Explore Ethiopia, the ‘cradle of humanity’
Travel to Ethiopia and discover a beautiful country, barely touched by modern society. It’s an incredible combination of history, tradition, culture and nature. From the fascinating and colourful Timket festival in Addis Ababa to the amazing rock-hewn churches, hidden crypts and grottoes in Lalibela, this trip take you deep into human history. The 500-year-old monastery islands of Bahir Dar, the elegant castles of Gondar, the majestic geological formations of the Simien mountains, the giant obelisks that rise out of Aksum, and even the rumoured home of the Ark of the Covenant. This 14 day trip travels through the north of the country, taking in views of the Blue Nile and trekking to the peaks of the Simien Mountains (meeting red chested Gelada baboons). You’ll be sure to taste the country’s famous coffee and delectable cuisine, and meet the genuine and friendly people along the way. This is an adventure like no other.
Be part of the procession of locals marching to Jan Meda in preparations for Timket Festival in Addis Ababa
Search for the source of the Blue Nile on a boat cruise at Lake Tana, then discover the churches and unique castles of the regal city of Gondar.
Trek the majestic series of undulating amethyst peaks that make up the Simien Mountains, looking out for the distinctive red-hearted Gelada.
Explore Lalibela's unique churches - astonishing constructions sculpted from huge slabs of stone - that make up one of the world's greatest historical and religious sites.
Meet locals for a cooking class and traditional coffee ceremony
The crowds at Timket Festival can be daunting as we march in the procession towards Jan Meda, however this is a truly unique experience that will be a highlight of the trip.
In Lalibela and Simien Mountains National Park we include day hikes to experience the beauty of the regions on foot.
Parts of your trip go above 2800 metres / 9200 feet where it is common for travellers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude.
There will be some long drives on days on rough roads during this trip.
Trip departures are unavailable.
There are currently no scheduled departures on our Incredible Ethiopia: Timket Festival trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.
1. This trip begins at 1pm with a Welcome Meeting prior to the Timket festival
2. Parts of your trip go above 2800 metres / 9200 feet where it is common for travellers to experience some adverse health effects due to the altitude.
3. A single supplement is available on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. We require a scanned passport to secure tourist access passes for Timket festival.
4. If there is no availability you may wish to consider the Incredible Ethiopia (YOZE) trip that has departures in line with Timket Festival in Gondar & Aksum.
We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Ethiopia before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. We have links to prominent government travel advisories and regular updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page - https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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