Tour Name: 6-Days Tour to Northern Ethiopia
Destinations: Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Gonder, Axum and Lalibela
Duration: 6 Days & 5Nights
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.
Depending on your arrival time, you will start Addis Ababa city tour, your first visit will be the National Museum, known for its best composition & collection in sub-sharan 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.
Proceeding your visit include 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 2: 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 3: 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 4: Fly to Axum
Today after having breakfast you will transfer to airport for flight to Axum. Arrive in Axum, transferred to hotel and check in.
Later enjoy 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.).
Then, depending on the time 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 5: 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 6: 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 farwell 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.