BIBLE NEWS: Cycling the Holy Land

For much of the last century, Israel has been a dangerous place. But recent security gains have revitalized the Holy Land as a destination for tourism and education. Now, Israel has established a series of cycling trails for people who want to tour the land of Jesus on two wheels.

n a loose way, the trail follows the route Jesus might have walked from Nazareth, where he grew up, to Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where he established his ministry. Along the way, you can visit a kibbutz – its perimeter marked by barbed wire and its gate manned by a machine-gun toting guard – and even stay in a hotel there. At only 60km in length, the trail can be cycled in a day or two, so the avid biker will quickly be looking for other perspiration-inducing options. Of these, there are many, ranging from off-road mountain-bike trails in the Ella Valley near Jerusalem to road circuits in various parts of the country.