Spiritual Journeys

McCabe Pilgrimages

Fully Escorted Pilgrimages with a choice of 6 Departure dates

ETHIOPIA A NEW DESTINATION FOR McCABE

Rock cut churches and magnificent African

scenery and culture

ETHIOPIA

On the trail of Early Christians and the Ark of the Covenant

I invite you to join the first McCabe pilgrimages to Ethiopia, one of the oldest Christian countries in the world.

As pilgrims we travel to discover more about our world, the people, and the faith which shapes our understanding of life.

In Ethiopia, We will find out more about the largest Oriental Orthodox church in the world today. The rock-cut churches of Lalibela, the African Jerusalem, will be a highlight but we will also learn about the Queen of Sheba and explore the story of how the Ark of the Covenant was brought here from Jerusalem. We will travel through countryside reminiscent of the Grand Canyon with wonderful flora and fauna.

As with all McCabe pilgrimages, we will try to engage with the local Christian community and return home with fresh insights into our own faith, enriched by all that we have experienced as we journey together. Rosemary

Director Church of St George, Lalibela

The cost of this pilgrimage is £2,595 to include six flights, accommodation in a twin-bedded room, breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, porterage, a full sightseeing programme, guiding, entrance fees and gratuities. We have included more or less everything.

The highlight of our journey will be two nights in Lalibella, the African Jerusalem, one of the most important Christian sites in Africa. The rock-cut churches, like St George pictured here, are unique.

Ethiopia is the only country in Africa that has never been colonised. The countryside and the culture are a joy to behold. It is also one of the oldest Christian countries in the world, predating Constantine’s conversion of the Roman empire.

Axum is the land of the fabled Queen of Sheba. The Ark of the Covenant was brought here, rescued from Jerusalem when the Temple was destroyed and transported down the Nile to Ethiopia. We will visit its reputed resting place.

At Gondar, “the Camelot of Africa” we will visit medieval castles and churches.

At Bahir Dar, we will sail on Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile, and visit ancient island churches. We will drive a dusty road into the countryside to witness the Blue Nile Falls, amongst the biggest in Africa.

Financial Security This pilgrimage is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. The McCabe ATOL number is 2920.

BOOKING INFORMATION

To reserve your place on this holiday please complete the enclosed booking form and send it with a deposit of £200 to the McCabe office. Please make cheques payable to ‘McCabe Pilgrimages’.

McCabe Pilgrimages 11 Hillgate Place Balham Hill London SW12 9ER

Tel: (020) 8675 6828 Email: andy@mccabe-travel.co.uk

Single Rooms Some single rooms will be available on this holiday for a supplementary cost of £295.

If you are on your own and would be prepared to share with someone in the party, request “room-share” on the booking form and we will try to find a suitable sharer for you.

Travel Insurance Everybody participating should have medical insurance. McCabe can arrange this for a premium of £79. Please add the premium to your deposit payment if required. You may prefer to buy another policy, or an annual policy, which is fine, but please do take out cover against medical eventualities before you travel. Detail of our cover is on the back page.

ET 1129 Very Revd Geoffrey Marshall 29 Nov - 10 December 2015 The rainy season in the Highlands region ends in September, so we have chosen the autumn as an ideal time to visit the Highlands of Ethiopia. The air will be fresh and the wild flowers will be in bloom. Limited availability

ET 0103 Rt. Revd David Rossdale 3-14 January 2016 A pilgrimage featuring Christmas in Lalibela which falls on Thursday 7 January. A slightly different programme. We stay one night longer in Lalibela and reduce our stay in Axum by one night. The rains don’t come before March, so a great time to travel. Lalibela Christmas supplement £100. Limited availability

ET 1002 Revd Peter Farrell 2-13 October 2016 The rainy season in the Highlands region ends in September, so we have chosen the autumn to conduct a series of pilgrimages to the Highlands of Ethiopia. The air will be fresh and the wild flowers will be in bloom. Places available

ET 1023 Canon Michael Garland 23 Oct-3 November 2016 Places available

ET 1106 Revd Geoff Crago 6-17 November 2016 Limited availability

Pilgrimage schedule for 2015 / 2016

How strenuous ?

You do not have to be super-fit to participate in this tour, but expect a good deal of walking on uneven terrain and stair climbing. Be aware that Addis Ababa sits at an altitude of 2,500 metres. Walking at altitude can be very tiring. If you have any heart or respiratory problems, please do ask your GP if this tour is for you.

Ethiopia is not conducive to large groups of travellers so we will be a party of up to 16 pilgrims escorted by the tour leader and a local guide.

We will avoid arduous coach journeys by taking short local flights on small planes over the most difficult terrain.

12 Day PROGRAMME

Sunday : Travel to Addis Overnight flight from Heathrow to Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 701 departs Heathrow Terminal Two at 2015.

Monday : Addis Ababa 0645 arrival. After checking in to our hotel and relaxing a bit, an orientation tour and visit to National Museum where you will be introduced to the 3 million year old bones of “Lucy!” We also visit Trinity Cathedral, where Emperor Haile Silassie is buried. Overnight in Addis at the Capital Hotel.

Tuesday : To Mekele This morning, a 90 minute flight to Mekele. We drive to Wukro to visit its striking sandstone church and on to the cruciform church of Abraha Atsbeha. After lunch at Agarat, we continue to Axum, ancient capital the land of the Queen of Sheba. Two night stay in Axum at the Yeha Hotel.

Wednesday : Axum Visit to the obelisks at Stele Field, Dongar Palace and the reputed resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in the Cathedral church of St Mary of Zion. Thursday : To Lalibela A 30 minute flight to Lalibela, one of the wonders of the world and called the “African Jerusalem.” We begin our visits at a group of 12thC rock-cut churches said to have been built “with the help of angels.” Time permitting we will drive out to the little cave church of Na’akuto La’ab. Two night stay in Lalibela at the Tukul Village Hotel. Friday : Lalibela We visit the Yemrehane Christos monastery in a beautiful isolated location, and then the second group of

churches south of the Jordan river, representing the heavenly Jerusalem.

Saturday : To Gondar 30 minute flight to Gondar, “the Camelot of Africa” famous for its medieval castles and churches. Our scenic tour features the Royal Enclosure of Fasil Ghebbi. Two night stay at Mayleko Lodge. Sunday : Gondar This morning we will join a local congregation for part of their liturgy. We will also visit a nearby Felasha (Ethiopian Jewish) Village to hear about their life. The afternoon is free to relax. Monday : To Bahir Dar A four hour drive to Gorgora on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. Here we visit the monastery of Debre Sina Mariam and sail to Dek island to visit Narga Sillasie monastery, continuing to the Zeghie peninsula to visit Ura Kidane Mihret. This area is studded with medieval churches. Two night stay at the Kuriftu resort in Bahir Dar.

Tuesday : Blue Nile Falls This morning we travel to the magnificent Blue Nile falls, locally known as “smoking water” because of the steam clouds and rainbows it creates. Afternoon time to relax at the resort or perhaps a visit to a local church school. Wednesday : flight to Addis Morning free. Early afternoon one hour flight to Addis. Time for shopping before our farewell dinner accompanied by Ethiopian music and dance. Overnight in Addis at the Capital Hotel or similar.

Thursday : Homeward Bound Flight ET 710 departs at 0945 arriving back at Heathrow at 1435 hours.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

Ethiopia is a plateau, riven by deep gorges, and its isolation has ensured that its people and culture are quite distinct from the rest of Africa. For thousands of years this has been reflected in its history.

This is a poor country periodically devastated by famine, but beautifully green and fertile for the most part and constantly modernising. We will benefit from hugely improved roads and we will avoid mountainous roads with short, strategic local flights.

We tour the northern highlands around Lake Tana where there has been 3,000 years of literate civilisation. Christianity was the official religion here even before the days of Constantine and the newly Christian Roman Empire.

Highlights include Lake Tana, which we explore by boat seeking out remote island monasteries, and view the spectacular Blue Nile Falls.

We will explore the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the “African Jerusalem” and unique selling point of Ethiopia. The stelae field in Axum is home to some of the world’s largest free-standing stone monuments. Here also rests the Ark of the Covenant. The Royal Enclosure at Gondar is a Unesco world heritage site. We will have time to visit the museums and markets of the capital Addis Ababa.

The geography is a wonder with the dramatic natural beauty of mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers constantly surrounding us as we journey.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Flights

Direct flights from Heathrow to Addis Ababa. Duration 7 hours. Ethiopia is only 3 hours ahead of UK time, so jet lag is not usually a problem.

ET 701 Sunday to Addis 2015 0645 (+1) ET 100 Tuesday to Mekele 0745 0910 ET 123 Thursday to Lalibela 1115 1155 ET 123 Saturday to Gondar 1215 1245 ET 145 Wednesday to Addis 1300 1400 ET 710 Thursday to Heathrow 0945 1435

Flight times are subject to change

Hotels

Addis has excellent hotels and we stay In a five star central property at the beginning and end of our holiday. During our journey we stay in best available hotels, all of which are of a very acceptable standard. Rooms have private facilities.

Addis ww.capitalhotelandspa.com Axum www.yehahotelaxum.com Lalibela www.tukulvillage.com Gondar www.maylekolodge.com Bahir Dar www.kurifturesortspa.com

Visa

A visa is required and can quickly be obtained in person or by post from the Ethiopian Embassy in London. McCabe will assist. The cost is currently £28 for British passport holders. Please make sure your passport has six months validity and two blank pages.

Food and drink

Hotels generally cater well for western guests offering local as well as familiar dishes. Lunches are simple, perhaps wat (stew) accompanied by injara - a unique type of Ethiopian bread, which looks like a pancake and is made from tef, a type of cereal found only in Ethiopia. Most dishes are lamb or beef based, but vegetarians are catered for, though the choice may be limited. Pasta and spaghetti dishes are also commonly available. Wednesdays and Fridays are traditional fasting days, and restaurants usually only serve vegetable dishes on these days. A popular Ethiopian dish is kitfo, which is minced meat that has been warmed – but not cooked. This is considered a delicacy in Ethiopia, but is perhaps not for us!

If you have special dietary requirements, let us know and we will do our best to satisfy these, but we cannot guarantee that this will always be possible.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance is arranged by Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd for McCabe Travel Ltd who are an Appointed Representative of Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our status can be checked on the FCA Register by visiting www.fca.org.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0845 606 9966. This Insurance is underwritten by ERV. ERV is authorised by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsi cht (BAFIN – www.bafin.de) and the Prudential Regulation Authority and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

It has been specifically designed so that it covers all McCabe holidays; protecting you in full if you have to cancel and providing you with the very best and most effective protection if you are unfortunate enough to require medical attention whilst away from home.

A unique feature of the policy is that you will not need to call a medical help line to discuss health issues. Most Pre-existing health conditions are covered as long as your doctor agrees that you are fit to travel.

Standard exclusions apply and are listed on the summary document. Please check that you are not affected by the Main health Exclusions. You will not be covered for any ongoing tests or treatment of an undiagnosed condition, or for any terminal illness, or if you claim as a result of a condition arising within the past twelve months.

Note that you will pay an excess of £1,000 on any claim that results directly from a pre-existing medical condition. In our experience a very few claims result from pre-existing medical conditions. With this policy you are covered with no declaration of health required.

A full policy wording will be sent to you with your confirmation of booking, or ask us and we will send you a copy now. Full details are also on our website. If you would like more information or are unsure of any details, please call Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd for further advice on 01903 229 380.

This insurance is only available to persons who are permanently resident and domiciled in the UK and is valid for travel up to 31/12/2016.

McCabe Pilgrimages