Timkat festival holiday in Ethiopia
| country: | Ethiopia |
| departures: | 2010: 25 Jan, 1 Mar, 29 Mar, 27 Sep, 11 Oct, 25 Oct, 8 Nov, 13 Dec, 20 Dec 2011: 9 Jan, 17 Jan, 7 Feb, 21 Feb, 11 Apr |
| price: | From £2390 (16 days) including flights from the UK. This trip can also be arranged without flights from £2160. Price includes 13 nights accommodation on a shared basis, 13 breakfasts and all transport. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Lalibela - Timkat Festival
The Ark of the Covenant may have been Indiana Jones' ultimate conquest, but it is also Ethiopia's holiest relic, believed to lie within the sacred city of Axum and watched over night and day by a devoted guardian. Every year replicas of this famous Ark, known as tabots, are paraded around towns throughout the country during one of Ethiopia's most colourful festivals, Timkat.
In this, the world's second oldest Christian country, vibrantly dressed Orthodox priests use these tabots to sanctify pools of water, which are then used to bless the awaiting multitudes. It is a truly memorable time to be in Ethiopia and this departure is scheduled to coincide with the festival in the ancient city of Lalibela, among the rock-cut churches which are surely one of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites.
Blue Nile, Axum and Medieval Harar
Our itinerary also takes in Bahar Dar on the banks of Lake Tana. Here we find the source of the Blue Nile and Tississat Falls, a 45m drop which is the start of a 1000 mile journey to Khartoum. In the lively market town of Gondar we'll visit 17th century castles, once the centre of a unique and powerful kingdom unlike anything else found in Africa.
We drive up to the high plateau and the impressive scenery of the Simien range, home of the Gelada baboon and rare Simien fox. At Axum we discover giant stelae, palaces and churches before heading south to the remote town of Harar. We discover the North African flavour of this old town with its Moorish gateways, ancient walls, narrow alleyways and jostling crowds. We return to Addis via the stunning scenery and wildlife of Awash National Park.
Please note: Come prepared for poor roads and some simple accommodation, although the warm welcome more than compensates for any discomfort. Included walks around sites are easy with some optional longer walks in the mountains.
The Ark of the Covenant may have been Indiana Jones' ultimate conquest, but it is also Ethiopia's holiest relic, believed to lie within the sacred city of Axum and watched over night and day by a devoted guardian. Every year replicas of this famous Ark, known as tabots, are paraded around towns throughout the country during one of Ethiopia's most colourful festivals, Timkat.
In this, the world's second oldest Christian country, vibrantly dressed Orthodox priests use these tabots to sanctify pools of water, which are then used to bless the awaiting multitudes. It is a truly memorable time to be in Ethiopia and this departure is scheduled to coincide with the festival in the ancient city of Lalibela, among the rock-cut churches which are surely one of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites.
Blue Nile, Axum and Medieval Harar
Our itinerary also takes in Bahar Dar on the banks of Lake Tana. Here we find the source of the Blue Nile and Tississat Falls, a 45m drop which is the start of a 1000 mile journey to Khartoum. In the lively market town of Gondar we'll visit 17th century castles, once the centre of a unique and powerful kingdom unlike anything else found in Africa.
We drive up to the high plateau and the impressive scenery of the Simien range, home of the Gelada baboon and rare Simien fox. At Axum we discover giant stelae, palaces and churches before heading south to the remote town of Harar. We discover the North African flavour of this old town with its Moorish gateways, ancient walls, narrow alleyways and jostling crowds. We return to Addis via the stunning scenery and wildlife of Awash National Park.
Please note: Come prepared for poor roads and some simple accommodation, although the warm welcome more than compensates for any discomfort. Included walks around sites are easy with some optional longer walks in the mountains.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Addis Ababa. |
| Day 2: | Join tour in Addis Ababa; city tour. |
| Day 3: | Fly Bahar Dar; view source of the Nile. |
| Day 4: | In Bahar Dar; visit Tississat Falls; boat trip on Lake Tana. |
| Day 5: | Drive Gondar; visit Debre Berham Selassie Church and Fasiliadas Castle complex. |
| Day 6: | Drive Debark in Simien Mountains. |
| Day 7: | Optional walk in Simien Mountains. |
| Day 8: | Drive through Tekeze Valley to Axum. |
| Day 9: | In Axum; visit Palaces, Baths, Stelae Field, Market and Museum. |
| Day 10: | Fly Lalibela; evening Timkat ceremonies. |
| Day 11: | In Lalibela; early morning Timkat ceremonies; visit rock-cut churches on foot. |
| Day 12: | Fly via Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa; drive Harar. |
| Day 13: | In Harar; walking tour. |
| Day 14: | Drive Awash Saba; visit Awash National Park. |
| Day 15: | Visit Awash national Park; PM drive Addis; tour ends on arrival in Addis Ababa. |
| Day 16: | Depart. |
small group cultural tours
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures.how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
Roads can be poor in parts of Ethiopia and distances long but, conscious of our environmental impacts, we have reduced the number of domestic flights on this tour. This also enables us to get more of a feel for the country as we travel by road through small towns and villages. We aim to support development first and foremost by doing business well but there are many people in Ethiopia who are unable to benefit from tourism. For this reason we also support the work of Send a Cow who provide breeding livestock and agricultural training to rural communities in Ethiopia, giving them better protection against food insecurity. Community Festivals express the very soul of a community, rooted as they are in local history and folklore. They’ll engage all your senses, with their din, colours, scents, tastes – the sheer rawness and spontaneity of the whole experience. This is a fabulous way to learn about the local customs and traditions and get an authentic view of the country you are travelling to in an unpackaged way. Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world but by visiting and operating responsibly we are able to deliver economic benefits to a variety of local businesses. This means employing local guides in each town; using locally owned hotels and spreading our custom to small local restaurants and craft shops where possible. Even just stopping to buy fruit at a local market can really help supplement a family’s income. Using local guides is also the best way to get in depth information on not only the historic and cultural aspects of Ethiopia but insider information on day to day life and learn to respect local traditions. Ethiopians are very friendly and hospitable people and we try to find as many opportunities as possible for you to meet the people in a fun and positive way for both sides. We support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |