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Jesus Trail Tours now offers a Family Tour Package specifically recommended for families with children under 9 years of age.

Jesus Trail Day 1 – Nazareth to Zippori

We have started today at the outskirts of Nazareth along the first section and hike just over 7km with Eden (1.5 years old) Dor (5 years old) and Liad (7 years old). We reached Zippori National Park in high spirits after an amazing day with perfect weather.

We also enjoy the company of Gefen, Tevel, Matar, Tali and Hana, our friends from Binyamina. Liad took most of the photos you see in the album. Starting March the 17^th, we are going to hike for 7 days from Zippori to Capernaum along the entire trail.

We plan to sleep along the trail at Cana Wedding Guest House, Yarok Az in Illaniya, Kibbutz Lavi, Shavit’s B&B in Arbel and Beit Bracha in Migdal.

Liad, our social media manager, will use Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to keep you all updated as we progress, and I’ll try to write few words every night.

So now, after “testing” our skills we have another week to get everything together, and on the 17th we will start our adventure along the Jesus Trail. Stay tuned for upcoming news.

Yours – Eden, Dor, Liad, Shlomit Toaf Inon & Maoz Inon

Jesus Trail Day 2 Zippori to Cana

The second day is behind us! All went smoothly and even the light rain showers didn’t stop us from enjoying the beauty and the high spirits. We started late, just after 11:00, and we reach Cana before 15:00 to enjoy the great hospitality of Suad & Sami Billan. Thanks to Sliman Bilan, I brought our car from Zippori and the kids made me lemonade from the lemons they picked from the Billan’s tree.

We had amazing dinner, good shower and the boys were ready for the day’s highlight – watching a Star Wars episode. Every night they are going to watch one hour till we reach Capernaum… Tomorrow we have more than 9km to hike, the longest the kids have ever walked in one day — will be interesting!

Jesus Trail Day 3 – Cana to Ilaniya

Everyone is sleeping now in the comfort of the ecodome at Yarok Az, another great place with amazing hospitality along the Jesus Trail.

Today we covered almost 10 km, and what a great day it was! Starting with the amazing breakfast at Cana Wedding Guest House followed with the village walk out of the town of Cana.

I just love walking through Arab villages and to do it with my family and with our hosts, Sami and Suad, was a real treat. Saying our final goodbye to Sami and Suad at the outskirts of Cana, we encountered a shepherd from the village and exchanged greetings.

This day of the trail was just amazing with great views and hiking through fields of flowers rich in yellow, red, purple, pink and of course green The kids were superb! They hike like they were born to do it and appreciate the good weather and the many breaks we had.

Each boy carried his supply of sweets and snacks plus the mandatory bottle of water. Eden had fun riding my back for the day and couldn’t help it from falling to sleep after lunch. The last 2 km were a bit more challenging. Although it was a pleasant walk, Liad was a bit tired but nothing a short break couldn’t cure. Just after 5pm we reached our destination: “Yarok Az,” an organic eco lodge that looks even better every time we come to visit.

The kids felt at home from the minute we arrived, and we enjoyed a great dinner with the Barkai family for which we are most thankful. Hadar is a super woman that it raising three super girls with the assistant of her father, Avi, and of courses her husband, Shahar, who we hope to see tomorrow.

Hiking the trail in one segment is more rewording than I expected, the trail is beautiful this time of the year and we are so fortunate to experience it as a family!

Jesus Trail Day 4 – Ilaniya to Lavi

Another great day is behind us and we are already half the way through the Jesus Trail!

Today we started from Ilaniya in a small group. My parents, Billa & Jacob Inon, just arrived to accompany us for the next two days and the Gutman’s, Galia & Amir. Galia is a travel writer for one of Israel’s leading economic newspapers and has been a good friend for many years. Together we struggled to navigate through the construction at Golani Junctin and found the slightly new route of the Jesus Trail (again thanks to the construction).

But as we got closer to Kibbutz Lavi, the lavish wheat field and the great visibility all the way to the snowy peak of Mt Hermon made the day just perfect. Since the day was short and we took so many breaks, the boys hardly got into the “rhythm” of hiking, but they didn’t complain much either…

We always say taht the Jesus Trail is about the people as much as it is about Jesus, and today was great proof for it. Starting with meeting Dr. Dany Kotani and his 10-year-old son cycling the trail. They started the morning at the the Wedding Guest House in Cana and were heading to Shavit Guest house in Arbel (were we will stay tomorrow). Dr Cotani is the owner a d CEO of a poplar ice cream chain in Israel “Dr. Lek” and was the first of three doctors we met today!

Resting under the tree at the entrance to Lavi cemetery, a nice couple was strolling by. It happens that they are staying at the Fauzi Azar Inn, took the bus to Golani Junction and were doing a day hike along the Jesus trail. They were surprised and happy to learn that I’m “MAOZ” and were extremely happy with their stay at the Fauzi. Dr. Michael Livni & Dr. Brenda Herzberg from Israel completed the list of the doctors we met on the trail today.

Around 5pm we entered the lobby of Kibbutz Lavi Hotel and enjoy meeting our friends Eli, Sarit and Adriana from the reception and, of course, the famous Guido, the hotel marketing manager. We had cappuccino and ice cream as refreshment and while I was going to retreieve our car the others enjoy the indoor swimming pool! Yes, this is part of the Jesus Trail, too!

Tomorrow we are expecting to hike in big numbers with many of the kids’ friends coming to join us. With every passing day I just think what a great adventure the trail is for families! I believe we will see more and more families hiking the trail in the coming years, an adventure they will treasure for life.

Jesus Trail Day 5 – Lavi to Nebi Shu’eib

Today was a like a water park for the kids and, of course, a great day for us, covering the most scenic section of the trail with the Horns of Hittin view point, maybe the best view in Israel.

For the kids it started with the great pancakes at Lavi’s breakfast, which they announced are “even better than their mother makes”! For those of you know Shlomit, you know that it’s not easy to top her baking. Just after breakfast, three families from our hometown came to join us, including the boys’ best friends from school. What great company for us all!

Hearing stories of the volcano at the peak of the Horns of Hittim and about the victory of Saladin over the Crusaders brought them fresh memory of Star War movies which they enjoy every night during the trail. We saw the Sea of Galilee for the first time don the trail and with Mount Hermon away on the horizon and the cliffs of Arbel escorting us during the day we couldn’t stop admiring the views of the Galilee.

Way at the back we saw the high buildings of Mount Yona at Nazareth Ilit, four days behind us and we could appreciate the distance we’ve covered so far. It’s serious trekking we are doing.

Reaching Nebi Shu’eib, the kids refreshed themselves in the spring water and with icecream and played a “battle” game of their own. Visiting the temple of Jethro, the greatest Druze prophet which is hidden between the hills, was another reason for excitement.

Just exiting the temple hundreds of migrating pelicans swirled above us on their long journey from Africa to Europe. Then we admired the ruins of Hittin village and climbed the ancient mosque’s tower.

The story was just getting better as we checked in at the oasis of Sara and Israel Shavit’s at Arbel Guest House. All the kids jumped into the jacuzzi while more brave Jesus Trail hikers dived into the swimming pool!

Many words can be written on Israel Shavit’s culinary feats, but I’d only say that this was the real highlight of the day for children and adults alike.

Jesus Trail Day 6 – Nebi Shu’eib to Arbel

Good night and shabbat shalom to all, I missed the update last night and so this post is for the 6&7 days.

Tomorrow is our last hiking day, 10km more to go! The bottom line was already written by Liad and Dor. Liad state that the “Jesus Trail is the best trail in the world” and Dor wants to hike the trail again next spring – so what else can I say?

Now to summaries the last two days: Day 6 started with the superb breakfast of Israel. His “shakshuka” is a masterpiece and a real delight. From this highlight, we knew that nothing could go wrong.

We had a pleasant walk down Nemerin & Arbel streams, enjoying the scenery and the last day of the spring. With every passing day the green hills are becoming drier and with a more yellowish hue. We cooled our feet in a nature spring and got our shoes in the mud which wasn’t as fun. In early afternoon we hiked back to Arbel and visited the ancient synagogue of Arbel.

For an unbeliever as I am, I find it the most spiritual place in Israel . The clear ground with the synagogue pillar and the most inspiring views just takes me to the right zone where people were worshiping their god two millennium ago and maybe even before that. It is probably also one of the places Jesus visited while roaming the Galilee, preaching and teaching his followers and the people of the Galilee. We were also blessed with great company of friends from our home town what made this day just perfect.

Jesus Trail Day 7 -  Arbel to Migdal

This morning we had another heavenly “shakshuka” breakfast, kissed our host Israel and Sara Shavit goodbye and headed to Arbel cliff. With some friends joining us on the trail, some that went back home and the Ofel’s just arriving for the last two days.

The views from the cliff top are always astonishing and getting down is great fun for kids and adults alike. Coming down we met a group of day hikers hiking the Israel National Trail with the lead of Dani Gasper, a good friend that was the head of the Israel Trail Committee when the Jesus Trail was just getting started. I gave the group an “on the spot” pitch of the Jesus Trail and it’s vision, with the cliffs and the Sea of Galilee as the classroom. It was fun!

Reaching the slopes of the cliff, a dust storm just hit us but even that didn’t stop us from hiking to our final destination of the day, Migdal.

We enjoyed the great yard and the Shabbat dinner of Beit Bracha and are just about ready to follow are kids into the “trail of dream” and go to bed.

Bless us all: believers and unbelievers

Jesus Trail Days 8 & 9 – Migdal to Capernaum

It’s done! We thru-hiked the Jesus Trail with our three children, Liad and Dor who hiked the entire trail in nine days, and Eden who rode on my back. It was by far the best family vacation we ever had and the easiest to arrange and organize. Hiking vacations with children is going to be the next trend — definitely for our family!

The 8th day was easy hiking through the banana, avocado and mango plantations of the nearby kibbutz. We admired the views of the Sea of Galilee and the Cliffs of Arbel, 400 meters above us, which we descended the day before. We could also see very clearly the Horns of Hittim from the fifth day. It was hard for the boys to realize the great achievement, it came so natural for them.

We enjoyed the great company of the Ofel-Arkin family. There eldest son is a good friend of Dor and are in the same kindergarten since they were just baby – how grownup they have become! On the way we met Chiky, the ” Official Jesus Trail Taxi Driver,” also known as Josef or Joe West. Chiki is a great friend and colleague and has been supervising the progress of the Jesus Trail from the early start.
It was great fun to meet him on the trail.

Reaching Tabgha which sadly was closed, we decided to leave the last two km for the next day and checked in in our long-desired destination, Pilgerhaus Tabgha. It’s a German establishment in a great location, just on the shore of the sea. We enjoyed the apple strudel, the chocolate mousse and the apple pie—just another great dinner on the Jesus Trail…

On the last day, we set our waking time as: 06:30 for Eden and 06:35 for Liad, and we’re ready for our final effort to reach Capernaum. After the superb breakfast (I think the food on the trail is an unbeatable success), we warmed our legs and were ready to hit the trail for the final stretch.

A short visit to the Primacy of St. Peter, another beautiful spot on the trail, we hiked the last hour all the way to the gate of Capernaum, the end of the trail. We celebrated with ice cream and were very happy to meet 70(!) Israeli hikers in their youth, from the Society of Protection of Nature courses, that hiked the Jesus Trail in four days and camped along it. They too had a great experience and it seemed that they were way more exhausted than us…

That’s it. Nine days of hiking with the family came to a happy end and so is this blog. It brought me back to my happy days on the Israel Trail and my backpacking years and reminded me that I started my tourism phase in life as a blogger. It’s much easier now and just as fun. Thanks to you all for experiencing the Jesus Trail with my family, the Inons.

Jesus Trail Tours now offers a Family Tour Package specifically recommended for families with children under 9 years of age.

 [Click for larger map, printer friendly links at end of post]

Helpful Jesus Trail Updates:

1. Leaving Nazareth Old City can be challenging because of the winding streets. Follow the yellow dots and watch carefully for a sharp right turn that will take you up a long staircase. Once you get to the top of Nazareth (past all the stairs and Salesian church), you will come to a traffic circle. Turn right to walk along the ridge-top promenade for about 10 minutes until you reach a second traffic circle, and here make sure that you take the second left, not the first one (p. 69).
2. Leaving Nazareth: After the roundabout, follow the road downhill to the end of the street. Where the street turns into a dirt path there is a fence. There is a walking entrance on the left side of the fence. Make sure to take the detour from the right side of the construction, and go towards the gas station you can see on the far side of the road. After spotting the gas station, go to the traffic light marked on the map (p. 69).
3. After Zippori the trail continues with other trails and is marked as an orange dot next to the other trail markings. Follow the trail uphill to Mash’had (p. 75).
4. In Mash’had at the central mosque, the Jesus Trail splits at a trail junction with the Israel National Trail (marked orange/blue/white) and turns left downhill into town. Soon afterwards it turns right, so it’s helpful to stay on the right hand side of the road and look carefully for the marker (p 75).
5. After climbing out from Cana, you start walking on a dirt road. Make sure you take a right at the first dirt road split. The marking is there but it is hard to spot.
6. When you reach the Golani junction, there is a lot of construction going on: After passing the T sign to Yarok Az (Cana in the west, Ilania to the south and Arbel to the east) you will meet road 65. Do not pass it. Take a left and walk beneath the electric lines. You will soon find the trail markings again while walking with the eucalyptus trees and the road to your right. Look for the underpass (tunnel below the road) you will see it when you meet a gravel road that takes left and then right into the underpass (the underpass is big enough to accommodate trucks. After crossing the first underpass, the trail has been rerouted through Lavi forest (see updated map). If you are staying at the Kibbutz Hotel, after crossing the second underpass below 77 road follow the main road into the kibbutz (p. 81).
7. After descending from the Horns of Hattin, the trail emerges onto a paved road (second, lower road). The official trail markings will tell you to head right. If you wish to enter Nebi She’ub take a left on the second road. It is a good place to fill water (natural spring & fountain) and buy snacks.

Suggested shortcut after Nebi She’ub : A few meters before the entrance to Nebi Sheub the trail will cut downhill to the right. Follow it down past the ruined village and the mosque. Continue on the dirt 4×4 road to meet back up with the marked Jesus Trail. Make sure to turn left to continue to Arbel on the marked trail (p. 91).

*Page numbers refer to pages in the guidebook, Hiking the Jesus Trail.

Printer-friendy PDF versions of the map and text (one A4 page each).

The map below was made when the construction began and still is relevant today, but you may need to take a slightly wider detour to pass the affected area.
Updated November 27, 2012

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/travel/hiking-through-biblical-backcountry.html?pagewanted=allPhoto by Rina Castelnuovo for The New York Times

The Jesus Trail Free Map is a colorful brochure with an overview of the Jesus Trail, including a sketch map, descriptions of the points of interest, elevation chart, list of accommodations, transportation information and more. The map was generously sponsored by local businesses, including accommodations, taxi drivers and local attractions.

Get your copy today! You can download the PDF now, or please send your mailing address to freemap@jesustrail.com to receive a hard copy in the mail for free. This map is shipped from Nazareth, Israel and may take 2-3 weeks for delivery.

The paper copy of the map is available at many locations in Nazareth and Jerusalem, including the Fauzi Azar Inn, Jerusalem Tourist Information at Jaffa Gate, and the Abraham Hostel. If you would like Jesus Trail maps at your location, just let us know.

[Download Jesus Trail Free Map]

*The Jesus TrailFree Map is intended as an informational overview for planning and not for navigational purposes. We recommend that hikers obtain the Jesus Trail guidebook, which has high resolution topographical section maps.

Hiking Day 1: Nazareth to Cana (13.4 km):
●      Taxi from Nazareth to Zippori NP – ask Fauzi Azar staff for help (saves 7.8 km)
●      Bus #28A or 343 to Tsipori Branching stop, walk paved road into park entrance (saves 4.5 km)

Hiking Day 2: Cana to Lavi (14.4km):
●      Bus #28, 29, 30 and 431 from Cana to Tur’an entrance on highway 77, hike south up red trail to join Jesus Trail route (saves 4 km)
●      Bus #28, 29, 30, 31 and 431 from Cana to Golani Junction (saves 10km)

Hiking Day 3: Lavi to Moshav Arbel (13.7 km)
●      Taxi to from Lavi to Nebi Shu’eib (saves 6.1 km)
●      Walk the paved road from Nebi Shu’eib to Moshav Arbel (saves 4km)
●      Taxi from Nebi Shu’eib to Moshav Arbel (saves 9.6 km)

Hiking Day 4: Moshav Arbel to Capernaum
●      Walk back down from Moshav Arbel to Nakhal Arbel (blue trail) to reach Wadi Hamam (green trail) instead of going up and over the cliffs (saves 1km & easier walk)
●      Bus #841, 963, or 63 from Migdal entrance to Kfar Nakhum Junction (saves 6.9 km)

Calling a taxi:
●      Days 1-2: Nazareth to Golani Junction, call Maazen @ 04-6574076
●      Days 3-4: Golani Junction to Capernaum, call Chiki @ 050-7535661

*Note: Costs for these transfers are not included in the Jesus Trail Tours package.

by Dennis Lewon, photos by Jason Florio

Every hike is a pilgrimage, but this new path from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee is holier than most. Literally following in His footsteps, the 40-mile route immerses hikers in biblical history. …

[Read the full article here]

I’m now sitting at home after the successful visit of Mr. Tony Blair to the Fauzi Azar Inn and Jesus Trail. Thinking about today’s excitement, stress and relief, I can describe this long anticipated visit as a tornado storm that hit the Fauzi whose long-term results are yet to be seen.

We were preparing for this visit for the last week, making the inn as beautiful as it can be and writing a program where everyone will know what to expect. I was getting ready and preparing the message I wanted to deliver. As the date came closer, I got more and more anxious and must confess that I didn’t get much sleep the night before.

Working six years transforming the Fauzi Azar Inn from a small seed and PowerPoint presentation to what it has become has been challenging with its ups and downs. Having Tony Blair, the former Prime Minster on the UK, visiting my creation, the inn, offered a rewarding reassurance to the time, energy and resources I have invested in the process.

The visit itself was like a storm. It started after a thirty-minute delay with Suraida and I waiting at the street entrance to the Fauzi. We received signs from the security person standing 10 meters ahead of us as Mr. Blair and his entourage were getting closer and closer.

Finally we saw crowds of photographers leading the way and Mr. Blair himself in flesh and blood smiling and coming to approach us.

We became part of the eye of the storm, loosing track of place and time while surrounded by dozens of photographers, Blair’s staff and personnel, people from the Nazareth municipality including the Mayor and his deputies, police staff, high-level security, Fauzi Azar Inn guests, volunteers and staff and special friends we invited for the event.

From the second we shook hands with Mr. Blair we were on the mission of staying in the storm’s eye while many others trying to get the same spot for themselves. Mr. Blair was acting naturally keeping both Suraida and myself next to him and at the same time interacting with the crowd – waving, smiling, shaking hands and exchanging a few words with some of them. The eye of the storm was moving up the stairs where Mr. Blair cut left to shake people’s hands, and I was trying to follow the rhythm by introducing him to our volunteers and guests.

The storm’s eye entered the Fauzi hall where we placed a board with Jesus Trail map (very wise idea!) and the Jesus Trail Guide book.

Suraida was pitching the Fauzi Azar story brilliantly with the storm swirling around and above.

Then it was my turn.

I had so much to say but was told by the great Stefan Szepesi (Thanks you Stefan!) that there is only one minute left, I heard voices from all over advising me what to say: “To encourage people to visit Nazareth”; “Ask for money”; “Support the Jesus Trail” and more that I can’t recall.

I remember saying that: “I was born in Israel and that after backpacking around the world for a year I learned that tourism can be a great force that bridges between people from different cultures, religions and nationalities and in the same time contributes significantly to local communities. Also, I have witnessed how it can support local businesses, change an area’s image and empower and raise the self-esteem of the local people.”

“Here at the Fauzi Azar Inn and the Jesus trail we are using existing infrastructure and local resources to encourage interaction between people and to create a shared interest between the different communities of the Galilee – Jewish, Christian & Muslims.”

I gave Mr. Blair the Jesus Trail guidebook and kept fighting to stay in the storm’s eye. I showed him on the Jesus Trail map how Jesus Trail, the first trail in Israel that targets international tourism is creating a share interest between the diverse community in the Galilee.

Then someone shoved me the Fauzi Azar guestbook and I asked Mr. Blair if he would be willing to sign it. While knowing that we had used all the time that we had and that the storm must go elsewhere, I called all Fauzi Azar staff and volunteers for a photo up. We got great photos!

And then in two seconds the storm was over. It was very powerful and energetic.

Afterwards, Fauzi Azar Inn staff celebrated Norhan’s 20th birthday, and we began in making the inn ready for today’s arrivals. My wife went home to take the kids and I returned later on by public transportation.

And yes, I also shared my vision for tourism with Mr. Blair –

In my vision, I’m booking our guests in Nazareth at their next accommodation in guesthouses in not only in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Amman but also in Beirut and Damascus.

Hallelujah!