Sea of Galilee

Sea of Galilee image gallery

Introducing Sea of Galilee

‘The blue eye of this corner of our country…Lake Kinneret is no ordinary landscape or even a corner of nature. It is the site of a people’s destiny. Here, our past winks its thousand eyes and rocks us in its thousand lips.’

(Rahel, On the Shores of Lake Kinneret)

If you really want to explore the natural beauty and incredible history of this region, leave the lights of Tiberias behind and take to the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret in Hebrew). Around 21km long and 55km in circumference, the Kinneret is fed by the Jordan River and is the main source of Israel’s water supply. For Christian visitors, it is better known for its biblical significance – some of the most important stories in Christianity took place in the hills of the northern coast. As the heart of kibbutz country the shore is dotted with great places to relax – beaches, camping grounds, walking tracks and water sports. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) is currently developing a hiking trail along the Kinneret’s shores but so far only a small portion is open to the public. Aside from walking on water, the best way around is by hired bike (the best place to hire bikes is in Tiberias – such as at the Aviv Hostel).

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009