Title: Ethiopian Christmas at Lalibela

Tour Code:TST-RD3

Duration : 7 NIGHTS AND 8 DAYS

Start: January 02

End: January 09



Jan 2.

Arrival in Addis Ababa and transfer. Overnight Hotel. Jan 3. Fly to Bahir Dar, get transferred to hotel. After lunch drive 32kms out of Bahir Dar or rough road to Tisisat village to visit the Blue Nile Falls. Overnight hotel.

Jan 4.

Half-day boat trip over Lake Tana to the peninsula of Zeghie to visit Ura Kidane Mehret monastery where you see the religious wall paintings, parchment books, crosses, crowns and robes of different kings and other religious artifacts. In the afternoon 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. In the evening you will go to Bezawit Hill for a view over the Blue Nile River, Bahir Dar town and beautiful sunset. Overnight Hotel.

Jan 5.

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 6.

Fly to Lalibela and visit the 1st group of King Lalibela's rock hewn churches (12th century). During the night Christmas Eve celebration continues in the churches in the presence of many white-robed worshipers. If you are keen at the expense of your bed time, you may participate in one of the churches' celebration. Overnight Hotel. Jan 7. Today is Ethiopian Christmas. Therefore, you have the chance to attend the colorful celebration, which takes place in and around the compound of Vergin Mary's church. Here, there will be breathtaking chant and dance of a multitude of Lalibela priests. In the afternoon you will visit the second group of King Lalibela's rock hewn churches (World Heritage Site). Overnight Hotel.

Jan 8.

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 9.

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.