Festival Tour Package

MESKEL FESTIVAL AND HISTORIC ROUTE
FROM SEP 25 TO OCT 04, 2009
10 DAYS AND 9 NIGHTS PROGRAM

Day 1, Arrive in Addis Ababa a warm welcome at the airport, and then transfer to your hotel. Morning will be free. Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa, starting your tour from the Trinity Cathedral, visit to the National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest hominid “Lucy”; then drive up to Mt. Entoto, the highest part of the capital, where you will have a panoramic view over the town of Addis Ababa; a drive down to the biggest open air market in East Africa called Mercato. Overnight Hotel.

Day 2, morning mausoleum of Menlilik the II at the church of Beata Mariam, then drive to Ethnographic museum in the courtyard of Addis Ababa university, then drive back your hotel, afternoon walk to the Meskel Square where you will bump into huge street festival of the Ethiopian Orthodox church, Meskel festival commemorates the finding of the very cross on which Jesus Christ of Nazareth was crucified in Golgotha in the fourth century by Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine. The celebration of Meskel recognizes the presence of the true cross at the Mountain of Gishen Miriam monastery in Ethiopia, and also recognizes Empress Helena’s road to finding it. After a mass song and prayer there will be a big bon fire for the commemoration of the Meskel festival. Overnight Hotel.

Day 3, Around 05:00 hrs, drive to the airport to fly to Bahir Dar by ET 122. Around 07:00-08:00 am, arrive at Bahir Dar after a 55 minutes’ flight. Drive to Tana Hotel for check-in. drive to Tisissat (45 minutes) to get to the water fall, which is 35km away from Bahir Dar. At Tisissat, you get a chance to see the “smoke of the Nile” from the usual vantage points. Board on boat to cross Lake Tana. En route, you will visit the churches of UraKidanemihret, Mehal Zege Georgis and Aswa Mariam Late in the afternoon, you will arrive in back Bahir Dar- at around 17:00 hrs- you might get a chance to see the very stunning sun-set from the boat. Overnight and dinner at Tana or summer Land Hotel.

Day 4, Morning transfer to airport to Fly to Gonder by ET122, transfer to Goha Hotel. Start visiting the 17th century capital of Ethiopia: Gonder. Sites to visit include: the castle compound (UNESCO World Heritage Site), King Fasiledes’ Bath, the Debre Birhan Selassie (The light of Trinity) church with wonderful murals, Qusqam church and Mentwab palace. Later, drive to the Jewish village called Welaka, 6Km away from Gonder. Overnight will be at Goha Hotel.

Day 5, Make a day Excursion to Semin Mountain, Drive to Debark in the morning, 100Kms from Gonder, the Headquarter of the Semien Mountains National Park. Proceed to Sankaber, 37Kms farther, which is your first trekking starting spot, 3250 ms above sea level. Spend the day trekking around the camp sites. Lunch will be served by lunch boxes on top of the view point; here you will see some endemic Ethiopian Birds like wattle Ibis, and some mammals like the Gelada Baboon. Around 15:00hrs, you will drive back to Gonder. Overnight Goha Hotel3*.

Day 6, Early in the morning, drive to the airport to fly to Lallibela in the morning and then transfer from the airport to your hotel. The airport is 26 Km from the hotel- it will be a half-an-hour drive. After check-in, start visiting the rock hewn churches of Lallibela. Today tour will be the first group of churches (the grouping is according to their geographical location): Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam and Bete Meskel. Return to your hotel for lunch at 12:30 AM, and continue touring the rest of the first group of churches after 14:00 AM. Return to your hotel at 17:30 AM. Overnight will be at Roha and Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 7, Early in the morning make a mule excursion to Asheten Mariam church, where you will the semi-monolithic church which was hewed out by the nephew of King Lalibella, then back to Hotel for lunch afternoon visit the remaining churches in Lalibella by the 2nd group of the rock hewn churches of Lallibela: Bete Emanuel, Bete Rafael and Gabriel, Bete Mercury’s and Aba Libanos. Continue your tour from the stunning Bete Giorgis, which was hewed out with the Greek cross, then walk back to your Hotel. Overnight will be at Roha or Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 8, transfer to the airport to fly to Axum by ET 122 0950-1030 and then transfer to your hotel, which is 10 minutes drive from the airport. Sightseeing in Axum, a town steeped in more than 2500 years of history, from the palace and tomb of King Kaleb (6th C, AD). You will also visit the extraordinary Stella’s records as a world heritage site (WHS) and the tomb of king Remhay (1st to 4th C, AD). Visit the church of St Mary of Tsion (17th C, AD), in which is deposited the Arc of the Covenant. Return to your hotel for lunch. Drive out of the town to Gonder, 4 Km away, where you will walk up to see the rock-carved lion and palace from where the Stella’s were hewn- some still lie there, unfinished one too. From here we can visit the palace of the queen of Sheba, and other archaeological sites. The day’s wandering ends at the small but amazing museum. Return. Dinner and overnight will be at Yeha or Remhay Hotel.

Day 9, drive to the airport to fly to Addis Ababa by ET123, arriving at a hotel in Addis at 4:30. Lunch will be Addis Ababa, and the rest of the afternoon will be freely spent at the hotel. In the evening at 19:30, meet in the lobby and then drive to the traditional restaurant, where you will enjoy traditional Ethiopian music performances at your fare well dinner. Overnight Hotel.

Day 10, transfer out to airport to fly back to Home.

Reservations

HIDAR ZION FESTIVAL AND HISTORIC ROUTE

Day 1, Arrive in Addis Ababa a warm welcome at the airport, and then transfer to your hotel. Morning will be free. Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa, starting your tour from the Trinity Cathedral, visit to the National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest hominid “Lucy”; then drive up to Mt. Entoto, the highest part of the capital, where you will have a panoramic view over the town of Addis Ababa; a drive down to the biggest open air market in East Africa called Mercato. Overnight Hotel.

Day 2, Around 05:00 hrs, drive to the airport to fly to Bahir Dar by ET 122. Around 07:00-08:00 am, arrive at Bahir Dar after a 55 minutes’ flight. Drive to Tana Hotel for check-in. drive to Tisissat (45 minutes) to get to the water fall, which is 35km away from Bahir Dar. At Tisissat, you get a chance to see the “smoke of the Nile” from the usual vantage points. Board on boat to cross Lake Tana. En route, you will visit the churches of UraKidanemihret, Mehal Zege Georgis and Aswa Marim Late in the afternoon, you will arrive in back Bahir Dar- at around 17:00 hrs- you might get a chance to see the very stunning sun-set from the boat. Overnight and dinner at Tana Hotel.

Day 3, Morning transfer to airport to Fly to Gonder by ET122, transfer to Goha Hotel. Start visiting the 17th century capital of Ethiopia: Gonder. Sites to visit include: the castle compound (UNESCO World Heritage Site), King Fasiledes’ Bath, the Debre Birhan Selassie (The light of Trinity) church with wonderful murals, Qusqam church and Mentwab palace. Later, drive to the Jewish village called Welaka, 6Km away from Gonder. Overnight will be at Goha Hotel.

Day 4, Make a day Excursion to Semin Mountain, Drive to Debark in the morning, 100Kms from Gonder, the Headquarter of the Semien Mountains National Park. Proceed to Sankaber, 37Kms farther, which is your first trekking starting spot, 3250 ms above sea level. Spend the day trekking around the camp sites. Lunch will be served by lunch boxes on top of the view point; here you will see some endemic Ethiopian Birds like wattle Ibis, and some mammals like the Gelada Baboon. Around 15:00hrs, you will drive back to Gonder. Overnight Goha Hotel3*.

Day 5, Early in the morning, drive to the airport to fly to Lalibella in the morning and then transfer from the airport to your hotel. The airport is 26 Km from the hotel- it will be a half-an-hour drive. After check-in, start visiting the rock hewn churches of Lalibella. Today tour will be the first group of churches (the grouping is according to their geographical location): Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam and Bete Meskel. Return to your hotel for lunch at 12:30 AM, and continue touring the rest of the first group of churches after 14:00 AM. Return to your hotel at 17:30 AM. Overnight will be at Roha and Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 6, Early in the morning make a mule excursion to Asheten Mariam church, where you will the semi-monolithic church which was hewed out by the nephew of King Lallibela, then back to Hotel for lunch afternoon visit the remaining churches in Lallibela by the 2nd group of the rock hewn churches of Lallibela: Bete Emanuel, Bete Rafael and Gabriel, Bete Mercury’s and Aba Libanos. Continue your tour from the stunning Bete Giorgis, which was hewed out with the Greek cross, and then walk back to your Hotel. Overnight will be at Roha or Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 7, At 07:30, transfer to the airport to fly to Axum by ET 122 0950-1030 and then transfer to your hotel, which is 10 minutes drive from the airport. Sightseeing in Axum, a town steeped in more than 2500 years of history, from the palace and tomb of King Kaleb (6th C, AD). You will also visit the extraordinary Stella’s records as a world heritage site (WHS) and the tomb of king Remhay (1st to 4th C, AD). Visit the church of St Mary of Tsion (17th C, AD), in which is deposited the Arc of the Covenant. Return to your hotel for lunch. Drive out of the town to Gonder, 4 Km away, where you will walk up to see the rock-carved lion and palace from where the Stella’s were hewn- some still lie there, unfinished one too. From here we can visit the palace of the queen of Sheba, and other archaeological sites. The day’s wandering ends at the small but amazing museum. Return. Dinner and overnight will be at Yeha or Remhay Hotel.

Day 8, Full day dedicated for the Axum Zion festival, Hider Tsion is one of the Ethiopian Orthodox church fest which will held at Axum at the church of St.Mary of Tsion, this church is believed that the original Ark of the Covenant has kept for ages, during this cerebration the copy of the Ark of the covenant will bring out and they will be a dancing and enchantment by Sunday school, deacons and also believers, there will be many pilgrims who will come to attend this annual festival. Dinner and overnight will be at Yeha or Remhay Hotel.

Day 9, drive to the airport to fly to Addis Ababa by ET123, arriving at a hotel in Addis at 4:30. Lunch will be Addis Ababa, and the rest of the afternoon will be freely spent at the hotel. In the evening at 19:30, meet in the lobby and then drive to the traditional restaurant, where you will enjoy traditional Ethiopian music performances at your fare well dinner. Overnight Hotel.

Day 10, Full day tour of Addis Ababa, morning mausoleum of Menlilik the II at the church of Beata Mariam, then drive to Ethnographic museum in the courtyard of Addis Ababa university, then drive back your hotel or have lunch en the route, afternoon visit the ECA Economic commission for Africa, for its wonderful painting on the reception hall. Then make some shopping. Evening transfer out to airport to Fly back to Home.

Reservations

CHRISTMAS IN LAIBELLA

Day 1, Arrive in Addis Ababa a warm welcome at the airport, and then transfer to your hotel. Morning will be free. Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa, starting your tour from the Trinity Cathedral, visit to the National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest hominid “Lucy”; then drive up to Mt. Entoto, the highest part of the capital, where you will have a panoramic view over the town of Addis Ababa; a drive down to the biggest open air market in East Africa called Mercato. Overnight Hotel.

Day 2, drive to the airport to fly to Bahir Dar by ET 122. Around 07:00-08:00 am, arrive at Bahir Dar after a 55 minutes’ flight. Drive to Tana Hotel for check-in. drive to Tisissat (45 minutes) to get to the water fall, which is 35km away from Bahir Dar. At Tisissat, you get a chance to see the “smoke of the Nile” from the usual vantage points. Board on boat to cross Lake Tana. En route, you will visit the churches of UraKidanemihret, Mehal Zege Georgis and Aswa Marim Late in the afternoon, you will arrive in back Bahir Dar- at around 17:00 hrs- you might get a chance to see the very stunning sun-set from the boat. Overnight and dinner at Tana Hotel.

Day 3, Morning transfer to airport to Fly to Gonder by ET122, transfer to Goha Hotel. Start visiting the 17th century capital of Ethiopia: Gonder. Sites to visit include: the castle compound (UNESCO World Heritage Site), King Fasiledes’ Bath, the Debre Birhan Selassie (The light of Trinity) church with wonderful murals, Qusqam church and Mentwab palace. Later, drive to the Jewish village called Welaka, 6Km away from Gonder. Overnight will be at Goha Hotel.

Day 4, Early in the morning, drive to the airport to fly to Lalibella in the morning and then transfer from the airport to your hotel. The airport is 26 Km from the hotel- it will be a half-an-hour drive. After check-in, start visiting the rock hewn churches of Lalibella. Today tour will be the 1st group of churches (the grouping is according to their geographical location): Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam and Bete Meskel. Return to your hotel for lunch at 12:30 AM, and continue touring the rest of the first group of churches after 14:00 AM. Return to your hotel at 17:30 AM. Overnight will be at Roha and Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 5, Early in the morning make a mule excursion to Asheten Mariam church, where you will the semi-monolithic church which was hewed out by the nephew of King Lalibella, then back to Hotel for lunch afternoon feevisit the remaining churches in Lalibella by the 2nd group of the rock hewn churches of Lalibella: Bete Emanuel, Bete Rafael and Gabriel, Bete Mercury’s and Aba Libanos. Continue your tour from the stunning Bete Giorgis, which was hewed out with the Greek cross, and then walk back to your Hotel. Overnight will be at Roha or Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 6, Ledet (ETHIOPIAN Christmas) falls on December 29th on the Ethiopian calendar (January 7th on the Gregorian calendar). It is celebrated after 43 days of fasting, known as Tsome Gehad (advent), with a spectacular procession, which begins at 6 am and lasts until 9 am. After the mass (service), people go home to break the fast with the meat of chicken or lamb or beef accompanied by Injera and the traditional drinks Tella and Tej. In Lalibella Ledet (ETHIOPIAN Christmas) celebrated very uniquely because the birth of St.Lalibela and The Birth of Jesus Christ will fall on the same day according to the Ethiopian calendar therefore today you will have a very unique day celebrating this fest with the local people. Overnight will be at Roha or Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 7, transfer to the airport to fly to Axum by ET 122 0950-1030 and then transfer to your hotel, which is 10 minutes drive from the airport. Sightseeing in Axum, a town steeped in more than 2500 years of history, from the palace and tomb of King Kaleb (6th C, AD). You will also visit the extraordinary Stella’s records as a world heritage site (WHS) and the tomb of king Remhay (1st to 4th C, AD). Visit the church of St Mary of Tsion (17th C, AD), in which is deposited the Arc of the Covenant. Return to your hotel for lunch. Drive out of the town to Gonder, 4 Km away, where you will walk up to see the rock-carved lion and palace from where the Stella’s were hewn- some still lie there, unfinished one too. From here we can visit the palace of the queen of Sheba, and other archaeological sites. The day’s wandering ends at the small but amazing museum. Return. Dinner and overnight will be at Yeha or Remhay Hotel.

Day 8, rive to the airport to fly to Addis Ababa by ET123, arriving at a hotel in Addis at 4:30. Lunch will be Addis Ababa, and the rest of the afternoon will be freely spent at the hotel. In the evedning at 19:30, meet in the lobby and then drive to the traditional restaurant, where you will enjoy traditional Ethiopian music performances at your fare well dinner. Overnight Hotel.

Day 9, Full day tour of Addis Ababa, morning mausoleum of Menililik the II at the church of Beata Mariam, then drive to Ethnographic museum in the courtyard of Addis Ababa university, then drive back your hotel or have lunch en the route, afternoon visit the ECA Economic commission for Africa, for its wonderful painting on the reception hall. Then make some shopping. Evening transfer out to airport to fly back to Home.

Reservations

ETHIOPIAN EPIPHANY (TIMKET) IN ADDIS ABABA

Day 1, Arrive in Addis Ababa a warm welcome at the airport, and then transfer to your hotel. Morning will be free. Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa, starting your tour from the Trinity Cathedral, visit to the National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest hominid “Lucy”; then drive up to Mt. Entoto, the highest part of the capital, where you will have a panoramic view over the town of Addis Ababa; a drive down to the biggest open air market in East Africa called Mercato. Overnight Hotel.

Day 2, morning mausoleum of Menlilk the II at the church of Beata Mariam, then drive to Ethnographic museum in the courtyard of Addis Ababa university, then drive back your hotel, afternoon walk to the one of the Ethiopian orthodox churches where you will bump into huge street festival of the Ethiopian Orthodox church, Timket is celebrated in Ethiopia on January 11th on the Ethiopian calendar (January 19 on the Gregorian calendar). On this day, in the morning, people go to nearby churches for prayers, and in the afternoon, replicas of the Arc of the covenant are taken out of every church, accompanied by the priests, deacon, singers of the church, as well as ordinary people to the place where the baptism ceremony is held. Overnight Hotel.

Day 3, Early in the morning drive to Jalmeda where The Arc of the covenants will stay for overnight, Early in the morning there will be a baptism ceremony after the blessing the head of the churches, then the Arc of covenants will be back to the churches to which they belongs and the members will accompany the Arc with song and different worships. Overnight Hotel.

Day 4, drive to the airport to fly to Bahir Dar by ET 122. Around 07:00-08:00 am, arrive at Bahir Dar after a 55 minutes’ flight. Drive to Tana Hotel for check-in. drive to Tisissat (45 minutes) to get to the water fall, which is 35km away from Bahir Dar. At Tisissat, you get a chance to see the “smoke of the Nile” from the usual vantage points. Board on boat to cross Lake Tana. En route, you will visit the churches of UraKidanemihret, Mehal Zege Georgis and Aswa Mariam Late in the afternoon, you will arrive in back Bahir Dar- at around 17:00 hrs- you might get a chance to see the very stunning sun-set from the boat. Overnight and dinner at Tana Hotel.

Day 5, Morning transfer to airport to Fly to Gonder by ET122, transfer to Goha Hotel. Start visiting the 17th century capital of Ethiopia: Gonder. Sites to visit include: the castle compound (UNESCO World Heritage Site), King Fasiledes’ Bath, the Debre Birhan Selassie (The light of Trinity) church with wonderful murals, Qusqam church and Mentwab palace. Later, drive to the Jewish village called Welaka, 6Km away from Gonder. Overnight will be at Goha Hotel.

Day 6, Early in the morning, drive to the airport to fly to Lallibela in the morning and then transfer from the airport to your hotel. The airport is 26 Km from the hotel- it will be a half-an-hour drive. After check-in, start visiting the rock hewn churches of Lallibela. Today you will tour the first group of churches (the grouping is according to their geographical location): Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam and Bete Meskel. Return to your hotel for lunch at 12:30 AM, and continue touring the rest of the first group of churches after 14:00 AM. Return to your hotel at 17:30 AM. Overnight will be at Roha and Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 7, Early in the morning make a mule excursion to Asheten Mariam church, where you will the semi-monolithic church which was hewed out by the nephew of King Lalibella, then back to Hotel for lunch afternoon visit the remaining churches in Lalibella by the 2nd group of the rock hewn churches of Lallibela: Bete Emanuel, Bete Rafael and Gabriel, Bete Mercury’s and Aba Libanos. Continue your tour from the stunning Bete Giorgis, which was hewed out with the Greek cross, and then walk back to your Hotel. Overnight will be at Roha or Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 8, transfer to the airport to fly to Axum by ET 122 0950-1030 and then transfer to your hotel, which is 10 minutes drive from the airport. Sightseeing in Axum, a town steeped in more than 2500 years of history, from the palace and tomb of King Kaleb (6th C, AD). You will also visit the extraordinary Stella’s records as a world heritage site (WHS) and the tomb of king Remhay (1st to 4th C, AD). Visit the church of St Mary of Tsion (17th C, AD), in which is deposited the Arc of the Covenant. Return to your hotel for lunch. Drive out of the town to Gonder, 4 Km away, where you will walk up to see the rock-carved lion and palace from where the Stella’s were hewn- some still lie there, unfinished one too. From here we can visit the palace of the queen of Sheba, and other archaeological sites. The day’s wandering ends at the small but amazing museum. Return. Dinner and overnight will be at Yeha or Remhay Hotel.

Day 9, drive to the airport to fly to Addis Ababa by ET123, arriving at a hotel in Addis at 4:30. Lunch will be Addis Ababa, and the rest of the afternoon will be freely spent at the hotel. In the evening at 19:30, meet in the lobby and then drive to the traditional restaurant, where you will enjoy traditional Ethiopian music performances at your fare well dinner. Overnight Hotel.

Day 10, transfer out to airport to fly back to Home.

Reservations

ETHIOPIAN EPIPHANY (TIMKET) IN GONDE

R

Day 1, Arrive in Addis Ababa a warm welcome at the airport, and then transfer to your hotel. Morning will be free. Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa, starting your tour from the Trinity Cathedral, visit to the National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest hominid “Lucy”; then drive up to Mt. Entoto, the highest part of the capital, where you will have a panoramic view over the town of Addis Ababa; a drive down to the biggest open air market in East Africa called Mercato. Overnight Hotel.

Day 2, drive to the airport to fly to Bahir Dar by ET 122. Around 07:00-08:00 am, arrive at Bahir Dar after a 55 minutes’ flight. Drive to Tana Hotel for check-in. drive to Tisissat (45 minutes) to get to the water fall, which is 35km away from Bahir Dar. At Tisissat, you get a chance to see the “smoke of the Nile” from the usual vantage points. Board on boat to cross Lake Tana. En route, you will visit the churches of UraKidanemihret, Mehal Zege Georgis and Aswa Marim Late in the afternoon, you will arrive in back Bahir Dar- at around 17:00 hrs- you might get a chance to see the very stunning sun-set from the boat. Overnight and dinner at Tana Hotel.

Day 3, Morning transfer to airport to Fly to Gonder by ET122, transfer to Goha Hotel. Start visiting the 17th century capital of Ethiopia: Gonder. Sites to visit include: the castle compound (UNESCO World Heritage Site), King Fasiledes’ Bath, back to Hotel for lunch Afternoon, Timket is celebrated in Ethiopia on January 11th on the Ethiopian calendar (January 19 on the Gregorian calendar). On this day, in the morning, people go to nearby churches for prayers, and in the afternoon, replicas of the Arc of the covenant are taken out of every church, accompanied by the priests, deacon, singers of the church, as well as ordinary people to the place where the baptism ceremony is held. In Gonder this colorful celebration will be held at the Bath of Fasildes. Overnight will be at Goha or Similar Hotel.

Day 4, Early in the morning you will go the place where The Arc of the covenants will stay for overnight, Early in the morning there will be a baptism ceremony after the blessing the head of the churches, then the Arc of covenants will be back to the churches to which they belong and the members will accompany the Arc with song and different worships, afternoon visit the Debre Birhan Selassie (The light of Trinity) church with wonderful murals, Qusqam church and Mentwab palace. Later, drive to the Jewish village called Welaka, 6Km away from Gonder. Overnight will be at Goha or Similar Hotel.

Day 5, Early in the morning drives to the airport to fly to Lalibella in the morning and then transfer from the airport to your hotel. The airport is 26 Km from the hotel- it will be a half-an-hour drive. After check-in, start visiting the rock hewn churches of Lalibella. Today you will be the first group of churches (the grouping is according to their geographical location): Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam and Bete Meskel. Return to your hotel for lunch at 12:30 AM, and continue touring the rest of the first group of churches after 14:00 AM. Return to your hotel at 17:30 AM. Overnight will be at Roha and Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 6, Early in the morning make a mule excursion to Asheten Mariam church, where you will the semi-monolithic church which was hewed out by the nephew of King Lalibella, then back to Hotel for lunch afternoon, for lunch afternoon visit the remaining churches in Lalibella by the 2nd group of the rock hewn churches of Lalibella: Bete Emanuel, Bete Rafael and Gabriel, Bete Mercury’s and Aba Libanos. continue your tour from the stunning Bete Giorgis, which was hewed out with the Greek cross, then walk back to your Hotel. Overnight will be at Roha or Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 7, transfer to the airport to fly to Axum by ET 122 0950-1030 and then transfer to your hotel, which is 10 minutes drive from the airport. Sightseeing in Axum, a town steeped in more than 2500 years of history, from the palace and tomb of King Kaleb (6th C, AD). You will also visit the extraordinary Stella’s records as a world heritage site (WHS) and the tomb of king Remhay (1st to 4th C, AD). Visit the church of St Mary of Tsion (17th C, AD), in which is deposited the Arc of the Covenant. Return to your hotel for lunch. Drive out of the town to Gonder, 4 Km away, where you will walk up to see the rock-carved lion and palace from where the Stella’s were hewn- some still lie there, unfinished one too. From here we can visit the palace of the queen of Sheba, and other archaeological sites. The day’s wandering ends at the small but amazing museum. Return. Dinner and overnight will be at Yeha or Remhay Hotel.

Day 8, drive to the airport to fly to Addis Ababa by ET123, arriving at a hotel in Addis at 4:30. Lunch will be Addis Ababa, and the rest of the afternoon will be freely spent at the hotel. In the evening at 19:30, meet in the lobby and then drive to the traditional restaurant, where you will enjoy traditional Ethiopian music performances at your fare well dinner. Overnight Hotel.

Day 9, Full day tour of Addis Ababa, morning mausoleum of Menlilik the II at the church of Beata Mariam, then drive to Ethnographic museum in the courtyard of Addis Ababa university, then drive back your hotel or have lunch en the route, afternoon visit the ECA Economic commission for Africa, for its wonderful painting on the reception hall. Then make some shopping. Evening transfer out to airport to Fly back to Home.

Reservations

ETHIOPIAN EPIPHANY (TIMKET) IN LALLIBEL

A

Day 1, Arrive in Addis Ababa a warm welcome at the airport, and then transfer to your hotel. Morning will be free. Afternoon, start your sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa, starting your tour from the Trinity Cathedral, visit to the National Museum (archaeological and historical), which has the best collection of Ethiopian antiquities and archeological discoveries, including the famous oldest hominid “Lucy”; then drive up to Mt. Entoto, the highest part of the capital, where you will have a panoramic view over the town of Addis Ababa; a drive down to the biggest open air market in East Africa called Mercato. Overnight Hotel.

Day 2, drive to the airport to fly to Bahir Dar by ET 122. Around 07:00-08:00 am, arrive at Bahir Dar after a 55 minutes’ flight. Drive to Tana Hotel for check-in. drive to Tisissat (45 minutes) to get to the water fall, which is 35km away from Bahir Dar. At Tisissat, you get a chance to see the “smoke of the Nile” from the usual vantage points. Board on boat to cross Lake Tana. En route, you will visit the churches of UraKidanemihret, Mehal Zege Georgis and Aswa Marim Late in the afternoon, you will arrive in back Bahir Dar- at around 17:00 hrs- you might get a chance to see the very stunning sun-set from the boat. Overnight and dinner at Tana Hotel.

Day 3, Morning transfer to airport to Fly to Gonder by ET122, transfer to Goha Hotel. Start visiting the 17th century capital of Ethiopia: Gonder. Sites to visit include: the castle compound (UNESCO World Heritage Site), King Fasiledes’ Bath, the Debre Birhan Selassie (The light of Trinity) church with wonderful murals, Qusqam church and Mentwab palace. Later, drive to the Jewish village called Welaka, 6Km away from Gonder. Overnight will be at Goha Hotel.

Day 4, Make a day Excursion to Semin Mountain, Drive to Debark in the morning, 100Kms from Gonder, the Headquarter of the Semien Mountains National Park. Proceed to Sankaber, 37Kms farther, which is your first trekking starting spot, 3250 ms above sea level. Spend the day trekking around the camp sites. Lunch will be served by lunch boxes on top of the view point; here you will see some endemic Ethiopian Birds like wattle Ibis, and some mammals like the Gelada Baboon. Around 15:00hrs, you will drive back to Gonder. Overnight Goha Hotel3*.

Day 5, Early in the morning, drive to the airport to fly to Lalibella in the morning and then transfer from the airport to your hotel. The airport is 26 Km from the hotel- it will be a half-an-hour drive. After check-in, start visiting the rock hewn churches of Lalibella. Today you will be the first group of churches (the grouping is according to their geographical location): Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam and Bete Meskel. Return to your hotel for lunch at 12:30 AM, and continue touring the rest of the first group of churches after 14:00 AM. Return to your hotel at 17:30 AM. Overnight will be at Roha and Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 6, Morning visit the remaining churches in Lalibella by the 2nd group of the rock hewn churches of Lalibella: Bete Emanuel, Bete Rafael and Gabriel, Bete Mercury’s and Aba Libanos. Continue your tour from the stunning Bete Giorgis, which was hewed out with the Greek cross, and then walk back to your Hotel, Timket is celebrated in Ethiopia on January 11th on the Ethiopian calendar (January 19 on the Gregorian calendar). On this day, in the morning, people go to nearby churches for prayers, and in the afternoon, replicas of the Arc of the covenant are taken out of every church, accompanied by the priests, deacon, singers of the church, as well as ordinary people to the place where the baptism ceremony is held. Overnight will be at Roha or Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 7, Early in the morning you will go the place where The Arc of the covenants will stay for overnight, Early in the morning there will be a baptism ceremony after the blessing the head of the churches, then the Arc of covenants will be back to the churches to which they belong and the members will accompany the Arc with song and different worships. Overnight will be at Roha or Tikul Guest Hotel.

Day 8, transfer to the airport to fly to Axum by ET 122 0950-1030 and then transfer to your hotel, which is 10 minutes drive from the airport. Sightseeing in Axum, a town steeped in more than 2500 years of history, from the palace and tomb of King Kaleb (6th C, AD). You will also visit the extraordinary Stella’s records as a world heritage site (WHS) and the tomb of king Remhay (1st to 4th C, AD). Visit the church of St Mary of Tsion (17th C, AD), in which is deposited the Arc of the Covenant. Return to your hotel for lunch. Drive out of the town to Gonder, 4 Km away, where you will walk up to see the rock-carved lion and palace from where the Stella’s were hewn- some still lay there, unfinished one too. From here we can visit the palace of the queen of Sheba, and other archaeological sites. The day’s wandering ends at the small but amazing museum. Return. Dinner and overnight will be at Yeha or Remhay Hotel.

Day 9, drive to the airport to fly to Addis Ababa by ET123, arriving at a hotel in Addis at 4:30. Lunch will be Addis Ababa, and the rest of the afternoon will be freely spent at the hotel. In the evening at 19:30, meet in the lobby and then drive to the traditional restaurant, where you will enjoy traditional Ethiopian music performances at your fare well dinner. Overnight Hotel.

Day 10, Full day tour of Addis Ababa, morning mausoleum of Menililik the II at the church of Beata Mariam, then drive to Ethnographic museum in the courtyard of Addis Ababa university, then drive back your hotel or have lunch en the route, afternoon visit the ECA Economic commission for Africa, for its wonderful painting on the reception hall. Then make some shopping. Evening transfer out to airport to fly back to Home.

Reservations