Description

Day 1 Addis Abeba

On arrival in Addis Abeba, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the group hotel for overnight. Addis Abeba is the fourth highest capital city in the world. Located at 2400 meters above sea level in one of the highest parts of the Entoto mountain chain, the altitude may fatigue you so take it easy today.

Overnight Jupiter hotel

Day 2 in Addis Abeba city tour

After breakfast we have a full day city tour, which departs at 9am from the hotel. We take time to explore the city and lunch out is include. We will visit the national museum (home of the remains of the famous hominid fossil,”Lucy”) and the ethnological museum at the Addis Abeba university (housed in the former palace of emperor Hailesillase). We will also witness the bustle of one of the colourful local market which has an array of fascinating goods and curious providing a great place for exploration and people watching.

Overnight Jupiter hotel

Day 3 fly to Lalibela

Very early this morning, we take a flight about 1 hour from Addis Abeba over the Ethiopian plateau to Lalibela, located at an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the local pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO world heritage site. Each church has a unique architectural style and all are superbly carved. Most of them are decorated with fascinating and well preserved paintings. On arrival in Lalibela we will have some time to relax. During the afternoon opening session we will spend time admiring and exploring the rock hewn churches.

Overnight Maribela hotel

Day 4 in Lalibela

Today is dedicated to visiting a hill top monastery and the city itself. Lalibela is situated amongst a series of flat topped mountains; there is a difference in altitude of 1500m between the lower lying airport and the city. This morning there is an excursion to the church of Asheten Maryam, about 7km outside the city. After driving a short distance, the monastery itself (3150m) is reached on foot by means of a 3 hrs walk (some steep sections) or by riding on a mule (done at own risk and own expense). In the afternoon we will visit the market place, where a colourful mix of people from the surrounding region gathers. In the evening there is an optional visit to a traditional music house (own expense)

Overnight Maribela hotel

Day 5 fly to Axum, visit the city

This morning we fly to Axum (appro 45 mins), also spelt ‘Aksum” Believed to be Ethiopia’s oldest city. Axum is also known for its massive towering sculptures and huge granite pillars that are more than two thousand years old. This ancient city is revered by all Ethiopians as the place where the ark of covenant is kept and also has a history merchants, wealth and intrigue from the region of the queen of Sheba (10th century BC). This afternoon we absorb some of this history and visit churches hewan out of rock as well as other mountains, the churches of St. Mary of Zion from the holiest Christian sanctuary in the country. There are an old and a new church in the compound as well as a museum but the most significant building is a tiny chapel constantly guarded by monks. Only one chosen guardian is allowed access to this chapel as this is where the Ark of the Covenant kept, containing the tablets on which Moses wrote the Ten Commandments and carried from Mt Sinai in Egypt, is believed to be stored.

Overnight Sabean hotel

Day 6 Drive to small town of Debark

Today we drive to the small town of Debark, in the foot hill of the semien mountains. The road is dirt, rough and winding and is under constraction. The views are spectacular but be prepared for a long rough adventurous day! The small town of Debrk has extremely limited accommodation options. Our hotel here will be basic and not of the same standard as the hotels in other locations.

Overnight simian lodge

Day 7 Day walk in Semien Mountains

In Amharic “semien “means north. Six hundred million years ago, the mountains were an enormous volcanic mass, rain and ice have carved deep fissures into them and rivers have continued the erosion, creating one of the greatest sculptures on the planet. The landscape is stunning with peaks, canyons, gorges, clefts and pointed, amethyst coloured pinnacles like obelisks making dramatic panoramic vistas. We have the opportunity to walk in the area and take in the immense beauty of these mountains. We can try to spot some of the regions endemic wildlife, which includes various antelope species and baboons.

Overnight semien lodge

Day 8 Drive to Gonder, timket celebration

After a relaxed breakfast we will drive to Gonder this morning (about 2 hours on sealed road). We will check in to our hotel then have the afternoon to witness the pre timket fetivities (which are just as exciting as the actual festival day). Tonight is the eve of timket the biggest religious festival in Ethiopia marking the epiphany (or baptism of Christ). Local priests carry tabots (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) from their churches to the Fasiledas bath in Gonder where they are guarded overnight. The bathes, empty for the rest of the year, have been filled with water for the occasion. The parade of tabots is brilliantly colourful and we will dedicate the afternoon (from about 1:30pm) to watching all the action

Overnight Goha hotel

Day 9 timket festival and sightseeing

Today is the main celebration day for the timket festival and is marked by a public holiday. We start very early in the morning (around 5 am)with a transfer to fasiledes bath where priests and faithful Christians have spent an all-night vigil watching over the tabots (replicas of the ark of the covenant). Crowds gather at the bath in the morning where the water is blesse and splashed over the tabots. We will witness the whole baptism ceremony where religious vows are renewed before the tabots are paraded back to the church accompanied by furore of singing and dancing. The spectacle of thousands of white robed faithful following a procession of colourful and elaborately dressed priests is truly incredible. It is impossible not to get caught up in the fever of excitement associated with this celebration. In the afternoon when the parade has finished we will visit the walled royal enclosure one of Gonders most impressive historical features.

Overnight goha hotel.

Day 10 mor ning in Gonder, drive to Bahir Dar

Gonder was once the capital city of the Ethiopian empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasillades, Gonder has now become one of Ethiopia’s largest and impressive cities. In addition to the walled royal enclosure which we visited yesterday, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences. We will visit the palaces, residences and also the church of Debre Birhan Silalsie (light of trinity) which is located at the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. The interior is decorated with beautiful frescoes. This afternoon we will drive from Gonder to Bahir Dar (about 4 hours). Bahir Dar is one of the most well planned cities in Ethiopia. Located at 1800mts above sea level it is situated on the shore of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia.

Drive to Gondar, a city famous for its amazing collection of old castles and palaces. We visit the main sites of the town including the Bath of king Fasiladas and the beautifully decorated Debre Birhan silasie church (light of Trinty) with its wonderful murals.

Overnight Blue Nile hotel

Day 11 Lake Tana boat trip and Blue Nile falls

This morning we take a boat trip on Lake Tana to fully appreciate the sheer size of this water way. There are a myriad of monasteries and churches on the islands; some are private and not accessible to the public. We will visit ura kidanemihret church on zeghie peninsula with its rich history and ornate frescoes. In the afternoon we visit tissat to marvel at the Blue Nile falls or smoke of fire. The falls are located about 2hrs drive (on a rough, dusty road) from Bahir Dar but the result is worth it. The falls are 400mtrs wide when in flood and fall over a sheer chasm more than 45mtrs in height. We return to Bahir Dar in the evening

Overnight Blue Nile hotel

Day 12 fly back to Addis Abeba

Last Minuit shopping in Addis Abeba and in the evening we will have a farewell dinner and the program would end up by being dropped at the airport.