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Ethiopia🇪🇹 | festivalsSigdBeta Israel, Sigd fast, Orit reading, Gondar hilltop | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Sigd
👀 For curious travelersfestival ranked #10
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Sigd falls fifty days after Yom Kippur, and the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) celebrate it with a pilgrimage, so the date follows the Hebrew calendar and shifts every year in November. Traditionally it climbs to a hilltop, and in Ethiopia the main gathering is in Amhara, on the ridge above Gondar, with Addis Ababa and Jerusalem also holding observances. Expect one long day of fasting, chanting, prayer and then a feast. I carried a bottle of water and a flat sandal-friendly shawl for the dusty slope, and bought a small bundle of dabo bread from a roadside woman at the base. Priests in white robes read from the Orit under striped umbrellas, drums thumping, as barley smoke drifted over the crowd.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Ethiopia Travel Guide.
Safety warning

The current risk level for Ethiopia is high. Check the advice before going.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #10 festival in EthiopiaWhat makes it a must-see festival

Sigd is one of the few festivals in Ethiopia where a traveler can watch a living Beta Israel tradition rather than a staged show. Backpackers plan around it for two reasons. First, the setting: the pilgrimage climb near Gondar sits in the same region as the Fasil Ghebbi castles and the highland route toward Lalibela and the Simien Mountains, so it slots into a northern loop without a detour. Second, the atmosphere. Crowds gather at dawn, men and women in white cotton shamma wraps, and strangers get pulled into the singing and the shared breaking of the fast with coffee and bread. Entry is free, so the festival costs you little beyond ordinary travel. Book beds in Gondar early, since the town fills with families arriving from other regions and from abroad.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. The Hilltop Pilgrimage: The festival is best known for the slow climb of the faithful to a high point, carrying prayer books and wearing white. The walk is part procession, part reunion, and the view back across the highlands is the reason to join it.
  2. Reading of the Orit: Priests, called kessoch, read from the Torah scrolls and the book of Nehemiah under ceremonial umbrellas. Even without understanding Ge’ez, the cadence carries.
  3. The Fast and Its Breaking: Participants fast through the morning, then break it together in the afternoon. Sharing bread, spiced stew and coffee with a stranger is the easiest way into the day.
  4. Drums, Chanting and Dance: Kebero drums, sistrums and call-and-response hymns drive the crowd into rhythm. Stand near the elders for the clearest sound.
  5. Community Gatherings in
… read more 👉
  1. The Hilltop Pilgrimage: The festival is best known for the slow climb of the faithful to a high point, carrying prayer books and wearing white. The walk is part procession, part reunion, and the view back across the highlands is the reason to join it.
  2. Reading of the Orit: Priests, called kessoch, read from the Torah scrolls and the book of Nehemiah under ceremonial umbrellas. Even without understanding Ge’ez, the cadence carries.
  3. The Fast and Its Breaking: Participants fast through the morning, then break it together in the afternoon. Sharing bread, spiced stew and coffee with a stranger is the easiest way into the day.
  4. Drums, Chanting and Dance: Kebero drums, sistrums and call-and-response hymns drive the crowd into rhythm. Stand near the elders for the clearest sound.
  5. Community Gatherings in Gondar: Families and neighbors meet in the town before and after, and the streets fill with white shawls, music and open doorways. It is the friendliest, least formal side of the festival.
Sigd rewards a first visit most through the hilltop pilgrimage, because the prayer, the crowd and the highland view all happen in one place.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Sigd?

Sigd is held on the 29th of the Ethiopian month Hedar, which falls in late November (fifty days after Yom Kippur), and it lasts one day; the main gathering is on the Amba Hill above Jerusalem Park area, with the biggest public celebration in Addis Ababa and Gondar also marking it.
  • Best part: Go for the morning procession and prayers, when kessoch (priests) read from the Orit and the crowd breaks the fast at midday.
  • Weather: Expect dry, sunny days around 22 to 26°C (72 to 79°F) and cool mornings near 10°C (50°F). Bring a hat, sunscreen and a light layer.
  • Booking: Book beds two to three weeks ahead. Rates in the host areas can rise 20 to 40 percent.
  • Roads: Arrive before dawn, since roads close near the main sites by mid-morning, and leave after the crowds thin in the afternoon.
Wear white or light clothing to blend in with the crowd.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Bole is the easiest area for backpackers in Addis Ababa, with the most reliable mix of guesthouses, cafes and taxis that run early. It is walkable at night in the main streets, and you can meet other travelers in the coffee shops and rooftop bars.

Piazza and the streets around Churchill Avenue put you in the old center, with cheap rooms, busy local restaurants and short rides to the city's main religious sites. It is louder and rougher at the edges, so keep valuables tucked away after dark and take a taxi home.

Kazanchis suits you if you want mid-range comfort at a lower price, with plenty of … read more 👉
Bole is the easiest area for backpackers in Addis Ababa, with the most reliable mix of guesthouses, cafes and taxis that run early. It is walkable at night in the main streets, and you can meet other travelers in the coffee shops and rooftop bars.

Piazza and the streets around Churchill Avenue put you in the old center, with cheap rooms, busy local restaurants and short rides to the city's main religious sites. It is louder and rougher at the edges, so keep valuables tucked away after dark and take a taxi home.

Kazanchis suits you if you want mid-range comfort at a lower price, with plenty of restaurants and a central position for minibuses. Choose a place on a main road rather than a back lane.

If you head to Gondar for a quieter, more traditional celebration, stay near Piazza in the center. It is compact, friendly and easy to walk, with hostels and small guesthouses where solo travelers often team up for tuk-tuk rides to the festival site.
Best hostels in Ethiopia


Best quality hotels in Ethiopia

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Sigd costs most backpackers around US$38 to 54 a day, since the ceremony itself is free and most spending goes to a bed and food. The figures below cover one day in Addis Ababa.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0Entry to the ceremony and the procession is free for the public.
AccommodationUS$12 to 30 (dorm or basic room, high season)Rooms near the main sites fill early and cost more around the festival.
Local transportUS$2 to 6Minibuses are very cheap, while taxis or ride-hailing cost more and are scarce during road closures.
Food & drinksUS$6 to 12Local restaurants and festival stalls serve injera meals, coffee and tella at low prices.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$3 to 6Covers a SIM card, a donation and small snacks.
Total Daily BudgetUS$38 to 54Comfortable for one independent traveler.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodWhat to Eat & Drink

Sigd is a fast day, so the real eating starts at the midday breakup of the fast, when families share plates of injera with shiro, lentils and vegetable stews. Meat is less common in these first meals, and the food feels lighter and more home-cooked than at a typical street fair.

Look for dabo (round, lightly spiced bread) and kolo (roasted barley and chickpea snacks) passed around by families. Drinks include tella (home-brewed barley beer), tej (honey wine) and sweet buna (coffee) poured from a clay jebena. Accept the coffee when it is offered; refusing can feel curt.

Stalls are small and mostly informal, so bring small cash in birr, because cards are not used. Sharing is the norm, and you may be invited to join a circle, where eating from a common plate with your right hand is polite. Wait … read more 👉
Sigd is a fast day, so the real eating starts at the midday breakup of the fast, when families share plates of injera with shiro, lentils and vegetable stews. Meat is less common in these first meals, and the food feels lighter and more home-cooked than at a typical street fair.

Look for dabo (round, lightly spiced bread) and kolo (roasted barley and chickpea snacks) passed around by families. Drinks include tella (home-brewed barley beer), tej (honey wine) and sweet buna (coffee) poured from a clay jebena. Accept the coffee when it is offered; refusing can feel curt.

Stalls are small and mostly informal, so bring small cash in birr, because cards are not used. Sharing is the norm, and you may be invited to join a circle, where eating from a common plate with your right hand is polite. Wait until the fast ends before you eat or drink anything in public near the prayer sites.

FAQFrequently asked questions about Sigd

Sigd takes place on the 29th of the Ethiopian month Hedar, which falls in late November, fifty days after Yom Kippur. It lasts one day, and the main prayers are held in the morning. In Addis Ababa, the gathering takes place on a hilltop near the Jerusalem Park area, while Gondar also marks it.
Attending Sigd is free, since the ceremony and procession are open to the public. Most travelers spend about US$30 to 55 a day in Addis Ababa, with beds at US$12 to 30 and meals at US$6 to 12. Minibus rides cost only US$0.20 to 1 each.
No tickets are needed for Sigd, because the public ceremony is open to all. What you do need to book early is a bed, ideally two to three weeks ahead in Addis Ababa or Gondar. Arrive before dawn, since roads near the main sites close by mid-morning.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Ethiopian festivals near Sigd

Explore more nearby:

  • Timkat—Epiphany processions, tabot parades, mass river baptisms
  • Meskel—bonfire ceremony, cross discovery, Demera procession
  • Enkutatash—spring flowers, New Year rituals, gift exchanges

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Sigd suits travelers curious about faith, history and community, and people who can happily stand on a dusty hillside for hours. Skip it if you want a party. I would dress modestly in white or light colors, ask before photographing anyone praying, and arrive early.

✈️ When did I visit Ethiopia?
Ethiopia I visited back in October 2017. I combined the trip with a visit to Sudan. Ethiopia was a pure surprise with the magical scenery like the Danakil Depression and the Simien Mountains.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Ethiopia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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