ETHIOPIA - FURTHER INFORMATION
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 to 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 5 Feb: Depart at night to Addis Ababa (overnight flight)
Tuesday, 6 Feb: Welcome to Addis Ababa. Orientation. National museum and the Mercato market. (Overnight – Addis)
Wednesday 7 Feb: (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 8 Feb: (flight: Axum – Lalibela). Visit the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. (Overnight – Lalibela).
Friday 9 Feb: (flight: Lalibela – Gondar). Visit the Felasha Village of Weleke. Shabbat services in Gondar with remaining Jews who are waiting to emigrate to Israel. (Overnight – Gondar)
Shabbat 10 Feb: Shabbat morning services with the Jewish community. Afternoon tour of the Royal Enclosure including the famous castles of Gondar. (Overnight – Gondar)
Sunday 11 Feb: 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 12 Feb: (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 13 Feb: 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 14 Feb: (Addis- London) (early morning flight). Arrive in London around 7:00 am. / Flight to Entebbe for those continuing on to Uganda.
Flights:
You will need to book your own flights to Addis Ababa. There are also internal flights inside Ethiopia which will be booked together as a group. There are several airlines that fly to Ethiopia, but the most convenient with Ethiopian Airways which flies directly from London. More information to follow.
Cost:
The cost of the trip per person in a double/twin room is £1350.00 + flights. [based on last year’s experience, flights (including internal flights), will cost around £750.00. The prices for 2018 aren't available yet.] Single supplement: £200.00. (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 £75 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 to 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 5 Feb: Depart at night to Addis Ababa (overnight flight)
Tuesday, 6 Feb: Welcome to Addis Ababa. Orientation. National museum and the Mercato market. (Overnight – Addis)
Wednesday 7 Feb: (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 8 Feb: (flight: Axum – Lalibela). Visit the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. (Overnight – Lalibela).
Friday 9 Feb: (flight: Lalibela – Gondar). Visit the Felasha Village of Weleke. Shabbat services in Gondar with remaining Jews who are waiting to emigrate to Israel. (Overnight – Gondar)
Shabbat 10 Feb: Shabbat morning services with the Jewish community. Afternoon tour of the Royal Enclosure including the famous castles of Gondar. (Overnight – Gondar)
Sunday 11 Feb: 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 12 Feb: (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 13 Feb: 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 14 Feb: (Addis- London) (early morning flight). Arrive in London around 7:00 am. / Flight to Entebbe for those continuing on to Uganda.
Flights:
You will need to book your own flights to Addis Ababa. There are also internal flights inside Ethiopia which will be booked together as a group. There are several airlines that fly to Ethiopia, but the most convenient with Ethiopian Airways which flies directly from London. More information to follow.
Cost:
The cost of the trip per person in a double/twin room is £1350.00 + flights. [based on last year’s experience, flights (including internal flights), will cost around £750.00. The prices for 2018 aren't available yet.] Single supplement: £200.00. (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 £75 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.
