Ethiopia Religious Festival Tours

Ethiopia Historic Route tour is also designed in such a way to coincides with the colorful Festivals of Meskal, Timkat, Christmas or Axum Tsion. You will enjoy beauty of Ethiopia religious festival celebrations.

Price:	USD $3,200 per person
Type:	Tour
Duration:	12 days
Customise:	This Tour can be customised
Country:	Ethiopia
Supplement:	Plus USD $400 for a single person booking
Persons:	minimum (2)
Accommodation:	Hotel
Game Parks:	Simien Mountains NP (Ethiopia)
Activities:	Cultural Tours, Historical Tours, Wildlife Viewing

 Itinerary

Departure Dates
26 Sept 2012 - 7 Oct. 2012 (Meskal Festival in Addis Ababa)
23 Nov. 2012 - 4 Dec. 2012 (Axum Tsion, Celebration of St. Mary, in Axum)
30 Dec. 2012 - 10 Jan. 2013 (Christmas religious celebration in Lalibela)
10 Jan. 2012 - 21 Jan. 2013 (Timkat Festival in Lalibela)

Join one of the departures and witness the vibrant religious festival celebrations in Ethiopia. Guaranteed Departure with 2 participants minimum.

Ethiopia Historic Route is one of the great treasures of Ethiopia. It encompasses the history of Ethiopia from its early beginnings to modern day. A history that stretches back to the time of prehistoric man; to the 3,000 year old history of Axum; the famous 12th century rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, and the medieval castles of Gondar, which is known as Africa’s Camelot. A boat cruise over Lake Tana is arranged to visit old monasteries on the islands. With some distance drive from Bahir Dar, Blue Nile Falls will be visited. The trip also includes crossing the most stunning scenery of Ethiopia. The tour is also designed in such a way to coincides with the colorful Festivals of Meskal- the finding of the real Cross, Timkat- a celebration of the baptism of Christ, Ethiopian Christmas or Axum Tsion. This will be the best opportunity to visit the fascinating religious celebrations.

Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis Ababa
On arrival in Addis Ababa our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to Ambassador 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. Overnight Ambassador Hotel

Day 2: Addis Ababa - Debre Markos
After breakfast drive to Debre Markos via Dejen which is the famous Teff growing region in the country. Teff is staple food of Ethiopians. After 103 kms drive, visit the 13th C monastery of Debre Libanos and the 17th C Portuguese Bridge. En route have stop over to visit the Oromo tribal village. Further down, you will enjoy the fabulous Blue Nile Gorge. Similar to the Grand Canon of USA. Overnight Debre Markos Shebel hotel.

Day 3: Debre Markos - Bahir Dar
Drive about 250kms to Bahar Dar, a town by the edge of Lake Tana, through the beautiful scenery and visiting the Amhara people and their villages. Have a lunch at Bahar Dar, the capital of the Amhara National Regional State. Afternoon, we make city tour of Bahir Dar that includes: Colorful market where someone could find the pottery, traditional hand-made woven clothes, etc. Visit Woito Basket market and Mount Bezawit where the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie is gracefully situated. This hilltop is the best viewing point for the town, the lake and the river. Overnight Tana/Papyrus Hotel.

Day 4: Bahir Dar
After breakfast drive to the small town of Tiss Abay to visit to the impressive Blue Nile Falls, locally known as Tis Isat or 'Smoke of Fire'. The falls throws up a continuous spray of water droplets which drench onlookers up to a kilometre away. Much of the water is diverted to for Hidro electric Generation but it is worth visiting for the walk around and see the country side. The area around the river is extremely fertile and the Amhara people who live here farm wheat, sorghum and Teff (from which injera, the national bread, is made. After the Falls, return to Bahir Dar for lunch the rest of the afternoon 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. Overnight same Hotel

Day 5: 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 you 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 6: Drive Simien Mountains
After breakfast departure for Debark town (100 Kms from Gondar), where the head quarter of Semien Mountains National Park is found. Here we pay the entrance fees and a scout and a local guide will accompany us. Then we continue driving to the gravel road to Buyit Ras, the first campsite of the National Park and your lodge for the night. On this drive you will gain your first impression of the scale and beauty of this highland region, the extraordinary scenery, enjoying the endemic Gelada Baboons and the bone breaker giant bird Lammergeyer roaring around. Overnight Simien Lodge – (3200 m)

Day 7: Drive Axum
On this day, you drive long (280kms) but enjoying very beautiful and spectacular landscape along the Semien Mountains and Tekeze Gorge. The road descends from 3100 meters through hairpin bends down the mountain side to 1400 meters in just 40kms! The drive down and back up to Adi Arkay showcases not only the immensely beautiful Simien Mountain massifs but also the people who eke out an existence in this unforgiving countryside. The drive continues through the Tekeze valley, crossing the Tekeze River, and onto Axum in the far north. Overnight Remhay Hotel

Day 8: Visit of historical and archaeological sites in Axum
The ancient city of Axum is found close to Ethiopia's northern border. It marks the location of the heart of ancient Ethiopia, when the Kingdom of Axum was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The archaeological and historical attractions in Axum include: the archaeological museum, monolithic steles or obelisks, the tombs of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskal, and the legendary Bath of the Queen of Sheba, and the ruins of ancient palace of Queen Sheba. You also visit the new and the old Cathedral of St Mary of Zion and the sanctuary that houses the original Arc of the covenant. The 16th Century Cathedral of St Mary of Zion was probably built on an earlier 4th century church, and is the holiest church in Ethiopia. In its sanctuary is said to rest the original Ark of the Covenant. Overnight Remhay Hotel

Day 9: Fly Lalibela
Morning: Be transferred to the airport for flight to Lalibela. Transfer to the Hotel Roha Lalibela. Lalibela is the second Jerusalem created by King Lalibela in the 12th century. Afternoon: 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. Overnight Roha/Jerusalem/Mountain View Hotel

Day 10: Lalibela
Whole day attend Religious festival. Overnight Roha/Jerusalem/Mountain View Hotel

Day 11: Lalibela
After breakfast drive to Nakuto Le’Abe Monastery. King Nakuto Le’Abe addicted his throne in 1270 AD and went to a cave to lead a hermit’s life. This cave has ever since become a monastery and has a dramatic setting. It houses one of the most interesting collections of ancient crosses, illuminated manuscripts and other icons some of which are attributed to its founder Nakuto Le’Abe. In the afternoon, visit of the other groups of Rock churches of Lalibela Overnight Roha/Jerusalem/Mountain View Hotel

Day 12: Fly to Addis Ababa then departure
After breakfast you will check in to the Airport for your flight to Addis Ababa. Evening we will have a fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurants for cultural dinner and dances from the different ethnic groups. Then after transfer to the airport for flight back home.

Price displayed is per person based on 2 persons traveling

- The current cost for the domestic flight is US $ 230 per person.
- The single room supplement = US $ 336.

Price includes:
• Meet and greet at airport
• All accommodation based on twin room occupancy
• Meals in Addis, on bed & breakfast basis
• Meals out of Addis, on full board basis
• All entrance fees at sites, churches, parks and villages.
• All transfers and visits in Addis Ababa using mini-bus according to the itinerary.
• All Ground transportation including insurance, fuel and all costs of the driver.
• Professional English speaking Tour Guide accompanying through out the trip.
• Local Guide and scout fees in parks and villages
• Boat trip on Lake Tana to visit two monasteries and churches on the islands of Lake Tana
• Farewell dinner in Addis to enjoy traditional Ethiopian food & Music; transfer & guide
• A traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony at a convenient time in the program
• Government taxes

Price doesn’t include
• International flights
• Domestic Flights
• Lunch and Dinner in Addis Ababa
• Alcoholic drinks
• Video filming and photography fees
• Incidental meals, snacks and drinks
• Tips and items of personal nature like laundry, souvenirs, etc
• All what is not included in the list above  

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Festivals

Ethiopia has a number of festivals, many of them unique. Timket (the Feast of Epiphany), falling on 19th January, is the greatest festival of the year, followed in importance by Meskal (Finding of the True cross) on 27th September. Easter is the most solemn of festivals but the Ethiopia New year (Enkutatash) falls on 11th September in the Western calendar. Christmas is celebrated on 7th January. Among the most unusual of the country’s festivals are Kulubi Gabriel, Sheikh Hussein, Gishen Mariam, and sof Omar. Crowds pray for health, for a new baby, for a special favour or a good harvest, or to give thanks for wishes already granted.

ENKUTATASH (NEW YEAR)

September 11, on the Western calendar, is both Ethiopia’s New Year’s Day and the Feast of St John the Baptist. The day is called Enkutatash meaning the ‘gift of jewels’, when the famous Queen of sheba returned from her expensive jaunt to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem, her chiefs welcomed her back by replenishing her treasury with fuku, or jewels.

The spring festival has been celebrated since these early times and as the rains come to their abrupt end, dancing and singing can be heard at every village in the green countryside.
After dark on Year’s Eve people light fires outside their houses, and rush around with flaming torches, celebrating the passing of the old tear and the coming of the New Year. Traditionally young girls would pick a special kind of grass, called engicha or enqwutatash in honour of the event, and would go round signing new-year message of good will, and presenting the grass to whomever they met and would be reciprocated with a modest gift. New Year’s Day in Ethiopia as in many other countries is thus a time of tradition.

MESKAL (FINDING OF THE TRUE CROSS)

Meskal, second in importance only to Timket, has been celebrated in the country for over 1,600 years. The feast commemorates the discovery of the Gross, upon which Jesus was crucified, by the Empress Helena, the mother of constant the Great. The feast is celebrated on 27 September.

On the even of Meskal tall branches are tied together and yellow daisies, popularly called Meskal flowers, are placed at the top. During the night these branch are compound gates and ignited. This symbolises the action actions Empress Helena who, when no one would sow her the Holy Sepulchre, lit incense and prayed for help. Where the smoke drifted she dug and found three crosses. To one them, the True Gross, many miracles were attributed.

Meskal also dignifies the physical presence of the True Cross at he remote mountain monastery of Gishen Mariame located in the South Wollo administrative zone. Aragment of the Cross was kept in a box of bold. The priests of Gishen still safeguard this treasure along with the Tefut, which is handwritten in Ge’ez on beautiful parchment.

During this time of year flowers bloom on mountains and plains and the meadows are yellow with the brilliant Meskal daisy. Dancing, feasting, merrymaking, bonfires and in the past even gun salutes mark the occasion.

GENNA (ETHIOPIAN CHRISTMAS)

The Ethiopian Christmas, also called Lidet, is not the primary religious and secular festival that it has become in Western counties. Falling on 7th January, it is celebrated seriously by a church service that goes on throughout the night, with people moving from one church to another. Traditionally, young men played a game that is similar to hokey, called genna, on this day and now Christmas has also come to be known by that name. This celebration is unique to Lalibela and attracts many visitors.

TIMKET (FEAST OF EPIPHANY)

Timket, Feast of Epiphany, is the greatest festival of the year, falling on 19 January, less than two weeks after the Ethiopian Christmas. It is a three-day affair, beginning on the eve of Timket with dramatic and colourful processions. The following morning, the great day itself, Christ’s baptism in the Feast of St Michael, the archangel, one of Ethiopia’s most popular saints.

Enormous effort is put into the occasion. Tej and tella (Ethiopian mead and beer)are brewed, special bread is baked, and sheep are fattened for slaughter. Gift are prepared for the children and new clothes purchased or old clothes mended and laundered. Everyone- men, women and children-appears resplendent for the three-day celebration.

On the eve of 18 January, ketera, the priests remove the tabotes from each church and bless the water of the pool or river where the next day’s celebration will take place. It is the tabot (symbolizing the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten commandment)rather than the church building which is consecration and according extreme reverence. The feast is celebration throughout the country and the best places to observe this occasion are Addis Ababa, Lalibela and Gondar.

SHEIKH HUSSEIN

Lost in the desert planes of Ethiopia’s Bale province lies the secrete of Sheikh Hussein. Its glistening white domes float in a vast sea of emerald green scrub. This remote shrine and its sacred compound house the tomb of a Saint renowned for his miraculous powers. Although little is known of Sheikh Hussein’s history, his shrine has become the site of one of Ethiopia’s most extraordinary pilgrimages.

The faithful flock there twice a year from all over Ethiopia as from neighboring countries to visit this complex of mosques, shrines and tombs. The pilgrimage lasts several days. As the final prayers are offered and preparations are made for the long journey home, the pilgrims are spiritually enriched. Their journey has brought spiritual renewal and a welcome break from the harsh realities lives.

NEGASH

Ethiopia has long enjoyed the most intimate relations Islam. When the early followers of prophet Mohammed were denied the right to pursue their religion by the Quraysh tribe, the mercantile rulers of Mecca, the prophet had to seek a safe hideout for his followers in order to maintain the survival of his religion.

The then rule of Ethiopia, or Nejashi, granted asylum to the first refugees, 11men and four wives, who entered his territory in 615. The second Hijira (flight) consisted of 101 Muslims. The Quraysh are said to have asked the Ethiopian ruler to hand over the exiles to them, but this was strongly rejected. Among the refugees were the prophet’s daughter Ruquyya, his future wives Umma Habiba and Umma Salama and his cousin and leader of the religious exiles, Ja’afar Ibn Abu Talib. Many of the Muslims stayed in the end were buried at the sacred village of Negash, north of Wukro about 60 Kms from Mekelle, the capital of Tigray Regional Start. The Negashi of the Habersham, as the king is known in the Arab World, died in 630 and was also buried there.

Negash remains Ethiopia’s earliest and most holy Muslim centre, where there is a fine mosque, constructed recently. Many flock to Negash for pilgrimage once in a year during the 10th day of the month of Moharem. Muslims from different parts of Ethiopia and abroad attend this two day colourful festival.

IDD-UL-FITR

Islamic festivals have a special meaning fir Muslims of Ethiopia because of he historical like. Ramadhan is one of the holiest periods in the Islamic calendar. Life changes dramatically during Ramadhan. After breaking their fast at sun-down, people stay awake until early hours, feasting, visiting friends and praying. At dawn they eat the meal that will last them until sunset. At the end of Ramadhan, the festival of Idd-ul-Fitr is celebrated.

IDD-UL-ADHA

The most important holy festival for the Muslims is Idd-Ul-Adh, the feast of the sacrifice- this occurs at the end of hajj on the tenth day of Zul hijja, the twelfth month of the Islamic year. Sheep, goats or camels are sacrificed on this great occasion. The joyful crowds throng the mosque for prayers- the world is alive with happiness.

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