Fundraising tour to historic Ethiopia

Have a fantastic holiday and help the children of Ethiopia at the same time!!

Join our Fundraising tour!

Everything included for only
£1,970
(including flights, accommodation, all meals, all transport, etc)

A twelve-day trip of a lifetime

Trip one
20th to 31st October 2010

Trip two
27th April to 8th May 2011

Itinerary – the first six days

Day 1   To Addis Ababa: Evening flight from London Heathrow to Addis Ababa.

Day 2   Addis Ababa: Arrive in the third highest capital city in the world. A morning spent relaxing and acclimatising followed by an afternoon tour of the Ethnographic Museum and the bustling cafes and shops of the Piassa area. Stay two nights at the comfortable Jerusalem Hotel in a peaceful area of the city.

Day 3   Addis Ababa: Morning exploration of the Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa. After lunch, a visit to St George’s Church and then to the National Museum, before afternoon tea at the Sheraton Hotel.

Day 4   To Bahir Dar: Early morning flight to the lakeside town of Bahir Dar. Explore the colourful Saturday market and then an afternoon boat trip to discover some of Lake Tana’s ancient island monasteries with their superbly characterful wall paintings depicting Ethiopian Christian legends. Stay two nights in the beautifully situated Ghion Hotel on the lakeside with pelicans and hornbills a-plenty.

Day 5   Bahir Dar: A day of adventure! A bus journey to the sleepy village of Tis Abay followed by a gentle walkand a short boat-crossing of the Blue Nile as we move towards the splendid Tississat Falls (‘the water that smokes’). Local children will accompany us and show us their hand-woven baskets and cloths. A quiet evening and bonfire by the lakeside.

Day 6   To Gondar: Morning drive around the vast Lake Tana, up through the highlands and on to the important city of Gondar, once the capital of Ethiopia in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. Be welcomed by the Link Ethiopia team, explore the town and visit one of our nearby primary schools.  Stay the first of four nights at the very comfortable Quara Hotel on the central Piassa.

Continued below...

Practicalities

Who is this trip for?  Anyone looking for a fascinatingly different, non-strenuous experience as a member of a small group travelling in reasonable comfort and with expert guidance.

Accommodation– Sometimes basic but always comfortable and characterful. Twin, double or single rooms available.

Transport– Reliable international and domestic flights, often private buses for main journeys, occasional use of public transport.

Meals – All three meals with reasonable drinks included. Special dietary arrangements possible.

Climate – Expect warm pleasant days and refreshingly cooler nights.

Safety – All main destinations are on the well-travelled Historic Route amid welcoming people and relaxed communities. Hospitals and clinics provide very adequate services and communications are generally good.

Check list

• £1,970 per person
• Includes everything except casual personal spending
• Intimate group size
• Significant donation to Link Ethiopia’s work is included in the overall cost
• This is a private tour, arranged and led by experienced people.

N.B. Insurance is the responsibility of each individual joining the tour, and is not provided centrally.

Why come with us?

• Unrivalled experience– we have worked and travelled in Ethiopia for over fourteen years.
• Expert guides – accompanied throughout not only by the Link Ethiopia Director but also by our friendly, local staff.
• Intimately small group – limited to between four and twelve people.
• All profits going to a good cause– This is a totally non-profit trip. Part of the overall cost is a generous donation to the work of Link Ethiopia and will be spent exclusively helping the children of that country.
• Unique opportunities– our knowledge of Ethiopia and fluency in the local language enables us to leave the tourist trail and introduce you to warm and welcoming people in colourful and unique situations.

Itinerary – the last six days

Day 7   Gondar:  A very special day! A minibus takes us deep into the green Ethiopian countryside for a unique visit to a small village community called Jenda, far from the nearest proper road. Picnic lunch is shared with our hosts, followed by the traditional coffee ceremony. We take some small gifts to thank them for their hospitality before we are guests of honour at their very simple school, built on the site of one of the last battles of the Italian occupation in 1941. If time allows, we shall be back in Gondar for a late afternoon visit to the wonderful painted church of Debre Birhan Selassie.

Day 8   Gondar: The astounding Castle Compound is our focus for the morning, with its eleven stone buildings all dating back to the 17^th century and showing influences of Portuguese and even Indian architecture. The afternoon has an option to visit the Falasha (Jewish) village of Wolleka (by horse and cart if you wish!) and explore the local women’s pottery workshops. A colourful Ethiopian gymnastic circus rounds off our day’s activities.

Day 9   Simien Mountains: A relaxed day by coach to the Simien Mountains National Park for a sighting of spectacular scenery and fascinating wildlife. A gentle walk and picnic may introduce us to the magnificent Lammergeier falcon and the ubiquitous, unique and characterful Gelada baboons.

Day 10   To Lalibela: Morning flight to Lalibela, perhaps the most notable holy site in all Africa. Spend an inspiring day exploring the network of rock-hewn churches, an astonishing World Heritage site. Stay in simple and peaceful accommodation on the edge of town.

Day 11   To Addis Ababa:  A late morning flight back to the capital city for souvenir shopping and our final dinner.

Day 12   To London:  Daytime flight to Heathrow and a return to normality!

Link Ethiopia...

... is a well established organisation which supports education throughout Ethiopia. It links schools, arranges volunteer teaching placements, helps children through child sponsorship, and funds projects in Ethiopian schools (new classrooms, clean water, toilets, library books etc).

www.linkethiopia.org