Ethiopia, formerly called Abyssinia, is one of the oldest countries in the world. Perched atop Africa’s highest plateau, the country is protected by forbidding deserts and tropical lowlands. Despite its apparent mountainous isolation, Ethiopia has long been a crossroads for Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean and a site of dynamic interaction between people from throughout the world. Ethiopia developed its written language and has a sophisticated culture based upon a deep love of religion. In the highlands, Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church predates the Vatican and is one of the oldest continuously Christian churches in the world. A fascinating and rich history includes legends claiming that the Aksumite Kingdom dates back to when the Queen of Sheba ruled the land and that Ethiopia’s first king, Menelik I, was the son of this queen and King Solomon of Israel.
Far Horizons proudly presents a 15-day trip to one of the world’s most remote and fascinating countries where the people are warm and welcoming and stunningly handsome in their traditional dress. Planned around the Ethiopian Orthodox Holy Week celebrations, which are centered in Aksum and Lalibela, priests covered in colorful robes lead the white-clad faithful in prayers and chants to God. The exciting itinerary includes spectacular scenery, visits to fabulous ancient ruins, and the opportunity to mingle with the many different people from across the country.
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Depart on a flight bound for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Arrive to Addis Ababa and overnight at the Hilton Hotel. Dinner is on our own.
A morning flight takes us to Dire Dawa, located in the eastern section of Ethiopia, where we board our van to drive into the mountains. Along the way, stop to view a qat (chat) market, where the narcotic plant that is banned in the US and most European countries is being sold. Then, it’s on to the fortified city of Harar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Completely encircled by a city wall built in the 13th through 16th centuries and closed to visitors until 1887, the city is considered to be the fourth most holy city in Islam after Mecca, Medina, and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. The city’s mosques include the 16th-century Grand Mosque with its beautiful twin towers and slender minaret, and three of its multitude of holy shrines date from the 10th century. Our walk through the town will be a step back in time. The houses of the town show the impact of African and Islamic traditions, and their outstanding interior design constitutes the most spectacular part of Harar’s cultural heritage. And women dressed in their vibrantly colorful traditional clothing sell everything from firewood to fruit. After dark, we go outside the wall to watch as the ‘Hyena Man’ fearlessly calls these wild dog-like creatures to come feed. As he offers pieces of meat, the animals slowly circle and ultimately snatch the offal off of a stick held in his mouth. Overnight in Harar in the simplest hotel of the trip. (B/L/D)
This morning we continue our explorations of this historic and fascinating town and then return to Addis Ababa and the Hilton Hotel. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Depart on a plane bound for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Arrive today in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and the third highest capital city in the world, at an altitude of 8,300 feet. Overnight for two nights in the Hilton Hotel, a popular meeting place for upwardly mobile Ethiopians.
Begin today at Melka Kunture, located along the Awash River south of Addis Ababa and considered one of the most important Paleolithic sites in Ethiopia. Here, we visit the museums explaining the Prehistory and the ‘Open Air Museum’ displaying the excavation of two Acheulean sites that have been dated to 1.8 million years ago. Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiya to view the northernmost field of huge incised monoliths that stretch across southern Ethiopia. Carbon dated between the 12th and 14th centuries, these impressive stone monuments stand guard over burials, probably of warriors killed in battle. Our welcome dinner this evening will feature singing and dancing from different cultures within the country. (B/L/D)
Drive up Mount Entoto, the highest peak overlooking the city of Addis Ababa, where, in 1881, Emperor Menelik II built his palace. We will walk through this thatched roof structure and view the Church of Mariam, where Menelik was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, and the Church of Archangel Raguel. Stop to see the bustling Shiromeda Cloth Market on our drive back to the city. The afternoon will be spent in two museums – the National Museum as well as the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. The Institute was founded in 1963 and established to develop and operate the library and ethnographic museum. After dinner, enjoy an optional visit to the main square where festivities for Meskal – the religious holiday commemorating the discovery of the ‘true cross’ by Queen Helena in the fourth century – will take place. (B/L/D)
Early morning transfer to the airport for our flight to Aksum. This ancient city, with its ruins of palaces, huge monumental stelae, and subterranean tombs, is one of Ethiopia’s most historic sites. The legendary capital of the Queen of Sheba, Aksum, is today the hub of Ethiopian Christianity. Begin at the Stelae Park, where several colossal monolithic obelisks still stand together, marking the status of the Aksumite royals two thousand years ago. Continue to the Aksum Museum to view the many artifacts, including ancient pottery and glass, Roman amphorae, bronze jewelry, and clay figurines that reveal the hairstyles of ancient Aksum. This afternoon, a road trip takes us east through dramatic volcanic formations to Yeha, the capital of the earliest kingdom in Ethiopia. Here, the pre-Aksumite Temple of the Moon is the oldest known standing structure in Ethiopia, dating to about 700 B.C. It is reputed to be the best-preserved example in the world of South Arabian-style temple architecture. Next to the shrine is the Church of Abune Aftse, one of the “Nine Saints” who came to Ethiopia in the sixth century from the Eastern Roman Empire and did much to spread Christianity in the country. This building’s front facade has been fitted with carved stones from the original temple. Overnight for two nights at the Yared Zema International Hotel. (B/L/D)
Today commences the week before Palm Sunday, called Hossaena in Ethiopia. It commemorates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem from Egypt. The air is filled with excitement, and streets and meeting places are transformed into a sea of white as women parade in their traditional finely woven cotton dresses decorated with colorful woven borders and men in their draped white robes. Walk through the open-air Hosanna Market, filled with multi-hued hand-made baskets and unique to the days before Palm Sunday. According to Ethiopian believers, the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Aksum, and it remains there to this day, preserved in a sanctuary next to the Maryam Tsion Cathedral. Views of the Ark are forbidden to all but special religious leaders, but we will enter the associated museum to see the rich treasures of the church. Aksum is Ethiopia’s center for the Hosanna festivities, and pilgrims come from distant villages to be a part of it. We will join the ritual and joyous preparations at the Cathedral complex as priests and deacons lead worshippers in singing and dancing to the accompaniment of rhythmic drumming. Led by processions of priests dressed in ornately decorated capes and carrying sparkling velvet umbrellas, we will follow the crowd outside to a large tree. Here, the Bishop from Addis Ababa is seated in state while young people sing and dance and gaily sprint around the tree waving palm fronds. Today’s revelries will be a highlight as we are welcomed with smiles and warm hospitality by the white-clad throngs of worshipers. This afternoon, we explore Dungur, a complex elite residence popularly thought to be the Palace of the Queen of Sheba. (B/L/D)
This morning our explorations of Aksum continue with a visit to a historically important dedicatory stone dating to about 320 AD. Its inscription is written in three languages – Sabaean, Ge’ez (earliest written Ethiopian language), and Greek – and it is named after Ezana, one of the first rulers of Aksum. Explore the tombs of King Kaleb and his son Gabra Masqal before heading to the airport for our flight to Gondar. Upon arrival, drive into the Simien Mountain National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site at an average elevation of more than 10,000 feet. Originally formed by outpourings of lava, massive erosion over millions of years has created one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world, with jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys, and sharp precipices that fall thousands of feet. Within this spectacular splendor live the iconic Walia ibex, a wild mountain goat found nowhere else in the world, the Gelada baboon, and the Ethiopian wolf – all endemic to Ethiopia. Overnight for the next two nights in the Simien Lodge, located more than 10,000 feet in altitude and the highest hotel in Africa. Opened in 2006, it is Ethiopia’s first ‘eco-lodge’ with thatch-roofed tukuls complete with solar-powered under-floor heating. (B/L/D)
More than 180 species of birds (6 endemic to the park; one discovered recently in 1998) can be found in the Simien Mountains, the most famous being the Wattled Ibis, the Lammergeier, the Thick-billed Raven and the Towny Eagle. Enjoy an optional bird walk this morning, and then drive along the northern escarpment to Chenek to experience the best of the striking Simien scenery. Easily seen in these high mountain meadows, families of Gelada baboons often combine to form large foraging bands of 30-350 animals. This high-altitude area is replete with steep, rocky cliffs, to which Geladas have adapted, and at night, the animals drop over precipice edges to sleep huddled together on ledges. (B/L/D)
An early departure returns us to the royal city of Gondar, where magnificent fortified palaces dominate the landscape. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortified city of Fasil Ghebbi was the residence of Emperor Fasilides and his successors. Surrounded by a 300-foot-long wall, the fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oldest and most impressive structure is the two-story palace of built of solid basalt stones. Other royal buildings we will visit include the library of Emperor Yohannes I, the House of Song, where royal ceremonies took place, the elegant reception and banquet hall of Emperor Bakaffa, and the palace of this king’s wife. Finally, view the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie, a beautiful structure with its harmony of brightly colored ceilings completely covered with intricately painted angels. Overnight for one night at the Gondar Hills Resort with stunning views of the city. (B/L/D)
Today we drive to Bahir Dar and the Kuriftu Resort and Spa, located on the shore of Lake Tana and our home for two nights. The afternoon is free to relax poolside and rest. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and the dramatic Blue Nile Falls, which, in flood-stage, are more than 1,300 feet wide. We will take a small boat across the Blue Nile and then walk to the falls, where the gorge it has created is home to a small rainforest. After lunch in a restaurant overlooking Lake Tana and serving traditional Ethiopian food, board a boat for a cruise on the lake to visit several monasteries, including the most impressive of the southern monasteries, Ura Kidhane Mihret, located on the forested Zege Peninsula. The walls of the church are completely covered with remarkable 16th-century murals that offer a revealing look into medieval Ethiopia. (B/L/D)
Fly from Bahir Dar to Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lalibela is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World as it contains towering churches that were carved below the earth’s surface from the soft, volcanic tuff in which they stand and filled with lively paintings and carvings. Some churches lie almost completely hidden in deep trenches, and others stand in open quarried caves. Within this mystical world, priests go about their daily prayers, seemingly oblivious to the outside world. A complex labyrinth of tunnels and narrow passageways with crypts, grottoes, and galleries connects them all, and we walk through this maze to explore several exquisite churches. Standing 38 feet tall with seventy-two pillars, Medhane Alem is not only the largest in Lalibela; it is the largest monolithic rock-hewn church in the world. The oldest of the churches, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Bet Maryam is the only Lalibela monolith with a porch. The remains of stunning early frescoes can be seen on the ceiling and upper walls, and there are many elaborately carved details on the piers, capitals, and arches. Bet Golgotha houses remarkable reliefs of figures, early Christian art rarely seen in other parts of Ethiopia. Some consider the cruciform-shaped Bete Giorgis the most perfect and beautiful church here; its interior is dominated by depictions of Saint George killing the dragon. Overnight for two nights at the Mountain View Hotel with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. In the evening, those interested can witness one of the most important ceremonies of Easter in one of the biggest rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Bete Medhanialem. The rock-hewn churches will be filled with people who have been fasting for 55 days and have come here to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There will be prayers and candlelight ceremonies accompanied by chanting and dancing of the priest until 3 am! (B/L/D)
Today will be very special as we drive into the remote countryside through breathtaking scenery. Along the way, we will have opportunities to experience the local culture – men building thatched roof houses, women weaving, and, with luck, will enjoy a traditional coffee-making ceremony. Our ultimate destination is Yemrehane Khrestos, a striking church, and residence constructed using alternating layers of wood and stone and built into an enormous rock overhang. (Note: To reach this church, we must hike a short distance up rather steep terrain.). Return to Lalibela this afternoon with some free time to return to the churches or relax at the hotel. Dinner is on our own this evening. (B/L)
This morning’s flight takes us back to Addis Ababa. Following lunch, visit a traditional black pottery workshop operated by a woman’s cooperative. Rooms at the Hilton Hotel are confirmed with late checkout prior to our departure for the airport in the evening and for flights home. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Arrive Home.
The Omo Valley of southern Ethiopia is one of the last undiscovered places on our planet. Three of Ethiopia’s eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites are found here and more than 200,000 people representing many different tribes call the area home. The many ethnic groups inhabiting the hills and banks along the Omo River are so cut off from the rest of that world that they have no written languages or calendars.
This region is also rich in natural beauty. The wildlife here is spectacular – the region displays the outstanding biodiversity of Ethiopia with more than 80 large mammal and over 300 bird and species. In this refuge see elephants, hippopotamuses, crocodiles, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, buffaloes, gazelles and much more!
Learn about this unique land on this six-day post-trip extension.
At the conclusion of the main tour, overnight at the Hilton Hotel in Addis Ababa. Dinner is on our own.
Sleep in or spend a leisurely morning exploring the area around the hotel before catching the afternoon flight to Arba Minch, meaning ‘Forty Springs’ in Amharic. Nestled along the banks of two large lakes, this small town is exceptionally lush and picturesque. Nearby are the villages of the Oromo peoples, the largest tribal group in Ethiopia. Continue on to the Chencha Mountains to visit a Dorze village, made up of beehive-shaped dwellings made of local grasses and wood that can reach heights of 18 feet. Weaving is a primary profession for many Dorze, however, they are also skilled farmers. Their traditional technique for terracing mountainsides ingeniously prevents soil erosion. Overnight at the Paradise Lodge. (B/L/D)
This morning we will embark on an exciting boat trip across Lake Chamo. Its northern shores border the Nechisar National Park and the lake itself is home to a spectacular concentration of Nile crocodiles and is popular with herds of hippopotamus! Next, continue on to Konso, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape. With dry stone terraces, an innovative water system, and fortified settlements, it constitutes an amazing example of a living cultural tradition that stretches back more than 400 years. Anthropomorphic wooden statues, grouped to represent respected members of their communities and particularly heroic events, are an exceptional living testimony to funerary traditions that are on the verge of disappearing. In the towns, also view a complex system of stone steles that mark the passing of generations of leaders. Continue to Jinka, located in the hills above Mago National Park, and overnight in Eco Omo Lodge in one of the safari tent rooms with an en suite bathroom. (B/L/D)
Today visit the Mursi tribeswomen who continue to practice the custom of inserting wooden or terra-cotta discs into the ear lobes and stretching of their lower lips to accommodate large ceremonial plates. Generally speaking, the larger the lip plate the more desirable the wearer. In the afternoon we shall journey to Turmi to meet the Hamer tribes. The Hamer are a semi-nomadic, pastoral people. They put up their round huts for a few months wherever there is enough grass for their cows. When the grass has been grazed, they move on to new pasture grounds. Overnight at the Turmi Buska Lodge. (B/L/D)
Journey to Koricho and enjoy lofty views of the Omo River. This place is a settlement for the Karo ethnic groups. Experts in body painting, these groups use clay and locally available vegetable pigments to trace intricate patterns on their faces, chest, arms and legs. Karo men also sculpt and shave their hair into extravagant shapes topped off with several ostrich feathers. Stop by the Dimeka market and experience a stimulating dose of African cultural diversity and tradition, mingling with the different trading tribes. Transfer back to Konso and overnight at the Kanta Lodge overlooking the verdant hills. (B/L/D)
Return to Arba Minch in time to catch the afternoon flight to Addis Ababa and the Hilton Hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon to rest prior to the late evening transfer to the airport for flights home. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Arrive home.
