Timkat Festival in the Gheralta Mountains & Danakil Depression

YellowWood ran it's first ever adventure here in the Gheralta Mountains in 2017 (we began as an Ethiopia specialist), and this remains our favourite corner of the world! On this stunning adventure you will explore the beautiful 13th Century rock-hewn churches carved high up into the mountainsides as well as meet many of the charming people living in the Tigray region.

The Timkat Festival is one of the most important in the Ethiopia calendar so this is an incredibly special time to visit.

The itinerary includes one night camping in a beautifully situated spot beneath a giant sycamore tree to fully immerse yourself into this most African of landscapes. The walks up to the churches are mostly manageable (3 hours walking per day), can be challenging and without fail are extremely rewarding. The churches themselves are unique, deeply spiritual and other-worldly; there simply is no place like them anywhere else.

To learn more about Ethiopia watch our webinar HERE.

(Available as a small group tour or tailor-made holiday)

No trip to Ethiopia is complete without meeting the local villagers along the way and learning about their culture as you travel through their farmsteads, sampling their delicious buna during a coffee ceremony and the staple food injera. This region has recently emerged from social and political instability, being rarely visited by foreigners in recent years, making this an even more exceptional and authentic experience as the locals are welcoming back sustainable tourism with open arms after a period of hardship.

Your stay in the beautiful mountain lodge overlooking the ‘Spaghetti-Western’-like silhouettes of the Gheralta Mountains with a sundowner or two after a hot day out exploring is just heaven. Preceding this you will spend a night in the historic city of Axum, exploring the ancient stone-carved steele which - much like the pyramids of Giza - remain baffling modern minds as to how they were erected. This is also the site where the Biblical Ark of the Covenant is said to be kept safe in a small church.

The UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advise against travel to some parts of Ethiopia, although this itinerary falls in their 'green zone' and is safe to travel to. This is why some places like Lalibela have not been included. Find more information HERE.