A Private Tailor made Ethiopian Journey Tigray Trust Visit For The Global Heritage Fund UK Hosted by The Tigray Trust Designed by William Jones, as discussed MAY 2015 Fri 01 May: Arrive Addis Ababa, Sheraton Hotel 1 night Sat 02 May: Schedule flight Lalibela, Mount View Hotel 2 nights Mon 04 May: Drive Tigray, Gheralta Lodge 2 nights Wed 06 May: Drive Axum, Sabian Hotel 1 night Thurs 07 May: Scheduled flight Gondar, drive Bahir Dar, Kuriftu Lodge 2 nights Sat 09 May: Schedule Addis Ababa, Sheraton Day Room, Depart
Your Private Itinerary The following tailor-made journey initially pushes out the frontiers of travel into the highland Christian kingdom of Abyssinia. The itinerary is primarily designed around the work of the Tigray Trust. A geophysical and field survey revealed that as well as a temple - probably dedicated to a moon God - the site includes a palace, metal-working zone, town, two cemeteries and a vast battlefield commemorated by a toppled stele carved with the disc and crescent and an inscription in early Ge'ez. Rescue excavations in the elite cemetery uncovered four rock- hewn tombs containing burials accompanied by rich grave goods including a pendant necklace, bronze cosmetic spoon and a unique and extraordinary bowl surmounted by a horse figurine. The wealth and sophistication of this site must derive from the seams of gold and iron ore that run along the valley. The site offers huge potential for the creation of an archaeological park the restoration of an ancient landscape that can benefit its modern-day inhabitants. It could incorporate conserved monuments, information and interpretation panels, walking trails linking up the various elements of the site and a small museum and shop where the local people can sell products such as honey, woven baskets and leatherwork. Tying in this archaeological park with the wider network of rock-hewn churches in the region - with an associated training program for local guides - would further add to the sustainability benefits to the community (10,000 people live within its immediate vicinity). The itinerary that we have personally crafted for you includes a seamless ground arrangement, from the moment that you land to the moment that you take off again for home. We will meet you off your international flight, arrange all transfers and accommodation and can be reached 24hours a day in the unlikely event of an emergency.
Your Private Itinerary Friday 1 st May Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa Upon arrival into Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines (please note international flights are your responsibility to book), you will be met and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel. You will overnight here on a bed and breakfast basis. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to experience a city tour and visits to the National and Ethnographic Museums (time permitting). In the evening, you will head to Mama s Kitchen for a jazz night. The sumptuous, neo-classical Sheraton is a comfortable base for your stay in Addis. It drips in marble and lavish furnishings, and delivers unexpected levels of luxury in one of the less privileged corners of the continent. Centrally located opposite the National Palace on a hilltop overlooking the city, and surrounded by wonderful flowering gardens, Addis Sheraton boasts 293 deluxe guest rooms including 33 suites, 20 classic suites, 9 junior suites and 4 executive suites. There is a wide selection of restaurants, boutiques, a small spa, pool (with underwater music system), even a Vegas-style fountain light show and - one of our personal favourite highlights - a terrific pastry trolley! The Sheraton undoubtedly is the best-looking and best-managed hotel in the country, and while it s very 'International in feel, if you look hard enough, there is still a sense of the local in the form of some great traditional food to savour - notably the excellent breakfast buffet - alongside an attentive, professional service.
It s difficult to find fault with the Sheraton. Perfect for those seeking a glass of fine wine, high style comfort and respite after a couple of dusty and tiring weeks on the road. Certainly, the pleasures of an outdoor cocktail on a balmy evening, followed by dinner in the superb haute cuisine French restaurant Les Cascades or equally enjoyable Indian dining room Shaheen, is hard to argue with; as is the quality of massage on offer; and, with a rare ATM right in the lobby, access to cash is virtually guaranteed. Addis Ababa The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Ababa, which means new flower in Amharic. In response to possible invasions from the south, the capital was moved from Ankober - at the end of the last century by Emperor Menelik II - to its current strategic military position at the foot of the Entoto Hills. Addis is the 3rd highest capital in the world (7,500 8,000 ft) and for that reason offers bracing temperatures and plenty of fresh highland air. As cosmopolitan a city as any, Addis Ababa has high rise apartments, theatres and hotels - features of developed city designs that sit not wholly comfortably alongside traditional homes of wattle and daub. The city is characterised by its plentiful eucalyptus trees and wide streets, by the occasional donkey train making its way among the traffic, and by the bustle of a busy but moderately sized city. Addis has a number of attractive Orthodox churches, museums and sites of interest, one of which is Africa s largest market, Mercato, where everything under the sun is sold under the sun.
Saturday 2 nd May Mount View Hotel, Lalibela This morning, you will be met and transferred to Addis Ababa airport to connect with your ET122 scheduled flight to Lalibela at 0740hrs. Upon arrival at 0945hrs, you will be met and transferred to the Mount View Hotel for two night s stay on a full board basis. During your time here, you will explore the rock hewn churches of Lalibela. Perched at an altitude of 2,680m, this contemporary hilltop hotel of wood and glass construction is the latest, and certainly smartest, of the privately owned lodges springing up in the Lalibela area. Built by two former guides, Getachew and Metaso, who teamed up with an American investor to complete the lodge in 2008, Mount View affords unbeatable panoramic vistas - both at sunrise and particularly at sunset - of the surrounding highlands, and is arguably the best (and definitely the most scenic) accommodation option in town. Strikingly designed, particularly by Ethiopian standards, on the outskirts of Lalibela, it s a modern, minimalist hotel consisting of a roomy central living area - facing west - with large glass windows, lending it the kind of sense of space and light not found in most hotels in the country. Alongside numerous outdoor terraces, are thirty rooms, all of the same standard, with balconies offering further wonderful, private views of the surrounding countryside. Bedrooms are en-suite, of a good size, clean and comfortable, while bathrooms are simple yet functional with a comparatively reliable supply of hot water in this arid region.
Staff are helpful and friendly, particularly the well-known Jamaican head chef who, alongside his team, produces tasty European and local fare, served in a open dining room full of natural light (particularly beautiful at sunrise.) You will be able to visit Ethiopia s famous rock hewn churches built in the 12th century and attributed to King Lalibela. The drive from the hotel to the churches takes about five-ten minutes; the walk is about fifteen minutes or more. There are no less than 1000 churches in the Lasta region of Lalibela some hidden in enormous caves, but it is exceptional to find 11 churches of such master craftsmanship in one locale. At the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th centuries King Lalibela of the Zaghwe dynasty built a series of rock hewn churches - the New Jerusalem as he called it - now rightly acknowledged to be one of the wonders of the world. There are 11 churches in the town named after him, with others in the surrounding countryside. 10 are still in use today. Stamina permitting set out on a trek to the Asheten Mariam church on Mt Ashten. You will be able to ride mules for the majority of the trek but you will have to walk the steeper and rockier sections. This walk is quite strenuous and unsteady underfoot so you should consider carefully whether you are up to it. It is a round trip of 12 kilometres and is about four hours of walking. Once at the top of Asheten you can walk off the back of the mountain into the Nakutalaub Cave Church discuss this with your guide not normally done but very good fun. Asheten is the first of the rock churches built by King Lalibela. The site of the Asheten Church was in fact where Lalibela had proposed to build all his churches but found that there wasn t the space and moved the remaining 23 churches to lower ground. The walk is well worth it and Asheten boasts the best views in the area. Look out for Bateleur Eagles.
Monday 4 th May Gheralta Lodge, Tigray This morning, after the morning church services in Lalibela, you will begin your drive to Tigray. Please note this drive is approximately 9 hours through some very pretty countryside. We will stop en-route for picnic breaks and any other item of interest. It is a long drive starting at about 0600hrs to ensure we reach Gheralta before dark. You will be shown to your accommodation at Gheralta Lodge where you will spend two nights on a full board basis. During your stay, you will visit the monastic church of Debre Mariam Korkor in addition to the numerous built-up cave and monolithic cave churches in the region. The main reason for the visit to Gheralta is for the private excavation tour with the Tigray Trust sites on Tuesday 5 th May. See description of the tour on the following day. Founded and run by Enrica and Silvio Rizzotti, this little piece of Italy in the heart of Tigre is the most exciting hotel development in the country, setting a long-awaited and refreshingly high standard by which other operations in Ethiopia, it is hoped, will follow.
Boasting extraordinary vistas of the sharp, imposing peaks of the Gheralta range, the lodge is beautifully built with local stone, wood and thatch in a traditional Tigrayan style, blending effortlessly with the wild, rural setting. Handsome, beautifully finished, and opened in 2007, it provides an ideal base, full of home comforts, for exploring the rock-hewn churches of this mountainous province, one of Ethiopia s best-kept secrets and a must for those keen to combine trekking with terrific artistic and historical treasures.
There are 12 rooms at Gheralta Lodge each spotlessly clean and featuring mains electricity, comfortable beds, bathrooms with modern appliances and the best hot power-showers we ve had in over 20 years of Ethiopian travels. In the stylish main building of Gheralta Lodge there is a small lounge area with DVD player, a library and, most welcomingly, a fine restaurant which serves simple but very tasty food - made with the best local ingredients. Along with lovely touches such as loungers on the veranda, a book swap facility, top Italian wines and great sunset views, Gheralta Lodge brings a very welcome dose of La Dolce Vita to the north of Ethiopia.
Tuesday 5 th May Private Excavation Tour, with the Tigray Trust After a leisurely breakfast you will depart Gheralta Lodge to the Maryam Anza excavations in the morning which is about a 20 minute drive. Outline timings on the day: 9.00: Set off from Gheralta Lodge 9.20/9.30: Arrive at church of Maryam Anza. To be met by Tigray Trust Project Manager Walday Asgedom Gebresadik and escorted to the Excavation Camp (5 minutes walk). Louise Schofield and Jacke Philips (co- directors of the excavations) will meet the group at the camp and will give an introductory talk. We will then visit the ongoing excavations in the elite cemetery. Returning to the camp we will show some of the highlights of what's been found so far. Then we will visit the rest of the site - the stele, temple mound, palace terrace and industrial zone. Visit should be finished by 11/11.30am. In the evening Louise and some of her team will join us for dinner at the Gheralta Lodge to discuss the day further.
Wednesday 6 th May Sabian Hotel, Axum This morning, you will be transferred by road to Axum, via Nebelet and Yeha to see the German site. Upon arrival into Axum, you will be shown to your accommodation at the Sabian Hotel where you will overnight on a full board basis. Sabian Hotel is a modern and centrally located hotel in Axum. All the rooms are very comfortable with satellite televisions and wireless internet access. The hotel's restaurant serves Ethiopian and International cuisine. Situated in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, Axum is a medium sized town. An ordinary looking place, it hides a wealth of culture and history. Axum is the cradle of Ethiopia s 3000 year old civilisation and, it is said, founded by the great, great grandson of Moses. In the 6th century, in its heyday, the Axumite Kingdom was one of the four great powers of the ancient world, ruling the two southern sides of the Red Sea. The main features of interest in Axum are the colossal rock stelae, the stone work of royal tombs and the legendary bath of the Queen of Sheba. The 16th century Church of St. Mary stands on the ruins of an earlier 4th century church. It is the country s oldest and holiest Christian shrine. Most importantly, Ethiopian Christians believe it the resting place of the original Ark of the Covenant - one of the most precious relics of Judeo-Christian tradition.
Thursday 7 th May Kuriftu Lodge, Bahir Dar This morning after breakfast, you will be driven to Axum airstrip. From here, you will connect with the ET123 1115hrs scheduled flight to Gondar. Upon arrival in Gondar at 1245hrs, you will have lunch and visit the Fasil Ghebbi (Royal Enclosure) before being transferred by road to Bahir Dar. Please note this drive is approximately 3 hours. There is no direct scheduled flight Axum to Bahir Dar. You will then be shown to your accommodation at Kuriftu lodge for two night s stay on a full board basis. During your stay, we will include a full day boat excursion on Lake Tana. You will also have the opportunity to see the hermit cave churches. Consisting of a main area and 29 rooms, Kuriftu Lodge is a reasonably large lodge, and its focus on well-being, together with its position, makes for a potentially sumptuous stay. The shared areas include a reception, bar / lounge area, swimming pool, restaurant, extensive outdoor seating and spa. While it will take a little time for the new stone facades, linking walkways and patio to settle and age, the overall design is attractive, with leather seating, low tables and pleasant table and chair arrangements in the dining room. In many respects, it is the rooms - bungalows - that make the place. Raised, possessing a large shaded balcony and reminiscent of the sort of hotel suite facility one might see overlooking a lake in Switzerland, each room is approached by means of stone steps, and includes a four poster bed, lounge, en-suite bathroom and up to date amenities such as flat screen TVs and the like.
Characterised by stone tiled floors, bare walls, great sweeping spaces, well positioned pieces of furniture, the emphasis here is on the few, on quality, while a propensity for minimalism is offset by the occasional cosy application - an open log fire, for example. The overall effect is one of space and - encouraged by flat wooden ceilings, enormous support beams - also of homeliness. A fine balancing act. Bahir Dar is a town on the shores of the lovely Lake Tana that rose to prominence in the 16 th century. An important commercial centre, it is now the capital city of its region. Friday 8 th May Lake Tana Today, you will take a private boat excursion to the island monastery of Ura Kidane Mehret and Azua Maryam on the Zeghie peninsula of Lake Tana, Ethiopia s largest at 85 km long and 65 km wide. You can walk between the two monasteries which takes about twenty minutes through local coffee fields planted under high canopy forest great bird life and quite good fun. In their funerary texts, the Pharoahs referred to it as Lake Karou of the Country of the Happy. In the Middle Ages, churches sought refuge on the islands of Lake Tana and due in part to the difficult access are to this day rich in Ethiopian illuminated manuscripts, religious paintings and other treasures. After a picnic lunch, you will continue on the boat tour to Narga Sellassie Monastery on Dek Island. This adds an extra four hours on the lake but it is worth the effort and the boat is comfortable enough. The total round trip on the boat is six and a half hours (!) so be prepared for time to read a book and take plenty of suncream and a hat. You will return to the Kuriftu Lodge that evening.
Saturday 9 th May Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa / Depart This morning, you will be met and transferred by road to Bahir Dar airstrip for your scheduled flight to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the Sheraton Hotel for a day room. In the evening, you will depart on your international flight home. - End of services
Your Itinerary Cost: For 12 people travelling: UK 2, 603 per person For 10 people travelling: UK 2, 998 per person For 8 people travelling: UK 3, 060 per person For 6 people travelling: UK 3, 112 per person For 4 people travelling: UK 3, 852 per person For 2 people travelling: UK 5, 284 per person Optional Extra: Single supplement is UK 200 This Includes: Seamless on the ground itinerary UK 250 per person donation to the Global Heritage Fund UK Full board accommodation English speaking guide in Ethiopia 4WD vehicle including fuel, driver s allowance and comprehensive insurance coverage in Ethiopia Local guide fee Vehicle entrance fees National Park fees Park ranger fees Scheduled flights as stipulated on Ethiopian Airlines (NB: Scheduled flight costs increase if international flights are not with Ethiopian Airlines) All road transfers as stipulated This Excludes: International flights on Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian visas Travel Insurance Lunch and Dinner in Addis Ababa Items of a personal nature and tips Photography fees Any unforeseeable cost increases in Government taxes and levies
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