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Axum, Lalibela & Gondar (4 days/3 Nights Religious and Historical Tour)
offered by supplier M16389 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 4
- 12
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 24
people
Destination(s):
Ethiopia
Specialty Categories:
Archeology/History
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 425 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 638 US Dollar (USD)
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Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Addis to Axum - Yeha Hotel
Morning flight from Addis Ababa to Axum. This ancient city, with its half-buried ruins of palaces, monolithic Stelae, and subterranean tombs, is one of Ethiopia's most historic sites. Reputedly the capital of the Queen of Sheba, today Axum is the hub of Ethiopian Christianity. Visit the Park of the Obelisks where several colossal monoliths still stand together, marking the tombs of the Axumite royals.
Visit a historically important dedicatory stone dating to about 320 AD with an inscription written in three languages - Sabaean, Ge'ez (earliest written Ethiopian language), and Greek, and explore the tomb of King Basen, who ruled at the time of the birth of Christ. Also explore Gobadura, where Axum’s giant Stelae were quarried, and see the impressive relief drawing of a lion cut into a large boulder. Axum is where the Ark of the Covenant of Biblical fame is reported to be hidden within the compound of the Church of Saint Mary of Zion.
Day 2: Axum to Lalibela - Jerusalem Guest House
Lalibela is a 'World Heritage Site' and there is every reason for it to be one. The 12th century rock-hewn churches have been dubbed the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'. There are 1000 churches in the Lasta region of Lalibela, some hidden in enormous caves, but it is exceptional to find 11 churches of such master craftsmanship in one locale in the town of Lalibela. Seeing all of Lalibela's churches takes a long time, but they are well worth the effort, particularly during the Ethiopian Christmas (7th January) and Timkat celebrations (19th January). The first group of six churches lie in rock cradles one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mika'el, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel and Bet Medhane Alem.
Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one, is built like a Greek Temple and its stone floor is so polished by the countless numbers of visitors that it reflects shafts of light from apertures in the walls high above. In a corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Bete Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches, lies somewhat isolated in the southwest part of the village on a sloping rock terrace. It can only be reached through a tunnel. The oldest of the churches, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Bet Maryam is the only Lalibela monolith with a porch. The remains of exquisite early frescoes can be seen on the ceiling and upper walls, and there are many elaborately carved details on the piers, capitals, and arches.
Day 3: Lalibela to Gondar - Goha Hotel
Spend today exploring more of the rock-carved churches of the area. We will visit Yemrehane Christos 42km north of the town of Lalibela, a striking church sited within a black basalt rock cave built by King Yemrehane Christos (let Christ show the way) who ruled before King Lalibela in the 10th Century AD. This afternoon you will take a flight to Gondar, you'll be staying at the Goha Hotel.
Day 4: Gondar to Addis - Departure
Gondar, known as the "Camelot'" of Africa. Gondar was the 17th and 18th century capital city of Ethiopia and was home to a number of emperors and warlords, courtiers and kings who built several castles and palaces around the area. Nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Simien Mountains in northwest Ethiopia, Gondar became the capital during the reign of Emperor Fasilidas (1632-1667) and emerged over the years as an important administrative, commercial, religious and cultural centre.
Its importance declined in the 19th century and in 1880 it was looted by the Sudanese Dervishes. The oldest and the most impressive Gondar structure is the 2-storeyed palace of Emperor Fasilidas, built of roughly hewn brown basalt stone held together with mortar and is said to be the work of an Indian architect. Several notable Gondarine structures - the 'Bath of the King' and the 'Debre Birhan Selassie' can be seen.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price is base on double occupancy. Single supplement is $213.00
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Ethiopia
Archeology/History
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