miles of hikes, containing all the information needed to navigate the trails and find supplies and accomodations.
For someone who wants to truly experience the Galilee away from the beaten path of the tourist circuit, there’s no better way than trekking through the back country, stumbling upon oases and wild gazelles, mountaintop views over three countries, and ancient cities lying in ruin. And while hiking you’re sure to meet locals of all religions, ethnicities and walks of life, and have genuine, eye-opening encounters with the many peoples of the land. The Galilee is waiting, and we are always glad to help you get started.