A constant stream of Christian pilgrims from Europe visited the Holy Land from the 4th C. on. But in the 11th C. pilgrims could no longer cross Asia Minor to reach the Holy Land due to tensions and turmoil caused by warring factions. The crusader kingdom had begun by the call of Pope Urban II for rich and poor to rise up together and march to rescue the holy places from the ‘infidels’ doing God’s work. The Kingdom began its decline at the Horns of Hattin, when Saladin’s army crushed the Crusaders. Stationed around the Horns of Hattin, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Guy de Lusignan, King of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem faced Salah El Din, legendary leader of the Islamic Empire, in the fatal battle that ensued on Friday July 3rd, 1187. The tour will take us to this site and others touched by the crusaders marches. NOTE: THIS TOUR REQUIRES SOME HIKING AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE TO THE VERY ELDERLY OR THOSE WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY WALKING IN ROUGH TERRAIN. This tour is also operated as a PRIVATE TOUR, enabling you to travel within the realm of your own circle of friends or the intimacy of your own family with the flexibility to adapt an itinerary to suit your group and interests. Below is a list of sites on the same route and close in themes which can be exchanged or added, depending on personal preferences and time constraints. Belvoir (Kochav HaYarden): a crusader fortress located some 20 km. south of the Sea of Galilee and about 500 meters above the Jordan Valley overlooking the winding Jordan River below and facing the hills of Gilead in what is today the Kingdom of Jordan.Synopsis
Tour Itinerary
Tour Code: HCRU1
“IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CRUISE EXCURSIONS”
Tour Options
OPTIONAL SITES
Yehi’am Fortress: The construction date of the Yehi’am Fortress is unknown, but apparently it was originally part of the Ma’iliyah estate, and was later sold to the Crusader Teutonic knights who also purchased nearby Montfort Fortress.