19 January

During the first millennium B.C. and possibly even earlier, various Semitic-speaking groups from Southwest Arabia began to cross the Red Sea and settle along the coast and in the nearby highlands. These migrants brought with them their Semitic speech (Sabaean and perhaps others) and script (Old Epigraphic South Arabic) and monumental stone architecture. A fusion of the newcomers with the indigenous inhabitants produced a culture known as pre-Aksumite.

The factors that motivated this settlement in the area are not known, but to judgefrom subsequent history, commercial activity must have figured strongly. The port city of Adulis,near modern-day Mitsiwa, was a major regional entrepôt and probably the main gateway to the interior for new arrivalsfrom Southwest Arabia. Archaeological evidence indicates that by the beginning of the Christian era this pre-Aksumite culture had developed western and eastern regional variants. The former, which included the region of Aksum, was probably the polity or series of polities that became the Aksumite state.

This is an extremely colorful three-day festival commemorating the baptism of Christ. The night before, priests take the Tabot (which symbolizes the Ark of the Covenant) containing the Ten Commandments from each Church. Concealed by an ornamental cloth, it is taken to a tent, close to a consecrated pool or stream, accompanied by much ringing of bells, blowing of trumpets and the burning of incense. In Addis Ababa many tents are pitched at Jan Meda, to the northeast of the city centre. At 0200 there is a Mass, and crowds attend, with picnics lit by oil lamps. At dawn the priest extinguishes a candle burning on a pole set in a nearby river using a ceremonial cross. Some of the congregation leap into the river. The Tabots are then taken back to the Churches in procession, accompanied by horsemen, while the festivities continue.

Day 01: Jan 12 Arrival in Addis Ababa

Day 02: Jan 13 Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar.

Day 03: Jan 14 Bahir Dar - Gondar.

Day 04: Jan 15 Gondar - Axum

Day 05: Jan 16 Axum - Lalibella

Day 06: Jan 17 - Jan 19  attend Timket festival and visit rock hewn church.

Day 09: Jan 20 Lalibela - Addis Ababa and departure

26 September

In the Middle Ages, the Patriarch of Alexandria gave the Ethiopian Emperor Dawit half of the True Cross in retum for the protection afforded to the Coptic Christians A fragment of the True Cross is reputed to be held at the Gishen Marien monastery which is about 70 kilometres to the northwest of Dessie.

Legend has it that the cross upon which Christ was crucified was discovered in the year 326 by Empress Helen, Mother of Constantine the Great. Unable to find the Holy Sepulcher, she prayed for help and was directed by the smoke of an incense burner to where the cross was buried.
On the day of the festival, bright yellow Maskal daisies are tied to fronds,and piled high in town squares. Colorful processions carrying bumming torches converge on to the square, where a pyre is lit and the celebrations continue until dawn. In Addis Ababa, the celebrations take place in Maskal Square, to the southeast of the City centre.

Day 01: Sep. 25 Arrival in Addis Ababa. O/N Hotel

Day 02: Sep. 26  Addis Ababa -In the morning city tour of Addis Ababa. Afternoon attend the colorful festival of Meskel at the Meskel square of Addis Ababa. In the evening,traditional dinner with traditional music. O/N hotel

Day 03: Sep.27 Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar-  After breakfast transfer to the Airport for your flight to Bahir Dar. After check in, you immediately drive to the Blue Nile falls 32 km far from Bahir Dar town. Back to Bahir Dar for Lunch. In the afternoon Boat trip on lake Tana and a visit one of the Iceland with its monastery called Ura-Kidanemihret. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

Day 04: Sep. 28 Bahir Dar - Gondar- After breakfast drive to  Gondar. Lunch will be followed by an afternoon city tour of the 17th century town of Gondar with its castle compound. You will visit also one of the beautiful churches "Debre Birhan Sellassie" very known for its mural paintings as well as drive for a short visit of the village of the former Ethiopian Jews. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
 

Day 05: Sep.29 GONDAR - LALIBELA -Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. After lunch visit will be to the first and the second part of the rock hewn churches of Lalibela, all carved out (inside and outside) of a solid rock and are architecturally unique ranked among the wonders of the world. Dinner and overnight in your hotel. N.B. You can add one more day in Lalibela to Explore more rock hewn churches or even to visit the 11 rock hewn churches at no rush.
 

Day 06: Sep.30 LALIBELA - AXUM - After breakfast you will check out from your hotel and be transferred to the airport for your flight to Axum. Afternoon visit will begin with sightseeing of Axum which includes the steals, believed to have been erected during 1st century. The St. Mary Church of "Maria Tsion" where the Ark of the Convenient of Mosses have been rested, the graves and palaces of the kings of the Axumite king "Ezana" of 4th century etc. are some of the attractions to be seen within Axum. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.
 

DAY 07: Oct.01 AXUM - ADDIS - Morning transfer to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa.

*Other sepecial events like Ethiopian x-mass & Historical sites Jan4-14, Nov.30 St.Mary of Zion,Axum and in Apr.Easter with Historical sites possible.

*Extension tour to south part of Ethiopia and neigbouring countries to Djibuty/Kenya possible