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In Search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant
offered by supplier M15964 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 10
day(s)
Group Size: 2
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Ethiopia
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Season: January - December
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 2365 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2365 US Dollar (USD)
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Ethiopia is truly a land of contrasts and extremes, a land of remote and wild places. Some of the most stunning sites on the African continent are found here, such as the jaggedly carved Simien Mountains, Lalibela & The Northern Churches, listed as UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
Ethiopia is old, old beyond all imaginations. As Abyssinia, its culture and traditions date back over 3,000 years, and even far earlier than that lived "Lucy", whose remains were found in a corner of this country full of mysteries and exoticism.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa
We are met on arrival at Addis Ababa International Airport and transferred to our hotel. The name of the city in Amharic means "new flower". The city it was founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II and it is located at 2,500 m (8202 ft) above sea level in one of the highest parts of the Entoto Mountain chain (3,000 m/9842 ft above sea level).
Addis Ababa is a pleasant city, with wide Avenues of jacaranda trees, interesting museums and sites, and one of the largest open-air markets in Africa, known as the "Mercato". We meet this evening for dinner and a short orientation with our guide and escort. Overnight: Hotel Hilton, Addis Ababa (2 nights) (Dinner)
Day 2: Addis Ababa
We spend the day exploring Addis Ababa beginning with a visit to the National Museum, one of the most important sub-Saharan museums in all of Africa. The museum is home to the fossilized humanoid ‘Lucy’, as well as to an amazing collection of artifacts, royal items and art. We then visit the Ethnological Museum, which was the former residential Palace of Haile Selassie, and the business center of Addis Ababa.
After lunch, we take time at the St. George Cathedral, built in 1896 by Emperor Menelik to continue after onto the Holy Trinity Cathedral. The Holy Trinity Cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in Ethiopia and has survived throughout many historical periods, as its interesting architecture can attest to. The Cathedral contains the thrones and the tombs of the Emperor and some of the royal family. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Addis Ababa / Bahir Dar (The Blue Nile) (flight)
After breakfast this morning we take a short flight north to Bahir Dar. Bahir Dar is a pleasant city located on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. After checking in to our hotel, we drive to the Blue Nile Falls, which is known locally as Tissisat (smoking water) Falls. The falls are 100 m (328 ft) wide, the water plunges for 45 m (148 ft), giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows.
We climb down to the base of the falls for an up-close look and then ascend the other side. We cross the Blue Nile by boat to return to the point of departure. After lunch we explore the city of Bahir Dar, including the market and the Bezawit Palace (formerly the Palace of Haile Selassie).
After a short drive, we visit a Woyito Tribal Village, where we will observe the production of the papyrus boats, known as tankwas. Overnight: Tana Hotel, Bahir Dar (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Bahir Dar / Tana Lake / Gondar (drive)
Today we spend the day exploring Tana Lake and its islands by boat. There are 37 islands on the Lake and 30 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We will visit the Monasteries or Churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret, Azoa Mariam, Narga Silasie and Daga Stifanos.
Ura Kidanemihiret is the best known of the monasteries and houses an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th Centuries A.D. Azoa Mariam is known for its wall-paintings and we’ll also have time to visit the small museum here. Daga Stifanos it is the most sacred of the monasteries and (unfortunately) only open to men.
It holds the tombs of some of the former emperors of Ethiopia, as well as a 16th Century A.D. painting of The Virgin Mary. Upon arrival into Gorgora Village, we visit Debere Sina Church before continuing by road to Gondar. Overnight: Goha Hotel, Gondar (3 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Gondar
Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. In Gondar there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences.
During our sightseeing tour we’ll visit the Fasilidas Palace, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and also the oldest one, then we continue on to Quskuam Church and the Church Of Debre Berham Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of Debre Berham Selassie is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings, and it is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Simien Mountains (full-day excursion)
We head off today for a full day in the Simien Mountains. The Simien National Park is a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. The road passes over mountainous areas of wild beauty, drawing close to the Simien Massif (in Amharic Simien means north). In the park, many of the mountain peaks exceed 4,000 m (13123 ft); the highest is Ras Dejen at 4,543 m (1905 ft) above sea level.
These mountains consist of volcanic masses that have been eroded away by centuries of rain. Today they have amethyst-colored peaks and deep gullies, which have been further deepened by rivers. The crevices play host to the Walya, the ibex of the Simien Mountains. Here we have a two-hour easy hike and a picnic lunch before returning to Gondar.
On the return trip, we visit the village of Felasha (African Jews), famous for their ceramics. We arrive back in Gondar in the early evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Gondar / Lalibela & The Northern Churches (fly & drive)
This morning a short flight takes us from Gondar to Lalibela. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th Century and are carved out of the pink granite rock. These Churches have been classified as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. Each church (Bet) has a unique architectural style, are superbly carved and most of them are decorated with well-preserved paintings.
The entire city may be described as a ‘sculpture’ dedicated to the glory of God. The day is consumed by visiting the first group of churches, known as the Northern Group of Churches. Bet Medihanialem is the largest one, supported by 72 pillars and housing the 7kg (15 lbs) gold Lalibela Cross.
We cross through a tunnel from Bet Medihanialem to Bet Mariam, which has a pillar that it is said that Jesus Christ leaned against when he appeared in a vision to King Lalibela. Bet Mariam also contains fabulous carvings of various birds and animals. We also visit Bet Danaghel; a chapel built in honor of martyred nuns.
Bet Golgotha and Bet Mikael are twin churches and many believe that a visit to Bet Golgotha can alone guarantee your place in heaven. The twin churches also contain many important religious items and some of the best examples of early religious art in the country.
The last church we visit today is Bet Giyorgis, one of the more recent and best-preserved churches. We return to our hotel and should time allow, we will have a walk around the city center. Overnight: Roha Hotel, Lalibela (2 nights) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Lalibela & the Eastern Churches
In the morning we visit The Eastern Rock Churches. Here, Bet Amanuel is one of the most beautifully carved churches in Ethiopia in the Aksumite style. Bet Merkorios has a wonderful painting of The Three Wise Men, which dates back to the 15th Century A.D. We also stop to see Bet Abba Libonose and Bet Gebrieal & Reafael, which might have once been the home of the Royal Family before becoming a church.
This afternoon, we visit the Nakutelab Rock Hewn Church, built under a natural cave. After all these ‘beauties’ for our eyes and soul, we’ll have a special treat, participating in ‘The Coffee Ceremony’, a ceremony of hospitality in Ethiopia. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Lalibela / Axum (fly)
We’ll fly today to Axum, a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. The legends narrated in the Kebre Nagast (Book of Kings) recount how the city of Axum, as early as the 10th century B.C, was already the city in which the Queen of Sheba resided. It is recounted that the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Axum and it remains there to this day, preserved in a sanctuary.
Famous long before the time of Christ, Axum was the capital of the long Axumite reign, one of the oldest African empires and represented a crucial connecting-point between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years.
We visit first the stelae: granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. In ancient times, there were seven stelae; nowadays only one of them is left and that one is in Rome, Italy (Mussolini moved it there during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia).
Also, during the day, we visit the church of Saint Mary of Zion, where a chapel in the church is believed by many to contain The Ark of the Covenant. "The Guardian", who is the only person who is allowed into the chapel and the only person who may set eyes on it, guards it. There is also a small museum here, which contains the crowns of Ethiopian kings and other treasures. Overnight: Yeha Hotel, Axum (1 night) (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Axum / Addis Ababa (fly)
Today we fly back to Addis Ababa. The afternoon is free for last minute shopping, wandering around or just simply resting before our farewell dinner in an authentic local Restaurant with traditional dishes, music & dance. This evening everyone is invited to try Ethiopian traditional dance, so please be prepared… we will later go to the Airport for our departure. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Tour highlights & World Heritage Sites (WHS)
- Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela (WHS)
- Simien National Park (WHS)
- Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (WHS)
- Axum (WHS)
- Addis Ababa
Price includes:
- Full board is provided throughout the entire journey; breakfast and dinner at hotel, lunch at midday of salad and fruit or of your choice in a local restaurant, including soft drinks
- English-speaking guide throughout itinerary
- All hotels as per itinerary (or similar category)
- All domestic flights and boat ride on Tana Lake
- All transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary (soft drinks included)
- All entrance fees to Museums, Monasteries, Churches, Parks & Sites
- All porter tips, service charges and government tax
- Visa Support
Price does not include:
- International flight tickets and all airport taxes (including the omestic flights as well)
- Visa expenses
- Other drinks and beverages, bar bills, phone bills, laundry bills and personal expenses
- All kind of insurance
- Video or photo camera fees
- Tips and other such costs to guides and drivers
- Other items not mentioned in the itinerary
Note: Most places on the program are located at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,000 m above sea level. Therefore it is cool in the morning and evening and a light jacket and a sweater are required. At the daytime the weather is hot and dry and the temperature rises to 25-30°C. In the period from October to April (the dry season) it hardly ever rains.
It is useful to bring some medication with you, such as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, milk enzymes and eye-drops. We do not recommend that anti-malaria measure to be taken, because the only place where malaria is (can be) present is Bahir Dar, and only during the rainy season (from late May to early September). We do, however, advise you to bring mosquito repellent with you.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Tour price in 2008
USD: 2,365.00 / CAD: 2,485.00 per person in double occupancy.
Single-room supplement is USD: 330.00 / CAD: 345.00
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Ethiopia
Cultural Journey
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