Ghion Travel & Tour - GTT

	Historic Route with Timket(Ethiopian epiphany) Celebration 2011 ( Tour Code SGTT03 Duration 14 Days )

This northern historic route trip will show you the ancient civilization of Ethiopia dating back to 3000years in Axum to the medieval civilization of the Gondarian castles. Among the 7 world heritage sites in Ethiopia, which registered by UNESCO, 4 are worth to be visited in this route. The Lalibela Rock churches (the 8th wonder of the world), the 17th century Gonderian castles (Camelot of Africa), single standing stele of Axum and the Semien Mountains National Park are acknowledged by UNESCO as a world heritage. Ethiopia is also stand at the first step in Africa for its 8 World heritage sites.

Timket Celebration (Ethiopian Epiphany)

Timket In Gondar is one of a must see event in the historic rout .Timket is a commemoration of Jesus baptism where the whole Ethiopian celebrate it in a very colourful way by bringing out the replica of the arc of the covenant in to a special Timkeet celebration place .In Gondar people celebrate Timket starting from Jan 18 to Jan 20 where thousands of people come out to the churches and bring out the replica carried by a high priest and take it to the famous king Fasil's swimming pool in Gondar

Ghion Travel and Tour offers a special fixed time departure Tour for this colourful celebration with the historic rout for 2011

Jan 15: Arrive at Bole International Air Port (Addis Ababa) where you will be welcomed by Ghion Travel and Tours representative and transferred to Hilton Hotel. Overnight stay in Ghion Hotel

Jan 16: Leave Addis Ababa and drive north passing by Mt.Entoto through the Sululta plain, visiting the monastery of Debre Libanos and the so-called Portuguese Bridge. Then, proceed to the spectacular scenery of the Blue Nile Gorge, where you stop for your picnic lunch and proceed to Bahar Dar. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 17: After an early breakfast, drive to the mighty Blue Nile falls, commonly known as "Tiss Isat". Upon return, make a sightseeing tour of Bahar Dar. After lunch, you will have boat excursion on Lake Tana, to visit the ancient monasteries on the lake. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 18: After breakfast drive to Gondar. Visit the 17th century castles, the Bath of King Fasiledes, the Monastery of Qusquam and the icon- rich monastery of Debre Berehan Silassie. Evening attend the beginning of the colorful Timket procession from one of the 44 churches and accompany the replica of the arc of the covenant to the famous King Fasil bath for Timket celebrations Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Janx19: Enjoy the colorful Timket festival where thousands of people gather at the center of Gondar wearing colorful chanting dresses and the people wearing traditional Gondar cloth as. Afternoon enjoy some of the sight seeing

Jan 20: After an early breakfast drive north of Gondar through the chains of the Simien Mountains and the Tekeze River Valley to the ancient town of Axum. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 21: Have a full day city tour in Axum town. Here you will visit stale tombs, which is considered to be probably the oldest monolithic stand in the world, the church compound of St. Mary of Zion, which is the seat of the true Moose's Ark of the covenant, the Queen of Sheba's palace, King Kaleb's and Gebremeskel's palace and tombs, and Archeological Museum. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 22: Leave Axum and drive to the 5th century BC sites of Yeha and Debre Damo monastery and proceed to Mekele. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 23: After breakfast, leave Mekele and drive through Ambalage chains of mountains, and proceed to the 12th century legendary town of Lalibella. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 24: Visit of the monolithic rock-hew churches in Lalibella town, dating back to the 12th century and which is considered to be the 8th wonders of the world and have optional excursion to visit some of the rock hewn churches around Lalibella town built prior to the churches in the town. In addition to the architecture of the churches, here you will admire the panoramic view of the town with the surrounding beautiful sceneries. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 25: Depart Lalibella town to Kombolcha. Visit Hike Istifanos monastery. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 26: Depart Kombolcha to Addis Ababa. Here you are cloth to the land occupied by the Afar shepherds, a semi-nomadic people who live mainly in the deserts of Denakil depression. You will encounter them on the road with their caravans of camels. Also in Senbete village, on Sunday, there is an interesting market where the Afar, Oromo and Amhara people congregate for marketing. Overnight stay will be in your Hotel.

Jan 27: Sightseeing tour that includes Trinity Cathedral-a beautiful church with a baroque style of European Architecture unique to both Ethiopia and Africa, National Museum-the home of the famous complete hominid fossil remain of Lucy dated 3.5 millions years back, Ethnological Museum-presents different collections to have an overview of the history, culture, tradition and religions of almost all tribal groups in Ethiopia, St. George Cathedral and Museum-a historical church with the traditional Ethiopian Orthodox Church architecture founded by Emperor Menelik-II, Mount Entoto panoramic view point at the highest pick in Addis with an altitude of 3200 meters, which was the site for the first palace of Emperor Menelik-II, the founder of Addis Ababa. The Merkato:-which is the largest open-air market in Africa. Evening welfare dinner party with national music and dancing, and transfer to Bole International Airport for your flight back home.

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P.O.Box: 25504 Code :1000 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia or Email: info@ghiontour.com