Tour Type |
Christmas in Lalibela with Northern Ethiopia |
Group size |
8-12 people |
Duration |
11NIGHTS/12DAYS |
Up on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, you will be welcomed and assisted by one of our professional guide and driven to your hotel. Go to the National Museum and Meet Lucy, the 3.2 million year old fossilized skeleton here. Vista the Holy Trinity Cathedral, It houses the tombs of the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassi, and the British suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst. A short drive up Mount Entoto will take you to the Palace of Emperor Menelik II. From this vantage point, you have an excellent view of the city. On the way back to Addis, perhaps stop by Shiro Meda, the biggest garment market in the country, where hundreds of vendors line the busy Entoto Road and sell hand woven traditional cloths.
Overnight stay in hotel.
After breakfast, start the city tour with a cruise trip on one of the island at Lake Tana, Zege Peninsula. At this peninsula, you may visit two of the top sighted of lake Tana -Ura Kidan Meherit and Azewa Mariam churches. Depart the hotel with picnic lunch which you may have it at the end of the tour of churches. Then, depart the island; once you get in Bahir Dar , you may have tea or coffee. In the afternoon, drive out to the Blue Nile Falls for a short hike in the area. The Blue Nile falls is used by Ethiopia Government for hydroelectric power due to water fall get limited amount of water, great time to go to the Blue Nile is rain seasons, June, July and August. Till October worth to go there. Finish the day with a lovely dinner to enjoy a beautiful sunset over the lake.
Overnight in hotel
Overnight in hotel.
30th Dec,2021: Bahir Dar – Gondar
Early in the morning driving to Gondar. The 4 hour drive will take you through rural area and beautiful villages, offering a wonderful insight into the Amhara culture. You may have some stops for taking photos while driving. Take a short relaxation at your hotel and have lunch at the hotel to save time* Lunch self-pay* Afterward, check out from hotel for the city tour of Gondar. The half day city tour includes: a visit to the 17th Century Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Then, visit Fasilides’ pool, still used nowadays during the Timkat celebration (the Ethiopian Orthodox Epiphany on the 19th January), and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most renowned ceiling in Ethiopia
Overnight in hotel.
31st Dec, 2021: Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park
Breakfast at the hotel, drive to the Simien Mountains National Park via small town of Debar. The drive time from Gondar to the trek start is close to 3 hours. Here, we will process permits to the National part and meet scout, we will resume the drive for 1 hour until we reached to the trek Start place, near to Simien lodge , walk to Sankaber camp for (3-4 hours). During your hike there’s a good chance of seeing your first Gelada baboons groups.
Camping overnight in Sankabar
1st Jan 2022: Simien Mountains National Park – Gondar
Trek 5-7hours Geech, the walk is via the spectacular Jinbar waterfall. After descending down to the Jinbar Wenz which feeds the waterfall surrounded by giant lobelia plants, stop for a magnificent view over the mountains and trek back to the waterfall, where you will be picked up by a vehicle and transfer back to Gondar.
Overnight stay hotel
2nd Jan, 2022: Gondar – Axum
In the morning, fly to Axum. Our agent in Axum meets you up on arrival and transfer you to the arranged hotel and Check-in at the hotel. The guide will give you a short brief of your tour in Axum, and start the city tour with the famous obelisks including the one returned from Italy, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of Covenant is believed to be kept. The old church is men only and the chapel is the guardian monk only no one enters to the chapel.
Overnight stay in hotel.
3rd Jan, 2022- Axum- Hawzain
Today we drive to Hawzain, Hawzain is small town in Tigray regional state. Tigray region said to include close to 120 rock churches from sandstones. There are churches which demand tough walk such as AbunaYemata Guh , also there are churches demand simple walk you may see one or two depending on your fitness and time.
Overnight stay lodge.
4th Jan, 2022- Hawzain- Mekele
In the morning, we drive to Mekele en route visiting some of the most ancient Tigray rock-hewn churches including Wikro Cherkos and Abrha We-atsbeha.
Overnight stay in Hotel.
5th Jan, 2022- Mekele – Lalibela
Full day drive to Lalibela town via Sekota road which is a great scenic route. On your way, you may stop and visit Yemrehanna Kirstos cave church. The church built from wood & rock perched under water, its breathtaking vegetations, and mass graves at the back of the church make the church completely unique church. After the visit you may take a tea or coffee in the Village. Resume the drive to lalibela town. Take a rest at your hotel.
In the evening, we will drive to Bete Emanuel to attend the special celebration of Emanuel with chanting and dancing by the priests and deacons. The ceremony will be accompanied by a crowd of piligrims who comes across the country to witness and get blessed from this amazing festival.
Overnight stay in Hotel.
6th Jan,2022 Lalibela exploration Day
Morning, visit we will visit the Northwestern cluster of churches: Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael and Bet Golgotha.
At night, we will attend the Christmas Eve ceremony to be held at Bete Mariam church. This evening, you will attend the Ethiopian Christmas Eve Ceremony with the pilgrims. The dancing by the deacons and the priests continue throughout the night while the pilgrims clap and ululate to the drum beat. At midnight, there will be a candlelight ceremony to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Overnight stay in Hotel.
7th Jan, 2022- Lalibela another exploration Day.
Today is exceptional day of the year in Lalibela at Bet Mariam church. Back to Bete Mariam church to witness the final ceremony of Ethiopian Christmas., as it has been for centuries, the priests will be lined up with their drums on the cliff edge of Bete Mariam and others at the bottom, representing the shepherds and the angels announcing the birth of Jesus. Return to hotel for breakfast, if you want you may go to one of the Local house in Lalibela town you may enjoy with the Festival foods and drinks. Afternoon, continue with the southeastern cluster of churches: Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanuel, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, you will visit the most famous and picturesque of all the churches built in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia: Saint George.
Overnight stay in Hotel.
8th Jan, 2022 Lalibela- Addis Ababa
After breakfast, transfer to Lalibela airport for the flight to Addis Ababa, connect international flights.
Book Your Ethiopia Trips with Us
Kindy fill the form and click the send button above
.
©2019- 2024 Afro Experience Tour and Travel Agent, aetta. All Rights Reserved.
Afro Experience COVID-19 Message
Travel Update: As of 15 March 2021- Ethiopia started vaccination
Travel Update: As of 23 September 2020
Ethiopia opened its border for travellers since 23 September 2020.
Required:
Click Here( copy the link and paste it to the browser) for more:
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Dear Customers,
As you are aware, COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted the travel business in a way we have never seen before. Due to the restrictions imposed upon us, our operation is limitted to providng status updates on the pandemic and overal information on travelling to Ethiopia through Afro Travel Blogs
We will continue to update the latest progress here so that you make an infomed decision while you keep your health and Safety.
With Regards,
Afro Experience Team
We strongly Recommend the following site for daily Update of the Testing Result in Ethiopia
You must log in to post a comment.