Title: Ethiopian Epiphany in Lalibela

Tour Code:TST-RD2

Duration : 7 NIGHTS AND 8 DAYS

Start: January 15

End: January 22

Jan 15.

Arrival in Addis Ababa and transfer.Overnight Hotel. Jan 16. Fly to Bahir Dar; get transferred to the hotel & visit Bahir Dar market - a bustling market in which cereals, clay made utensils, leather bound baskets, local cotton fabric, fruits and vegetables etc can be seen. You will have also a half-day boat trip over Lake Tana to Ura Kidane Mehret monastery where you visit the religious wall paintings, parchment books, crosses, crowns and robes of different kings and other religious artifacts. Overnight Hotel.

Jan 17.

Fly to Gonder and get transferred to hotel. Then you will visit the Gonder castle compound (World Heritage Site) and the beautiful Debre Birhan Selassie church. Overnight Hotel.

Jan 18

Fly to Lalibela and get transferred to hotel. Starting from around 3:30 P.M you will attend the colorful processions of the eve of Ethiopian Epiphany. In this procession, the replicas of the original Ark (Tabots) from different churches will be removed and are carried by priests under huge, colorful umbrellas. Deacons also carry processional crosses, religious paintings and bells. On the occasion, a lot of people will sing, dance and ululate accompanying the Tabots all the way to the place where the Tabots are supposed to make their over nights. Overnight Hotel.

Jan 19.

In the morning, you visit the 1st group of King Lalibela's churches. (World Heritage Site).Today is the main day for the celebration of the Ethiopian Epiphany. Therefore, you will have a chance to see the sprinkling of the blessed holy water in remembrance of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the river Jordan in the hands of John the Baptist. The Tabots are also carried back to their original places in the same way that they are brought. Overnight Hotel.

Jan 20.

Mule ride to Asheten Mariam Monastery which is situated at 3000meters above sea level. And in the afternoon you visit the 2nd group of King Lalibela's churches. Overnight Hotel.

Jan 21.

Fly to Axum and visit the historical and archaeological sites in Axum. These include the archaeological museum, main stele field, the ruined palace of King Kaleb and King Geber Meskel, stone inscriptions, subterranean tombs, the ruined palace of the Queen of Sheba. Overnight Hotel.

Jan 22

Visit the remaining sites in Axum like Axum Tsion church where the original holy Ark of the Covenant is believed to be housed. Then fly back to Addis Ababa. Overnight Hotel.