Timket Festival

The group will be met at Addis airport and transferred in to the city for a 2-night stay at The Golden Tulip Hotel. Drop off your bags and then head out for a morning city tour of Addis, including visits to the Cathedral, Avenue of Independence, the Merkato (Africa’s largest open-air market) and the National Museum – a great scene setter for the rest of your trip.

Ketera day which is the first day of Timket Festival begins at 2pm.

Today you will witness the celebration of Timket – Ethiopia’s equivalent to Epiphany and the most important date on their religious calendar. The ceremony and procession in Addis are the largest and most impressive anywhere in the country and we will ensure excellent seats so you can enjoy the spectacle fully. Your guide will explain a little about the day before you leave the hotel and answer any questions as the ceremony is going on, making it a very rewarding experience.

This morning will see an early start to catch the first flight up the day up to Bahir Dar, a modern city on the shores if Lake Tana and the start of your adventure along Ethiopia’s historical Northern Circuit. Drop your bags at the Bahir Dar before heading off on a boat trip along Lake Tana to see the famed Monasteries of the Zeig Peninsula. Serving remote fishing communities, they are unimpressive from the outside but contain some of the most beautiful friezes and carvings of any Ethiopian churches.

Enjoy an early breakfast before setting off for a visit to the famed Blue Nile Falls, one of the most spectacular natural sights in the country. From there you will be driven north to the historic town of Gondar, famed for its fairytale castles of King Fasilidies and his lineage. Tour the castle compound with your guide and learn more about one of the great seats of Ethiopian royalty before visiting the beautiful church of Debre Berhan Selassie – renowned for its incredibly painted roof. Spend tonight at The Goha Hotel.

You will have the chance for a slightly more leisurely morning after a busy start to the trip, setting off after breakfast for the breathtaking Simien Mountains. 2 nights will be spent at Simien Mountain Lodge, an iconic property in the heart of the park with easy access to a range of excellent walks. There will be a chance to enjoy a short walk this afternoon, heading out on the plateau by the lodge to see geralda baboons before returning for sundowner drinks in the “highest bar in Africa”.

Today you will be exploring the Simiens in earnest, heading out with your guide for a day of trekking through the rugged and striking scenary. Keep an eye out for wildlife including geraldas and the striking walia ibex. It is also a great spot for birders, with rare raptors often seen around the clifftops.

Please note: the guide will make an assessment of the exact route based upon the capabilities of the group to ensure everyone can enjoy the walking as much as possible.

After breakfast you will depart the Simiens and head back down to Gondar for an overnight stay in The Goha Hotel. This afternoon will be a rare tract of free time to relax and do as you please. Gondar is an excellent city to explore of your own accord, with some excellent restaurants including the renowned Four Sisters, which offers excellent traditional Ethiopian food and coffee ceremonies. Alternatively sit back by the pool, relax and enjoy the stunning views out over the city.

This morning you will be transferred to Gondar airport and from there fly to Lalibela, an ancient town perched high in the mountains and the most famous stop on Ethiopia’s historical circuit. You’ll be taken to the excellent Hotel Maribela where you will be staying for the next 2 nights. Head off in to the town to visit the first of the two “clusters” of rock hewn Churches (11 churches in all) that were carved out of the red sandstone in the 12^th and 13^th centuries. A truly spectacular afternoon.

After an early breakfast you will be driven out of town and in to the mountains for the short trek up to the ancient cave Monastery called Yemerehana Kristos. One of the most important historic sights in the country, the façade resembles a layered chocolate cake and a visit here is the highlight of any trip. Head back in to town for lunch and a tour of the second of the Church clusters before rounding off the day at Beit Gyorgis, the last of the churches and the only freestanding monolith in the region.

Another early start is needed this morning to fly to the ancient city of Axum, your last stop on Ethiopia’s historical circuit. The town is famed for its large stelae park, packed with monuments to ancient Kings, as well as a very well-presented museum. You can also visit the two Cathedrals (one modern and one old) and cast a glance at the small chapel reputed to house The Ark of the Covanent. Spend tonight at The Sabean Hotel.

*If Axum is not yet accessible for any reason, we will have a third day in Lalibela, and do an excursion to Genete Mariam Church and Nea'Kuto Le'ab Monastery.

After breakfast you will be transferred back to Axum airport to catch a flight to Addis Ababa. From the airport you will be transferred back to The Golden Tulip Hotel where you will have use of a day room and all of the hotel facilities until checking-out this evening.

A transfer will take you back to the airport in good time for the Ethiopian Airlines flight back to London Heathrow, arriving tomorrow morning.