11 DAYS ETHIOPIA: THE ANCIENT KINGDOMS & TIMKET FESTIVAL

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Arrive in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s highland capital, and receive a warm welcome from your guide. Begin a gentle introduction to Ethiopia with a drive through Addis Ababa, offering first impressions of its vibrant streets and layered history. Continue to Entoto Hills, the former seat of Emperor Menelik II, where cooler air and panoramic views stretch across the capital below. This elevated vantage point provides a meaningful introduction to Ethiopia’s imperial past and highland geography.

Flight to Lalibela 

Transfer to airport for a flight to Lalibela, Ethiopia’s spiritual capital.  

The small town of Lalibela, which is home to one of the world’s most astounding sacred sites, comprising eleven medieval rock-hewn churches, each carved entirely out of a single piece of stone. Their scale, symbolism, and craftsmanship offer a powerful insight into Ethiopia’s Christian heritage and remain one of Africa’s greatest architectural achievements. This afternoon we visit the north-west cluster of these extraordinary churches, including the largest monolithic rock-hewn church of Bet Medhane Alem, and the iconic cross-shaped Bet Giyorgis.

Rock-hewn Churches & Coffee Ceremony  

Continue to visit the second group of the rock churches, the south-east cluster of churches is more irregular in design. They include Bet Gebriel-Rafael, Bet Abba Libanos, Bet Lehem, Bet Emanuel, and Bet Mercurios. According to legend, Bet Abba Libanos was built overnight by Lalibela’s wife, Meskel Kebre, who was assisted by a group of angels. 

After that, explore markets in Lalibela, then take part in a traditional coffee ceremony. It is an important cultural ritual that’s been passed along for generations.

Simien Mountains National Park & Sankaber 

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Gondar. Upon arrival, continue by road for about 2.5 hours into the spectacular Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO-listed natural heritage site renowned for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, deep escarpments, and unique highland ecology. En route, visit Wolleka, a former village of the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish) community, before stopping at Kossoye Viewpoint for sweeping views across the Simien range and surrounding valleys.  

Continue to Sankaber, where one of Ethiopia’s most striking mountain panoramas unfolds. Here, observe endemic Gelada baboons in their natural habitat and enjoy a short walk to a nearby waterfall over uneven terrain.

Explore Chennek 

Journey deeper into the Simien Mountains to Chennek, set at an altitude of approximately 3,620 metres and one of the park’s most dramatic highland locations. This remote area is home to several of Ethiopia’s endemic species, including the rare Walia ibex – though sightings are not guaranteed – as well as klipspringers and bushbucks. The surrounding slopes are richly carpeted with giant lobelias and Afro-alpine vegetation, creating a striking high-altitude landscape unique to this region. 

Gondar’s Royal Glory & Timket Eve 

Drive back to Gondar, enjoying scenic views and a sense of rural Ethiopia as the highlands gradually give way to the historic royal city. Founded in the 17th century by Emperor Fasiladas, Gondar – often referred to as the “Camelot of Africa” – is renowned for its remarkably preserved castles and imperial legacy.  
 
Visit the Royal Enclosure (Fasil Ghebbi), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which encompasses the castles of various Gondarene emperors. After lunch, attend the evocative Timket Eve (Ketera) ceremony at Fasilides’ Bath, where priests ceremonially carry sacred Tabots in solemn procession, marking the spiritual prelude to Ethiopia’s most important religious celebration. 

Timket Day & Living Traditions 

At dawn, return to Fasilides’ Bath (Tabot Maderia) to witness the culmination of Timket, Ethiopia’s Epiphany celebration. In a deeply moving ceremony, priests bless the water – symbolising the River Jordan – immersing a golden cross and extinguishing a consecrated candle before sprinkling the gathered faithful. As dawn light breaks, the sacred Tabots begin their joyful procession back to their respective churches, accompanied by singing, drumming, and spontaneous celebration that transforms the streets of Gondar into a living festival of faith. 
 
In the afternoon, visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church, celebrated for its vividly painted interior and iconic ceiling of winged angels. Conclude the day by enjoying a hosted Ethiopian family-style dinner, offering an intimate introduction to the country’s cuisine and hospitality – an experience shaped as much by shared ritual as by flavour, colour, and tradition.

Lakeside Tranquillity 

Drive through scenic countryside to Gorgora on the shores of Lake Tana. This tranquil lakeside setting offers striking natural beauty and a slower rhythm, ideal for reflection after the intensity of Timket celebrations. 

Lake Tana Monasteries & Bahir Dar 

Cross Lake Tana by private boat to explore its island monasteries, long centres of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity and guardians of ancient manuscripts and traditions. Visit Ura Kidane Mehret, renowned for its richly painted circular church and vibrant murals depicting biblical scenes and local folklore. Arrive in Bahir Dar, a relaxed lakeside city known for its palm-lined avenues and gentle pace of life. 

Archaeology & Imperial History 

Fly back to Addis Ababa this morning and continue with a deeper exploration of Ethiopia’s historical legacy. Visit the National Museum, regarded as one of the most important museums in sub-Saharan Africa, home to the iconic 3.5-million-year-old fossil Lucy. With special permit access, enter the museum’s international research centre for a private briefing by a leading palaeontologist, offering rare insight into Ethiopia’s role as the Cradle of Mankind.  

Continue to the National Palace, former residence of Emperor Haile Selassie, where ceremonial halls, galleries, and the grand throne room reveal the country’s modern imperial past.  

Continue to explore Addis Ababa 

Visit the Ethnographic Museum, an ideal introduction to Ethiopia’s remarkable ethnic diversity, with galleries devoted to regional cultures, traditional crafts, and religious art. Highlights include finely crafted crosses, illuminated triptychs, murals, and the preserved bedroom and bathroom of Emperor Haile Selassie. Continue to Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market, where an extraordinary array of goods – from daily necessities to traditional crafts – offers vivid insight into the commercial pulse of Addis Ababa and everyday urban life. 

Transfer to airport for your homebound flight after dinner. (Guarantee Late check-out)