Ethiopia in Depth: Timkat Festival

Depart London.
**

Early morning arrival in Addis. Please note that if you are being picked up
at the airport (either on the group transfer or private transfer) you will
have to exit the terminal to find our representative with the Exodus board.
You may see people with signs inside the terminal but they are generally
people with special permission such as the UN, Government or hotels with
desks inside the terminal. After a leisurely morning to relax we will spend
the afternoon on a site-seeing tour of Addis Ababa. We will visit the
National Museum which houses some of the country’s historic treasures. The
collection of fossils and bones of early hominids discovered in Ethiopia
include the 3.5 million year old remains of ‘Lucy’, the oldest hominid
every found. We will also visit the Holy Trinity Church, Ethiopia’s main
cathedral and home to the remains of the last emperor, Haile Selassie.
Finally we will visit Menelik’s Mausoleum.
**Magnolia *Hotel or similar*

Today we will take a spectacular flight to Bahar Dar. From the air we can
gaze across the extraordinary nature of the Ethiopian Plateau, repeatedly cut
by immensely deep gorges. Bahar Dar is a small but fast growing town on the
southern shore of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. It has long
attracted religious men and the area contains numerous churches and
monasteries, many of them on the thirty or so islands of Lake Tana. The
afternoon is free to enjoy the fantastic bird-watching around the lake or
head into Bahar Dar itself and explore its local market. There is also the
option of doing a half day excursion to the Blue Nile Falls (usually in the
morning).

*Tana Hotel or similar*

We have a full day boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the monasteries of Narga
Selassie & URA Kidane Mehret. We’ll travel by boat to visit some of the
more remote monasteries and churches, most of which date back to the
thirteenth century. The monasteries are fascinating and unlike any others
outside Ethiopia, often decorated with bright mural painting. Because of
their isolation they were used to store art treasures and religious relics
from all over the country. Local history says the Ark of the Covenant was
kept on one of these islands when the city of Axum was under threat, and the
remains of five emperors are to be found at Daga Istafanos.
*Tana Hotel or similar*

MEKELE TIMKAT FESTIVAL ITINERARY

This morning we drive north to Gondar, the former capital of Ethiopia.
Arriving in Gondar we will stop by the Kindu Trust, a local organisation
which works with disadvantaged children, their families and communities.
After lunch we will explore Gondar and visit the castles, which were built in
the 17th and 18th century by several generations of Ethiopian kings. Nearby
is Debre Birhan Selassie church with its sensational angelic ceiling, and the
bathhouse of Fasilides where thousands of Ethiopians celebrate Timkat
festival every January. Our hotel is up on a cliff top with wonderful views
looking over the town.
*Goha Hotel or similar*

MEKELE TIMKAT FESTIVAL ITINERARY

After breakfast we drive to Debark on the edge of the Simien Mountains. The
road has considerably improved and the drive should take about 2hrs. In the
late morning we drive up into the mountains for some spectacular views of
this unique ecosystem. The highland plateau is capped by a dramatic skyline
of jagged volcanic plugs and split by deep gorges and gullies. On a good day,
the views are sensational and the striking towers and formations have been
described as the 'chess pieces of the Gods'. We take an optional 1.5hr walk,
mostly flat or downhill, and hope to see the endemic Gelada baboons and
Klipspringers before returning to Debark. The maximum altitude we reach is
3250m.
*Simien Park Hotel or similar*

MEKELE TIMKAT FESTIVAL ITINERARY

We continue on the rugged road for a full day's drive to the fabled city of
Axum via the lowlands of the Simien Mountains and Tekeze River gorge. Though
this is a long journey, the spectacular views make time slide away. Arrive in
the late afternoon.
*Yared Zema Hotel or similar*

MEKELE TIMKAT FESTIVAL ITINERARY

Axum is the seat of the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Axum, which was
once one of the most powerful in the ancient world. Located at the centre of
the trading routes between the Mediterranean and India, and the great port of
Adulis on the Red Sea, it was economically, politically and technically
advanced and at times had control over both sides of the Red Sea.

Axum is also the origin of Christianity in Ethiopia and believed to be the
resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. The old church of St Mary of Zion
was the first church to be built in Sub-Saharan Africa around 330AD. Its
ruins can be seen in the precinct of the church compound.

We visit the famous monolithic stelae of Axum, the tallest one still standing
reaches over 21 metres and the greatest one of them all, once 34 metres high
now lies toppled on the ground. It is still, however, the largest monolith
ever erected by man. The subterranean tombs, stone inscriptions of ancient
Axumite kings and the small archaeological museum are also living witness of
the ancient Axumite history. We will also visit the ruined palace of the
Queen of Sheba who is said to have given birth to Menelik the First, fathered
by King Solomon, the founder of Ethiopia's ruling family until the late
Emperor Haile Selassie.
*Yared Zema Hotel or similar*

MEKELE TIMKAT FESTIVAL ITINERARY

We leave for Wukro visiting some of the rock hewn churches of Eastern Tigrai
on the way. We first pass through the Battle field of Adwa, where the
Ethiopians defeated the Italian colonial army in 1896, and then stop to visit
the 500 B.C. pre-Christian Temple of Yeha. We will have lunch at Adigrat and
proceed on to Wukro. En route we visit the beautiful rock-hewn church of
Medhane-Alem Adi Kesho in Tsaeda Imba. Overnight stay at Wukro.
*Fiseha Hotel or similar*

MEKELE TIMKAT FESTIVAL ITINERARY

This morning we start by driving about 20Kms North West of Wukro to visit the
famous rock-hewn church of Abreha Wo Atsebeha and Wukro Cherkos, on the
northern outskirts of the town, before proceeding on to Mekele in time to
explore this fast growing city.

As today is the eve of Timkat, there will be a colourful procession with
singing and chanting parades by all of the churches in town that head to the
springs in the city where the tabot stays overnight.

*Planet Hotel or similar*

MEKELE TIMKAT FESTIVAL ITINERARY

Today is the most important day in the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar. We get up
early this morning to take part in the Timkat festivities. We join the
Ethiopian crowds at the springs whose water has been blessed by priests and
by the side of which the Talbot (replica of the Arc of the Covenant) has
spent the night. Timket literally means Baptism and Timket festival symbolise
the baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. Later a procession with
singing and chanting parades the Talbot back to the church. The Timkat
Festival has been described by some as one of the greatest festivals in the
world.
*Planet Hotel or similar*

Today is an extremely long day’s driving but the scenery, once again, is
spectacular as we pass through mountains and river gorges, seeing for
ourselves why Ethiopia’s landscape is completely different to anywhere
else. We eventually reach Lalibela, possibly Ethiopia’s most famous site.
*Roha Hotel or similar*

We spend the day exploring Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches. Whilst they may
feel busy compared to the ones we’ve visited in Tigrai they are still
spectacular and well worth visiting. The churches are mostly cut from solid
rock, and therefore have the appearance of being underground. The most famous
church is Bete Giorgis (St George, patron saint of Ethiopia), carved in the
form of a Greek cross. It is exceptionally well preserved and visually almost
flawless. The churches are quite dark inside, with little artificial light,
and in some cases limited natural light. In each one there is a resident
priest, who is usually happy to put on richly embroidered vestments and pose
for a photo with his crosses, ancient bibles and sunglasses (due to constant
camera flashes!). Although the churches are remote, they are not short of
worshippers: most Ethiopians, certainly of the older generation, are devout
Orthodox Christians, and the services in the churches on religious festivals
are of marathon length: sixteen hours is not unusual!
*Roha Hotel or similar*

In the morning we enjoy an optional adventurous mule journey to visit Ashetan
Maryam (St Mary), built on a ridge with excellent views over the surrounding
countryside. The trip takes approximately 5 hours (round trip) and will start
early to avoid the heat. We will ride the mules up the mountain for
approximately an hour, before hiking the rest of the way up the mountain to
the church. After visiting the church we will walk back down to the village
on slippery mountain paths. This is a tough walk and is optional. If you
choose not to do the walk there is plenty to do in Lalibela: There is the
opportunity to walk into the town and visit some of the many shops or relax
in a Tej café and sample the local fermented honey drink.

The rest of the day is spent absorbing the atmosphere of this extraordinary
town with its Tukul or round houses. Made as two storey buildings, they are
unusual in Africa.
*Roha Hotel or similar*

An afternoon flight takes us back to Addis Ababa. We are then transferred to
the hotel for day rooms and get settled before enjoying an optional final
dinner at a well-known local Ethiopian restaurant. Those on the group flight
will head to the airport later this evening. Please note that due to flight
schedules, some departures may include an extra night at the end of the trip
for flight inclusive clients and a day-time return-flight.

The extension to the Islamic city of Harar starts today with an overnight in
Addis Ababa.*
*