Description

Explore The most impressive World Heritage sites along the Historic route of Northern Ethiopia , coupled with the colorful celebration of Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket ) in the historic City of Gondar .

9 Days Ethiopian Timket (Epiphany) Festival Tour

Day 1 | Arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Air port

Meet and greet your Worqamba Ethiopia Tours representative at exit of luggage claim and transfer you to the hotel. Overnight stay in Radissun Blu Hotel, Addis Ababa.

Day 2 | Addis Ababa City Tour

You will have an early breakfast and your first visit in Addis Ababa will be the National Museum (pre historic, cultural, archaeological attractions), Ethnographic Museum of Addis Ababa University (culture, dressing style, traditional practices of over 80 ethnic groups, and collection of traditional musical instruments). Lunch at Lucy Restaurant.
Your visit also comprises Merkato ,the largest open market in Africa and Entoto Natural park.In the evening, we will host you at one of the best traditional restaurants of Addis where you can see the folk dances of the Ethiopian people and taste Ethiopian variety of meals.

Day 3 | Fly to Bahir dar and Visit Lake Tana Island Monasteries & Blue Nile Falls

Early morning, a short flight will take you to Bahir dar. Upon arrival, you will be met by our tour guides, drive to a hotel where you will check and rest for few minutes.

Your first visit will be to Lake Tana on a boat ride where you will visit to the medieval period island monasteries (beautiful mural paintings, religious books & sacred) on Lake Tana such as: Kibran Gabriel (only for men), and on the Zegien peninsula visit Ura Kidan Mehiret.

After lunch, you will drive ( 31 Km) and visit to the Blue Nile Falls. In the evening, you will have dinner and stay the night at the hotel. Overnight stay in Kuriftu Resort and Spa, Bahir Dar.

Day 4 | Drive to Gondar and Visit the Fassiladas Castles

You will be driven to Gondar (185 Km) right after breakfast. There you will check into a hotel and after a brief break, you will have lunch. Then, you will visit to the Royal Castles (built in the 17th Century A.D. that is surrounded by high stone walls containing the 17th century palaces of King Fassiladas, King Iyasu and Queen Mentewab and different other buildings.), Debre Birhan Selassie church known for its colorful, religious art.

Late in the afternoon, you will attend the Timket eve ceremony called, Ketera (to mean to make a dam in some places where there is no enough river water for the celebration of Timket). During Ketera, the priests take out the Tabots- replicas of the original Ark of the Covenant, from each church and Take them into to the Bath of Emperor Fasiledes , accompanied with much singing and chanting. Overnight stay in Goha hotel.

Day 5 | Attend Timket festival in Gondar

Early morning after breakfast you will attend the festival at Fassilades Bath. The celebration starts early in the morning, with the pre-sun rise rituals including the Kidan (Morning Prayer) and the Kidasie (the mass). Lunch at Quara Hotel. Overnight stay in Goha hotel.

Day 6 | Flight to Axum & City Tour in Axum

Early morning, a short flight will take you to Axum where you will check into a hotel. After a short break, you will visit to the Steale of Axum, the Inscription of Ezana, Queen Sheba’s Palace, the Famous St. Mary of Zion Church, Ruins of Ancient Palaces (built until 4th Century A.D.), all day with lunch break in between. In the evening, you will get back to the hotel and spend the night there

Day 7 | Flight to Lalibela

After breakfast, another short flight will take you to Lalibela. Upon arrival, you will be met by our tour guides, drive to a hotel where you will check and rest for few minutes. Your first visit will be to the eleven Rock-hewn Monolithic (carved from a single rock) Churches of Lalibela (UNESCO World heritage site, with magnificent architecture & paintings inside the churches). In the evening you will get back to the hotel, rest, have dinner and relax.

Day 8 | One more day to explore the Lalibela Rock-hewn Churches

Right after breakfast, an early morning drive will take you to historical churches around Lalibela like the Hill Church of Asheton Mariam (on the back of a mule or on foot), Yimerhane Kirsotos, Nakute LeAb or Genete Maryam

Day 9 | Lalibela, Addis Ababa, Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Lalibela airport for the flight to Addis Ababa. Depending on your departure time, an optional city tour of Addis Ababa can be arranged.
In the evening, there will be a complimentary farewell dinner party with traditional special buffet and local drinks. (flight schedule permitting). At the end of the farewell dinner, transfer to Addis Ababa airport for the flight back. End of tour.

The tour itinerary can be amended, rearranged differently and include or exclude activities based on your interest .

What's include