Depart Washington Dulles International
Day 1
Arrive to Addis Ababa in morning. Check into Hotel de Leopol. Begin your adventure with a drive up to Mount Entoto. The panorama from the peak is breathtaking. Enjoy a visit to Trinity Cathedral, the largest and most revered of all the churches. Visit the Ethnological Museum, an ideal place to start learning about Ethiopia’s rich ethnic diversity. The museum has an impressive array of religious crosses, triptychs and murals, as well as Haile Selassie’s bedroom and bathroom. Hotel de Leopol
Day 2
In the morning, fly to Bahir Dar. Bahir Dar is a pleasant city located on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. There are 37 islands on lake Tana and 30 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. Upon arrival in Bahir Dar, check in to hotel. Enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 13th century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries with a very beautiful painted maqdas. Later in the day, embark on a city tour of Bahir Dar, encompassing visits to the market, the palace of Emperor Haile Selassie (view point only- as it is not permitted to enter), Weyto Villages and the deacon school at Trinity. Tana Hotel or Papyrus Hotel
Day 3
In the morning, fly to Gondar. Upon arrival, check into hotel. Gondar was the first capital of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. In Gondar, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. Visit the royal enclosure containing six castles, a complex network of connecting tunnels, raised walkways and several smaller buildings. Take a tour of the bathing palace of King Fasilidas. Later, proceed to the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie Church with its walls and ceilings decorated with scenes of Biblical lore and medieval history. Goha Hotel
Day 4
Fly to Lalibela, described as the 8th wonder of the world, for two days of touring what is considered to be one of the holiest cities in Ethiopia. Start your exploration with the twelve majestic rock-hewn churches. Begin with the breathtaking Bette Giorgis church, carved in the shape of a cross and set apart from the other church groupings. Other churches include Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Maskal, Bete Danaghel, Bete Golgotha and Bete Mikael. Mountain View Hotel
Day 5
Today you will visit the church of Yimrhane Kristos. This exquisite church, a masterpiece of Axumit wood and stone construction is renewed for its interior decoration, its beautiful wooden coffer ceiling inlaid with hexagons and medallions with both figurative and geometric motifs. Visit and drive back to Lalibela. In the afternoon, you will visit the remaining rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Mountain View Hotel
Day 6
You will be transferred to the airport for flight to Axum. Once the center of a great empire, and the seat of learning for the ancient Ge’ez language and literature, Axum is the prime historical site in the North of Ethiopia. Take a city tour of Axum that includes; the Stelae Park, St. Mary’s Church the Sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the ‘Ark of the Covenant’, the Coronation Yard, Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins, Axum Museum and the quarry where the stelaes used to me made. Yeha Hotel
Day 7
Take return flight to Addis Ababa. Enjoy day at your leisure. In evening, enjoy a “farewell dinner” where group will have chance to taste various national dishes, and watch dances of various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. Traditional coffee ceremony will also be served. The group will then be transferred to airport for departure to Tel Aviv.
Day 8
Upon arrival, you will be met by an Ethiopian Airlines journeys representative and transferred to your hotel in Galilee. Enjoy the day to discover the city. Diner and overnight at hotel.
Day 9
Your exploration of the Holy Land begins with a visit to the Christian sites along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus taught and performed miracles here. Visit the Mt. of the Beatitudes, where, according to tradition, Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. The sermon is commemorated in the Church of the Beatitudes, built overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Continue to Tabgha, site of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. A mosaic commemorating this miracle is located near the altar at Tabgha. Enjoy a visit to Capernaum and the Church of the Primacy of Peter. Later, proceed to the Church of the Transfiguration at Mt. Tabor and the Jordan River, site of Jesus’ baptism. Enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee and visit Ginnosar where you will see a fisherman’s boat that dates to Jesus’ time. Dinner and overnight in the Galilee area. .
Day 10
Today travel to Nazareth in Lower Galilee, the place where Jesus grew up and lived most of his life. Visit the Church of the Annunciation, built over the Grotto of the Annunciation, the place where early Christian tradition says that the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary. Continue to Joseph’s carpentry workshop and then to Cana, site of the wedding feast. At Mount Carmel, stop at the Carmelite Monastery at the Muhraka, site of Elijah’s altar and celebrate Mass at Stella Maris Church. Paintings in the church dome depict Old Testament stories, including one of Elijah being swept up to heaven in a fiery chariot. Continue on to Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea to discover the ancient Crusader and Roman town. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 11
Spend the day in the Old City of Jerusalem, visiting St. Anne’s Church, the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of the Flagellation and the Ecce Homo Arch. Continue through the Bazaar to the Via Dolorosa which winds through the streets of Old Jerusalem and commemorates the path that Jesus walked on his way to crucifixion. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, containing the tomb where Jesus was buried and rose from the dead. Later, head to Bethlehem for an inspiring visit to the Church of the Nativity (subject to availability). While returning to Jerusalem, visit Shepherd’s Field and Rachel’s Tomb. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 12
Today you will visit the Dead Sea region, the lowest point on earth. Drive to Masada, the fortress where Jewish Zealots held off armies of the Roman Empire before choosing death over surrender. Continue on to Ein Gedi, where King David found shelter from the wrath of King Saul. In the afternoon, you can opt to “float” on the Dead Sea. While returning to Jerusalem, view the caves of Qumran, where in 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day 13
Today, participate in a full day tour of Jerusalem including the Mt. of Olives, Mt. Scopus, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Basilica of Agony. Continue to the Kidron Valley and to Mt. Zion, site of the Last Supper room and David’s tomb. Visit a model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period as well as the Shrine of the Book, with the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, at the Israel Museum. Drive to the village of Ein Kerem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.
Day 14
After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight back to the U.S.
For more information and to develop a customized itinerary to meet your needs
call 1-800-486-8359, email inquiries to nick@seeyouinethiopia.com
