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| Timkat Festival & Omo Valley Tour (Jan.17-27) |
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Timket or Epiphany is a very important celebration of Ethiopian Orthodox
Christian followers. It is the most colorful
and greatest festival of the year, falling
on 19 January, just two weeks after Genna.
It is actually a three day affair, beginning
on the eve of Timkat with dramatic processions
(Ketera), when the priests remove the
tabots (replicas of the tablets which
were written by finger of God and given
to Moses) from each church and bless the
water of the pool or river where the next
day's celebration will take place. The
following morning, the great day itself,
Christ's baptism in the River Jordan by
John is commemorated. The water is blessed
and sprinkled over everyone in a ceremony
where the faithful renew their vows to
the church. The third day is devoted to
the archangel St. Michael, one of Ethiopia's
most popular saints. Everyone, men, women,
and children appear splendid for the three
day celebration. Dressed in the dazzling
white of the traditional dress, the locals
provide a spectacular beauty to the colorful
ceremony.
We organized this trip together with the Omo Valley ethnic tours. You’ll spend the first three days in Addis Ababa for the Timkat festivity and then continue to the Omo Valley where you will meet unique and fascinating culture of the different ethnic people such as the Hamer, Bena, Tsemai, Mursi, Konso, Ari, Dorze, Dasenech, Erbore, and others.
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Itinerary
January 17/Day 1
Arrival in Addis Ababa and welcomed by our representative; then be transferred to your hotel. Overnight hotel (3 nights)
Meals: No meal provided
January 18/Day 2
In the morning, have a city tour of Addis Ababa to the national museum and trinity cathedral. Attend the procession in the afternoon. Overnight hotel
Meals: Breakfast
January 19/Day 3
Early in the morning we will go to Janmeda where we attend the actual Timkat celebration where the people are blessed by the high priests, sprinkling the holy water. In the afternoon, visit Merkato, the largest open air market in East Africa and be at leisure the rest of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
January 20/Day 4
Drive to Arba Minch passing through the rift valley lakes region and visit the Dorze village at Chencha. You can have a panoramic view of Arba Minch from here. Overnight hotel in Arba Minch
Meals: B, L, D
January 21/Day 5
Drive to Turmi where you’ll meet the Hamer tribes. On your way, you will have a stop at Konso, Woito and Erbore villages and meet the Konso, Bena, Tsemai and Erbore tribes. Overnight camping (2 nights)
Meals: B,L,D
January 22/Day 6
Early in the morning we’ll drive to Omorate to meet the Dasenech people by crossing the Omo River by wooden boat. Lunch at Turmi and then drive to Dimeka to see the colorful market. Note that market days are very important in the Omo Valley. Then drive back to Turmi. Overnight camping
Meals: B,L,D
January 23/Day 7
Drive to Jinka passing through Key Afer. Overnight hotel (2 nights)
Meals: B, L, D
January 24/Day 8
Drive to Mago National Park to meet the Mursi tribes who are famous in putting lip plates. Then drive back to Jinka and visit the Jinka museum or Ari village. Overnight hotel
Meals: B, L, D
January 25/Day 9
Drive to Arba Minch via Tsemai village and meet the people there. Overnight hotel
Meals: B, L, D
January 26/Day 10
Drive to Wondo Genet with a stop at Lake Awassa where you can visit the fish market and birds. Then continue to Wondo Genet where you can enjoy the natural hot spring water and many birds in the forest. Overnight hotel
Meals: B, L, D
January 27/Day 11
Drive back to Addis Ababa. Farewell folkloric dinner with dances and music in one of the best traditional restaurants in Addis Ababa. Be transferred to the airport for final departure.
Meals: B, L, D
Price per person is $1765USD
Single Room Supplement is $289USD
Accommodation (Sharing) - 4* in Addis Ababa and the best available hotels outside.
Minimum 3 and maximum 10 people
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