Visit Bahar Dar, the picturesque town set on the shores of Lake Tana. You will visit the island monasteries and the Blue Nile Falls. In Gondar you will visit the ancient churches and castles, remnants of a bygone Ethiopian Empire. Proceed to Semien mountain, the region includes many summits above 4,000m. (13,000feet), and the highest point in Ethiopia. Ras-Dashen is also the fourth highest mountain in Africa. Axum, the most holy city in Ethiopia, you will see reminders of an early civilization at the stelae fields and ruins of the Palace of the Queen of Sheeba and other ancient sites. Gheralta Churches: Over 125 rock hewn churches are recorded with Tigray-alone. These churches date from 4th-15th century. Continuing on the historic route, to Lalibela, a world-heritage-listed town set high in craggy mountains. Lalibela is renowned for its 12th- and 13th-century churches hewn out of solid rock and connected with subterranean passages.
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa
Flight to Addis, arrival at Bole International airport, meets our guide and transfer to the hotel.
Day 2: Addis Ababa city tour
Morning city tour of Addis: visit Mount Entoto for panoramic view of the city (including the Maryam Church, Museum at Entoto, Menelike old palace) National Museum which is the resting place of our ancestor LUCY, Ethnological museum to see the different tribes culture, Merkato the biggest open Market in Africa, other monuments on the way and Piaza area.
Day 3: Drive to Bahirdar ( 8-9 hours )
Morning drive to Bahirdar on the way visiting Debrelibanose Monastery, the 17 century of Portuguese bridge (egg bridge) and Blue Nile Gorge. You will cross many Amhara people village and there is great chance to see their culture, village.
Day 4: Bahirdar
Morning boat excursion over Lake Tana to the Zeghie peninsula to visit the beautifully painted churches that are found hidden in the small forest: Ura Kidane Miheret, on the way you will have the chance to over view Kibran Gebriel and Entos Monastery and the outlet of the Blue Nile river.
Afternoon drive 70KM round trip to visit Tississat named after the water falls of the Blue Nile River (the life blood for the Sudanese and Egyptians). You have the chance to meet the real country side of Ethiopia and enjoy the people way of life. Be informed that clients will walk about and 20 minutes to arrive near to the water falls on Blue Nile. Back to Bahirdar.
Day 5: Drive to Gonder ( 3 hours driving and afternoon visit)
Morning visit the Bezawit palace of Haile Selassie and then drive to Gonder. On the way visit the Guzara castle, admire the wonderful landscape and view. Afternoon hotel you will be taken to visit the castle compound where you can see the medieval castle of king Fasilidas, King Yohannes, King Eyasu, King Dawit, King Bakafa and Queen Mentewab further visit of the churches of Debre Birhan Selassie with awesome wall paintings and the bath of King Fasilidas .
Day 6: Drive Gonder – Semien Mountain
Morning visit Kusquam and then drive to Semien Mountain. Five kms from Gonder you will visit the previous black Jewish village. In Semien Mountain visit the marvelous scenery of the Semien Mountain, the endemic animals, Chilada Baboon and birds. Sankaber lies within the Park and found at an altitude of 3,825msl. It is the place to see troopsof Gelada Baboon on the way. They are very attractive and so taking picture of them is unforgettable. These are a different primates found only inEthiopia and live on vegetables and soft roots. Walk to the wonderful view points around Sankaber. Lunch box will be taken. Walk and trek about an hour or two in the marvelous scenery, admire the landscape. Late afternoon drive to Debark.
Day 7: Semien Mountain- Axum ( 6-7 hours)
Morning view of the beautiful scenery of the Semien from your beautiful lodge and drive to Axum Enjoying the western side of the dramatic Simien Mountain, Pass Limalimo, the most challenging road in Ethiopia but awesome landscape, cross the Tekeze Valley and arrive in Axum. Here you will see the Tigray people way of life and their culture. Visit some small villages.
Day 8: Visit Axum
Morning start to visit the historical sites of Axum including the St. Mary church (where the Arc of the covenant is said to be kept) and the stele park, the ruins of the former palace of Queen of Sheba (Dungur Palace) the ruins of the former tombs of King Kaleb and his successor King Gebre Meskel.
Day 9: Flight Axum to Lalibela
Morning flight to Lalibela, the world heritage city. After 40 minutes flight, you will arrive at Shimshaha ( Lalibela Airport),transfer to hotel and start to visit the 1st group churches which are included Bieta Medhanialem (Chapel of Holy Savior) which is the biggest and Bieta Mariam (Chapel of Mary)
three aisled with mural paintings and a covered pillar containing inscriptions about the end of the world according to the gadl (act )of saintly king. Further visit of Bieta Denagel (Chapel of the Virgins), Bieta Meskel (Chapel of the cross) and finally, the “double – church” of Debre Sina and Bieta Golghotha (women are not allowed in the latter since it’s where the remains of King Lalibela are and also because it contains the tabernacle of the Holy Trinity).
Day 10: Lalibela
In Lalibela you will have an excursion to Asheten Mariam church situated at a very hill top, to see the town of Lalibela and the surrounding attraction.
P.M Visit of the second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, Bieta Merquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style and the Bieta Abaa Libanos (said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort Meskal Kebra and visit the Bieta Ghiorghis which is the cruciform chapel of St. George. ).
Day 11: Flight back to Addis
Today we fly back to Addis and arriving around 14:00. Then souvenir shopping and night attend farewell dinner in the famous Ethiopian traditional restaurant at Habesha 2000 with live music and delicious meal, you will be transfer to Bole International airport for the night flight that depart and it will be the end of the tour.
Flight to Addis, arrival at Bole International airport, meets our guide and transfer to the hotel.
Morning city tour of Addis: visit Mount Entoto for panoramic view of the city (including the Maryam Church, Museum at Entoto, Menelike old palace) National Museum which is the resting place of our ancestor LUCY, Ethnological museum to see the different tribes culture, Merkato the biggest open Market in Africa, other monuments on the way and Piaza area.
Morning drive to Bahirdar on the way visiting Debrelibanose Monastery, the 17 century of Portuguese bridge (egg bridge) and Blue Nile Gorge. You will cross many Amhara people village and there is great chance to see their culture, village.
Morning boat excursion over Lake Tana to the Zeghie peninsula to visit the beautifully painted churches that are found hidden in the small forest: Ura Kidane Miheret, on the way you will have the chance to over view Kibran Gebriel and Entos Monastery and the outlet of the Blue Nile river.
Afternoon drive 70KM round trip to visit Tississat named after the water falls of the Blue Nile River (the life blood for the Sudanese and Egyptians). You have the chance to meet the real country side of Ethiopia and enjoy the people way of life. Be informed that clients will walk about and 20 minutes to arrive near to the water falls on Blue Nile. Back to Bahirdar.
Morning visit the Bezawit palace of Haile Selassie and then drive to Gonder. On the way visit the Guzara castle, admire the wonderful landscape and view. Afternoon hotel you will be taken to visit the castle compound where you can see the medieval castle of king Fasilidas, King Yohannes, King Eyasu, King Dawit, King Bakafa and Queen Mentewab further visit of the churches of Debre Birhan Selassie with awesome wall paintings and the bath of King Fasilidas.
Morning visit Kusquam and then drive to Semien Mountain. Five kms from Gonder you will visit the previous black Jewish village. In Semien Mountain visit the marvelous scenery of the Semien Mountain, the endemic animals, Chilada Baboon and birds. Sankaber lies within the Park and found at an altitude of 3,825msl. It is the place to see troopsof Gelada Baboon on the way. They are very attractive and so taking picture of them is unforgettable. These are a different primates found only inEthiopia and live on vegetables and soft roots.
Walk to the wonderful view points around Sankaber. Lunch box will be taken. Walk and trek about an hour or two in the marvelous scenery, admire the landscape. Late afternoon drive to Debark.
Morning view of the beautiful scenery of the Semien from your beautiful lodge and drive to Axum Enjoying the western side of the dramatic Simien Mountain, Pass Limalimo, the most challenging road in Ethiopia but awesome landscape, cross the Tekeze Valley and arrive in Axum. Here you will see the Tigray people way of life and their culture. Visit some small villages.
Morning start to visit the historical sites of Axum including the St. Mary church (where the Arc of the covenant is said to be kept) and the stele park, the ruins of the former palace of Queen of Sheba (Dungur Palace) the ruins of the former tombs of King Kaleb and his successor King Gebre Meskel.
Morning flight to Lalibela, the world heritage city. After 40 minutes flight, you will arrive at Shimshaha ( Lalibela Airport),transfer to hotel and start to visit the 1st group churches which are included Bieta Medhanialem (Chapel of Holy Savior) which is the biggest and Bieta Mariam (Chapel of Mary):
three aisled with mural paintings and a covered pillar containing inscriptions about the end of the world according to the gadl (act )of saintly king. Further visit of Bieta Denagel (Chapel of the Virgins), Bieta Meskel (Chapel of the cross) and finally, the “double – church” of Debre Sina and Bieta Golghotha (women are not allowed in the latter since it’s where the remains of King Lalibela are and also because it contains the tabernacle of the Holy Trinity).
In Lalibela you will have an excursion to Asheten Mariam church situated at a very hill top, to see the town of Lalibela and the surrounding attraction.
P.M Visit of the second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, Bieta Merquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style and the Bieta Abaa Libanos (said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort Meskal Kebra and visit the Bieta Ghiorghis which is the cruciform chapel of St. George. ).
Today we fly back to Addis and arriving around 14:00. Then souvenir shopping and night attend farewell dinner in the famous Ethiopian traditional restaurant at Habesha 2000 with live music and delicious meal, you will be transfer to Bole International airport for the night flight that depart and it will be the end of the tour.