Begin your journey in Ethiopia's vibrant capital, where you'll explore the Ethnological Museum and the breathtaking Holy Trinity Cathedral, offering insights into the nation's diverse heritage.
Genna Festival Ethiopia Tour | Christmas Expedition
Celebrating Ethiopian Christmas amidst Ancient Marvels
Celebrate Genna festival Ethiopia—Orthodox Christmas—on a nine-day loop that blends dawn liturgies with castles, escarpments and subterranean chapels.
This flagship Ethiopia Christmas tour package ends in Lalibela for a soul-stirring Lalibela Christmas pilgrimage, but note: Genna is observed nationwide; this sample route places you at the country’s most iconic celebration in the rock-hewn holy city.
Destination Highlights
Highlighted Destinations
Tranquil prologue to your Ethiopia religious festival tour, showcasing ancient traditions.
Candle-lit murals and imperial stonework, reflecting Ethiopia's medieval grandeur.
Jaw-dropping escarpments and endemic wildlife, offering breathtaking alpine landscapes.
UNESCO icons carved from volcanic tuff, showcasing Ethiopia's architectural brilliance.
Ancient kingdom lore and Ark tradition, unraveling the mysteries of Ethiopia's past.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by day Tour Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN ADDIS ABABA & CITY TOUR
- Fly to Addis Ababa; upon arrival at Bole international airport, your hospitality begins. We provide you with a meet-and-greet service at the airport and then transfer you to your hotel.
- This afternoon, enjoy a tour of Addis Ababa, a pleasant capital city with wide jacaranda-edged avenues, interesting museums, and lively markets. Start our visit with the Ethnological Museum for an overview of Ethiopia's history, culture, and traditions, and its collections from thousand-year-old nomadic tribes. Next, see the beautiful baroque-styled Holy Trinity Cathedral which contains the thrones and the tomb of Emperor Haile Selassie (the last king of Ethiopia) and some other members of the royal family.
- We end up the city tour by inviting you to the oldest and best coffee roaster and coffee shop-Tomoca. Not only do they serve fantastic Ethiopian coffee, but they also offer other fine coffees.
- Overnight in Addis Ababa
DAY 2: FLY TO GONDER, & DRIVE TO SIMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
- This morning board on a short flight to Gonder and upon arrival you drive to the Simien Mountains. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's largest ranges. More than a dozen peaks are higher than 3600 meters, including Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia. Simien's landscapes vary from plateaus, escarpments, and steep gorges to rolling hills and pinnacles.
- Enjoy an afternoon walk around the lodge, amid the breathtaking alpine sceneries. This will help you to acclimatise your body to the altitude.
- Overnight in Simiens
DAY 3: EXPLORE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
- Your day is spent exploring the Simien Mountains National Park and watching for its endemic residents, including the elusive Walia ibex, the endangered Ethiopian wolf, and the gelada, a primate we'll get to know better alongside field researchers. We'll also look for a variety of birds, such as the powerful, cliff-nesting lammergeyer.
- Overnight in Simiens
DAY 4: DRIVE TO GONDER & SIGHTSEEING IN GONDER
- A scenic drive returns you to Gondar- famous for its medieval castles and churches. Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasilades as the royal capital of Ethiopia, and is also known as “the Camelot of Africa”. Spend the afternoon exploring the city of Gondar. In Gondar, there are a dozen castles, built by various kings and a queen over the course of 236 years. You will visit the Royal Enclosure, among these the Castle of Fasiledes, the oldest and probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area.
- We continue on to the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The interior of Debre Berhan Selassie is decorated with beautiful murals, cherubs, and paintings. It is rumored to have once been the proposed final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.
- Overnight in Gonder
DAY 5: FLY TO FLY TO AXUM & EXPLORE THE SIGHTSEEING
- In the morning you will fly to Axum, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. You will proceed to a full-day city tour of Axum –a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the stelae: granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. You also visit the Archaeological Museum, before heading to the Queen of Sheba's Bath.
- Visit also historically important dedicatory stone dating to about 320 AD with an inscription written in three languages - Sabaean, Ge'ez (earliest written Ethiopian language), and Greek. Then continue on your visit to the church of Saint Mary of Zion. A chapel in the church is believed by many to contain The Ark of the Covenant. There is also a small museum here which contains the crowns of Ethiopian kings and other treasures.
- You then continue to the Queen of Sheba's Palace. The palace area has been fully excavated and is definitely worth a look.
- Overnight in Axum
DAY 6: FLY TO LALIBELA, VISIT THE ROCK HEWN CHURCHES, & ATTEND THE EVE OF THE GENNA CELEBRATION
- From Axum, a short flight takes you to Lalibela, home of the rock-hewn churches and a World Heritage Site. It is located at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level. Lalibela is the 8th wonder of the world; 11 rock-hewn churches have been cut out of a solid red volcanic rock, some completely hidden in deep trenches, while others stand in open quarried caves and a complex series of tunnels and narrow passageways connect the churches.
- Lalibela indeed offers a great opportunity for any traveler. After checking in and having your lunch in your hotel, the afternoon will be devoted to visiting the first group (or the north–western cluster) of churches: Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, and Bet Danaghel.
- Today is Ethiopian Christmas Eve in Lalibela. In the evening, head to the rock churches and gather around the edge of the churches to witness the ceremony and procession.
- Overnight in Lalibela
DAY 7: ATTEND GENNA CELEBRATION & EXPLORE MORE ROCK CHURCHES
- After breakfast, you will be taken to the church to witness a special church procession at Bete Mariam on the day of Ethiopian Christmas (Genna).
- In the afternoon, you will visit the remaining rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which include the churches of Bet Gabriel - Rafael, Bet Emanuel, and Abba Libanos. Then you will continue your visit to the cruciform-shaped Bet Giorgis, the most beautiful church here. Its interior is dominated by depictions of Saint George killing the dragon. It is one of the newest and best-preserved churches.
- Overnight in Lalibela
DAY 8: FLY TO ADDIS & EXPLORE SIGHTSEEING
- This morning you fly back to Addis and tour more of the city. Visit the National Museum, with its many archaeological findings including the famous complete fossil remains of 3 million-year-old 'Lucy.' Explore the Merkato, one of the largest open-air markets in the world and wander the vast range of goods and artifacts. You will have time for shopping.
- Overnight in Addis Ababa
DAY 9: DEPART FROM ADDIS ABABA
- Depending on your flight schedule, a transfer is arranged to Addis Ababa Bole international airport for the flight back home. Thanks for vacationing with Sawla tours.
Begin Your Adventure with Sawla Tours
At Sawla Tours, we believe that every journey should be as unique as the traveler. Our expert team is dedicated to crafting personalized itineraries that reflect your interests and passions, ensuring an unforgettable Ethiopian experience.
Whether you're seeking cultural immersion, wildlife adventures, or breathtaking landscapes, we tailor each tour to your preferences. From the moment you reach out, our travel designers work closely with you to create a bespoke itinerary that captures the essence of Ethiopia.
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