Timket Festival Tour

Ethiopia Timket Festival Tour

Introduction:

Timket festival tour in Ethiopia

Timket is Ethiopia’s most important religious festival of the year, and it is also the most spectacular for many visitors. Thousands of Ethiopians go to adjacent towns to participate in the three-day Epiphany festival, which begins on January 18 each year. Epiphany commemorates Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River, and sprinkling (or spraying!) the devoted crowds with holy water is a fundamental part of this festive festival in Orthodox churches. The yearly event, which commemorates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River, takes place on January 19th (or the 20th in a leap year). Timkat, which can alternatively be spelled as Timket, means ‘baptism.’

Ethiopia Timket Festival Tour: On this tour, you will get the opportunity to observe one of Ethiopia’s most colorful and ancient events, the Timket Festival. This three-day festival honoring Jesus Christ’s baptism is observed on the Ethiopian calendar, and you will attend Timket Festival Tour around the rock-hewn churches of St. Lalibela, where it is commemorated in a unique style.

Duration: 12 Nights/ 13 Days

An alternative festival tour to Attend is the Meskel festival tour in Ethiopia.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa.

Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Welcome greeting! Upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, you will be welcomed and assisted by your tour guide and driver for the transfer to Hotel. If you arrive in the morning we can arrange an optional city tour in Addis.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 2: Drive Addis Ababa to Bahir dar

In the morning, drive to Bahirdar through the Great Blue Nile Gorge with a stopover at different small towns like Dejen, Chancho, and Goha Tsion.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 3: Visit In Bahir Dar

After breakfast, we will take a boat cruise over Lake Tana to visit the ancient 14th-century island monasteries of Lake Tana.
After having lunch at the hotel, we will drive 35 KM to visit the majestic Blue Nile Falls.
Overnight in Hotel.

Day 4: Drive Bahir Dar to Gondar, Visit Gondar

After breakfast, drive to Gondar through the beautiful countryside scenery to arrive at Gondar around lunchtime.

After checking in to the hotel and having lunch there, we will start a tour of Gondar which includes: the Royal Enclosure, the pool of King Fasilidas, and we will also visit the famous Deberberhan Sillassie adorned with brilliant frescos inside. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 5: Drive Gondar to Simien Mountains National Park

After an early breakfast, we will drive to Simien Mountains National park. En route, we will be visiting the “ Felasha” or the Black Jewish village. Driving from Gondar up to Simien Mountains National Park, nothing prepares you for the spectacular scenery that awaits at the top of the massif. For the rest of the day, trek around the park to explore the stunning view and wildlife of the park including Sankaber.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 6: Scenic Drive Simien Mountains to Axum

After breakfast starts driving to Axum through the beautiful sceneries of Simien Mountains, Limalimo, and Tekeze River Gorge.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 7: Visit Axum

After breakfast, we will start to visit the ancient city of Axum. Your visit to Axum includes; the Stele Square, Kaleba Tombs, the 4th-century Christian inscription of King Ezana, Queen of Sheba’s Palace, Archeological Museum, and Tsion Mariam Church where the original Ark of the Covenant is housed.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 8: Axum-Hauzien

In the morning, drive to Hauzien, the center of some of the most ancient rock-hewn churches, through the stunning and historical mountains of Adwa.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 9: Hauzien-Mekele

In the morning, drive to Mekele en route to visit some of the most ancient Tigray rock-hewn churches including; Wikro Cherkos, Abrha WeAtsbeha, Dugum Selassie, and so on.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 10: Timket Eve drive to Lalibela; attend the eve

After breakfast, start driving north to Lalibela through Sekota en-route you will visit Yimrhane Kristos and different villages of the Agwe tribal people.

In the afternoon, we will attend the Timket eve ceremony called, Ketera. During Ketera, the priests take out the Tabots replicas of the original Ark of the Covenant, from each church and bless the water of the pool where the next day’s celebration will take place.

In the evening, we will return to the ‘Taboat Maderia’ to attend the night celebrations. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 11: Visit the Rock-hewn Churches of Lalibela and Attend the Timket Festival Tour

Early in the morning, we will again walk to the ‘Tabot Maderia’ to witness the early morning baptism ceremony.

The water which symbolizes the Jordan River is blessed by the priest and the patriarch then dips a golden cross and extinguishes a burning consecrated candle on the altar. Then he sprinkles water on the assembled congregation in commemoration of Christ’s baptism.
Following the baptism, the Tabots start their way back to their respective rock churches, while feasting, singing and dancing continue all the way to the churches.

The rock-hewn churches that we will visit this afternoon include; Bete Gebriel, Bete Merkorios Bete Amanuel, Bethlehem, and Bete Aba Libanos. At the end of the tour, there will be a special Ethiopian traditional coffee ceremony for the group prepared at a local house.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 12: Attend second-day Timket Festival Tour & Excursion trip to Asheton Mariam

In the morning, attend the second day of Timket around the first group of rock-hewn churches.
After having lunch and rest at the hotel, we will continue our journey into Ethiopia’s long and marvelous history with a visit to the church found outside of Lalibela, Asheton Mariam.

To get to Asheten Mariam Monastery, you can hike, mule, or drive. After breakfast, ride a mule or hike to Asheten Maryam Church.
The Asheten Mariam Monastery, located a few kilometers outside of Lalibela, offers a stunning view as you leave town. Asheten Mariam was King Lalibela’s first chapel, but he didn’t finish it; his nephew and successor, King Nakutelab, did. Ancient sculptures can be found in the church. Following your visit to the church, walk back to Lalibela.

Overnight in Hotel.

Day 13: Fly Lalibela to Addis Ababa, Farwell dinner – Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Lalibela airport for your scheduled flight to Addis Ababa.

In the evening, a farewell dinner party with a traditional special buffet and local drinks. At the end of the Farwell dinner, transfer to Addis Ababa airport for the flight back.

Departure

……………..End of Timket Festival Tour arrangement ………………