New Holy Land Tour Lets You Walk in Jesus's Footsteps

If you're looking for a comfortable tour inside an air-conditioned bus, you won't find it here.

Two young hikers have come up with a new kind of tour of the Holy Land. They have designed a route for hikers to walk from village to village in the footsteps of Jesus, according to The Arlington (VA) Catholic Herald.

This venture is the brainchild of hikers Maoz Inon, 32, and David Landis, 25. Inon is a Jewish Israeli. Landis is an American Mennonite tourist. They met over the Internet after Landis read Inon's travel blog. They mapped out their tour over the preceding five months.

The pair had considered the possibility of mapping out a hiking trail along a route of Christian holy sites in Galilee for several years. They actually mapped out the trail by using Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and Google Earth, where they found searchable satellite imagery as well as maps.

The web site for Jesus Trail is loaded with information for prospective backpackers interested in retracing the steps of Jesus. It offers downloadable maps and photos to plan a trip, along with information on accommodations, what to bring, and where to restock supplies.

The route is promoted as an accessible way for pilgrims and other travelers to follow an ancient route in a modern locale. Individuals can go it on their own or take advantage of tour operators listed on the site to join a group. The actual route is 65 km in length.

Hikers will be able to visit Nazareth, Zippori, Cana, the Horns of Hattin, and the Arbel Cliffs. The trail includes stops at Tabgha, St. Peter's Primacy, Capernaum, and the Mount of Beatitudes. Other sites include Tiberias, the Jordan River, Mount Tabor, Mount Precipice, and Our Lady of the Fright.

According to the Herald, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism has been considering a similar type of tour for nearly eight years. Its project will be completed in around 2 years at a cost between $2 million and $3 million.

The two adventurers say they expect no financial reward for their efforts. Inon indicates they want their trail to attract additional tourism to the area and encourage people to spend more time in Northern Israel.

Landis remarked that Jesus didn't build churches. He encountered people by walking from village to village just as backpackers do on the trail. Both men consider hiking between shrines and other religious sites the most personal way to relate to Jesus and his ministry in Galilee.

Hikers can expect to pass donkeys in fields of flowers near the Mount of Beatitudes at the Sea of Gailiee. This is the final destination in the trail. The stop at Tabgha commemorates the location where Christ multiplied the loaves and fishes.

When is the best time to hike the trail? The web site suggests visiting from October to November or from February to the middle of May. In spring, the landscape is a bit more lush, with flowers in bloom and more natural water than in the Fall, which can be hot and dry.