m: Tour to celebrate Timket( Ethiopian Epiphany) combined with Omo Valley Tour
Tour Code: MET 1304
Duration: 10 nights/  11days
Transportation: Land/ Air

Jan 17: Arrival- you will be met by our professional guides. If you have time, you will do city tour of Addis. Overnight, in a hotel.

Jan 18:  EVE OF TIMKET- morning flight to Gondar and visit the historical town of Gondar. In the afternoon, you will aMETend the vibrant celebration of Timket. On this day, all the Tabots( tabernacle  , which is the symbole of the Ark of Covenant containing the 10 commandments) will be taken out of every church in the town with a large procession. All the priests shake systrems and you will hear the blow of winding horns and ululation from the crowd. There will be specific places to put the Tabots of every church and bless the water of the pool where the next day' celebration will take place.  In the evening, you will return to the ‘TaboatMaderia’ to aMETend the night celebrations.  Overnight in a hotel.

Jan 19: GONDAR- early morning, you will walk to the TabotMaderia( the place where you left the Tavots) , to witness the early morning baptism ceremony. Fasil’s bath will be filled with water and it will get blessed by a priest. The water symbolizes the Jordan River. After the priest blesses the water, then he would sprinkle blessed water on the crowd. After the baptism ceremony, the Tabots start their way back to their respective churches , singing, feasting and dancing on the way. Overnight, in a hotel.

Jan 20: GONDER- ADDIS- LANGANO : morning flight back to Addis and drive to LanganoDepart south from Addis Ababa via Butajira.  On the way you will visit the archeological sites of Tiya (ancient stele field and UNESCO World Heritage Site), Adadi Maryam (a rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela) and MelkKunture (pre-historic tool-making site).  Final destination for the day is Lake Langano.  Overnight, hotel/ lodge.

Jan 21:LANGANO- ARBAMINCH- After breakfast; drive from Langano to Arba Minch (293km Asphalt Road). On the way; visit the hill top of Chencha for Dorze ethnics.  Overnight, hotel/lodge.

Jan 22: ARBA MINCH-KEY AFER-JINKA- Morning boat cruise over Lake Chamo to see some of the biggest African crocodiles and hippopotamus, then drive to Jinka through Keyafer. Overnight, in a resort/lodge.

Jan 23:JINKA-MURSI-JINKA- In the morning, drive from Jinka to Mursi Village. After your visit to the Mursi Village, you will continue driving back to Jinka through Mago National Park. Overnight, in a resort/lodge.

Jan 24:JINKA- TURMI- drive to Turmi to visit  the Hamer and Bena tribe these who may come to the city for marketing after lunch proceed to Turmi. Overnight, hotel/lodge.

Jan 25:TURMI- Drive to Murulle and Karcho the village of Karo, then to Omorate to visit the Dassanechtribse. Cross the OmoRiver and back. Overnight, hotel/lodge.

Jan 26:TURMI- ARBAMINCH- In the morning, you will start driving back to Arbaminch with brief stops to visit different villages including Erbore and Tsemay, you will proceed to the Konso village for a visit.Overnight, in hotel/lodge.

Jan 27:ARBAMINCH-TIA-ADDIS ABABA- After breakfast drive to Addis Ababa through Butajira en-route, here you will visit different tribal villages and typical housing styles of the Gurage and the Oromo. Farewell dinner party with traditional special buffet and local drinks, then departure