Tour Description
Ethiopia has a number of festivals, many of them unique. Ethiopian festivals are colorful, fascinating and are all year round. Both traditional and religious festivals are celebrated by its diverse ethnic groups with their picturesque native lives in their most rustic settings.
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 of September in the Western calendar. Genna (Ethiopia Christmas) is celebrated on 7th January. Among the traditional and religious festivals mostly visited by locals includes: Kulubi Gabriel, Sheikh Hussein, Gishen Mariam, Axum Tsion, Sof Omar, Erecha and Ashenda. Crowds pray for health, for a new baby, for a special favor or a good harvest, or to give thanks for wishes already granted.
The following festival tour programs covers major religious festivals in Ethiopia combined with historic route attractions and WUB ETHIOPIA TOURS is ready to take you to such unique, exquisite religious chants and jubilation places.
Tour Program
Tour Code: WET-403
Tour title: Historic Route with Meskel Festival
Duration: 11nights & 12days
Transportation: Surface driving
Day1. Arrival to Addis Ababa and transfer to hotel.
Day2. Addis Ababa attend Meskel Festival
In the morning, sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa that includes: The National museum, Ethnographic museum and Merkato /The largest open air market in Africa/. Late in the afternoon, drive to the great Meskel Square where the colorful Meskel festival takes place. In this festival, processions of finely dressed priests and locals celebrate the finding of the ‘True Cross’ with songs and dances around an enormous bonfire. Overnight Hotel
Day3. Addis Ababa-Debremarkos
Morning drive 304km north to Debre Markos, on the way visit 13th century Debre Libanos, the ‘Portuguese Bridge’ where you have a chance to encounter one of the endemic mammals of Ethiopia – the Gelada Baboon (bleeding heart baboon). Cross the Blue Nile Gorge, which is comparable with the American Grand Canyon, lunch will be from lunch box ,then continue drive to the city of Debre Markos for overnight stay. Overnight Hotel
Day4. Debremarkos-Bahirdar
In the morning, drive 250km to Bahirdar, a town on the shore of Lake Tana. After lunch, drive 32 km south of Bahirdar to Tis Isat which locally means Smoke of fire to visit the famous Blue Nile Falls. Then, drive back to Bahirdar and enjoy walking and bird watching around Lake Tana. Overnight Hotel
Day5. Drive to Gondar
Morning after breakfast, make boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the 16th century island monasteries of Ura Kidane Mihret. These monasteries are decorated with frescos, elaborate painted ceilings, church crosses, crowns and attires of former Ethiopian kings and emperors. Afternoon after lunch, drive 185 km to Gondar which was once (17th and 18th centuries) the capital of Ethiopia. Overnight Hotel
Day6. Gondar
Morning sightseeing tour of Gondar which includes:- The ‘’ROYAL COMPOUND” with many castles complex , Bath of Fasiledes, which is filled with water once a year for the Timkat (EPIPHANY) celebrations , the finest churches of Debre Birhan Sillassie or ‘Trinity at the mount of light’, built during the reign of Emperor Iyasu (1682-1706). Overnight Hotel
Day7. Excursion to Semien Mountain National park
Morning, make an Excursion trip Semien Mountain National Park to admire the beautiful landscape and for spotting the endemic and rarest animal, Walia Ibex, Enroute visit the Felasha village. Late in the afternoon drive back to Debark. Overnight Lodge
Day8. Debark-Axum
Early in the morning, drive to Axum through the spectacular views of Semien Mountains National Park and crossing the Tekeze River Gorge. Overnight Hotel
Day9. Axum
Morning sightseeing tour of Axum which includes the Archeological museum of Axum, the Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion which is believed to be the last resting place of the Original Ark of the Covenant, and in the afternoon after lunch break visit UNESCO registered famous ‘Stele field’, the ruin palace and tomb of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskel and the residence of the legendary Queen of Sheba. Overnight Hotel
Day10. Lalibela
Morning Board short flight to Lalibela which is home to the 12th century hand carved rock churches of King Lalibela (1181 - 1221) whom the town is named after. After check in and lunch in your hotel, visit the first group churches of Lalibela (UNESCO World Heritage Site) which are found northeast of a stream named ‘River Jordan’.
Day11. Excursions to Asheten Church
In the morning, make a mule ride to the hill top semi monolithic church of Asheten Mariam (13th Century AD). The peak of the hill offers a wonderful viewpoint to have bird eye view of the surrounding area including the town of Lalibela. For those who are not fond of the mule ride, an alternative excursion to Na’akuto Leab cave church will be organized.In the afternoon, visit the second and the third group of churches of Lalibela. Overnight in Hotel.
Day12. Fly back to Addis Ababa
Transfer to Lalibela air port to fly back to Addis Ababa, and have a last minute shopping and participate in farewell dinner in one of famous traditional restaurants. Evening departure.
The founder of WUB ETHIOPIA TOURS private company is an experienced tourism expert who has been working in tourism institutions for more than 25 years. In one of Ethiopian languages, in Amharic the word “Wub” means; Stunning, Wonderful, Beautiful, etc.
