Harmattan Tours

Tours in Africa and the Middle East

Yoga Retreat Tour in Northern Ethiopia,

3-16 September

2011

Revitalising yoga and meditation - enjoy and explore your inner and outer scenery in an exceptional setting.

In cooperation with the dynamic yoga mentor Mona Lindqvist (Finland/Sweden), Harmattan Tours offers you yoga and meditation in one of the most enchanting regions of Ethiopia.

Mona Lindqvist is a psychotherapist and yoga mentor. She has more than 20 years of clinical experience of mind-body medicine. Learn more about her and her yoga approach here

Tour leader Jarmo Pikkujämsä is a certified sports massage therapist. He also holds a degree in African literature.

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View from Gheralta Lodge

Beautiful landscapes and cultural sights, combined with well-being through yoga! This tour includes a balanced combination of yoga practice (hatha/ashtanga/yin), suitable for both beginners and advanced participants, guided meditation and pranayama breathing exercises, and excursions in the beautiful natural surroundings, making the most of the historical and spiritual heritage of Ethiopia. We also offer deeply relaxing, holistic massage.

Northern Ethiopia means breathtaking views: the amba table mountains and euphorbia trees of the state of Tigray and the misty tops of the rugged Simien Mountains at 4,000 m above sea level.

Northern Ethiopia also stands for ancient cultures. In fact, it can be called the cradle of humanity. Not very far away is the place where Lucy, our ancestor three million years back, was found. The Sabaean empire, known for the famous Queen of Sheba, covered these parts of Ethiopia. In Ethiopian tradition, the Queen of Sheba lived in Axum and gave birth to the royal dynasty that died out with Haile Selassie in 1974. The rich and well-organised Axumite empire flourished here for a thousand years, and we can still see some of its monuments today.

Northern Ethiopia is also the heartland of the fascinating Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the second oldest Christian church in the world. It was Tigray that was first reached by missionaries from Syria in the 4^th century. Axum is considered a holy city, as the ark of the covenant (with the tablets with the ten commandments) is supposedly kept here. The Gheralta area, where we will spend the first half of our trip, is famous for its mediaeval rock-hewn Orthodox churches. There are over a hundred of them in the whole of Tigray, often in stunning cliff-face locations, where the natural beauty and serenity is a true inspiration for meditation.

© life's too short /Matthew

We will fly two legs of our journey, and for the rest of the trip use a bus and 4WD. The accommodation has been specially selected for our tour: hotels and lodges with character, but still offering modern facilities. Full board is included throughout. Vegetarians are catered for – traditional Ethiopian ”fasting food” is based on beans and lentils on the pancake-like injera bread.

Throughout the trip, yoga instructor Mona Lindqvist and tour leader and sports masseur Jarmo Pikkujämsä will be in charge of the group. In addition there will be local guides presenting the various sights during the tour.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME

3 September (Day 1) Arrival in Addis Ababa in the evening/at night. Overnight Embilta Hotel or similar.

4 September (Day 2) We fly to the city of Mekele, the capital of Tigray state. Transfer to Gheralta Lodge, a unique small-scale resort in breathtaking scenery, with the design of the bungalows is based on local traditional architecture. Here, we will spend six days with yoga sessions, breath work, guided meditation and massage – combined with exploring the surroundings on foot and by car, including visits to rock-hewn churches. www.gheraltalodgetigrai.com

5 September (Day 3) Morning yoga session, afternoon activities at the lodge

6 September (Day 4) Morning yoga session, excursion by car

7 September (Day 5) Morning yoga session, afternoon activities at the lodge

8 September (Day 6) Morning yoga session, excursion by car

9 September (Day 7) Morning yoga session, afternoon activities at the lodge

10 September (Day 8) Morning yoga session, drive to Axum, visit sights on the way. Overnight in Exodus Hotel, a simple but well-kept hotel just outside town. http://exodushotelaxum.com/

11 September (Day 9) Morning yoga. Guided tour in old Axum. Visit the Axumite stelae fields and tombs, the Queen of Sheba's palace ruins and the St. Mary of Zion churches. In the late afternoon, we climb the hills of the Abba Pentalewon and Abba Liqanos monasteries. Exodus Hotel.

12 September (Day 10) Drive through western Tigray to the Simien mountains. The landscape gets greener as we ascend towards the town of Debark. Our hotel for the next two nights is Simien Lodge at the gate of the Simien Mountains national park – the highest hotel in Africa http://www.simiens.com/index.php

13 September (Day 11) Morning yoga, then excursion in the National park by car and on foot. Ethiopia is known for its endemic mammal and bird species – the Simiens are home to gelada baboons, the Ethiopian wolf and walia ibex, which we might come across. However, the main attraction is the dramatic landscape – with the Ras Dashen peak at 4,500 metres - and the afro-alpine vegetation. The air is thin up here, and you will need warm clothes. Luckily, there is heating in Simien Lodge, as well as a giant open fire.

14 September (Day 12) In the morning, we leave the Simien mountains and drive south to Gondar. This town was the capital of Ethiopia in the 17^th century, and the stone castles and palaces from this period occupy a large area in the town centre. We visit some of the castles, and the Debre Berhan Selassie church, known for its remarkable paintings. Lammergeier hotel or similar.

15 September (Day 13) Fly to Addis Ababa. Tour of the bustling city, including the Ethnological museum and the huge Merkato market. Farewell dinner and transfer to Bole airport. Departure by night flight.

16 September (Day 14) Return home

Minor programme changes are likely to occur. Please check this website regularly for updates.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The tour and the yoga sessions will be conducted in English. However, Mona and Jarmo also speak Finnish, Swedish and French. The tour has been planned for maximum 10 participants.

Price (twin room): € 1 850 (approx. £ 1590/ $ 2560). Single room supplement

€ 300.

The price includes domestic flights, airport transfers, transport by bus or car between Gheralta, Axum, Simien and Gondar, excursions, tour guide and local guides, full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner, 8 yoga sessions, breathing and meditation exercises as well as massage sessions. The price does not include flights to and from Ethiopia.

From Europe, we suggest you fly Lufthansa, Ethiopian, KLM, BMI or Turkish Airlines (economy prices ranging between € 500 and € 1 000).

Sign up for the Yoga retreat tour to Northern Ethiopia by sending us an email at info@harmattantours.com. Please indicate if you prefer single or double room accommodation, as well as any particular food requirements. The registration fee is € 100 (£90/$140); the remainder is to be paid by 15 August.