Ethiopia: The Wonders of the Horn of Africa With Dr. Cinzia Perlingieri
April 1 - 15, 2012
Ethiopia, formerly called Abyssinia, is one of the oldest countries in the world. Perched atop Africa’s highest plateau, the country is protected by forbidding deserts and tropical lowlands. Despite its apparent mountainous isolation, Ethiopia has long been a crossroads for Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean, and a site of dynamic interaction between people from throughout the world. Ethiopia developed its own written language and has a sophisticated culture based upon a deep love of religion. In the highlands, Ethiopia's Orthodox Church predates the Vatican and is one of the oldest continuously Christian churches in the world. A fascinating and rich history includes legends claiming that the Aksumite Kingdom dates back to when the Queen of Sheba ruled the land, and that Ethiopia’s first king, Menelik I, was the son of this queen and King Solomon of Israel.
Far Horizons proudly presents a 15-day trip to one of the world’s most remote and fascinating countries where the people are warm and welcoming, and stunningly handsome in their traditional dress. Planned around the Ethiopian Orthodox Holy Week celebrations which are centered in Aksum, priests covered in colorful robes lead the white-clad faithful in prayers and chants to God. The exciting itinerary includes spectacular scenery, visits to fabulous ancient ruins, and the opportunity to mingle with the many different people from across the country.
'I have long been fascinated with Ethiopia, but I now realize that I knew very little about the country. I'm delighted to report that the trip acquainted me with its long and ancient history, religious traditions, as well as some of the current issues facing the country. The trip exceeded my expectations.' - Marion Cott
‘Ethiopia was fantastic, I learned so much and it was amazing to see Orthodox Easter! Thanks to all of you for an absolutely unforgettable trip!’ - Marian Reichert
(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day 1: Depart USA.
Day 2: Arrive today in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and the third highest capital city in the world, at an altitude of 8,300 feet. Overnight for three nights in the Hilton Hotel, a popular meeting place for upwardly mobile Ethiopians.
Day 3: Drive up Mount Entoto, the highest peak overlooking the city of Addis Ababa, where in 1881 Emperor Menelik II built his palace. We will walk through this thatched roof structure and view the Church of Mariam where Menelik was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia and the Church of Archangel Raguel. Stop to see the bustling Shiromeda Cloth Market on our drive back to the city. The afternoon will be spent in two museums - the National Museum as well as the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. The Institute was founded in 1963 and established to develop and operate the library and ethnographic museum. Gather this evening for our festive welcome dinner party. (B/L/D)
Day 4: Begin today at Melka Kunture located along the Awash River south of Addis Ababa and considered one of the most important Paleolithic sites in Ethiopia. Here, we visit the museums explaining the Prehistory and the ‘Open Air Museum’ displaying the excavation of two Acheulean sites that have been dated to 1.8 million years ago. Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tiya to view the northernmost field of huge incised monoliths that stretch across southern Ethiopia. Carbon dated at between the 12th and 14th centuries, these impressive stone monuments stand guard over burials, probably of warriors killed in battle. Our dinner this evening will feature singing and dancing from different cultures within the country. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Early morning transfer to the airport for our flight to Aksum. This ancient city, with its ruins of palaces, huge monumental stelae, and subterranean tombs, is one of Ethiopia's most historic sites. The legendary capital of the Queen of Sheba, Aksum is today the hub of Ethiopian Christianity. Begin at the Stelae Park where several colossal monolithic obelisks still stand together, marking the status of the Aksumite royals two thousand years ago. Continue to the Aksum Museum to view the many artifacts including ancient pottery and glass, Roman amphorae, bronze jewelry, and clay figurines that reveal the hairstyles of ancient Aksum. Visit a 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 - and named after Ezana, one of the first rulers of Aksum. Explore the tombs of King Kale and his son Gabra Masqal. Overnight for three nights in the refurbished Yeha Hotel with dazzling views over the Stelae Park. (B/L/D)
Day 6: A road trip takes us east through dramatic volcanic formations to Yeha, the capital of the earliest kingdom in Ethiopia. Here, the pre-Aksumite Temple of the Moon is the oldest known standing structure in Ethiopia dating to about 700 B.C. It is reputed to be the best preserved example in the world of South Arabian style temple architecture. Next to the shrine is the Church of Abune Aftse, one of the “Nine Saints” who came to Ethiopia in the sixth century from the eastern Roman Empire and did much to spread Christianity in the country. This building's front facade has been fitted with carved stones from the original temple. While here examine excavations of the palace of the royal family that German archaeologists have recently begun. This afternoon we explore Dungur, a complex elite residence popularly thought to be the Palace of the Queen of Sheba. (B/L/D)
Day 7: Today is Saturday before Palm Sunday, called Hossaena in Ethiopia. It commemorates Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem from Egypt. The air is filled with excitement and streets and meeting-places are transformed into a sea of white as women parade in their traditional finely-woven cotton dresses decorated with colorful woven borders and men in their draped white robes. Walk through the open-air Hosanna Market, filled with multihued hand-made baskets and unique to the days prior to Palm Sunday. According to Ethiopian believers, the son of 
the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Aksum and it remains there to this day, preserved in a sanctuary next to the Maryam Tsion Cathedral. Views of the Ark are forbidden to all but special religious leaders but we will enter the associated museum to see the rich treasures of the church. Aksum is Ethiopia’s center for the Hosanna festivities and pilgrims come from distant villages to be a part. We will join the ritual and joyous preparations at the Cathedral complex as priests and deacons lead worshippers in singing and dancing to the accompaniment of rhythmic drumming. Led by processions of priests dressed in ornately decorated capes and carrying sparkling velvet umbrellas, we will follow the crowd outside to a large tree. Here, the Bishop from Addis Ababa is seated in state while young people sing and dance and gaily sprint around the tree waving palm fronds. Today’s revelries will be a highlight as we are welcomed with smiles and warm hospitality by the white-clad throngs of worshipers. (B/L/D)
Day 8: Fly from Aksum to Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lalibela is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World as it contains towering churches that were carved below the earth’s surface from the soft, volcanic tuff in which they stand and filled with lively paintings and carvings. Some churches lie almost completely hidden in deep trenches, and others stand in open quarried caves. Within this mystical world, priests go about their daily prayers, seemingly oblivious of the outside world. A complex labyrinth of tunnels and narrow passageways with crypts, grottoes, and galleries connects them all, and we walk through this maze to explore several exquisite churches. Standing 38 feet tall with seventy-two pillars, Medhane Alem is not only the largest in Lalibela, it is the largest monolithic rock-hewn church in the world. The oldest of the churches, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Bet Maryam is the only Lalibela monolith with a porch. The remains of stunning early frescoes can be seen on the ceiling and upper walls, and there are many elaborately carved details on the piers, capitals, and arches. Bet Golgotha houses remarkable reliefs of figures, early Christian art rarely seen in other parts of Ethiopia. Some consider the cruciform-shaped Bete Giorgis the most perfect and beautiful church here; its interior is dominated by depictions of Saint George killing the dragon. Overnight for two nights at the Mountain View Hotel with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. (B/L/D)
Day 9: Today will be very special as we drive into the remote countryside through breathtaking scenery. Along the way there will be opportunities to experience the local culture – men building thatched roof houses, women weaving and preparing injeera (Ethiopian bread), and with luck, enjoy a traditional coffee making ceremony. Our ultimate destination is Yemrehane Khrestos, a striking church and residence constructed using alternating layers of wood and stone and built into an enormous rock overhang. (Note: To reach this church we must hike a short distance up rather steep terrain.) Dinner is on our own this evening. (B/L)
Day 10: Fly to Gondar and drive into the Simien Mountain National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site at an average elevation of more than 10,000 feet. Originally formed by outpourings of lava, massive erosion over millions of years has created one of the most dramatic landscapes in the world, with jagged mountain peaks, deep valleys, and sharp precipices that fall thousands of feet. Within this spectacular splendor live the iconic Walia ibex, a wild mountain goat found nowhere else in the world, the Gelada baboon and the Ethiopian wolf - all endemic to Ethiopia. Overnight for the next two nights in the Simien Lodge, located more than 10,000 feet in altitude and the highest hotel in Africa. Opened in 2006, it is Ethiopia’s first ‘eco-lodge’ with thatch-roofed tukuls complete with solar-powered under-floor heating. (B/L/D)
Day 11: More than 180 species of birds (6 endemic to the park; one discovered recently in 1998) can be found in the Simien Mountains, the most famous being the Wattled Ibis, the Lammergeier, the Thick-billed Raven and the Towny Eagle. Enjoy an optional bird walk this morning, and then drive along the northern escarpment to Chenek, in order to experience the best of the striking Simien scenery. Easily seen in these high mountain meadows, families of Gelada baboons often combine to form large foraging bands of 30-350 animals. This high-altitude area is replete with steep, rocky cliffs, to which Geladas have adapted, and at night, the animals drop over precipice edges to sleep huddled together on ledges. (B/L/D)
Day 12: An early departure takes us south to the royal city of Gondar where magnificent fortified palaces dominate the landscape. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortified city of Fasil Ghebbi was the residence of Emperor Fasilides and his successors. Surrounded by a 300-foot-long wall, the fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oldest and most impressive structure is the two-story palace built of solid basalt stones. Other royal buildings we visit include the library of Emperor Yohannes I, the House of Song where royal ceremonies took place, the elegant reception and banquet hall of Emperor Bakaffa, and the palace of this king's wife. Finally, view the Church of Debre Birhan Selassie, a beautiful structure with its harmony of brightly colored ceilings completely covered with intricately painted angels. In the afternoon continue south to Bahir Dar and the new Kuriftu Resort and Spa, our home for two nights. (B/L/D)
Day 13: Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and the dramatic Blue Nile Falls which, in flood-stage, are more than 1,300 feet wide. We will take a small boat across the Blue Nile and then walk to the falls where the gorge it has created is home to a small rainforest. After lunch in a restaurant overlooking Lake Tana and serving traditional Ethiopian food, board a boat for a cruise on the lake to visit several monasteries, including the most impressive of the southern monasteries, Ura Kidhane Mihret, located on the forested Zege Peninsula. The walls of the church are completely covered with remarkable 16th century murals that offer a revealing look into medieval Ethiopia. (B/L/D)
Day 14: This morning's flight takes us back to Addis Ababa. Following lunch, enjoy some time to rest or explore the Mercato, one of the largest open-air markets in Africa where dizzying displays of food, spices, carpets, religious artifacts, and traditional dress entice Ethiopians and tourists alike. Rooms at the Hilton Hotel are confirmed with late checkout for rest prior to our departure for the airport in the evening and our flight back to the U.S.A. (Participants going on the Harar extension will overnight in the Hilton Hotel.) Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Day 15: Arrive USA.
Day 14: Overnight in Addis Abbaba Hilton Hotel. Dinner is on our own.
Day 15: A morning flight takes us to Dire Dawa, located in the eastern section of Ethiopia, where we board our van to drive into the mountains. Along the way, stop to view a qat (chat) market, where the narcotic plant that is banned in the US and most European countries is being sold. Then it’s on to the fortified city of Harar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Completely encircled by a city wall built in the 13th through 16th century and closed to visitors until 1887, the city is considered to be the fourth most holy city in Islam after Mecca, Medina and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. The city’s mosques include the 16th century Grand Mosque with is beautiful twin towers and slender minaret, and three of its multitude of holy shrines date from the 10th century. Our walk through the town will be a step back in time. The houses of the town show the impact of African and Islamic traditions and their outstanding interior design constitute the most spectacular part of Harar’s cultural heritage. And women dressed in their vibrantly colorful traditional clothing sell everything from firewood to fruit. In the evening, watch the 'hyena man' feeding these huge beasts with the opportunity to assist him. Overnight in Harar in the simplest hotel of the trip. (B/L/D)
Day 16: This morning we continue our explorations of this historic and fascinating town and then return to Addis Ababa and the Hilton Hotel, with time to rest before our flight to the USA. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)
Day 17: Arrive USA.
Cinzia Perlingieri received her M.A. in Classic Archaeology and History of Arts from the University of Naples, and her PhD in Archaeology from the same institution. Her archaeological career in northern Africa began in 1989. She has excavated in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, and her dissertation was on her research at Aksum, Ethiopia. From 1992 – 2005, she was the field director for the Bieta Giyorgis (Aksum, Ethiopia), Italian-American Joint Archaeological Expedition. Dr. Perlingieri has published articles in many publications and has presented papers at conferences all over Europe and the United States. She has taught at the University of Naples and University of Turin in Italy, the Art Center in Bahrein, and the University of California, Berkeley, where she is a Visiting Scholar and Director of Research at the Center for Digital Archaeology.
‘Dr. Cinzia Perlinieri added much to the trip! Sign her up for more tours!’ – George Alers
'Cinzia is the reason I’ll take another Far Horizons tour. Her expertise added so much.' – Marian Reichert
April 1 - 15, 2012
Harar Extension: April 14 - 17, 2012
$8,695.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes four Ethiopian domestic flights; all hotels; most meals as noted; entry fees; and ground transportation within Ethiopia.
Cost Does Not Include: Roundtrip international airfare from the United States; a separate donation check for $150.00 per participant made out to the designated donation project, passport or visa fees; airport or departure taxes; alcoholic drinks, beverages or food not included on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal tips; gratuities to guides and drivers; email, telephone and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.
Single Supplement: $795.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, this supplement will be charged.
Harar Extension Cost: $1,495.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes roundtrip airfare from Addis Ababa to Harar; all hotels; meals as noted; entry fees.
Harar Extension Single Supplement: $195.00 Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, this supplement will be charged.
Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when fuel charges are levied.
Donation Checks: As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural projects and museums we visit.This has created a 
bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities. We ask that each participant write a check in the amount of $150.00 to the noteworthy project we designate. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable. We will be designating a donation project for this trip shortly.
A completed and signed registration form is required. Final payment is due 75 days before departure on January 17, 2012. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information. Prior to the trip, we will send links to various websites of pertinent interest to the trip.
Click here to download our Registration Form.
Any cancellation received in writing at least 75 days before departure will result in an administration fee of $250. Cancellations received less than 75 days before the starting date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the tour, we will not reimburse any fees. Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip cancellation.
If you do not fly on the designated group flight, you are responsible for all flight arrangements and transportation (including airport transfers) to join the group. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased.
Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.
Travel in EthiopiaThis trip is for the hardy! The itinerary has been designed to be as comfortable as possible, but Ethiopia is under-developed and the infrastructure is not what we have learned to expect in Western countries. Our bus is well maintained, but may not be new and there may be some long days with travel over unpaved or partially paved roads. We have carefully chosen hotels that are the best available, but they are frequently not up to Western standards. Within the past two years, the government has privatized most of the state-owned hotels and improvements have been made. And new hotels have been constructed and we are using several of them. Many of the religious buildings in Ethiopia are not open to women, and we have included sites in which all are welcome. Walks of approximately 20-40 minutes may be required to reach some areas, including walks over steep gradients and over poorly maintained paths. The adventurous nature of the itinerary makes it essential that participants be in good physical condition and have the ability to maintain a flexible attitude. Team spirit and a sense of humor will be helpful! If you have questions about your ability to handle this sort of challenge, please call us.
THIS CULTURAL TOUR TO ETHIOPIA IS LIMITED TO 14 PARTICIPANTS
