Tour Name: 10-Days Tour to Northern Ethiopia
Destinations: Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gonder, Simien Mountains, Axum and Lalibela
Duration: 10 Days & 9 Nights
Transportation: Surface drive, flights & boat
Day 1: Arrival at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
On arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your Hotel. Check into the Hotel and relax. Overnight stay will be in the hotel.
Day 2: Addis Ababa City Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, morning Addis Ababa city tour include National Museum, known for its best composition & collection in sub-shara Africa & especially for its archaeological findings most famous exhibit is the 3.5 million year old skeleton of Lucy.
Then continue your visit to Entoto Mountains (St. Mary Zion Church, Museum and Emperor Menelik II palace). In between you will have lunch.
In the afternoon you will visit the Holy Trinity cathedral (founded by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1933) is the biggest Orthodox Church in the country. With its large dome and spindly pinnacles, it’s one of the landmarks of the city and.
If you like markets, a visit to Merkato –the biggest open-air market of Africa- is a must! Overnight stay will be in the hotel.
Day 3: Fly Bahir dar and Visit Island Monasteries & Blue Nile Falls
Wake up early and board a morning flight to Bahir dar. Arrive at Bahir dar and check-in at hotel. Enjoy an a boat ride excursion on Lake Tana to visit the medieval period Ethiopia Orthodox church monasteries such as; Kibran Gabriel (only for men), Entos on the islands and Ura Kidan Mehiret and Azwa Mariam on the Zegien peninsula.
After lunch, you will drive (some 30 Km) and visit to the Blue Nile Falls. In the evening, you will have dinner and stay the night at the hotel. In the evening you will get back to the hotel, rest, have dinner and relax.
Optional Excursion: early in the evening, after dinner you will visit Azmari Bet a Traditional Music Houses. Overnight stay will be in the hotel.
Day 4: Drive to Gondar and visit UNESCO registered sites
After breakfast you drive to Gonder (185Km) north of Bahir dar. Arrive Gonder and check into the Hotel. Afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Royal Castles & the Bath of Emperor Fasiledes, the bath is filled with water for the important Timkat (epiphany) ceremony once a year. You will continue your visit to Debre Birhan Selassie Church (Trinity at the Mount of Light). In the evening you will get back to the hotel, rest, have dinner and relax. Overnight stay will be in the hotel.
Day 5: Drive to Simien Mountains National Park (UNESCO site)
After having a breakfast, you will drive to Simien Mts. (120 Km from Gonder). Arrive at the park & check into the Lodge. A short walk/trek and spend the day visiting the Simien Mountains National Park, known for its marvelous landscape & its endemic & mammals, birds, natural vegetation. Mammals including; Chelad baboon, Wali ibex and Ethiopian Wolf.
Then you will have dinner and stay the night in the lodge. Overnight stay will be in the lodge.
Day 6: Drive to Axum
Today after having breakfast you will drive to Axum (290 Km from Simien Mts.) passing through the most amazing zig-zag roads on the chain of the edge of the Simien Mts. overlooking the highlands in one side & the lowlands at the other side, locally know as Lima limo road. You will have lunch at Shire.
Arrive Axum and check into the Hotel. Dinner will be at the hotel. Overnight stay will be in the hotel.
Day 7: City Tour in Axum (UNESCO sites)
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the impressive monuments which testify of the rich and glorious past of the mighty Kingdom of Axum (300 B.C-700 A.D.) includes the Steale of Axum, the Inscription of Ezana, the famous St. Mary of Zion Church, ruins of ancient palaces (built until 4th century A.D.).
Afternoon you will proceed to outside Axum you can visit also the tombs of Kings Kaleb & Gebre Meskel dating to 6th century and Queen Sheba’s Palace. Overnight stay will be in the hotel.
Day 8: Fly to Lalibela (UNESCO World heritage site)
After breakfast, in time transfer to airport to board a morning flight for Lalibela. Arrive Lalibela and check into your hotel. Afternoon, enjoy a visit to rock-hewn church are believed, to date the 12th and 13th century during King Lalibela reign. The 11 churches, clustered in to three parts, on this afternoon you will visit group one & group three churches. The churches are extraordinary since they are entirely freed from the rock, so refined and so numerous within a small area. In the evening you will get back to the hotel, rest, have dinner and relax. Overnight stay will be in the hotel.
Optional Excursion: early in the evening, after dinner you will visit Azmari Bet a Traditional Music Houses.
Day 9: Excursion Yimerhane Kirstos or Gente Mariam
After breakfast at hotel, you take an excursion to Yimerhane Kirsotos, or Genete Maryam churches located outside Lalibela. Back to Lalibela for lunch.
Afternoon proceed to the second group rock churches in Lalibela. In the evening you will get back to the hotel, rest, have dinner and relax. Overnight stay will be in the hotel.
Day 10: Fly back to Addis Ababa and departure
After breakfast at hotel, in time transfer to flight to back to Addis Ababa. Arrive at Addis Ababa.
You will arrive in Addis Ababa midday/early afternoon enjoy a sightseeing around Churchill avenue & visit the status of the Lion of Juda of Emperor Hailse Selassie, Tigliachin Monuments, Addis Ababa city hall and take a short walk around the old part of Addis Ababa including the first hotel in Ethiopia, Taitu hotel, and old post office. Later you are free last minute shopping.
After a farewell dinner, depending on your flight time you will be transferred to Bole international airport to board the flight for your next destination or back home.