Activities: Ancient colorful Timket festivals around the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, ancient history, age-old culture, breathtaking highland scenery, waterfalls, castles, rock churches, and  so much more

Ethiopian Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany)
Timket (Epiphany): This is an extremely colorful three-day festival commemorating the baptism of Christ. The night before, priests take the Tabot (which symbolizes the Ark of the Covenant) containing the Ten Commandments from each Church. Concealed by an ornamental cloth, it is taken to a tent, close to a consecrated pool or stream, accompanied by much ringing of bells, blowing of trumpets and the burning of incense. At 02:00, there is a Mass, and crowds attend, with picnics lit by oil lamps. At dawn, the priest extinguishes a candle burning on a pole set in a nearby river using a ceremonial cross. Some of the congregation leaps into the river. The Tabots are then taken back to the churches in procession, accompanied by people, while the festivities continue.

THE HIGLIGHT OF THE THE TIMKET FESTIVAL TOUR

• This tour provides a practical image of the 3000 yeas historical mysteries and living historical facts and monuments of Ethiopia including the steles of Axum, the temple of Yeha, Palace of Queen of Sheba, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and many more.

 

Day 1: Wednesday, 14 Jan: Arrive Addis Ababa
Arrive at Bole International Airport (ADD), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Welcome to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, you will be welcomed and assisted by your tour guide and driver for the transfer to.

Addis Ababa, founded in 1886 by Menelik II, is situated at 2,500 meters (8000 ft) above sea level. It is the highest capital city in the world, after La Paz and Quito in South America. The city enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25C (77F). Addis Ababa is a pleasant city with wide avenues of jacarandas, interesting museums, and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, known as the "Mercato".

Group will take little rest and the rest of the day city tour of Addis Ababa. Today, you will have city tour and sight seeing tour of Addis Ababa which includes the National Museum, Ethnographic Museum, Merkato, Piassa and other parts of the city.

This morning, you  will visit the National Museum and the Ethnographic Museum. The National Museum of Ethiopia: This is one of the best museums in quality and diversity of the exhibits. Archeological exhibits include the 3.5 million-year-old fossil of Lucy (or Dinkinesh – ‘thou art wonderful’- in the native language), a hominoid woman of the specious of Australopithecus Afarensis. The discovery of Lucy’s fossil in 1974 forced a complete rethink of human genealogy, providing that our ancestors were walking 2.5 million years earlier than had been supposed. The National Museum also contains many wonderful artifacts dating back to pre-Axumite civilization.

The Ethnographic Museum is very different to the National Museum, but equally absorbing, this museum exhibit, a varied array of artifacts and daily objects related to most ethnic groups in Ethiopia.

In the afternoon, city tour of Addis will continue with Merkato, the largest open-air market in the continent and the other part of the city including Piassa and Churchill Avenue.

Accommodation: Ghion Hotel-Addis Ababa.

Day 2: Thursday, 15 Jan: Addis Ababa-Axum
In the morning, transfer to Addis Ababa airport for your flight to Axum. After check in to Remhay Hotel, you will start to visit the ancient city of Axum.

This is the birthplace of Ethiopian civilization, and by the first century Axum was a major trading center for exotic goods from Egypt, Rome, Nubia, Greece, Syria, and India.  The Holy Ark of the Covenant was brought here before the destruction of the Temple, and Axum is reputed to be the second Jerusalem.

Your today’s visit in Axum include: the Stele field, Kaleba Tombs, the 4th century Christian inscription of King Ezana, Queen of Sheba’s Palace, Archeological Museum, and Tsion Mariam Church where the original Ark of the Covenant is housed.

Accommodation: Remhay Hotel-Axum.

Day 3: Friday, 16 Jan:  Axum-Yeha-Debre Damo
After breakfast, drive out of town to the pre-Christian temple of Yeha and to the most ancient monastery of Debre Damo, en-route enjoying  the stunning view of historical Adwa mountains and the dramatic mountainous country side scenery of Tigray

The rest of the day, walk around to explore the ancient city and interact with the local people.

Accommodation: Remhay Hotel-Axum.

Day 4: Saturday, 17 Jan: Axum-Lalibela
After breakfast, transfer to Axum  airport for the flight to Lalibela. After check in to Mount View Hotel, drive to the site where you will  find a concentration of some of Ethiopia’s most famous rock-hewn churches, mostly referred by many as “the living wonders of the world”  These churches are, and they have been for at least 800 years, an active Christian shrine, the spiritual center of the country’s  religious life. The monolithic churches were carved out of 2,600-sq meter natural rock terrace in the 12-century AD by king Lalibela.

Bete Medhani Alem, the largest monolithic rock-hewn church in the world, measures 37.7 ft in height, covers an area of almost 2625 square ft and has walls that are up to six feet thick. A plain building supported by 36 pillars on the inside and another 36 pillars around the  outside, Bete Medhani Alem was modeled on the original St. Mary Zion Church built by King Ezana in the 4th century at Axum.
 
The rock-hewn churches that you will visit today include:  Bete Medhani Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil, Bete Golgotha Michael and Bete Giorgis. What makes this tour of Lalibela different from any other time is that, you will be visiting the churches with pilgrims from all over Ethiopia, most of them have come here from far off hamlets and inaccessible valleys walking for days, weeks and some times for months on their bar foot to share the  blessing at this holy place. They will be chanting, singing and dancing with joy, for these people coming to Lalibela and going to Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was borne is the same, as Lalibela is considered to be the second Jerusalem.

Accommodation: Mount View Hotel-Lalibela.

Day 5: Sunday, 18 Jan: Lalibela-Asheten Mariam-Timket Eve
In the morning, mule ride, and walk to the top of Asheten Mariam Monastery. This is very famous for its 12-century monastery church and beautiful view at 10,298 ft above sea level. We will walk/mule ride through dramatic highland scenery and which eventually ends in a beautiful serene agricultural hamlet.

The rock-hewn churches that you will visit today include:  Bete Medhani Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagil, Bete Golgotha Michael and Bete Giorgis.
In the afternoon, witness one of the most colorful and highly celebrated festivals in Ethiopia, the Timket eve ceremony, Ketera. During Ketera, priests take out the Tabots- replicas of the original Ark of the Covenant, from each church and bless the water of the pool where the next day' celebration will take place.  At Lalibela all the Taboats are taken to the ‘Taboat Maderia’, accompanied by priests bearing prayer sticks and sistra, ringing bells, blowing trumpets, and swinging bronze censors from which wisps of incense smoke escape into the evening air. The Tabots are kept in their special tent in the meadow, each hoisting a proud banner depicting the church's saint in front.  The dancing and chanting  by the priest and the faithful continue all night long.

After having dinner and rest at the hotel, we will return to the ‘Taboat Maderia’ to attend the night celebrations.  

Accommodation: Mount View Hotel-Lalibela.

Day 6: Monday, 19 Jan: Timket Festival at Lalibela
Early in the morning, drive from your hotel to the ‘Taboat Maderia’ to join the celebration and the crowd waiting to be baptized by the holy water. Early in the morning, the water which symbolizes the Jordan River is blessed by the priest and the patriarch then dip a golden cross and extinguish a burning consecrated candle in the alter. Then he sprinkles water on the assembled congregation in commemoration of Christ's baptism in the Jordan River. 

Following the baptism, the Tabots start their way back to their respective churches, while feasting, singing and dancing continue all the way to the churches. Every year on Timkat, everyone-men, women, and children-appears splendid for the celebration. Dressed in the dazzling white of the traditional dress, the locals provide a dramatic contrast to the jewel colors of the ceremonial velvets and satins of the priests' robes and sequined velvet umbrellas. The elders march solemnly, accompanied by singing, leaping priest and young men. All these activities of the priest and the deacon recall the ancient rites of the Old Testament; a culture which remained  unchanged centuries for centuries.

After having lunch and rest at the hotel, you will continue your  journey into Ethiopia’s long and marvelous history with a visit to other St. Lalibela’s remarkable churches-their architecture and artistry must be seen to be believed. Ones we finished visiting the second group of churches we will walk to the village through the complex bewildering labyrinth of underground tunnels to the monastery were the monks and nuns live.

Accommodation: Mount View Hotel-Lalibela.

Day 7: Tuesday, 20 Jan: Lalibela-Gondar
After breakfast, transfer to Lalibela airport for the flight to Gondar. Thirty minutes flight takes you to Gondar. After check in to Goha Hotel, located on a hill over looking the city, and having lunch there, you will start your tour of Gondar.

Gondar, founded by Emperor Fasiledas around 1635 is famous for its many medieval castles and the design and decoration of its churches-in particular, Debre Birhan Selassie represents a masterpiece of unique Ethiopian School of traditional art.

This afternoon, you will explore the ancient city and its famous sites including: The Royal Enclosure, a walled compound having 6 different castles built from 17th century by different kings who ruled in different times, the pool of King Fasilidas which still serves as a baptismal pool during Ethiopian Epiphany and you  will also visit the famous Deberberhan Sillassie which is adorned with brilliant frescos from inside.

Accommodation: Goha Hotel-Gondar.

Day 8: Wednesday, 21 Jan: Gondar-Simien Mountains-Gondar
After an early breakfast, start  driving  to Sankaber for your full day excursion to the Simien Mountains National Park en-route visiting the “Felasha” or the Black Jewish village. It is believed that the "Felashas" settled at this village during the time of King Minlik I, the son of Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.

Driving from Gondar up to Simien Mountains National Park, nothing prepares you for the spectacular scenery that awaits at the top of the massif. The rolling grassy plateau comes to an abrupt stop, and sheer cliffs plunge almost vertically for 1,000m (3280 ft) to the plains below. The massif itself has been sculpted by 30 million years of up thrust and erosion into a wonderland of jagged ridges, pinnacles and strangely cropped conical mountains, so that looking out over the heart-stopping precipice; you feel you might just be at the edge of the world.

At Sankaber, group will certainly have a chance to make relaxing trek and see troops of ‘bleeding heart baboon’ the Endemic Gelada Baboon, in the most dramatic sceneries of the park including Ginbar River Falls and Wolkafit mountain chain. You will have your picnic lunch at Sankaber while enjoying the stunning landscape across.

Accommodation: Goha Hotel-Gondar.

Day 9: Thursday, 22 Jan. Gondar-Bahirdar
After breakfast, drive to Bahirdar through the beautiful countryside scenery of Fogera and Gojam to arrive at Bahirdar around lunchtime.

In the afternoon, you will have a boat cruise over Lake Tana to visit the ancient island monasteries of Lake Tana. The 37 islands of Lake Tana shelter twenty monasteries-surviving remnants of an old, contemplative tradition. Because of their isolation, these monasteries were used to store treasures and religious relics from all the part of the country.  The monasteries are famous for their typical Ethiopian religious paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and other ancient church treasures. The monasteries that you are going to visit this afternoon include Kibran Gebriel, Ura Kidanemihret and Azua Mariam.

Accommodation: Tana Hotel-Bahirdar.

Day 10: Friday, 23 Jan. Bahirdar-Lake Tana-Blue Nile Falls
After breakfast, drive 35 KM to visit the majestic Blue Nile Falls. 30 KM after it exits Lake Tana, the Blue Nile plunges over a 45m-high face to form one of the most spectacular waterfall in Africa. Walking to the fall through the beautiful river gorge on the ancient bridge from the 17th century, and meeting the local people at the small villages on the way to the fall is also a great experience.

After having lunch at the hotel and taking little  rest, drive to Bezawit Hill where you can see the summer residence  of Emperor Hailesillasie I,  from outside. This  is also the best viewpoint to wander the sunset on Lake Tana and to see the outlet of  the Blue Nile River; where  the Blue Nile begins its long journey nourishing millions of lives all the way to Egypt and finally to Mediterranean Sea.

Accommodation: Tana Hotel-Bahirdar

Day 11: Saturday, 24 Jan.  Bahirdar-Addis Ababa-Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Bahirdar airport for the flight back to Addis Ababa. The rest of the day, city tour of Addis Ababa which includes: The  National Museum,  Ethnographic Museum, Merkato and other parts of the city. The National Museum of Ethiopia: This is one of the best museums in quality and diversity of the exhibits. Archeological exhibits include the 3.5 million-year-old fossil of Lucy (or Dinkinesh – ‘thou art wonderful’- in the native language), a hominoid woman of the specious of Australopithecus Afarensis. The discovery of Lucy’s fossil in 1974 forced a complete rethink of human genealogy, providing that our ancestors were walking 2.5 million years earlier than had been supposed. The National Museum also contains many wonderful artifacts dating back to pre-Axumite civilization.

The Ethnographic Museum is very different to the National Museum, but equally absorbing, this museum exhibit, a varied array of artifacts and daily objects related to most ethnic groups in Ethiopia.

In the afternoon, city tour of Addis will continue with Merkato, the largest open-air market in the continent and the other part of the city including Piassa and Churchill Avenue.

In the evening, there will be Grand Holidays’ complimentary farewell dinner party with traditional special buffet and local drinks. There will also be live cultural dance show of the different ethnic groups living in the country. There will not be any better way of ending a trip. At the end of the farewell dinner, transfer to Addis Ababa airport for the flight back departing. End of tour!

Note:
• Activities for the first and last days will depend on visitors’ times of arrivals and departures and airline used.

• Upon request the above tour program can be, modified, differently rearranged, combined with other programs, or extended to suit the clients’ interest, time, and budget.

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