Day 1: On arrival Addis Ababa Kasina Tours representative will meet you at Bole international Airport and you will visit the diplomatic capital of Africa, headquarters of the Africa union starting from Holy Trinity Cathedral (The church is constructed in 1955 for the 25 years anniversary of Emperor Haileselassie and painted richly with remarkable biblical and other saint’s story), National museum (home of Lucy hominid skeleton dating back to 3.2 million years) .In the afternoon after lunch you will visit Ethnological museum, which was the former palace of Haile Selassie then proceed to Mountain Entoto for panoramic view of Addis Ababa. Overnight hotel
Day 2: Early morning flight to Axum, upon arrival to Axum, you will be met by your guide, today will be a full day visiting the sites of Axum, including the famous obelisks (one that was recently erected after being returned from Italy) and the archeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), Ezana’s enscription, King Kaleb’s tomb, King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 3: Hosaena(Palm Sunday) Festival and City tour In the morning you will attend a colorful procession for Palm Sunday (known as Hosanna), it commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ with his disciples into Jerusalem. People welcomed Jesus by spreading palm branches. In the afternoon transfer to the airport fly to Gondar. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 4: Morning after breakfast, you will visit to the Royal Castles & the Bath of Emperor Fasiledes (the bath is filled with water for the important Timkat (epiphany) ceremony once a year. You will continue your visit to Debre Birhan Selassie Church (Trinity at the Mount of Light), the Castle of Empress Mintewab, and Kuskwam Complex which is a royal compound built by the Empress Mentewab. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 5: After breakfast departure early to join the Simien National Park, one of the most spectacular mountain massifs of Africa, beautiful walk between Sankaber (3250 m) and the great waterfall of Jinbar. The path progresses along the immense escarpment, first in a slight climb before starting a descent down to the waterfall. Along the way, a magnificent view of the valley below and the surrounding peaks. Among the animal species endemic to these high plateaus, we can easily observe some colonies of geladas baboons … After a last journey by the track, late afternoon in the drive back to Gondar. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 6: After breakfast drive to Lake Side town. The drive will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture and take a boat trip to the medieval period island Monasteries on Lake Tana such as the Zegie Peninsula visit Ura Kidan Mihret, Azewa, Mariyam. Overnight stay on reserved Hotel
Day 7: Morning you will drive to the majestic Blue Nile falls and in the afternoon city tour of Bahir Dar that includes: Colorful market where someone could find the pottery, traditional hand-made woven clothes, etc. Visit Woito Basket market and Mount Bezawit where the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie is gracefully situated. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 8: Good Friday and First group church of Lalibela Your first visit will be to the eleven Rock-hewn Monolithic (carved from a single rock) Churches of Lalibela, The first group of Lalibela Churches includes: Bete Medhanialem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Denagl and Bete Golgotha Michal.In the afternoon,witness the Good Friday ceremony at Bete Mariam rock-hewn church. This is a special day for Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and it is celebrated with a great devotion and in a very ancient way. On this day, the faithful who has been fasting the whole day without any water or food, dressed in their dazzling white cloths, folk to St. Mary’s church to attend the prayers and performance of the priest and deacons. It really creates a special feeling to witness the devotion of the faithful and the special practices made on this day remembering the suffering of Jesus Christ when he was crucified. Every performance of the priest and the deacons as well as the devotion of the people takes you centuries back. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 9: Ethiopian Easter eve in Lalibela Morning after breakfast the second group of Lalibela Churches that includes: Bete Gebral, Bete Merquros, Bete Emanule, Betelehiam, Bete Aba Libanos and the spectacular cross-shaped St. George Church.In the evening, you will witness one of the most important ceremonies of Easter in one of the biggest rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Bete Medhanialem. In the evening all the rock-hewn churches will be filled with people who have been fasting for 55 days. None of them have eaten anything at least for a day and half without any water and food. They are here to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and there will be prayers and candle light ceremonies accompanied by chanting and dancing of the priest until 3:00 in the morning. It’s only after the ceremony is over that everybody goes home to break the fasting with the special Easter meal. Overnight stay on reserved hotel
Day 10: Ethiopian Easter After breakfast transfer to the airport and visit church of Nakuto Lab, a sanctuary built inside a large cavern of basalt by a small path.Fly back to Addis Ababa, visit Mercato, one of Africa’s largest outdoor markets. Evening then transfer to the airport for flight back home.
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