Ethiopia Treasure Chest of Religions

Transcription

1 Ethiopia Treasure Chest of Religions Interreligious trip with people from Ethiopia, Preliminary Programme The Interactive Trip The focus of the trip is on discovery of different cultures and religions in Ethiopia. On a trip of Inside Travel, you get into close touch with the local population and through a dialogue, you are able to learn things, which remain hidden to normal tourists. Group size: Minimum 7 and maximum 15 participants, which will be accompanied by one Swiss member of Inside Travel and a representative of our Ethiopian partner. During the trip, you will be in constant contact with our local culture brokers ordinary Ethiopian people who share something about their everyday life with you. The price of CHF includes: full accommodation in double bed room, local transportation including the national flights 1, entrance fees, guides, and all the meals except those marked as individual in the programme. The price does not include: International flights to, visa costs, vaccination and medical supplies, insurances, cancellation insurance, and an extra charge of 400 CHF for single bedroom. Deadline for binding bookings/subscription is 15 th of July The trip is organised if there is a minimum of 7 inscriptions. If there are less participants, we will inform you about alternative options for smaller groups. You can book your flight yourself on the internet, through our partner Eastern Travel and Tour in Ethiopia or through any other travel agency of your choice. Let us know, if we can do the booking for you or support you with it. For more information, please consult the detailed trip itinerary below and visit our website: Ethiopia Treasure Chest of Religions ( ) Arrival Day in Programme Duration/ Activities: Departure Day: The trip is taking place if there at least 7 binding inscriptions until 15 July Price per person: CHF The indicated price does not include the international flight to. 1 National flights are calculated on the assumption that travelers fly to with Ethiopian airlines, which gives them a discount on inland flights. If travelers use a different air company to come to Ethiopia, an additional fee might be imposed. We will advise you on an individual base for taking the best choice.

2 Trip programme Ethiopia Treasure Chest of Religions Please keep in mind that this is a preliminary programme, which could be subject to changes and minor adaptations. You will receive the final programme before you book the trip. Schedule Descriptions Place (Day 0) Sat Arrival Day Arrival and check in to hotel. Depending on the exact arrival time, one of our culture brokers (local resource person) will be at your disposition. Individual lunch (at the hotel or in town). Individual dinner (at the hotel or in town). Day 1 Sun Day 2 Mon Day 3 Tue Introduction Day Introduction to the interactive tour and getting to know each other. o Practicalities o Interactive and playful exchange with our culture brokers o Basic information about Ethiopia and its cultures Lunch in town (Ethiopian food). Trip to Mount Entoto, short walk with view on the city, visit of King Menelik s palace. Input presentation about religions in Ethiopia. Dinner at the hotel. Meskal Celebration and Discovery of Visit of the Trinity Church, which was important for the king and noble families and also for the warriors during the Italian war. Input presentation Ethiopian Orthodox Church: You will receive more information about the origin and the meaning of this important religious holiday and its customs. Lunch in the town (Ethiopian or international food). In the afternoon you will participate in the Meskal celebration (the finding of the true cross). You will see the big fire starting on one of Addis main squares. According to the popular believes the side on which the fire falls will decide, if the New (Ethiopian) Year will be blessed or not. Dinner in town near the hotel (Ethiopian or international food). Rock churches, first part Early breakfast at the hotel. Flight to Lalibela (ET 120, departure 08:10h, arrival 9:45h, via Bahir Dar). Check-in to the hotel. Lunch at the hotel (Ethiopian and international food). Lalibela

3 Day 4 Wed Day 5 Thu Day 6 Fri., Day 7 Sat Lalibela is the most famous historical and religious (orthodox) place in Ethiopia. The site is part of the UNESCO world heritage. The 11 rock hewn churches not only have a unique making but also lots of things to see(crosses old books and paintings, smells). You will visit the first part of the churches. Visit of the town. Dinner and night at the hotel. Rock churches, second part After breakfast you will drive just outside Lalibela to visit Yemrehana Kristos cave church. Discussion and information about the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Lunch in Lalibela (ethiopian or international food). After lunch you finish the second part of the Lalibela churches. Dinner and night at the hotel. Transfer day: Dire Dawa Harer Breakfast at the hotel Fly to Dire Dawa via (ET 120, departure 10:40h, arrival 11:40h, ET 204, departure 12:30h, arrival Dire Dawa 13:30h). Drive to Harar, the community of Adere people. Check-in to the hotel, little snack. Rest around the hotel. Dinner at the hotel (Ethiopian or international food). In the evening visit of the famous Hyena man. He feeds the hyenas by his hand and his mouth. Harer and Ethiopian Islam The old town of Harer is called Jegol. It has five famous entrance and we will visit the most famous of them. The town is very colourful and had different markets. Visit the museum and community house. Lunch in town (Ethiopian food). Visit of a mosque, guided by a local member of the community. Discussion with local people about the importance of the city for Ethiopian Islam and the standings of the religious community in the country. Dinner at the hotel (Ethiopian or international food). On the road Early breakfast at the hotel. Departure by private bus in direction of Sodere (driving time around 7 hours). On the way you will see a changing landscape that differs considerably from what you have seen in the highland. Lalibela Harer Harer Harer - Sodere

4 Day 8 Sun Day 9 Mon Day10 Tue Day 11 Wed Lunch on the road. Evening: arrival in Sodere. Check-in to the lodge. Dinner at the lodge (Ethiopian or international food). Night at a lodge. Relaxing in Sodere Breakfast at the lodge. After the past travelling days, you will have a full day to relax. Sodere is a good place for that purpose. You will be able to see interesting vegetation and with a bit of luck monkeys and other animals, too. If you want, relax at the hot sprig bath and swimming pool. Lunch at the lodge (Ethiopian or international food). Dinner at the lodge (Ethiopian or international food). Night at a lodge. On the road again Breakfast at the lodge. Departure by private bus in direction of Hoseana. Driving time: 6 hours. Stop at Lake Ziway, bird watching on the lake. Arrival in the afternoon. Thanks to our cooperation with a local community that decided to open their doors and show their everyday life, you will be able to see behind the scenes. During the 2 days in the communities, many things just happen as we follow the flow of the local life. First impressions and activities. Evangelical churches in the south Breakfast in the community. Visit of the church building (protestant evangelical church). Meeting with representatives of the local protestant community, discussions and exchange. Lunch in the community (Ethiopian food). Various community activities (harvesting, handicrafts, horse riding etc.). Dinner at the community lodge. Countryside life at community Breakfast in the community. Seeing and trying out different activities (farming, cooking, local handcrafts etc.). You will be part of the community and you have the possibility to try out, ask questions but also to relax and have fun. Lunch in the community (Ethiopian food). European night: If you like to cook, this is the evening where you can prepare a traditional dish from your country to the local population (let us know, if we have to buy ingredients for you or take special ingredients from home). Otherwise, you can also simply share some Sodere Sodere

5 Day 12 Thu Day 13 Fri (Day 14) Sat pictures a song a story or something from yourself with your local hosts. and driving back to Early breakfast in the community. Drive back to (driving time around 6 hours). Lunch on the way (Ethiopian food). Check-in to the hotel. Free time in the afternoon, culture broker available. Dinner at the hotel (Ethiopian and international food). Mission am Nil and shopping Visit of Mission am Nil, a Swiss founded NGO. Lunch in the town (Ethiopian or international food). Afternoon: time for some souvenir shopping or visiting Merkato. Far-well dinner together with all culture brokers. Night at the hotel or transfer to the airport for those leaving at night. Departure Day Individual lunch. Individual dinner. Transfer to the airport. In case your flight is at night, one of our culture brokers will be at your disposition for more sightseeing or shopping in Addis. community