Overview
Feast Of St Marry Or Hidar Tsion (Celebration of St. Mary’s day)
This is one of the most popular festivals in the country for The virgin & risqué and its most venerated of all religious figures in Ethiopia. About 33 days are annually dedicated to different celebrations in commemoration of Mary. “Hidar Zion” is associated with the presence of the Ark of the Covenant in Axum and the belief that the Ark itself is a symbol of her womb. Falling on 30th November every year, this festival is attended by thousands of people from foreign countries and all over Ethiopia, making it one of the most blissful annual pilgrimages in country, the “Blessed city of the Ethiopians
Tour Itinerary
You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Refresh and begin your sightseeing of Addis with a drive up to mount Entoto for a panoramic view of Addis. Descend down and drive to National museum where you will have a chance to spot the oldest hominids of ‘Lucy’ fossil. Visit and proceed to the Holy Trinity built during the WWII. Then proceed to Ethnographic museum, which use to be the palace of Emperor Hailesellase. To wrap up you drive to merkato, the biggest market in East Africa. Overnight in Addis.
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bahir Dar. Be met and transferred to your hotel. Later, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries. Afternoon, you will drive to the village of Tis Isat to see the Blue Nile falls (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal because of the construction of the new dam.) Overnight in Bahir Dar.
After having your breakfast, you will begin your journey to Gondar. The Royal Capital of Ethiopia, Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fassiladas. In the afternoon you will visit the city of Gondar with the drive to the Castles and Churches built by Emperor Fassiladas and his descendants. Proceed to the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie (The Enlightening of Trinity) with Wonderful murals art, Qusquam Church. Overnight in Gondar.
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Axum. A city more than 2500 years of history, once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization, home of the original Ark of covenants, Axum is the prime historical site in the north of Ethiopia. Take a city tour that include the St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the ‘Ark of covenant’, the coronation yard, Stelae Park, Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins and Axum Museum. Tonight you will attain the eve ceremony of the St. Marry Zion. Overnight in Axum.
Early in the morning you will walk to the church to attain the morning mass service. Later you will visit remaining sightseeing which includes Tomb of Kaleb and his son Gebre Meskel, Ezana’s Inscriptions and Queen of Sheba’s Bath. Overnight in Axum.
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. Be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. ‘Eighth wonder of world Heritage’ Lalibela is famous for its underground rock-hewn cathedrals. In the afternoon you will visit top attractions of Lalibela that will simply stagger you. These churches include Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskal, Bete Denaghel, Bete Golgotha, Bete Mikael, and Bete Giorgis. Overnight in Lalibela.
This day you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Addis. In the evening attend a folkloric dinner where you will have a chance to taste several national dishes and watch dances of the various ethnic groups of Ethiopia. The traditional coffee ceremony will also be served. Later you will be transferred to the airport for your departure.