TIMKET FESTIVAL

Arrival at Bole International airport, meet Enter Ethiopia Tour representative and transfer to hotel. Then enjoy a city tour including a visit to the National Museum (home of our ancestor Lucy) and the Ethnological Museum followed by an afternoon drive to the Entoto Maryam Church and the former site of Menelek’s capital in the Entoto hills.

Overnight Sapphire Addis Hotel

Early morning flight to Bahar Dar and transfer to your hotel  After check in to the hotel start your tour by  take a boat excursion to visit the island monasteries on Lake Tana; Zeghie peninsula and 2 churches Azoa Miriam and Ura Kidane Miheret, Overview Kibran Gebriel and Etos Monastery. These beautifully painted churches were founded in or before the 15th century. Drive (35km) to Tississat, the waterfalls of the Blue Nile.

Overnight Avanti Blue Nile Hotel

Following Breakfast drive to Gondar visiting Guzara Castle on the way. We will pass through the beautiful scenery of the Amhara region in-route. Afternoon visit to Fasil Ghebbi, the seven-hectare royal compound containing five castles built in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the ornately decorated church of Debre Birhan Selassie which houses some of the best ecclesiastical art in Ethiopia.

Overnight Gonder Goha hotel or similar standard

Morning city see in Gonder city and visit the preparation of the festival.  Timket falls on Tirr 11(January19) every year. It is observed in commemoration of Jesus Christ’s baptism in River Jordan. The celebration of Timket starts on the eve of the main festival.  The eve is known as ’Ketera’ and taken from the Amharic word ‘ketere’ meaning to  make a dam; it is usual to make a dam in some places where there is no enough river water for the celebration of Timket.

 Afternoon At about 10 or 11am, each “Tabot” begins the journey back to its respective church. This involves an even more colorful ceremony with a variety of traditional and religious songs. The priests wear astonishing brocade ceremonial clothes and carry decorated umbrellas, while chanting to the accomplishment of drums and the rhythmic clink of the sistrum and other instruments. Although it is colorfully celebrated throughout the country, Timket is highly regarded in Addis Abeba, Lalibela and Gondar.

Overnight Gonder Goha hotel or similar standard

In Gondar, the bathing palace of Fasiledas is still dedicated to this colorful ceremony. It is still filled with water each year by a canal from the River Keha for the colorful Timket celebration. Besides the baptism of Jesus Christ, the celebration of Timket in Gondar also commemorates the re-baptizing of thousands of people who have converted from Catholicism to the Orthodox faith. Even though Gondar can be visited at any time of the year, the city is a wonderful place of visit during this season as it gives one a chance to witness the colorful ceremonies of the timket Festival.

After noon a drive to the Simien Mountains via Debark, the Headquarters of the Simien Mountain National Park. Enjoy the views as you ascend to Sankabar. Troops of Gelada Baboons are often seen here, grazing along the escarpments.

Overnight Semian lodge or Sankaber Camp

Enjoy a morning walk along the edge of the escarpment taking in fantastic views of the highlands. Drive further into the highlands to Chenek, where we’ll see Gelada Baboons grazing in large troops and, if you are lucky, the Walia Ibex, a rare species of mountain goat. Expect to walk for an hour or two.

Overnight Semian lodge or Sankaber Camp

Morning drive to Axum, the center of the Axumite Empire from the first to the seventh centuries and considered to be the holiest city in Ethiopia. Enjoy splendid views of the Western Simiens as we cross the Tekeze Valley.

Overnight YARED ZEMA or similar standard

Today we visit the historical sites of Axum including St Mary’s Church (fabled resting place of the true Ark of the Covenant) and the stelae field. An afternoon visit to the former palace of the Queen of Sheeba (Dungur Palace) and the ruins of the former tombs of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskel.

Overnight YARED ZEMA or similar standard

Morning flight to Lalibela, a striking town set at over 2,500m in wild, craggy mountains. Here we see the extraordinary 12th- and 13th century rock churches carved below ground level and connected by a maze of subterranean passages. Each of the churches is unique and intricately carved. Wander through the northern and southern clusters and visit the most famous of the rock-hewn churches, Bet Giorgis, the house of St George. The 1st group churches which are included Bieta Medhanialem (Chapel of Holy Savior) which is the biggest and Bieta Mariam (Chapel of Mary): three aisled with mural paintings and a covered pillar containing inscriptions about the end of the world according to the gadl (act) of saintly king. Further visit of Bieta Denagel (Chapel of the Virgins), Bieta Meskel (Chapel of the cross) and finally, the “double – church” of Debre Sina and Bieta Golghotha (women are not allowed in the latter since it’s where the remains of King Lalibela are and also because it contains the tabernacle of the Holy Trinity). PM Visit of the second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, Bieta Merquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style and the

Bieta Abaa Libanos (said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort Meskal Kebra and visit the Bieta Ghiorghis which is the cruciform chapel of St. George.

Overnight Mountain View or similar standard

Optional mule excursion to Asheten Mariam Church situated on a steep hill-top with outstanding views. Return to the hotel for lunch. Afternoon drive to the charming semi-cave church of Neakutoleab, an early 13th century church with reputedly curative waters.

Morning flight to Addis. The afternoon is free for souvenir shopping in Addis Ababa before a final evening you will be attending the Farwell dinner meal at one of the city’s best traditional restaurants to enjoy a variety of Ethiopian cuisines and watch traditional dancing. Departure to the airport for the flight.