This Christian travel expedition will be with a team that is working with various ministries who do development work in Ethiopia. The trip is being held during the Timket (Epiphany) festival in Axum. Have your hearts and cameras ready for the warmth of this Christian Ethiopian community. The Timket Festival commemorates Christ's baptism in the River Jordan. The processions, music and singing dates back to King David's time. This is the most colorful celebration all year. Join us on this wonderful Bible based trip to Ethiopia! Sites to be experienced include:
- Rock-hewn churches of Lalibella - thought to be associated with the Knights Templar
- The Palace of the Queen of Sheba near Axum
- Recently-opened new tombs and other archeological findings from the Axumite Kingdom period.
- Mysterious Tana Kirkos Island, previous home to the Ark of the Covenant on Lake Tana, the second largest lake in Africa
- St. Mary's of Zion Church - thought to be the current home of the Ark of the Covenant in Axum.
- Timket Festival visited by people from all over the world. The prayers of fellow believers is almost overwhelming
- Visit the Jewish Temple site at Yeha in Tigray Province
- Includes all transportation from Washington Dulles and most meals
- We have limited space. Join us for amazing fellowship and touring that will impact your life
- Priced at only $3,499 per person including airfare from Washington
Biblical Expedition to Ethiopia
| Jan 15 | Meet the group at the Washington Dulles airport this evening and the excitement begins. |
| Jan 16 | Arrive in Addis Ababa - home to 3.8 million people and also the home of the "political capital of Africa". Rest this evening. |
| Jan 17 | Arrive today in Axum or Aksum. It is a city in northern Ethiopia which was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. Axum was a naval and trading power that ruled the region from 400 BC into the 10th century. The kingdom was also arbitrarily identified as Abyssinia. |
| Jan 18 | The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims that the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum houses the Biblical Ark of the Covenant in which lie the Tablets of Law upon which the Ten Commandments are inscribed. Axum is considered to be the holiest city in Ethiopia and is an important destination of pilgrimages. From our hill top hotel we can see the groundswell of worshippers gather around the Queen of Sheba Pool. They are preparing for the country's most significant Christian religious festival - T'imk'et or Epiphany in western Christianity. We will join in for the rest of the day and into the evening. |
| Jan 19 | Enjoy the music and chanting that goes back as far as King David's time as they celebrate taking the replica of the Ark of the Covenant back into Lady Mary of Zion. Later in the afternoon we will visit the museum where the instruments, robes and treasuery articles were used in the procession. We will visit the Keeper of the Ark of the Covenant and enjoy some surprise visits. We visit the ruins of Queen of Sheba's Palace and exotic tombs of former kings, an ancient hilltop church, plus a mysterious lion's head dating back to the Knights Templar. In addition we visit the version of the "Rosetta Stone" of the Axumite Kingdom and visit some newly-uncovered archeological sites and recently-opened tombs. |
| Jan 20 | Depart Axum today for Lalibela, the "New Jerusalem." We'll visit the amazing underground monolithic churches, which were hewn completely out of pink granite rock in the 12th century, and considered one of the wonders of the world. We will also learn about how the stone formations may have earlier been a Jewish administrative center. The Ethiopians believe that they play a part in the second coming of our Lord. Once at our hotel, you will have amazing views of the great rift. Our new hotel - the Mountain View has the most commanding views in all of Ethiopia. It sits high on a cliff with views of unique geological attributes coupled with dots of small villages interspersed for a hundred miles. |
| Jan 21 | Leisurely morning and then we depart for Bahir Dar. We fly over the amazing countryside and over Lake Tana. We will see the actual Nile River flow right through the center of this huge lake. Bahir Dar is known for its pleasant weather, flowers and beautiful palm tree lined boulevards. We will make our home at the precious new Kurifitu Lodge and Spa on the lake. We will take a walk out to the Blue Nile Falls, visit Haile Sellasie's former palace and then visit the market to buy frankincense and prayer scarves. Enjoy sitting out above the lake this evening for sumptuous meals adjacent to a roaring fire. |
| Jan 22 | This is adventure at its best. We depart for the mysterious island of Tana Kirkos. The island was home to the Ark of the Covenant for hundreds of years. Although women are not allowed to see the altar where the tabernacle sat, we have made special arrangements with the monks to have artifacts from the monastery brought out for viewing. We'll also be visiting the islands where Nargo Silassie and Ura Kidane Mihret Monastaries are located. |
| Jan 23 | Enjoy the spa this morning or try your hand at catching famous Nile perch. We return to Addis for our connection back to Washington Dulles. |
| Jan 24 | Arrive Washington Dulles early in the morning. |
