Ethiopia: Ancient and Contemporary 3 - 16 November 2021 With Rift Valley extension 16 - 19 November 2021
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Rock Church, Lalibela
Ethiopia: Ancient and Contemporary
3 – 16 November 2021
With Rift Valley extension
16 – 19 November 2021
“An unforgettable experience with
memories which will last a lifetime.”
Participant on Ethiopia: Ancient and Contemporary 2019
The ‘Smoking water’ of the Blue Nile Falls Ethiopia has the longest archaeological And yet, this incredible country is still some record in the world, is home to one of way off the tourist map. This tour unveils the the oldest Christian civilizations on the abundant offerings of Ethiopia, both past and planet and has been dubbed the ‘cradle of contemporary, and shows you a remarkable land humanity’, with the most ancient human with a heritage matched by few countries in the bones ever discovered found here. Its natural world. The tour is led by Ethiopia authority, Dr landscapes are spectacular and diverse and Richard Marsh, who will provide several talks its rich cultural identity is firmly intact, during the tour. being one of only two African countries considered to have escaped European colonisation (apart from a very brief period of Italian occupation).
Tour Leader
Dr Richard Marsh has a long association with
the Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches
and is an authority on Ethiopia’s history, art,
music and contemporary society. He is the
author of Black Angels: The Art and Spirituality
of Ethiopia and Prayers from the East and is
the Director of Intelligent Giving, a registered
charity that aims to make charitable giving
more effective by helping donors evaluate
charities. Richard has travelled extensively and
is an experienced tour leader, having led many
successful tours to Ethiopia as well as Georgia,
Armenia, Russia and Iran.
“Richard Marsh was an extraordinary
leader. Not only was he an expert on
places we visited; he has excellent
humour. I would definitely go on
National Guide another trip with him.”
Theodore Sullivan, Ethiopia: Historical & Contemporary, 2017
Dawood Nazerali will be the tour’s national
guide throughout Ethiopia. We have worked
with Dawood for over a decade and he is
“Dawood is excellent, well
popular, warm and extremely knowledgeable
with excellent contacts within Ethiopia.
informed, fluent in English.”
Helen Derry, Ethiopia 2019
The angel-festooned ceiling of the church at Debre Birhan
Itinerary 3 – 16 November 2021 B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner
2 nights Addis Ababa – 2 nights Axum – 3 nights Lalibela – 2 nights Gondar – 2 nights Bahir Dar
– 2 nights Addis Ababa
Day 3: Addis Ababa / Axum
(Fri, 5 Nov) B L D
Am: Fly to Axum and transfer to the hotel.
Pm: Axum is Ethiopia’s most ancient city,
littered with astonishing archaeological
treasures. The Axumite Empire dominated
the crossroads of trade between Africa
and Asia for one thousand years and
gave Ethiopia its first organised religion,
Christianity, in the 4th century AD. Axum
was also the capital of the Queen of
Sheba in the 10th century BC, according
to local legend, and you will visit her
palace. Marvel at Axum’s enormous
stelae, fantastically well-preserved stone
monoliths covered in fine carvings, which
were used to mark the tombs of rulers,
and tour the Axum Museum with its fine
display of inscribed tablets.
Eve: Talk: “Ethiopian culture: carved from the
landscape” - Richard Marsh (RM)
Day 1: Addis Ababa (Wed, 3 Nov) D
Am: Arrive in Addis Ababa and check in. Day 4: Axum (Sat, 6 Nov) B L D
Pm: A big sprawling city with a small-town feel, Am: Drive to Yeha, with spectacular views over
Addis Ababa cheerfully juxtaposes the the Simien Mountains, to the site of the
old and the new. A short city tour will great battle of Adwa, where the Ethiopian
orientate you before you ascend Mount army drove out the Italians in 1896. Visit
Entoto for a superb panoramic views. the pre-Axumite Temple at Yeha, Ethiopia’s
first known capital, with some of the ruins
Day 2: Addis Ababa (Thurs, 4 Nov) B L D dating to the 8th century BC. Visit a typical
Am: Richard Marsh will give a talk providing an Tigrean house and Church Treasury and
overview of Ethiopia before visiting the hear a fascinating on-site talk on Ethiopian
National Museum, which contains finds religious art.
made by French archaeologists in the Pm: Continue to the church of St Mary of Zion,
20th century; the plaster cast of ‘Lucy’ where the Ark of the Covenant is said to
being the star attraction (when she is not rest and where the Emperors of Ethiopia
on tour). Continue to the Ethnological were traditionally crowned.
Museum, Ethiopia’s best museum, with Eve: Talk: “Where stories meet history” -
an exceptional range of artifacts and Richard Marsh
Ethiopian handicrafts.
Pm: Visit Trinity Cathedral and the Ethnological Day 5: Axum / Lalibela (Sun, 7 Nov) B L D
Museum. Am: Fly to Lalibela, high in the rugged Lasta
Eve: Talk by Mulugeta Gebru, an expert on Mountains, a city that ranks among the
development in Ethiopia. world’s greatest religious historical sites.
Transfer to the hotel
Pm: Visit the eastern group of rock churches. Day 10: Gondar / Bahir Dar (Fri, 12 Nov) B L D
Lalibela’s exquisite 800-year old rock Am: Make the scenic drive to Bahir Dar, an
churches, which are hewn from solid rock, attractive town of wide leafy avenues set
represent the pinnacle of a very ancient on the shore of Lake Tana, and check into
Aksumite masonry style. Some of the hotel.
eleven churches stand in giant quarried Pm: Visit the spectacular Blue Nile Falls (Tissisat
caves; others are hidden in deep trenches. Falls), known locally as ‘Smoking Water’.
Many of the churches display some
remarkable examples of early Christian art. Day 11: Gondar (Sat, 13 Nov) B L D
Am: Full day boat trip on Lake Tana; visit Narga
Day 6: Lalibela (Mon, 8 Nov) B L D Sellassie, a stunning 18th century royal
Am: Visit the western group of rock churches. church, and hear an onsite talk on “Sacred
Pm: Visit the cave church of Nakuto La’ab. Geometry and Ethiopian Church Painting”.
Pm: After a picnic lunch continue to the Zeghie
Day 7: Lalibela (Tues, 9 Nov) B L D Peninsula to visit the church and treasury
Am: Visit Yemrehanna Krestos, one of the most of Betre Maryam and return to Bahir Dar.
spectacular cave churches in Ethiopia, and Eve: Option to go dancing in a local club.
return via a local village for coffee. Visit
the spectacular church of Yemrehanna Day 12: Bahir Dar / Addis Ababa
Krestos. Return via coffee at Yemrehanna (Sun, 14 Nov) B L D
Krestos village. Am: Visit the viewpoint by the former palace of
Pm: Enjoy lunch at the architecturally and Haile Sellassie by tuk tuk.
culinary acclaimed Ben Abeba restaurant, Pm: Fly to Addis Ababa and check into your
run by a Scottish former teacher. You will hotel. Talk: “Politics, people and food” - RM.
also learn about the art of the region at
the Tegegne Art Studio and enjoy some Day 13: Addis Ababa (Mon, 15 Nov) B L D
mead at the Tej House. Am: Visit the Addis Ababa Museum.
Pm: Visit Muya (founded by a fashion designer
Day 8: Lalibela / Gondar (Wed, 10 Nov) B L D to introduce the rest of the world to the
Am: Fly to Gondar, a city whose splendour rich heritage of Ethiopian textiles) and
became local legend during its tenure as wander down Churchill Road.
Ethiopia’s capital in the 17th century. Eve: Farewell dinner.
Pm: Visit the country’s most famous church at
Debre Birhan, remarkable for the eighty Day 14: Addis Ababa (Tues, 16 Nov) B
winged angel heads that entirely cover the Am: Depart for airport in the early hours
ceiling. (if taking group flight) or extend in the
magnificent Rift Valley.
Day 9: Gondar (Thurs, 11 Nov) B L D
Am: Visit Kossoye for spectacular mountain NB: This tour requires a good level of physical
views. Visit the Women’s Ploughshare fitness with visits that frequently entail an hour
Project and stop at Felasha village. or more of walking, often over uneven ground.
Pm: Tour the great castles and sumptuous
palaces of Gondar and the ruins of
Kusquam Abbey (time permitting).
Eve: Talk: “Ethiopia and the world: the quest for
Prester John” - RM
One of the beautiful crater lakes in the Rift Valley
Rift Valley extension and bird watching.
16 – 19 November 2021 Pm: At leisure.
The spectacular African Rift Valley is home to Day 17: Lake Awassa / Addis Ababa
a chain of scenic lakes rich in bird and animal (Fri, 19 Nov) B
life. Drive down to Lake Awassa, with stops at Am: Fly back to Addis Ababa.
crater lakes en route, and check into your hotel Pm: Arrive in Addis and at leisure.
for three nights. Visit local villages, banana and Eve: If taking flight package, depart for late
coffee plantations and see ‘kocho bread’ being flight to London, arriving next day.
made from the enset (false banana) tree, with
options to swim, go on walks or bird watching.
Take an excursion to Wondo Guenet hot springs,
including bird watching and the option to take a
boat trip to spot hippos.
Day 14: Addis Ababa / Awassa
(Tues, 16 Nov) B L D
Am: Drive from Addis to Lake Awassa through
the Rift Valley with stops at crater lakes
via Debrezeit, Ziway and Langano. Check
into the hotel.
Day 15: Lake Awassa (Wed, 17 Nov) B L D
Am: Visit the town of Yirgalem, walk through
the plantation and visit Sidama village
to see kocho making (bread from the
enset or false banana tree) or at leisure
by the lake. Options include walks, bird
watching and swimming.
Pm: Boat trip on Lake Awassa.
Day 16: Lake Awassa (Thurs, 18 Nov) B L D
Am: Excursion to Wondo Guenet hot springs
Flamingos in the Rift Valley (top);
Wallowing hippos in the Rift Valley (above)
The fully-inclusive cost of the
tour is USD $5,577 per person
sharing
The fully inclusive cost includes:
• Return economy flights on the scheduled
services of Ethiopian Airways between London/
Addis Ababa
The ground only cost
(excluding international
flights and transfers) is
USD $5,044 per person sharing
The ground only cost includes:
• 13 nights’ accommodation in twin-bedded
rooms in medium grade hotels or the best local
accommodation available
Single supplement: USD $515
• Full board throughout the trip
• A full programme of visits as per the itinerary
• UK tour leader (Dr Richard Marsh)
• Comprehensive briefing notes
• Admission fees where applicable
• English speaking national guide throughout
• All transport services, internal flights and
airport taxes in Ethiopia
• Tips
The cost of the extension is
USD $889 and includes:
• 3 nights’ accommodation in twin-bedded
Fasilidas Palace, Gondar (top); rooms in medium grade hotels or the best local
A weaver at the Women’s Ploughshare Project (above)
accommodation available
Single supplement: USD $169
• Full board throughout the trip
Supported Project • An allowance of soft drinks with meals
• A full programme of visits as per the itinerary
• English speaking national guide throughout
Since it was established 20 years ago, the
non-profit Women’s Ploughshare Project
The cost excludes:
in Wolleka has helped 1200 disadvantaged
• All personal extras such as porterage, laundry,
women – widows, disabled, those affected inoculation fees and drinks not with meals
by HIV and GM – rekindle local pottery, • All optional excursions, tours and visits
traditional Amhara weaving and basketry • Visa
traditions. They are given board and lodgings
All itineraries are subject to change according to
and are taught a skill which they can then local conditions.
take back to their villages and pass on to
others. Visitors can watch the women using
their traditional skills and can purchase the
high-quality pottery, textiles and basketry.
About Us
To travel with us is to dig below
the surface, revealing the deeper
destination. Of course, you will visit
the great historical sites; marvel at
the wonders of architecture and
engineering; be moved by the riches
of culture and art; and experience
the most spectacular landscapes in
the world. What we also do is make
sure that you see the country as it is
today, giving you privileged access
that independent travel and other
tour companies rarely get close to.
We give you a variety of experiences,
from the sublime to the humble, in
the company of intelligent, curious,
like-minded people. And while we
can be worthy, we also make sure
that you have a lot of fun.
All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in
this brochure are financially protected by the
ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be
supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask
for it and check to ensure that everything you
booked (flights, hotels and other services)
is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions
for further information or for more information
about financial protection and the ATOL
Certificate go to:
www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate
Jon Baines Tours (London)
Hyde Park House, 5 Manfred Road,
London, SW15 2RS
Tel: +44 (0) 207 223 9485 / 5618
Email: info@jonbainestours.co.uk
www.jonbainestours.co.uk
Jon Baines Tours (Melbourne)
PO Box 68, South Brunswick, Simien Mountains (top); Selling vegetables at Lalibela market;
Stelae park, Axum; A priest with some of the stunning church
Victoria 3055 murals on Lake Tana (above)
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9343 6367
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9012 4228
Email: info@jonbainestours.com.au
www.jonbainestours.com
USA and Canada:
(Toll Free) 1-8777-398-764 topp
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