11 days Timket Festival Tour with Historic Ethiopia and Omo valley Tribes
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa and then city tour
Þ On arrival in Addis Ababa meet and greet, are assisted for a transfer to your hotel.
Þ Then preparation for a sightseeing of Addis Ababa that includes; the National Museum, famous for hosting the Humanoid fossil “LUCY”, Ethnographic Museums, Trinity cathedral and Mercato, the largest open air market in Africa and if the time allows drive some 11 kms to Entoto to visit Menilik II palace and Entoto museum.
Þ Then back to Addis on the way testing Ethiopian real coffee Tomocca restaurant. hotel
Day 2: Morning Fly Addis to Bahir dar – pick up from Bahir dar airport and transfer to your hotel, very short break for preparation of Bahirdar sightseeing.
Full day sightseeing in Bahir dar.
Þ Excursion to visit the Blue Nile Falls that takes you out of the city for a drive on a gravel road through the farmlands and small villages of the Amhara People.
Þ Afternoon, boat trip on Lake Tana to visit Monasteries on the islands of Lake Tana. Hotel/resort
Day 3:Drive to Gondar- sightseeing in Gondar – Attend Timket (Ethiopian Epiphany) Eve ceremony called Ketera
Þ AM after Breakfast you will drive over land by minivan to Gonder, which is some 180kms. On your arrival check in to the hotel.
Þ Then preparation for sightseeing of Gonder; the 16th century Royal enclosure famous for its 17th C castles that is known as the “African Camelot” and one of the old churches Debre Birhan Selassie.
Þ PM after lunch Attend the eve Ceremony of Timket Festival in Gondar. hotel
Day 4: Full day attending Timket Festival in Gondar
Þ Morning you will attend the final day celebration of Timket at Fasil Bath. The Holy Ark immersed in the water by the priests then blessed the water body and sprinkles it to the devotees.
Þ In Gondar, the celebration of Timket is also to commemorate the re-baptizing of thousands of peoples from Catholicism to Orthodox Christian.
Þ Thereafter, the Holy Ark carried back to its church amidst lots of chanting, music and dancing. hotel
Day 5: Morning Fly Gondar to Lalibela- Excursion tour outside Lalibela to visit surrounding rock hewn churches of Lalibela.
Þ On arrival, our representative will meet you at Lalibela airport and a transferred to your hotel and preparation for excursion trip.
Þ Drive some 30 kms from Lalibela to visit the two amazing rock hewn churches found on top of the mountain (Yemrehane Kirstose and Asheton Mariam).
Þ Then back to Lalibela for overnight.
Evening you will attend traditional coffee ceremony with Ethiopian hospitality. hotel
Day 6: Visit Lalibela Rock Churches – then Fly back to Addis Ababa
Þ Early morning after breakfast, you will visit the Amazing rock churches of Lalibela rated as the eighth wonder of the world by many authors.
Þ Then fly back to Addis late afternoon will be free leisure or shopping time.hotel
Day 7: Fly to Arba Minch – Sightseeing
Þ On arrival in Arba Minch you will have a boat trip on Lake Chamo to Azeo Gebeya (The biggest crocodile farm in Africa) to see hippos and crocodiles. hotel/lodge
Day 8- Drive to Jinka via the town of Konso
Þ Morning drive to Jinka; En route you will visit the Konso tribes and their ancient villages.
Þ Today, you will also meet Tsemay and Ari tribes with visiting their villages. Photographing with tribes. hotel/lodge
Day 9- Excursion to Mago national park then to Turmi
⇒ Passing through the Mago National Park meet the Mursi Tribes, their women are famous for Lip plates and men for ritual fighting with stick.
⇒ Drive back to Jinka and continue to Turmi via Dimeka, before reaching Dimeka you will find the colorful Tuesday market at Alduba, market attracts tribes like Banna, Tsemay, Hamer and Bashida.
Þ Attend Tribal dance or Bull Jumping rite, occasional and optional. Lodge/hotel
Day 10- Meet the Hamer People, visit their villages and then drive to Arba Minch for overnight.
Þ Morning you will meet the colorful Hamer people and short visit of their villages.
Þ Then continue driving to Arba Minch for overnight en-route, you see the available tribes. Night in Arba Minch. Lodge/hotel
Day 11- Drive back Arba Minch to Addis Ababa then departure
Þ Morning you will visit the Dorza people and their traditional tukul villages; well known on their traditional weaving system.
Þ Then continue driving to Addis Ababa via Awassa.
Þ Moreover, in the evening you will be our guest for a farewell dinner in one of Ethiopian traditional restaurants with folkloric dance.
In the Evening, get transferred to the airport for your Departure flight back to your home.
