Ethiopia Cultural and Historical Tour with Timket Festival

The trip begins and ends in Addis Ababa.
Guaranteed Departure with 2 participants minimum.

This trip begins with a rendezvous at the airport in Addis Ababa on Day 1. Please arrange your flight schedule so you will arrive on the correct day. But on your special request we can arrange other transfer for those arriving earlier.

This Ethiopia Historical and Cultural Tour is arranged in such a ways to visit Blue Nile waterfall, Monasteries on Lake Tana, Ethiopia world heritage sites including the Castle of Gondar, the Rock Churches of Lalibela. The second part of the program is a cultural tour for visiting the people in the Southern Omo Valley. This adventure takes you on a cultural high, exploring some of the most remote areas of Ethiopia where some of the most colorful and beautiful tribes of the world live. The Mursi, with their decorative lip plates, the Hamer in their amazing hair decorations, the Ari, the Bena and several other tribes are covered on this trip.

Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis.
On arrival in Addis Ababa our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to   Ghion Hotel. An overview of the program and itineraries will be given. The rest of the day visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains when discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 meters and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis. Return to hotel after the city tour. Overnight Ghion Hotel

Day 2: Fly Bahir Dar. Morning, Blue Nile Falls afternoon Boat trip
After breakfast fly to Bahar Dar. After check into the Hotel and refreshment, we take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit ancient monasteries. We will visit two of the most accessible and representative of the monasteries, still serving their original function, Ura Kidane Mehret, and Azwa Maryam. In the afternoon   visit to the impressive Blue Nile Falls, locally known as Tis Isat or 'Smoke of Fire’. Overnight Papyrus or Tana Hotel

Day 3: Drive Gondar Tour of Gondar:
We experience typically in an Ethiopian African landscape as we drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar- 180 kms over wide grazing land, hilly mountains with numerous farmlands. The rest of the day visit attractions in Gondar. The attractions that we visit in Gondar includes: Castles of Gondar- are included in the World Heritage List, the royal Fasiledes Bath and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its unique murals. Overnight Goha/ Red Fox Hotel

Day 4: Fly Lalibela:
We take a short flight to Lalibela then drive 23kms to the town where all the 11 monolithic Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela are situated. Today we visit the first group of six churches lie in rock cradles one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mika'el, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel and Bet Medhane Alem. Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one, is built like a Greek Temple and its stone floor is so polished by the countless numbers of visitors that it reflects shafts of light from apertures in the walls high above. In a corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Afternoon attend Eve of Timket, Epiphany at Lalibela. Overnight Mount View Hotel Overnight Roha/ Mountain view or Jerusalem hotel

Day 5: In Lalibela: attend the Timket Festival in Lalibela
Timket- Epiphany
Morning attend the Timket Festival in LalibelaTimket- Epiphany. In the afternoon, visit of the other groups of Rock churches of Lalibela . Roha/ Mountain view or Jerusalem hotel.

Timket, or Timkat, is Ethiopian language for Epiphany. Although the holiday commemorating Christ's baptism in the River Jordan is observed by Christians all over the world, Timket is of special significance in Ethiopia. It is the most important and colourful event of the year.
The festival starts at Timket Eve, January 18, eleven days after the orthodox Christmas. Although the festival is largely religious, it has no lack of secular elements such as partying and match-making.
According to the Ethiopian epic Kebra Negast, the Ark of the Covenant was abducted from Jerusalem to Ethiopia during the first millennium BC. Since then, it has become the most sacred element of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Early afternoon in the Timket Eve, the replicas of the Ark, covered by silks, are carried solemnly by priests from each church to the nearby body of water. Accompanying the procession are tens of thousands of church members and believers, chanting, dancing, drum-beating, horn-blowing, prayer-stick-waving and sistra(a simple musical instrument)-rattling. All in all, it resembles the scene described in the Old Testament.
As evening falls, the priests and the pious believers participate in overnight vigil around the Arks until dawn. Then huge crowds gather around the water. After the chief priest blesses the water, the celebration reaches its climax. Many jump into the water, the rest are eager to get a splash. After the religious vows are renewed, some of the Arks are paraded back with the same celebrating fashion.

Day 6: Fly to Addis Ababa
After breakfast you will check in to the Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Overnight Ghion Hotel

Day 7: Drive Arba Minch
Drive to Arba Minch via Wolayta Sodo. En route, visit Chencha for Dorze villages. The village sits high in the mountains north of Arba Minch. The Dorze are recognized in Ethiopia as master weavers and live in interesting igloo- shaped houses. We arrive late in the afternoon at Arba Minch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arba Minch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town. Overnight Bekele Molla hotel or similar

Day 8: Drive Jinka en route visit Key Afer Market
After break fast drive to Konso where colorfully costumed dress, impressive terracing of the Land and unusually engraved wooden statues used as grave markers can be seen. Further along the route visit the Woito people live in the area around Woito River and Tsemay village. Continue driving to Jinka for overnight in Jinka Resort or similar Hotel.

Day 9: Jinka – Mursi - Jinka
After breakfast leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe they are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted. Proceed to Mago National Park. After a picnic lunch, you will have game drive to see big mammals and different species of birds and in the late afternoon drive back to Jinka. Overnight Jinka Resort or similar Hotel

Day 10: Jinka – Turmi
After breakfast drive to Turmi through Dimeka for the visit of Hamer people and their village. Turmi is a small town, which is the base to visit the Hamer village. Hamers have remarkable hairstyles made from ochre, water, and binding resin. They rub the mixture into their hair then twist the strands repeatedly to create coppery-coloured locks. This is a sign of wealth and welfare. Hamers are considered to be masters of body decoration. Overnight Evangadi Lodge

Day 11: Drive Yabello
Drive to Yabello visiting the colorful Key Afer f market   where you will visit the Benna, Tsemay and rarely the Ari tribes. En route you also viit the Oromo Borena and visit their village. The drive this day will let you to experience the life of the Oromo Borena People who is well known in cattle rearing. You also visit the Oromo Borena People villages and their 'singing well' from which they cater water to their own thousands of cattle by singing.   Overnight Yabello Motel

Day 12: Drive Yergalem
Drive from Yabello to Yergalem over a beautiful Sidamo mountain through coffee plantation. Overnight Aregash Lodge.

Day 13:Drive Addis fare well dinner and evening Departure
After breakfast drive to Awassa and visit the fish market then drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley lakes. En route we will stop on the viewpoints for the Rift Valley Lakes of Shala, Abyta and Langano. In the Evening a fare well diner party in one of the Traditional Ethiopian restaurant with dances from the different ethnic Groups. Then after transfer out to the airport for departure back to home.

Ethiopia Cultural and Historical Tour with Timket Festival Ethiopia private/group Cultural and Historical Tour/holiday. You travel both to the northern Historic Route and Southern Omo Valley. A visit of the colorful celebrations of Timket Festival in Lalibela is included.
TOUR CODE	DURATION	SITE TO VISITE	TRANSPORT
AAT 1117	13 DAYS/ 12 NIGHTS	ETHIOPIA- HISTORIC ROUTE & OMO VALLEY	SURFACE & BY AIR
ITINERARY The trip begins and ends in Addis Ababa. Guaranteed Departure with 2 participants minimum. This trip begins with a rendezvous at the airport in Addis Ababa on Day 1. Please arrange your flight schedule so you will arrive on the correct day. But on your special request we can arrange other transfer for those arriving earlier. This Ethiopia Historical and Cultural Tour is arranged in such a ways to visit Blue Nile waterfall, Monasteries on Lake Tana, Ethiopia world heritage sites including the Castle of Gondar, the Rock Churches of Lalibela. The second part of the program is a cultural tour for visiting the people in the Southern Omo Valley. This adventure takes you on a cultural high, exploring some of the most remote areas of Ethiopia where some of the most colorful and beautiful tribes of the world live. The Mursi, with their decorative lip plates, the Hamer in their amazing hair decorations, the Ari, the Bena and several other tribes are covered on this trip. Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis. On arrival in Addis Ababa our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to Ghion Hotel. An overview of the program and itineraries will be given. The rest of the day visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains when discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 meters and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis. Return to hotel after the city tour. Overnight Ghion Hotel Day 2: Fly Bahir Dar. Morning, Blue Nile Falls afternoon Boat trip After breakfast fly to Bahar Dar. After check into the Hotel and refreshment, we take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit ancient monasteries. We will visit two of the most accessible and representative of the monasteries, still serving their original function, Ura Kidane Mehret, and Azwa Maryam. In the afternoon visit to the impressive Blue Nile Falls, locally known as Tis Isat or 'Smoke of Fire’. Overnight Papyrus or Tana Hotel Day 3: Drive Gondar Tour of Gondar: We experience typically in an Ethiopian African landscape as we drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar- 180 kms over wide grazing land, hilly mountains with numerous farmlands. The rest of the day visit attractions in Gondar. The attractions that we visit in Gondar includes: Castles of Gondar- are included in the World Heritage List, the royal Fasiledes Bath and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its unique murals. Overnight Goha/ Red Fox Hotel Day 4: Fly Lalibela: We take a short flight to Lalibela then drive 23kms to the town where all the 11 monolithic Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela are situated. Today we visit the first group of six churches lie in rock cradles one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mika'el, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel and Bet Medhane Alem. Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one, is built like a Greek Temple and its stone floor is so polished by the countless numbers of visitors that it reflects shafts of light from apertures in the walls high above. In a corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Afternoon attend Eve of Timket, Epiphany at Lalibela. Overnight Mount View Hotel Overnight Roha/ Mountain view or Jerusalem hotel Day 5: In Lalibela: attend the Timket Festival in Lalibela Timket- Epiphany Morning attend the Timket Festival in LalibelaTimket- Epiphany. In the afternoon, visit of the other groups of Rock churches of Lalibela . Roha/ Mountain view or Jerusalem hotel. Timket, or Timkat, is Ethiopian language for Epiphany. Although the holiday commemorating Christ's baptism in the River Jordan is observed by Christians all over the world, Timket is of special significance in Ethiopia. It is the most important and colourful event of the year. The festival starts at Timket Eve, January 18, eleven days after the orthodox Christmas. Although the festival is largely religious, it has no lack of secular elements such as partying and match-making. According to the Ethiopian epic Kebra Negast, the Ark of the Covenant was abducted from Jerusalem to Ethiopia during the first millennium BC. Since then, it has become the most sacred element of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Early afternoon in the Timket Eve, the replicas of the Ark, covered by silks, are carried solemnly by priests from each church to the nearby body of water. Accompanying the procession are tens of thousands of church members and believers, chanting, dancing, drum-beating, horn-blowing, prayer-stick-waving and sistra(a simple musical instrument)-rattling. All in all, it resembles the scene described in the Old Testament. As evening falls, the priests and the pious believers participate in overnight vigil around the Arks until dawn. Then huge crowds gather around the water. After the chief priest blesses the water, the celebration reaches its climax. Many jump into the water, the rest are eager to get a splash. After the religious vows are renewed, some of the Arks are paraded back with the same celebrating fashion. Day 6: Fly to Addis Ababa After breakfast you will check in to the Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Overnight Ghion Hotel Day 7: Drive Arba Minch Drive to Arba Minch via Wolayta Sodo. En route, visit Chencha for Dorze villages. The village sits high in the mountains north of Arba Minch. The Dorze are recognized in Ethiopia as master weavers and live in interesting igloo- shaped houses. We arrive late in the afternoon at Arba Minch - meaning 'Forty Springs' in Amharic. Arba Minch takes its name from the bubbling streams that cover the groundwater forest occupying the flats of the town. Overnight Bekele Molla hotel or similar Day 8: Drive Jinka en route visit Key Afer Market After break fast drive to Konso where colorfully costumed dress, impressive terracing of the Land and unusually engraved wooden statues used as grave markers can be seen. Further along the route visit the Woito people live in the area around Woito River and Tsemay village. Continue driving to Jinka for overnight in Jinka Resort or similar Hotel. Day 9: Jinka – Mursi - Jinka After breakfast leave Jinka and drive to Mursi village to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Mursi tribe they are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular clay discs inserted. Proceed to Mago National Park. After a picnic lunch, you will have game drive to see big mammals and different species of birds and in the late afternoon drive back to Jinka. Overnight Jinka Resort or similar Hotel Day 10: Jinka – Turmi After breakfast drive to Turmi through Dimeka for the visit of Hamer people and their village. Turmi is a small town, which is the base to visit the Hamer village. Hamers have remarkable hairstyles made from ochre, water, and binding resin. They rub the mixture into their hair then twist the strands repeatedly to create coppery-coloured locks. This is a sign of wealth and welfare. Hamers are considered to be masters of body decoration. Overnight Evangadi Lodge Day 11: Drive Yabello Drive to Yabello visiting the colorful Key Afer f market where you will visit the Benna, Tsemay and rarely the Ari tribes. En route you also viit the Oromo Borena and visit their village. The drive this day will let you to experience the life of the Oromo Borena People who is well known in cattle rearing. You also visit the Oromo Borena People villages and their 'singing well' from which they cater water to their own thousands of cattle by singing. Overnight Yabello Motel Day 12: Drive Yergalem Drive from Yabello to Yergalem over a beautiful Sidamo mountain through coffee plantation. Overnight Aregash Lodge. Day 13:Drive Addis fare well dinner and evening Departure After breakfast drive to Awassa and visit the fish market then drive back to Addis Ababa through the Great Rift Valley lakes. En route we will stop on the viewpoints for the Rift Valley Lakes of Shala, Abyta and Langano. In the Evening a fare well diner party in one of the Traditional Ethiopian restaurant with dances from the different ethnic Groups. Then after transfer out to the airport for departure back to home. Make An Enquiry And Get More Details About This Package Note: This is not a booking form

ITINERARY