Sailing the Sea of Galilee – the suite life of travel

Known as the place where Jesus called His first disciples, where He calmed the storm and walked on water, I could not wait to watch the sun come up over the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. It was a gorgeous morning and not a cloud in the sky. I paced the boardwalk waiting for the sun to rise and the colors of the early morning light shone pinks and oranges. First century boats were anchored near the shoreline enhancing the sense of life during Jesus’ time. I thought of all of the miracles and the possibilities that anything could happen. For a moment, I was waiting for my own miracle. Maybe I wanted to hear God’s voice or experience a supernatural encounter, but soon realized that watching the extraordinary sunrise was all I needed.

The Sea of Galilee, known in Hebrew as Yam Kinneret, is Israel’s largest body of freshwater and is a lake, not a sea. Kinneret comes from the word “kinnor” which means lyre and the shape of the lake resembles that of King David’s handheld harp. Several biblical references to the Sea of Galilee are mentioned in both the Old and New Testament, but may be referenced also as the Lake of Genneserat. From the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus invited fishermen to follow Him throughout the years of His ministry (Matthew 5:18 – 22). He also performed several miracles on or around the Sea of Galilee including the feeding of the 5,000, calming the storm and walking on water.

It was early morning and our group congregated at the Yigal Alon Harbor in the coastal town of Tiberias. In the distance we could see a large red boat constructed of cedar planks and an overhead cover. These replicas of the ancient Sea of Galilee boats or “Jesus Boats” are designed with a flat bottom, are shallow in height and held together by a system of mortise and tenon joints and nails.

Under cover, some of us took a seat on church pews while others found a spot to relax along benches lining the vessel. At the bow, guests can enjoy the open air breezes, sunshine and unobstructed views of the coast. Drifting out at 700 feet below sea level, we are now enjoying a relaxed cruise along the lowest freshwater lake on the planet. As the speed of the boat increased, we could feel the wind through our hair and spray from the lake on our faces. Sea gulls flew alongside the boat as we stared out along the coastline.

A few minutes into the ride, our tour director, Craig read several scriptures from the Bible. We were offered a short time for meditation and enjoyed the scenic views of our surroundings. We enjoyed watching the gulls glide through the gentle wind racing us towards Ginosar. Soon thereafter, the captain introduced himself and his crew, then pointed out the coastal towns of Tabgha, Mount of Beatitudes and Capernaum. We learned that the Sea of Galilee is close to 13 miles long, seven and a half miles wide and 140 feet deep and is fed by the Jordan River. Because this beautiful body of water is surrounded by wadis (valleys) and mountains, it is the perfect condition for sudden storms.

Our captain shut off the engines once we reached a location towards the center of the lake. Most of us were mesmerized by the sound of the waves lapping up alongside of the boat. The gulls continued to fly overhead and we stared out over the lake thinking back to the stories of the Sea of Galilee and the miracles of Jesus. I imagined a raging storm and watching Him calm the squall (Matthew 8:23 -26). I wondered what it would have been like to watch a crowd of 5,000 eat until they were full from five loaves of bread and two fish, but I couldn’t help but ponder if I would have been able to take a step outside of the boat to encounter Jesus walking on the waters of Galilee (John 6:19 – 21). The solitude was refreshing yet exhilarating at the same time. Realizing that I was in the same place as Jesus over 2000 years later, I felt comforted, safe and connected. The experience was more than I could have ever imagined.

After our Bible reading and meditation, the captain offered a small sample of souvenirs available for purchase at reasonable prices. From maps to jewelry to painted stones, we could buy a small token as a reminder of our visit and support the local residents who make a small commission from our purchases. With Ginosar in sight, the ship’s DJ played familiar worship music for the remainder of our tour.

Our sailing had come to an end and we began our exit from the boat towards the Kibbutz of Ginosar. Here we found a small museum where we could explore the recently discovered “Jesus Boat” and purchase some snacks and souvenirs. While the tour was only about an hour, I felt connected to God during each of those moments. I looked back out towards the Sea of Galilee and marveled at its significance. Soaking up my last glance of this spectacular place, I was humbled by this recent experience and felt a renewed sense of hope that can only be found in Jesus.

Have you sailed the Sea of Galilee or know someone who has? I would love to hear about your experience and welcome any additional tips on how to make the most sailing this amazing lake! Kindly leave a message in the comments below and if you have any additional questions, I would be happy to help. Many thanks for reading about my lovely sailing excursion from Tiberias and I wish you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Jesus Boats along the Sea of Galilee: There are several sailing companies that offer boat rides on the Sea of Galilee. Guests can book Worship services, historical tours and cultural tours. Join in the Israeli festivities and dancing or throw a net over the boat for an ancient fishing experience on the Sea of Galilee.

Ginosar Museum
The coast of Ginosar

Hours: Open Sunday through Thursday from 8AM to 5PM; reservations for large groups recommended: yigal.allon.center@gmail.com +972-4-6727700
Admission Fee: Depending on the tour, the tours range from $15 to $25 per person.
Amenities: food court, restrooms, museum, historical location,
Scenic View: The coastal towns of the Sea of Galilee from the Jesus Boats
Length of Tour: Up to an hour, depending on the tour
Travel Tips: organize the amount of time beforehand as there have been public concerns that the boat captains may cut back on the amount of time on the Sea of Galilee to save money. In addition, the best time for a boat trip is in the morning to experience the solitude of the lake. Don’t forget to come early to watch the amazing sunrise over the Sea of Galilee! Some tours will also arrange for a barbecue meal along the shore.

Where to Stay:

Club Hotel Tiberias
Ahad Ha’Am Street 19
Tverya, Israel
Telephone: +972 4 672 8000

Where to Eat:

Magdalena Restaurant
Migdal, Israel 90
Telephone: +972 4 673 0064

This gorgeous restaurant with beautiful views of Galilee has a full menu to include local Israeli dishes and seafood. Start with the Shrimp Kadaif, made of Mediterranean shrimp wrapped in kadaif (shredded phyllo dough), lemon aioli, Dashi and ginger sauce. Follow it up with St. Peter’s fish Tilapia baked in herbs and garlic and a side of root vegetables. The dessert menu offers amazing selections to include Lotus Malbi Cannolis, eclairs and sumptuous brulee.

What to Eat:

Kubbeh is similar to falafal in that it is served in a ball but made with meat and spices then deep fried.
Manqusheh is similar to pizza made with flatbread topped with olive oil and spice (usually za’atar which is similar to thyme)
Ka’ak is a large pretzel like pastry that is usually eaten at breakfast time. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, they are readily available at bakeries and roadside stalls.
Potato swirls are similar to french fries, cut and deep fried.
Qatayef is a pancake-style dessert stuffed with cheese, nuts or sugar and spices and are popular during the Ramadan holiday
Kunafeh is a pastry similar to baklava covered in syrup and cheese

What to Read:

Khirbet Khizeh by S. Y. Yizhar
The Hilltop, by Assaf Gavron
Dancing Arabs by Sayed Kashua
The People of Forever are Not Afraid, by Shani Boianjiu
Five Seasons, by A.B. Yehoshua
Twenty-One Stories by S. Y. Agnon
Suddenly, A Knock on the Door by Etgar Keret
Apples from the Desert, by Savyon Liebrecht
From the Four Winds, by Haim Sabato
To the End of the Land, by David Grossman
A Tale of Love and Darkness, by Amos Oz

Photo Guide for Israel:

The Western Wall for a religious experience
Jaffa’s Old Town for its charm
The Dead Sea for its interesting topography
Caesarea Harbor and its Roman architecture and history are worth a visit
Arbel National Park and Nature Reserve provides a phenomenal view of the Sea of Galilee
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Old City Jerusalem is said to be the burial location of Jesus
The view of the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives