Axum and Tigray Churches

Description

Ancient City of Axum and Vertical Tigray Churches Visit

Price Include

  • Transport latest model Toyota with Experienced English speaking driver throughout the Tour.
  • All Entrance fees and licenses as per the program.
  • Accommodation and all meals(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)throughout the Simein Mountains Trek and Danakil tour
  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages with meals as per the program and plenty bottles of water for the trip.
  • Surface Transport expense with four wheel drive Land-cruiser including fuel expense and drivers allowance
  • Local guide service throughout the tour as per the program.
  • Cooking, camping equipment,
  • Scout and police service throughout the tour as per the program.
  • Experienced cook throughout of the tour as per the program.
  • All government taxes and VAT

Price Excludes

  • International and domestic flight tickets
  • Any alcoholic drinks
  • Any videography or camera fee needed
  • Laundry service
  • Any expense of Personal items like, internet, fax, telephone
  • Services which are not mentioned in the above section.

Itinerary

Take the first morning flight from Addis to Axum. Upon arrival picked up by our agent and transfer to Hotel. You will start the visit of Ancient City of Axum.

The Northern Ethiopia ancient city of Axum, regarded as the cradle of Ethiopian culture and Christianity, is the country’s oldest extant urban settlement. From around 200 BC to 700 AD, Axum was the seat of an empire that extended across the Red Sea to Arabia, traded with India and China, had its own alphabet, constructed great engineering works and which, in the 4 the century, was one of the four great powers of the world.

This day you will visit 2000 years old mysterious monolithic Axum Stelae, Queen of Sheba’s palace and bath, Church of St Mary of Tseyon, Museums, King Kaleb Tomb place…etc in the ancient city of Axum.

After its conversion to Christianity, early in the fourth century, Axum also emerged as an important religious centre, site of the country’s most important and revered Church of St Mary of Tseyon, which, according to Ethiopian tradition, is the repository of the biblical Ark of the Covenant .

Once the capital and a major religious center, it remains the site of quite startling antiquities; the 2000 years old mysterious monolithic stelae, hewn from single pieces of solid granite and carved to resemble multi-story houses, ever worked on by humanity anywhere in the world; subterranean stone tombs high enough to walk in; several palaces including ruins of the legendary Queen of Sheba’s palace and bath; special gold-silver-and-bronze currencies; multilingual tablets dating from the time of Christ – and much more besides.

Overnight Sabean hotel- http://sabeanhotel.com/

Visiting the Rock Hewn Churches of Northern Tigray will be definitely one of the highlights of your trip. The churches in Tigray are a real marvel and are certainly not to be missed. If you can go to see them, go. Axum – Hauzein (190 kms., 6-7 hours, including lunch and stops)-You will visit the Tigray Churches on the way.

Drive from Axum to Hausein via Adwa and Adigrat. For the Ethiopians, the town of Adwa holds huge significance. It was in the hills surrounding Adwa that the Emperor Menelik II inflicted the biggest defeat ever on a colonial army in Africa and saved Ethiopia from colonization. About 11km east of Adwa is the monastery of Abba Garima, said to have been founded by one of the nine saints in the 6th century. The monastery is known for its collection of religious artifacts including three illuminated gospels from the 10th century. Use the town as the base from which to visit Yeha or Debra Damo. Yeha is famous for its huge and remarkable temple. According to the 19th-century German scholar Heinrich Miiller, the temple is thought to date back to about seven or eight hundred years before the birth of Christ. The temple is believed to be the oldest standing building in the country. Beside the remarkable temple stands a church dedicated to Abba Aftse. Abba Aftse was one of the famous nine saints who came to Ethiopia in the 6th century from the eastern Roman Empire to teach the Gospel. The church, sharing the same compound with the temple is rectangular in shape. Proceed to Debre Damo monastery accessible only by rope and not allowed for women. Then continue driving to Adigrat for lunch at a local restaurant. Adigrat is the largest town in Tigray after Mekelle and is an important junction linking Ethiopia with Eritrea. Finally drive to Hawzen for overnight via Sinkata, situated 36km south of Adigrat. Adigrat is a quietly attractive village of stone houses with sandstone cliffs to the east offering stunning views of the Gheralta plains. You can use the town as the base from which to visit the rock hewn churches at Gheralta.

Overnight at Vision Hotel Hawzien- Bed and breakfast

Please check the activity here- In one day you will visit three churches; Abuna Yemata Guh; Maryam Korkor and Daniel Korkor. All of which are very different in style but stunningly beautiful in their own way.

To visit Abuna Yemata Guh, walking for about an hour to commence a steep ascent up the side of the Gheralta massif. This steep ascent soon turn into a climb using foot holds and hand holds chipped into the sandstone rock by the passage of many hands and feet. The climb and the walk along very narrow ledges with sheer drops to the side is not one for the faint hearted. The church itself can be reached by walking out on a ledge one meter wide and with a 200m drop to the left hand side. At the entrance there is a small cave and a wooden door built into the rock.

Of the three, Maryam Korkor is the most impressive architecturally. A huge, high ceiling is supported by 12 free standing pillars. Looking at it you could not help but wonder how the architect managed to carve so high from the ground, then you will drive to Mekele. Seither ame day, you can fly back to Addis by the flight departing from Mekele at 7:50pm and arrive to Addis at 9:10pm OR sleep overnight in Mekele.

Note

The below price is with a group of at least 3

We also organize private tour as per our your request

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