Physical fitness is very personal and varies greatly from person to person. There is no one standard of who is “fit enough” but here are a few questions that can help you determine for yourself:
Can you walk 16 km (10 miles) in one day? The best way to find this out is to pack a day pack and head to a hiking area near where you live. Choose an easy to intermediate trail of about 10 miles and see how you feel as you walk. You may wish to build up to 10 miles over time, by starting with shorter walks.
Do you have any joint problems that could prevent you from walking for four days in a row? Walking and carrying weight can be hard on joints. If you have arthritis, or have had any surgery on your knee, hip or ankle joints, consult a physician before walking the trail.
Do you have any other ailments that could affect your ability to walk long distances?
For example, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, back pain, and many other ailments could prove painful and dangerous on a distance hiking trail.
When in doubt, schedule a checkup with your physician.
Many people walk the trail alone and have found this to be safe. We have always found local people to be exceptionally helpful and honored to have foreigners respectfully walking through their towns and villages. The Galilee region is quite stable. There is always some risk associated with hiking and camping alone in any part of the world, but the risk in the Galilee region is very minimal.
Wildlife in the Galilee is not particularly dangerous. Especially during warm weather, be on the lookout for the occasional snake or scorpion. It is best to hike during daylight hours and plan your days so you will arrive before nightfall for optimal visibility and safety.
During your hike along the trail, it is not necessary to carry a substantial amount of money. However, it is advisable to keep a modest sum of cash on hand to cover expenses related to food, water, transportation, and unforeseen emergencies.
Water is readily available every few hours for most of the trail. Five liters per person per day should be enough for drinking and cooking. If camping and you want to take ‘bottled shower’ or you want to wet wash your dishes, you would need some extra.
Fall and Spring are the optimal season – October to November and February to mid-May. Spring is preferable as the landscape will be green and lush, flowers will be in bloom, and creeks and rivers will have more water. In the fall the landscape can be quite dry. In both seasons you can expect some rain, so plan to pack a tent or tarp and rain gear. December and January are the rainy months and not the preferable time to walk the trail. June to September are prohibitively hot and humid, posing a serious health risk of dehydration.
Accommodations: There are accommodations available for each day of the trail, and we are working to develop new options for every budget. See the suggested itinerary and accommodations for more detailed information. You can expect to pay about 100 shekels ($25US) for dorm accommodations with breakfast.
Camping: There are several designated pay camping areas along the trail, including Rish Lakish in Moshav Zippori, Yarok Az Ecolodge, Golani Junction (JNF free camp area), Arbel village and many sites along the Sea of Galilee. It is illegal to camp in National Parks and Nature Reserves, and we do not recommend camping in other undesignated areas.
If you do choose to camp, make sure you have adequate gear. You will at least need a lightweight tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Check temperature ratings on your gear and average temperatures for the season you will be camping to make sure you will be warm enough. If you are not camping near a water source, remember to bring extra water for the night. Because of negative environmental impact, we encourage you not to build campfires, but rather to carry a camping stove if you wish to cook along the trail.
Remember that whatever you pack you will be carrying on your back, so lightweight options are best!
Walking the Jesus Trail: Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee is available for purchase on Amazon.com and in select bookstores in Israel. This book is the best source of detailed maps in English, written descriptions, diagrams, historical information, planning, transportation, and basically everything you need to know to hike the Jesus Trail. Order your copy today for your complete planning guide!
The Society for Protection of Nature in Israel produces detailed 1:50,000 topographical maps with all marked trails. At the Fauzi Azar Inn in Nazareth, we sell this map for the region in Hebrew, and have added the English town and site names for non-Hebrew speakers (100 shekels).
Even though the trail is marked, it’s always a good idea to hike with a detailed map and know how to use it for navigation. The maps have water sources marked, but they’re not reliable.
There are no recommendations on restaurants, places to stay or good campsite markers on the map, but you can find them on our website at: Accommodations.
A free PDF brochure including a sketch map is available for download or contact us to mail you a print copy.
Check out the maps on this website, including the full route on one map and the entire trail divided into shorter sections.
