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Brandstone Ethiopia Timkat Festival adventure
Ethiopia
From
This trip supports
- Overview
- Itinerary
- Esential info
- Reviews
- Packing list
Grade:
Entry Level
Type:
Cultural
Transfers
Duration:
5 Nights
1 - 1
Group size
Leaders
Highlights
- Experience the Timkat Festival ceremony
- Visit the Entoto Mountains & local churches
- Enjoy Ethiopian cuisine & the coffee ceremony
- Local English-speaking guide & driver on all days
A private bespoke adventure experiencing the Timkat Festival (or Timket); Ethiopia's most vibrant Orthodox Christian festival, celebrating Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River, marked by grand processions, priests blessing water with the Tabot (Ark of Covenant replica).
Celebrated on January 19th (20th in leap years), a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage event featuring colourful robes, hymns, dancing, and feasting right in the heart of Ethiopia's vibrant capital Addis Ababa.
Day 1: Saturday 17th Jan 2026 -Arrive Addis Ababa. Transfer to Hotel
Transfer
Dinner
5 star hotel
Welcome to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Upon arrival at Bole International airport, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Depending on your arrival time and how tired you are you can have dinner at a 'culture house' to see examples of local music and dancing.
Overnight: Elilly International hotel or Similar Hotel
Day 2: Sunday 18th Jan - Morning, Visit St. George Church. Afternoon, participate on Timeket Eve festival.
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
5 star hotel
St. George Cathedral: The church of St. George is a very traditionally structured building. Menelik II following his victory over the Italians at the Battle of Adwa built the octagonal church in 1896. St. George the dragon killer was the patron saint of soldiers and it is to him that the church is dedicated. In St. George church, the most interesting thing is the artwork of both modern and traditional church painting.
The January Timket Festival is a wonderful manifestation of the Epiphany pageant as thousands of colourfully robed Coptic monks carry replicas of the ‘The Ark of the Covenant’ from their churches to be worshipped and anointed with holy water.
Timket is Ethiopia’s most important Coptic festival celebrating the baptism of Christ. The replicas of the Ark of the Covenant are taken out in the afternoon of the eve of epiphany and stay overnight with the priests and faithful congregation. The following morning the water is blessed and splashed over everyone in a ceremony where the faithful renew their vows to the church. If the body of water is large enough, some people will immerse themselves. Women who have been unable to have children participate in the ritual for fertility. After the ceremony, the replicas are paraded back to its Church accompanied by much singing and dancing.
Cloaked in ceremonial velvet and satin robes and carrying sequined umbrellas, priests march and dance carrying replicas of the Arc of the Covenant from nearby churches to a source of water where blessings are dispensed on the gathered crowd. The priests achieve a state of ecstasy through the drumming and chants that is often contagious to the white robed worshipers who gather around them.
Overnight: Elilly International hotel or Similar Hotel
Day 3: Monday 19th Jan - Morning, visit Jan Meda, center for Timekt festival. Afternoon, visit Shola market.
Flights
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
5 star hotel
Sholla Geneya (Sholla Market) – Dive into the bold flavors of Ethiopian cuisine with a guided visit to Sholla Geneya, a bustling local market in Addis Ababa known for its rich spice offerings. This market is more authentic than the popular Merkato Market. Here, you’ll explore vibrant stalls filled with berbere, mitmita, korarima, and other essential spices that define Ethiopian cooking. Walk alongside your guide through fragrant aisles as you learn how these spices are blended and used in iconic dishes like Doro wat and shiro. Engage with seasoned spice vendors, smell the blends, and shop for authentic ingredients to take home or use in a hands-on cooking session later in the day.
Beyond spices, the market offers an immersive cultural moment: watch how locals shop for injera flour (teff), dried legumes, and traditional coffee beans all vital components of the Ethiopian table. This visit isn't just about shopping—it's about understanding the flavors behind the food. You’ll leave with a deeper appreciation of Ethiopia’s culinary identity and perhaps even a few spice packets to bring home as edible memories.
Overnight: Elilly International hotel or Similar Hotel
Day 4: Tuesday 20th Jan - Morning, visit Mount Entoto. Afternoon, visit Ethnological Museum and Holy Trinity Church
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
5 star hotel
Mount Entoto:-It is the highest peak in Addis with an altitude of 3200 meters, which was the site for the first palace of Emperor Menelik-II, the founder of Addis Ababa. Here there is St. Mary church, where Emperor Menelik crowned Emperor in it and you will admire the stupendous views of the city with its surrounding plains and volcanic cones together with its breathtaking air.
Ethnological Museum:-It is found in the main campus of the Addis Ababa University by the Institute of Ethiopian Studies with the aim to preserve the country's historical and cultural heritages. It has complete collections that describe almost all the tribal groups in Ethiopia. Here you will have an overview about the history, culture and traditions of the people of Ethiopia. The collections include the nomadic tribal groups that are now living just as man's forefather lived thousands of years back.
Trinity Cathedral:-a beautiful church with a baroque style of European architecture which is unique to both Ethiopia and Africa and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Here you will find scripts of the imperial families, statues done by a Greek sculpture, Stained glass window paintings from the Old and New Testament in the Bible and coffins of Emperor Haile Silassie-I; the founder of the church, and his wife.
Overnight: Elilly International hotel or Similar Hotel
Day 5: Wednesday 21st Jan - Morning, visit National Museum and Merkato. Afternoon, visit Ethiopian Culinary experience
Transfer
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
5 star hotel
National Museum:-It comprises of many archaeological and historical findings including the famous complete hominid fossil remain of ‘Lucy’ locally known as ‘Dinknesh’ meaning wonderful. Visiting this museum is having a good summary for your visit to the historic Ethiopia.
Merkato:-It is the largest open-air market in Africa. Here you will be presented with confusing, but fascinating, glimpse of the vast range of goods and artifacts available from all parts of the country and you will enjoy the Ethiopian trade exchange tradition in the open air, you can purchase anything you desire here.
Ethiopian Culinary and Coffee Ceremony Experience: you’re welcomed into a local family’s home for an intimate culinary experience that brings Ethiopian hospitality to life. Roll up your sleeves to learn how to prepare injera, Ethiopia’s beloved sour flatbread, using age-old techniques passed down through generations. With guidance from your host, cook traditional wot stews, explore the meaning of Ethiopia’s communal meals, and understand how spices tell stories of both place and identity. The experience continues with a traditional coffee ceremony, where green beans are roasted over open flame, ground fresh, and brewed in a jebena. Share three rounds of coffee abol, tona, and bereka each signifying connection, respect, and gratitude. It’s more than a drink; it’s a ritual of friendship and conversation.
Overnight: Elilly International hotel or Similar Hotel
Day 6: Thursday 22nd Jan - Transfer to airport and departure
Transfer
Breakfast
After breakfast, you will depart your hotel and head to the airport to catch your departure flight and we conclude our journey, flying home with many wonderful Ethiopian memories!
Adventure Optional Extras
Plant an additional 15 trees for your adventure
Carbon Compensation is not the perfect solution, and it is important to first reduce our carbon emissions as much as we can, yet trees remain an excellent natural technology to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to slow global warming.
For every client and guide who attends a YellowWood Adventure, we donate £30 to our partner charity WeForest to plant 15 trees to (over) compensate for the carbon footprint of the tour.
We also invite our clients to match this with an optional additional £30 for another 15 trees to be planted to help compensate for the carbon footprint of their international flights.
WeForest run many tree planting and tree maintenance projects such as this seedling nursery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil and many other projects in other countries including Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania & India.
Click Here to find out more about their amazing projects around the world.
Not Included
- International flights & airport taxes
- National Flights - Addis Ababa to Axum and return Mekelle to Addis Ababa
- Visas & Insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tipping
Contents
Accommodation
We fully believe in, and practice Responsible Tourism, using hotels run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a a great trip.
We choose hotels based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra road travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Some hotels will be basic, and in modern buildings and or in towns. Wherever we can, we will choose smaller more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, this may not be available.
An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things which is exciting and memorable, and reflects the countries we are visiting. This is adventure travel and on occasion the advertised services at a hotel (eg wifi, hot showers, or continuous power) may not be functional on our arrival. This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.
This trip involves both hotel and camping accommodation. The list below gives information on our first choice of accommodation for this adventure. Where hotels and refuges are fully booked or unavailable, we will use an alternative of a similar standard, and equally well situated. We will provide you with an accurate list of accommodation, with contact information to leave with relatives, prior to departure on your adventure.
Facilities
With the exception of some of the higher class hotels in Addis Ababa, hotels generally do not have heat or air conditioning. As nights can be chilly, please bring appropriate sleepwear if needed.
In areas where malaria is a problem, hotel rooms come with mosquito nets.
Unless you have booked a single room (where they are available) and paid the single room supplement for those nights, you will be sharing a twin room with another client (of the same gender).
Guiding & Your Group
Supporting you on your holiday will be Gebre, our local professional Ethiopian hiking guide, for the duration of your time in Tigray (Axum to Mekelle). Local English-speaking tour guides will also be with you for the whole time in Addis.
Your Group
Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures the optimum level of service to you during your adventure.
We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it for you.
Am I fit enough?
You are visiting the mountainous areas of Ethiopia and although all of the walks to the churches are optional, there are some steep sections and the heat is a constant factor.
You will be carrying just a day pack and your water bottle. We highly recommend a filtration water bottle such as in the packing list.
Training
As with all active holidays, the fitter you are the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements.
Clients are advised to get in as much regular walking before the trip as convenient.
NB: If you have bought new hiking boots for this adventure, this is the right time to wear them in, not on the trip itself.
Travel
Your YellowWood adventure starts at the airport in Addis Ababa. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible to help you prepare.
Finding flights
Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool when searching for flights, such as skyscanner or www.momondo.co.uk. We will send you a Flight Information Sheet with further pointers on which flights to book for your adventure.
Foreign Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. As the situation in our destination countries can change, please do ensure you check regularly before your adventure. We also receive notifications direct from the FCDO so we are always aware of the ‘status’ in our destination countries.
Domestic Flights
All domestic flights are operated by Ethiopian Airlines, unless prior arrangement has been made for special charter flights. Please note that Ethiopian Airlines offer a 50% discount on national flights if you have travelled with them for your international flight. We will provide you with further information on your Flight Information Sheet.
Insurance
Holiday insurance is essential for all Yellow Wood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday, so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered, particularly in the light of effects that the pandemic has had on travel.
Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.
Your insurance needs to cover you for hiking /trekking with the following fairly standard inclusions:
- Medical Expenses
- Coronavirus linked expenses (these may be country specific, so please ensure you know what the requirements are relating to the country you are visiting)
- Repatriation
- Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance
We would also recommend that you have cover for the following optional items:
- Cancellation
- Loss or damage to property
General information on Ethiopia
For information on Ethiopia, such as climate, weather, language, social norms, food & drink etc, please have a read of our Country specificinformation.
Reviews
Advait Kapadia, London
The Gheralta Mountains trip is a truly incredible experience, which accumulates in climbing Abuna Yemata Guh – a genuine wonder. YellowWood have planned the itinerary to keep every day adventure filled and blended the experience of an extremely remote location with the hustle and bustle of Addis seamlessly. I would definitely recommend this trip and YellowWood!.
Ruth Leather
From guiding us through the crowded alleys of Lalibela at Genna to clambering up the dizzy heights of Abuna Yemata this was a trip that surpassed all expectations! Yellowwood hits the right balance of organised small group travel with adventurous, 'off the beaten track' experiences all the while making you feel as if you've travelling with a small group of your friends. Ethiopia is truly a beautiful country with wonderful friendly and generous people throughout. I highly recommend this trip and am already planning for my next Yellowwood adventure!
Genna Festival (seasonal variation of Lalibela & Gheralta Mountain Adventure), 2020
Phoebe Armstrong
Sam, you clearly have a real passion for the country & people of Ethiopia. This is something that I now share with you! I will be returning at some point, hopefully soon, as there is so much more of this amazing country to explore.
Lalibela & Gheralta Mountain Adventure, 2019
Helen Tindale
I returned fizzing with a blast of serotonin and fresh spiritual, culinary, cultural fitness awareness and new sense of personal achievement. YellowWood's seamless organisation allowed minds & spirits to wander through monolithic churches, mountain passes to the fire lit beat of drums. Unquestionaably up there with the best trips ever. The first with YellowWood best definitely not the last.
Genna Festival (seasonal variant of Lalibela & Gheralta Mountains), 2020
Shyam Radia
Fantastic trip in the Gheralta Mountains, much enjoyed every aspect of it. Great fun. Hope YellowWood keeps going from strength to strength.
Lalibela & Gheralta Mountains, 2018
Hamel Shah, Dubai
Stunning campsites with beautiful backdrop will make this a trip to remember. Our guide Gebre made it really special, always with a smile and encouraging us along the way. Impromptu fireside parties, local popstars and being feed injera whilst sipping tallah in a traditional family home were highlights.
Lalibela & Gheralta Mountains, 2018
Lauren Douglas, Dubai, 2018
The Gheralta Mountains trip is a truly incredible experience, which accumulates in climbing Abuna Yemata Guh – a genuine wonder. YellowWood have planned the itinerary to keep every day adventure filled and blended the experience of an extremely remote location with the hustle and bustle of Addis seamlessly. I would definitely recommend this trip and YellowWood!.
Katherine Andrews, London
A once in a lifetime adventure witnessing Ethiopian cultural heritage at its best as well as sublime, albeit challenging treks deep into the Gheralta Mountains. Both locals and guides were utterly charming.
Compulsory
- US$ or £GB to exchange for local currency
- Passport & insurance documents
- Debit / credit card (limited access to ATMs)
- Prescription medication
- First aid kit: paracetamol, anti-diarrhoea tables, rehydration sachets, antihistamine cream, ibuprofen cream, thermometer & blister kit (eg plasters & zinc oxide tape).
- Insect repellent
- Hand sanitiser (70% alcohol) & min of 2 reusable & 10 disposable face coverings
- Flannel & Towel (ideally quick drying travel towel)
- Washbag & usual contents - small travel bottles please! Biodegradable multi purpose soap can be used for washing clothes & self.
- Toilet kit: toilet roll, wet wipes & ziplock bags for carrying paper out. Biodegradable wet wipe brands: Cannymum, Close Pop & Travel Buddy
- Fully charged power pack
Items for Camping & Hiking
- Winter sleeping bag (comfort rating 0ºC)
- 20-30L rucksack with waist (& ideally chest) strap
- Rucksack or duffel bag for main luggage (no hard suitcases) so it can be strapped to horses for transportation during camp/hike.
- Reusable filtration water bottle (approx 2 litres) eg Aqua Pure Traveller water bottle
- Waterproof walking boots with ankle support - already broken in...
- Torch with spare batteries
- Waterproof stuff sacks & liners to keep kit dry. Esp. important for sleeping bags & spare clothes
- Sunglasses & high factor sun cream
- Sun hat or baseball cap
Clothing
- General socks / underwear for city sections & for trekking
- Suitable clothes/pjs for sleeping in (consider need to nip out of tent for wee in the night!). Thermal base layers are ideal when camping & also useful if you get cold weather.
- Light clothes for day time - long & short sleeved tops. NB technical fabrics dry quickly in hot or wet weather when hiking.
- Waterproof jacket (GoreTex or similar quality)
- Walking trousers for trekking / camping (to avoid scrub scratches etc). Soft shell fabric is ideal.
- Warm jacket & fleece - even in the summer temperatures can be sub zero at night. Down or synthetic insulated jacket & light fleece recommended.
- Shorts for warmer days
- Sandals or trainers for around camp
- Lightweight waterproof trousers
- Buff or neck gaiter for cold weather / sun protection. Light scarf useful for church visits
- Warm hat and gloves
- Waterproof stuff sacks for small items
Optional
- Sleeping mat: mattresses are provided but there may be cleanliness issues and potential for fleas as they are transported on horses. So consider brining your own, ideally lightweight inflatable insulated mat which offers most comfort & warmth over multiple nights. Or use the mattresses on the trip with a sleeping sheet/liner.
- Telescopic walking poles: great for alleviating knee pain / preventing ITB issues etc. They can be as cheap as £15 & your guide can help you learn how to use them.
- Inflatable pillow, or pillowcase you can stuff with spare clothes - adds comfort to camping.
- Silk or thermal sleeping bag liner if you feel the cold, or are renting / borrowing a sleeping bag or using the available mattresses.
- Camera & charging cables / plug
- Phone & charging cables / plug
- 2 prong adaptor Type C or E
- Purification tablets as alternative to Aquapure Traveller Water Purification Bottle
- Money belt
- Universal sink plug (eg lifeventure, solotrek or muzitao brands)
- Eucalyptus oil - we have it on good authority that this can deter fleas which are common in Ethiopia
- Ear plugs (in case of snorers)
- Spare ziplock bags for dirty clothes, waterproofing phones, rubbish & general organising
- Swimming Costume (small pool at Monarch Hotel may have water in!)
This trip supports
Need a little help?
All adventures can be tailored as private bespoke trips.
Please contact us for more information:
+44 207 846 0197
Related Adventures
Booking Process
Select dates: Choose the dates for your adventure and consider adding any extra adventures or add-ons to enhance your experience.
Check the box to agree to our Terms & Conditions.
Make Booking: Click on "Make Booking." If you're booking more than 56 days before your adventure, you'll be redirected to secure WorldPay to make your deposit. If it's 56 days or less before your adventure, you'll need to make full payment. Rest assured, your money is held securely by the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust.
Your booking will show as 'pending' in your YellowWood online account.
Confirmation: We'll be in touch as soon as possible to confirm your booking or discuss any availability limitations. Please refrain from booking transport or flights until we've emailed you to confirm your booking. (Note: Receipt of your booking form is not confirmation.)
Making payment: Once your booking is confirmed, we'll change the status of your final invoice from 'Pending Approval' to 'Outstanding,' indicating that it's ready for payment online.
You will receive a reminder email for your final payment 56 days before the departure date.
Feel free to contact us with any questions about your adventure or booking, we're here to help!
Grading
To help you choose the right adventure for you, we have given each itinerary a grading that relates to the level of Walking / Trekking you will experience during the trip. This grading can be found on the Yellow map on the adventure page of the website.
All of our trips involve a level of general activity so are designed for people who are in good health, enjoy the outdoors, and have a taste for adventure and some level of fitness. As will be clear from our destinations, the climate (and altitude) may be different to that which you are used to, so please take this into consideration when choosing the most suitable holiday.
Please read our Adventure Itinerary & Essential Information for more information and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like to chat through whether you have found a suitable adventure for you.
Grade 1-3: Entry Level
You need to be in good physical health to enjoy your active holiday, but you don’t need to be an experienced hiker. These itineraries offer a mix of sightseeing and easier walking for around 2-4hrs a day, with the emphasis on sights and cultural experiences.
Walks will be well marked or on defined pathways, and often around sites of interest. The expected amount of descent/ascent will depend on the landscapes of the destination, but will not exceed 400m/day, and will often be much less. Walks are at low altitude (below 3000m).
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack with water and essentials. Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have a pair of comfortable and worn in walking shoes/boots.
Grades 4-6: Intermediate
You need to have a good level of fitness and be a regular walker for these adventures, with ideally some trekking experience. You can expect to be walking for 3-6 hours per day, not including rest stops, normally on good trail paths but with some uneven surfaces at times.
You will not be required to carry more than a day sack. You may be walking in more challenging temperatures. You will generally be walking at low altitude (below 3000m) but may walk at altitudes up to 4000m. The amount of ascent could be up to 800m in a day but will frequently be less. You may walk on consecutive days.
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable clothing for this adventure.
Grades 7-9: Challenging
You need to have a good level of fitness with previous experience of trekking. Extra training before your trip will ensure that you get the most out of your adventure. Areas will be remote and terrain uneven.
Expect to walk for 5 – 8 hours a day, not including breaks, with some very steep ascents and descents. You will be walking at altitude (over 3000m but not higher than 5000m).
Ensure you are aware of the weather conditions likely in the destination you are visiting and have suitable equipment/clothing for this adventure (see the packing list for your adventure).
Please check individual itineraries for details of what you will need to be carrying with you.
Get in touch
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