Ethiopia, known in Europe as Abyssinia, was home to the most ancient kingdom in Africa. Its alphabet is over 2,000 years old. Unlike any other African country Ethiopia was never colonized. The tenth largest country in Africa, Ethiopia is dominated by diversity and known as the cradle of humanity – the home of “Lucy,” now 3.18 million years old. We will visit the Addis Ababa National Archeological Museum which houses her remains. The thriving capital of Addis will be our entry and exit points for our tour through Ethiopia’s incredible ethno-cultural heritage.

Flying north over the Rift Valley lakes into the Abyssinian Massif, we will spend seven days in the ancient towns of Axum and Lalibela. Although the Kingdom of Axum was most prosperous probably from the 4th or 5th centuries BC, its written history begins in the 1st century AD. Over 300 stelae and obelisks are in Axum.. Of the seven great stelae, the one remaining standing is inspiring. The Axumite sovereign possessed power on both sides of the Red Sea and it wasn’t until the 9th century that Axum’s power waned. While there, we will visit important churches and the Ark of the Covenant brought from Jerusalem to Ethiopia by the Queen of Sheba’s son fathered by Solomon.

Lalibela is a place of meditation and prayer. It is home to more World Heritage sites than most African nations. A town known for its cruciform windows, monastic hermit caves, and famous 11 rock-hewn churches, Lalibela also boasts a wealth of artistic treasures ranging from manuscripts, crosses, icons and canvases, which we will be shown in the rich interior shafts of light that suggest the timelessness of these ancient artifacts.

We will be transferred to the Axum Airport for our scheduled flight to Lalibela. Lalibela, considered by many as the Eighth Wonder of the World, is the home of Ethiopia’s most famous churches and the scene of many major religious ceremonies still observed by the Ethiopian Coptic Christians who represent the world’s oldest Christian religion. This afternoon we will visit about half of the 11 magnificent Churches of Lalibela, which were hewn out of the solid rock of Lalibela between 800-1200 A.D. and are still active worship places. These Churches include Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Maskal, Bete Danaghel, Bete Golgotha, Bete Mikael, and Bete Giorgis.

The architecture of these churches evokes the same awe one feels when visiting the Pyramids. The scale, design and effort expended to build these glorious labyrinthine monuments are overwhelming. Our guide and resident priests will guide us through grottos into tapestry naves and heavily columned areas of worship that were built with superhuman strength, intricate workmanship and grand concepts. Some sanctuaries are in deep trenches, while others stand in open quarried caves. A complex and bewildering maze of tunnels and narrow passageways are still used by monks, priests, pilgrims and other worshippers.

• Accommodation as indicated our similar
• Breakfast daily
• Entrance fees
• Guiding fees
• Airport transfers