Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Gondar - Goha Hotel
Early morning flight from Addis Ababa to Gondar, you will be met and transported by Yemgeta representative to check in to your hotel. After a quick lunch you will begin your excursion of 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 North- west 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 two-storied 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.
Day 2/3: Jerusalem Guest House
Mid-morning flight to Lalibela, you will be met and transported by Yemgeta representative to check in to your hotel. After a quick lunch you will begin your excursion of Lalibela. 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 craftsman- ship 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 South-west 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.
Early morning trip to explore more of the rock-carved church of 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. The cave is situated on hill where we have to hike by foot for 30 minutes on walking trail. The excursion will take us about 3-4 hours. After lunch we will continue visiting the rest of the sites in the town of Lalibela.
Day 4: Lalibela to Addis - Departure
Today you will enjoy a relaxing morning, breakfast before your mid-morning flight back to Addis Ababa.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Accommodation in twin room
- Full meals with bottled water
- Ground transportation with latest model 4x4 SUV
- Camping fees
- Scout fee in the national parks
- Portage at each place
- Professional English speaking escort guide and driver all throughout the trip.
- All excursions to sites of interest with entry fees as per itinerary
- All the necessary camping gears; sleeping, dinning, cooking and shower tents; mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags; dinning chairs and tables; cooking utensils, and in short all the necessary equipment.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Ethiopia
History Whiz
Archeology/History
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