ETHIOPIA - Lost Tribes. March 2020
Pictures from Ethiopia tours in 2013.
To book your place on this trip
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Introduction:
Ethiopia is one of my most exciting destinations. The story of Jews who came to Ethiopia over two thousand years ago and forged their own Jewish practices and identities is absolutely fascinating. Ethiopian Jews trace their heritage back to the Biblical High Priest Zadok and the time of the First Temple.
The trip will include visits to the Palace of the Queen of Sheba and the home of the True Ark of the Covenant in Axum, the acclaimed Rock Hewn Churches in Lalibela, a visit to a Falasha Village, the famous Royal Compound and Shabbat with the Jewish community in Gondar, a boat ride on Lake Tana – the source of the Blue Nile, a chance to see ‘Lucy’ – the earliest known humanoid skeleton, and a visit with the Kechena Jews of Addis Ababa.
Travel in Ethiopia: Ethiopia is a third world country. We will stay in 4 Star tourist class hotels throughout the trip where possible. The hotels will be clean with en-suite facilities – but you should not expect European standards. There are frequent water and power outages – even in the best hotels. All hotels promise a Wi-Fi connection – but can also expect to be without the Internet for at least part of our journey.
Ethiopia is a large country (bigger than France and the UK together). The distances are great – and many of the roads are dirt tracks. Most of our travel within Ethiopia will be by plane. Each new place we come to is like an entirely new world and it is always surprising when you come out of the airport and discover a new face of Ethiopian society.
Ethiopia is a safe country and at no point will we be in any area that is considered dangerous. There are a number of injections that are recommended for those traveling to Ethiopia. Full details will be sent out to those who sign up to the trip.
Itinerary (subject to change)
Monday 23 March: Depart at night to Addis Ababa (overnight flight)
Tuesday, 24 March: Welcome to Addis Ababa. Orientation. National museum and the Mercato market. (Overnight – Addis)
Wednesday 25 March: (flight: Addis-Axum) . Visit the palace of the Queen of Sheba, the ancient Stelae Monuments and the home of the Ark of the Covenant. (Overnight – Axum)
Thursday 26 March: (flight: Axum – Lalibela). Visit the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. (Overnight – Lalibela).
Friday 27 March (flight: Lalibela – Gondar). Visit the Felasha Village of Weleke. Shabbat services in Gondar with remaining Jews who are waiting to immigrate to Israel. (Overnight – Gondar)
Shabbat 28 March: Shabbat morning services with the Jewish community. Afternoon tour of The Royal Enclosure including the famous castles of Gondar. (Overnight – Gondar)
Sunday 29 March: Drive from Gondar through the mountains and along the shore of Lake Tana to Bahar Dar (source of the Blue Nile). Visit the Blue Nile falls. (Overnight – Bahar Dar)
Monday 30 March: (Flight. Bahar Dar – Addis) Boat cruise on Lake Tana to the famous churches and monasteries of the lake. Return to Addis in the evening. (Overnight – Addis)
Tuesday 31 March: Visit the Kechena neighbourhood of Addis and the Kechene Jews. Spend the day in their synagogue and workshops and finish with a dinner with the Kechene Jews.
Wednesday 1 April: (Addis- London) (early Morning flight). Arrive in London around 7:00 am.
Flights:
You are responsible for booking your own international flights to and from Addis Ababa. You will need to arrive in Addis on the morning on morning of 24 March. The trips finishes on the evening of 31 March. Suggested flights: Out: Ethiopian Airlines: Flight 701 Dep. London 23 March 20:15. Arr. Addis 24 March 7:00 am. Return: Ethiopian Airline Flight 700. Dep Addis 1 April 00:45. Arrive London 1 April 8:15. There are many other flight options. Please note that we also have 4 internal flights in Ethiopia. These are cheaper if booked in conjunction with an Ethiopian Airline international ticket.
There are also 4 internal flights within Ethiopia. These will be booked as a group by my agent in Addis Ababa.
Cost:
The cost of the trip per person in a double/twin room is £1510.00 + flights. [based on last year’s experience, flights (including internal flights), will cost around £750.00.] Single supplement: £230.00. (Prices subject to change in case of a big fluctuation in the exchange rate of the £ / $.)
The price includes hotel accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast basis, coaches, airport transfers in Ethiopia, local guides, entrance fees to all sites, and Shabbat meals in Gondar. There is a culture of tipping in Ethiopia. Based on past experience, you should budget around £30-£40 for this.
Extending your trip:
There are many parts of Ethiopia that we won’t have time to see. In particular we will not visit the southern part of the country which is the main tribal area. You may wish to extend your stay any visit other areas – I would be happy to put you in touch with my local agent in Ethiopia to help you arrange this.
Registration:
To reserve your place, you will need to pay a £100 deposit. The trip is subject to a minimum number of participants and to Standard Terms and Conditions.
This is a journey to a completely different culture and experience. Based on the experience of last year's groups it will be life changing experience. I hope you will be able to join me.
Ethiopia is one of my most exciting destinations. The story of Jews who came to Ethiopia over two thousand years ago and forged their own Jewish practices and identities is absolutely fascinating. Ethiopian Jews trace their heritage back to the Biblical High Priest Zadok and the time of the First Temple.
The trip will include visits to the Palace of the Queen of Sheba and the home of the True Ark of the Covenant in Axum, the acclaimed Rock Hewn Churches in Lalibela, a visit to a Falasha Village, the famous Royal Compound and Shabbat with the Jewish community in Gondar, a boat ride on Lake Tana – the source of the Blue Nile, a chance to see ‘Lucy’ – the earliest known humanoid skeleton, and a visit with the Kechena Jews of Addis Ababa.
Travel in Ethiopia: Ethiopia is a third world country. We will stay in 4 Star tourist class hotels throughout the trip where possible. The hotels will be clean with en-suite facilities – but you should not expect European standards. There are frequent water and power outages – even in the best hotels. All hotels promise a Wi-Fi connection – but can also expect to be without the Internet for at least part of our journey.
Ethiopia is a large country (bigger than France and the UK together). The distances are great – and many of the roads are dirt tracks. Most of our travel within Ethiopia will be by plane. Each new place we come to is like an entirely new world and it is always surprising when you come out of the airport and discover a new face of Ethiopian society.
Ethiopia is a safe country and at no point will we be in any area that is considered dangerous. There are a number of injections that are recommended for those traveling to Ethiopia. Full details will be sent out to those who sign up to the trip.
Itinerary (subject to change)
Monday 23 March: Depart at night to Addis Ababa (overnight flight)
Tuesday, 24 March: Welcome to Addis Ababa. Orientation. National museum and the Mercato market. (Overnight – Addis)
Wednesday 25 March: (flight: Addis-Axum) . Visit the palace of the Queen of Sheba, the ancient Stelae Monuments and the home of the Ark of the Covenant. (Overnight – Axum)
Thursday 26 March: (flight: Axum – Lalibela). Visit the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. (Overnight – Lalibela).
Friday 27 March (flight: Lalibela – Gondar). Visit the Felasha Village of Weleke. Shabbat services in Gondar with remaining Jews who are waiting to immigrate to Israel. (Overnight – Gondar)
Shabbat 28 March: Shabbat morning services with the Jewish community. Afternoon tour of The Royal Enclosure including the famous castles of Gondar. (Overnight – Gondar)
Sunday 29 March: Drive from Gondar through the mountains and along the shore of Lake Tana to Bahar Dar (source of the Blue Nile). Visit the Blue Nile falls. (Overnight – Bahar Dar)
Monday 30 March: (Flight. Bahar Dar – Addis) Boat cruise on Lake Tana to the famous churches and monasteries of the lake. Return to Addis in the evening. (Overnight – Addis)
Tuesday 31 March: Visit the Kechena neighbourhood of Addis and the Kechene Jews. Spend the day in their synagogue and workshops and finish with a dinner with the Kechene Jews.
Wednesday 1 April: (Addis- London) (early Morning flight). Arrive in London around 7:00 am.
Flights:
You are responsible for booking your own international flights to and from Addis Ababa. You will need to arrive in Addis on the morning on morning of 24 March. The trips finishes on the evening of 31 March. Suggested flights: Out: Ethiopian Airlines: Flight 701 Dep. London 23 March 20:15. Arr. Addis 24 March 7:00 am. Return: Ethiopian Airline Flight 700. Dep Addis 1 April 00:45. Arrive London 1 April 8:15. There are many other flight options. Please note that we also have 4 internal flights in Ethiopia. These are cheaper if booked in conjunction with an Ethiopian Airline international ticket.
There are also 4 internal flights within Ethiopia. These will be booked as a group by my agent in Addis Ababa.
Cost:
The cost of the trip per person in a double/twin room is £1510.00 + flights. [based on last year’s experience, flights (including internal flights), will cost around £750.00.] Single supplement: £230.00. (Prices subject to change in case of a big fluctuation in the exchange rate of the £ / $.)
The price includes hotel accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast basis, coaches, airport transfers in Ethiopia, local guides, entrance fees to all sites, and Shabbat meals in Gondar. There is a culture of tipping in Ethiopia. Based on past experience, you should budget around £30-£40 for this.
Extending your trip:
There are many parts of Ethiopia that we won’t have time to see. In particular we will not visit the southern part of the country which is the main tribal area. You may wish to extend your stay any visit other areas – I would be happy to put you in touch with my local agent in Ethiopia to help you arrange this.
Registration:
To reserve your place, you will need to pay a £100 deposit. The trip is subject to a minimum number of participants and to Standard Terms and Conditions.
This is a journey to a completely different culture and experience. Based on the experience of last year's groups it will be life changing experience. I hope you will be able to join me.
