Historic route combined with the great Rift valley
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Duration
Explore Tours
Tour Duration:14 days (with a flight from Lalibela to Addis Ababa)
Tour Plan
Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to your hotel. City tour in Addis national museum (home of Lucy, hominid skeleton dating back 3.2 million years) ethnographic museum, the panoramic view point of Addis and Entoto museum. Finally, drive to Merkato which is one of the largest open markets in Africa.
Overnight: hotel
Morning drive to Bahir Dar. On the way stop at Jemma valley for coffee and enjoy the view. Continue your journey by passing through the Blue Nile gorge said by many the Grand Canyon of Africa.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
In the morning and do a boat trip on Lake Tana to explore the monasteries hidden on the shores and islands of Lake Tana. In the afternoon depart out of town to the Blue Nile Falls locally known by (Tis Isat waterfall) which means the smoking water and easy hike in the surroundings. And then drive back to the town of Bahir Dar and the local market.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Drive Bahir Dar to Gondar on your way and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the countryside. Afternoon visits the royal enclosure at the center of the city, which dates back to the 17th and 18th C that is surrounded by high stone walls containing palaces and different other buildings. You will also visit Fasiledes Bath and Debre Birhan Selassie church.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Morning drive to the Simein national park which is a living habitat for some of the endemic animals of Ethiopia. Do a trek around Sankaber at an altitude of 3200 meters above sea level. You are granted to see troops of Chelada baboons feeding on the grass and different bird species flying on beautiful landscapes.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Drive to Aksum passing through the Limalomo Mountains and the Tekeze Valley. In Aksum, you will explore the treasures of Aksum including the ruins of the queen of Sheba palace, the Steele Park where you visit the famous Steele of the Aksumite kingdom weighing about 500 tons, the tombs and burial chambers of different kings.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Morning visits the church St Merry of Zayon. We Ethiopians believe this church is the final resting place of the arc of the covenant which God gave mosses on Mount Sinai. Afterward drive to Gerealta, on the way enjoy the marvelous view of the Adwa Mountains and then visit the ancient temple of Yeha. Continue your drive to Hawzen overnight.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
After breakfast, Trek up to Guh Mountain to visit the ancient church of Abune Yemata. This monastery was built during the 7th century by one of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church saints Abune Yemata. Leisure time in the afternoon.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
After breakfast, visit another beautiful church of Abreha We Atsebeha and Medhanialem Adi Kesho then drive to Mekelle.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
On this day you will drive to Lalibela. Stop at some viewpoints to admire the beautiful landscape.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Visit the churches of Lalibela. These 11 remarkable churches are carved out from gigantic rocks and connected by trench and tunnel systems. They are divided into two groups containing six churches in the first group and the other five in the second group. The marvelous St George church is located separately and considered by many the 8th wonder of the world.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Fly Lalibela to Addis Ababa. On arrival you will be met by your driver and journey to Langano, on your way stop at Ziway and enjoy the scenery and birding at the shore of the lake. visit the Afterwards, continue your journey to Langano.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
In the morning relax and swim in the lake. Afterwards, drive to visit the Abajata Shalla national park. The park is famous for the two adjacent lakes Abjata and Shalla.
Overnight: hotel/lodge
Morning visits to the local fish market at the shore of Lake Hawassa before you hit the road to Addis Ababa. Farewell dinner at one of the local cultural restaurants and transfer to the international airport then fly back home.
End of tour
