Ethiopia is blessed with peerless history and a very inspiring contemporary story, and this tour aims to you take you through it all. You visit all the major cities, the local tribes, the national parks and get to understand the sweeping scale of this beautiful country and its people.

The Experience

DAY 1: Depart London Heathrow

Today you will board an overnight plane to Ethiopia. Your flight will have 1 stopover with 1-6 hours stopover.

Overnight is in the plane.

DAY 2: Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour

The tour starts with a pick up from Bole International Hotel, then proceed to your hotel for a breakfast. Then drive to Holy Trinity Cathedral Church which has unique architectural style. Proceed to the National Museum of Ethiopia for visiting the long age history of Ethiopia and the oldest human ancestor, Lucy. Set within Haile Selassie’s former palace and surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of Addis Ababa University’s main campus is the enthralling Ethnological Museum. Even if you’re not normally a museum fan, this one is worth a bit of your time – it’s easily one of the finest museums in Africa.

Immediately after a relaxed lunch, drive up to Entoto Mountains, the best location to observe the panoramic view of the capital. The return drive will be via Piazza towards the largest open air market, Merkato. This site will enable you have an experience of shopping in Ethiopia. The tour ends with a drop off at your hotel

SIGHTSEEING

> National Museum of Ethiopia
> Ethnological Museum of Ethiopia
> Holy Trinity Cathedral
> Entoto Mountains
> Merkato Open Air Market

Overnight Stay at Washington Hotel or Similar, Addis Ababa.

DAY 3: Drive to Bahir Dar

Your drive to Bahir Dar departs after a quick breakfast in Addis Ababa. On the way, you will have stops for sightseeing in Debre Libanos, Portuguese Bridge and Blue Nile Gorge.

SIGHTSEEING

> Debre Libanos Monastery
> Portuguese Bridge
> Blue Nile Gorge

Overnight stay at Jacaranda Hotel or similar, Bahir Dar

DAY 4: Boat trip on Lake Tana and excursion to the Blue Nile Falls

Have a boat trip on Lake Tana. On Lake Tana are 37 islands and 32 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery church of Ura Kidane Mihret, which is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries A.D. You will also have visits to 2 more island monasteries on the lake.
Afternoon, you will have an excursion to the Blue Nile Falls, this is known locally as Tissisat (smoking waterfall): 100 m (328 ft) wide, the water plunges for 45m, giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows.

SIGHTSEEING

> Lake Tana and its island monasteries
> The Blue Nile Falls

Overnight Stay at Jacaranda Hotel or Similar, Bahir Dar.

DAY 5: After breakfast drive to Gondar-On the way community visit at Awramba Village

The fact that members of Awramba work together, are diligent, disciplined and self-confident makes the Awra Amba community distinct from other Amhara communities. Women have equal rights as men and there is no distinction in divisions of labor between men and women.

Then proceed driving to Gondar and a visit to the first capital city with the reign of Fasilides. In Gonder, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more of European than African origin. In the afternoon, we visit Fasiladas’ Palace, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! We continue going to the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berhan Selassie is rumored to once having been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 .

SIGHTSEEING

> Awramba Community
> Royal Enclosure of Gondar
> Debre Birhan Selassie Church

Overnight stay at Goha Hotel or similar, Gondar

DAY 6: In the morning Drive to Simien Mountains

After breakfast drive to Simien Mountain National Park. Debark is a small market town at an altitude of 2700 meters close to the boundary of the Simien Mountains National Park. Corrugated–iron–roofed buildings surround the colourful and busy market area. Before entering the park, you have to register at the park headquarters just outside town. Here, armed scout – one of the park regulations, joins you. Then drive to Sankaber for the best view. En route, pass through pretty country, the foothills of the Semen Mountains, with carefully tended field, open pasture with grazing horses, stands of trees and distant rocky peaks. At the high point of the road, there are superb views across the weirdly eroded foothills of the range and you may also be lucky enough to spot you first Lammergeiers and Gelada Baboons of the trip.

SIGHTSEEING

> Stunning Landscapes
> Wildlife and Local Lifestyle

Overnight stay at Simien Lodge, Simien Mountains

DAY 7: Day drive and short hike in the Simien Mountains

Today, you will have a village tour inside the park where you can get the chance to get in close touch with their daily lives. Afternoon, drive back to Gondar for the overnight.

SIGHTSEEING

> Village Tour
> Wildlife

Overnight stay at Goha Hotel or similar, Gondar

DAY 8: Drive to Lalibela

After a relaxed breakfast at your hotel, you will start driving to Lalibela. On the way, there are plenty of attractions you need to stop for, mainly breathtaking mountain scenes and villages.

Overnight at Panoramic View Hotel or Similar, Lalibela.

DAY 9: Exploring Lalibela

The Rock-Hewn Ethiopian orthodox Christian churches of Lalibela, are one of the eighth wonder of the world. It’s a collection of churches, some connected by fascinating internal channels, with hermit holes where people lived and died. The connecting walls are full of religious symbols.

The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century. Some are beautifully painted inside. Visit the first and the third group of churches, they include seven rock churches. After lunch visit the second group of four rock churches.

SIGHTSEEING

> Bet Medhane Alem(House of the world savior)-The largest monolithic church on the earth
> Nine More rock hewn churches

Overnight at Panoramic View Hotel or Similar, Lalibela.

DAY 10: Excursion to Yemrehanna Kristos Church

Today, you are going to have a half day trip to the other rock hewn church, Yemrehanna Kristos. Incredibly, the whole church sits on a foundation of carefully laid olive-wood panels, which ‘float’ it perfectly above the marshy ground. The carving and decoration are exceptional, especially the cruciform windows and the elaborate nave ceiling. Behind the church lies a pile of mummified bodies: some are those of pilgrims who’ve come here to die over the centuries; others are said to be those of the workmen.

This entirely inspiring and slightly spooky complex sits within a cave roofed by basalt lava flows. The ugly brick wall at the front was built in 1985 to improve the church’s security.

When you drive back to town, you will visit the final rock hewn church know for its unique architecture, Bet Giyorgis(House of St. george).

SIGHTSEEING

> Yimrhane Kirstos Church
> House of St. george

Overnight at Panoramic View Hotel or Similar, Lalibela.

DAY 11: Flight to Addis Ababa and proceed to Awash National Parks

Arrival in addis would be late in the morning. Lunch will be in Addis, then proceed to Awash National Park. At the park admire a very nice flora & fauna (Oryx, lesser kudu, dik-dik, crocodiles, hippos, many birds & more), the Awash river falls + the river gorge & more.

SIGHTSEEING

> Wildlife
> River Gorge and more

Overnight at Awash Falls Lodge, Awash

DAY 12: Voyage to Harar

After breakfast, drive to Harar, the world’s fourth islamic city of Islam. We will be driving through the Hararghe Mountains and we will see plenty of coffee and ‘chat’ fields. The region is well known in growing one of the best qualities of coffee in the country. Finally we will arrive in Harar early in the afternoon.

THINGS TO DO

> Coffee Farms
> Hararghe Mountains

Overnight stay at Heritage plaza Hotel, Harar

DAY 13: Harar City Tour

Stroll through the 16th century walled city of Harar, the fourth most important city in the Islamic World. See the home of Arthur Rimbaud, renowned French poet who worked and lived in Harar as a “gun-runner” during the 19th century. You will visit the house of Ras Mekonnen (father of Haile Selassie); and a traditional Harari home.

THINGS TO DO

> House of Arthur Rimbaud
> House of Ras Mekonnen
> Hyena feeding

Overnight stay at Heritage plaza Hotel, Harar

DAY 14: Flight to Addis Ababa-DEPARTURE

In the morning, you will drive to Dire Dawa for a visit to the oldest Railway of Ethio-Djibouti journey before you head to the airport for check in.

The tour ends with a farewell dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants in Addis Ababa.

SIGHTSEEING

> Ethio-Djibouti Railway
> Dire Dawa market

Tour Ends

Ethiopia is blessed with peerless history and a very inspiring contemporary story, and this tour aims to you take you through it all. You visit all the major cities, the local tribes, the national parks and get to understand the sweeping scale of this beautiful country and its people.

The Experience

DAY 1: Depart London Heathrow

Today you will board an overnight plane to Ethiopia. Your flight will have 1 stopover with 1-6 hours stopover.

Overnight is in the plane.

DAY 2: Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour

The tour starts with a pick up from Bole International Hotel, then proceed to your hotel for a breakfast. Then drive to Holy Trinity Cathedral Church which has unique architectural style. Proceed to the National Museum of Ethiopia for visiting the long age history of Ethiopia and the oldest human ancestor, Lucy. Set within Haile Selassie’s former palace and surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of Addis Ababa University’s main campus is the enthralling Ethnological Museum. Even if you’re not normally a museum fan, this one is worth a bit of your time – it’s easily one of the finest museums in Africa.

Immediately after a relaxed lunch, drive up to Entoto Mountains, the best location to observe the panoramic view of the capital. The return drive will be via Piazza towards the largest open air market, Merkato. This site will enable you have an experience of shopping in Ethiopia. The tour ends with a drop off at your hotel

SIGHTSEEING

> National Museum of Ethiopia
> Ethnological Museum of Ethiopia
> Holy Trinity Cathedral
> Entoto Mountains
> Merkato Open Air Market

Overnight Stay at Washington Hotel or Similar, Addis Ababa.

DAY 3: Drive to Bahir Dar

Your drive to Bahir Dar departs after a quick breakfast in Addis Ababa. On the way, you will have stops for sightseeing in Debre Libanos, Portuguese Bridge and Blue Nile Gorge.

SIGHTSEEING

> Debre Libanos Monastery
> Portuguese Bridge
> Blue Nile Gorge

Overnight stay at Jacaranda Hotel or similar, Bahir Dar

DAY 4: Boat trip on Lake Tana and excursion to the Blue Nile Falls

Have a boat trip on Lake Tana. On Lake Tana are 37 islands and 32 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery church of Ura Kidane Mihret, which is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries A.D. You will also have visits to 2 more island monasteries on the lake.
Afternoon, you will have an excursion to the Blue Nile Falls, this is known locally as Tissisat (smoking waterfall): 100 m (328 ft) wide, the water plunges for 45m, giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows.

SIGHTSEEING

> Lake Tana and its island monasteries
> The Blue Nile Falls

Overnight Stay at Jacaranda Hotel or Similar, Bahir Dar.

DAY 5: After breakfast drive to Gondar-On the way community visit at Awramba Village

The fact that members of Awramba work together, are diligent, disciplined and self-confident makes the Awra Amba community distinct from other Amhara communities. Women have equal rights as men and there is no distinction in divisions of labor between men and women.

Then proceed driving to Gondar and a visit to the first capital city with the reign of Fasilides. In Gonder, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more of European than African origin. In the afternoon, we visit Fasiladas’ Palace, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! We continue going to the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berhan Selassie is rumored to once having been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 .

SIGHTSEEING

> Awramba Community
> Royal Enclosure of Gondar
> Debre Birhan Selassie Church

Overnight stay at Goha Hotel or similar, Gondar

DAY 6: In the morning Drive to Simien Mountains

After breakfast drive to Simien Mountain National Park. Debark is a small market town at an altitude of 2700 meters close to the boundary of the Simien Mountains National Park. Corrugated–iron–roofed buildings surround the colourful and busy market area. Before entering the park, you have to register at the park headquarters just outside town. Here, armed scout – one of the park regulations, joins you. Then drive to Sankaber for the best view. En route, pass through pretty country, the foothills of the Semen Mountains, with carefully tended field, open pasture with grazing horses, stands of trees and distant rocky peaks. At the high point of the road, there are superb views across the weirdly eroded foothills of the range and you may also be lucky enough to spot you first Lammergeiers and Gelada Baboons of the trip.

SIGHTSEEING

> Stunning Landscapes
> Wildlife and Local Lifestyle

Overnight stay at Simien Lodge, Simien Mountains

DAY 7: Day drive and short hike in the Simien Mountains

Today, you will have a village tour inside the park where you can get the chance to get in close touch with their daily lives. Afternoon, drive back to Gondar for the overnight.

SIGHTSEEING

> Village Tour
> Wildlife

Overnight stay at Goha Hotel or similar, Gondar

DAY 8: Drive to Lalibela

After a relaxed breakfast at your hotel, you will start driving to Lalibela. On the way, there are plenty of attractions you need to stop for, mainly breathtaking mountain scenes and villages.

Overnight at Panoramic View Hotel or Similar, Lalibela.

DAY 9: Exploring Lalibela

The Rock-Hewn Ethiopian orthodox Christian churches of Lalibela, are one of the eighth wonder of the world. It’s a collection of churches, some connected by fascinating internal channels, with hermit holes where people lived and died. The connecting walls are full of religious symbols.

The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century. Some are beautifully painted inside. Visit the first and the third group of churches, they include seven rock churches. After lunch visit the second group of four rock churches.

SIGHTSEEING

> Bet Medhane Alem(House of the world savior)-The largest monolithic church on the earth
> Nine More rock hewn churches

Overnight at Panoramic View Hotel or Similar, Lalibela.

DAY 10: Excursion to Yemrehanna Kristos Church

Today, you are going to have a half day trip to the other rock hewn church, Yemrehanna Kristos. Incredibly, the whole church sits on a foundation of carefully laid olive-wood panels, which ‘float’ it perfectly above the marshy ground. The carving and decoration are exceptional, especially the cruciform windows and the elaborate nave ceiling. Behind the church lies a pile of mummified bodies: some are those of pilgrims who’ve come here to die over the centuries; others are said to be those of the workmen.

This entirely inspiring and slightly spooky complex sits within a cave roofed by basalt lava flows. The ugly brick wall at the front was built in 1985 to improve the church’s security.

When you drive back to town, you will visit the final rock hewn church know for its unique architecture, Bet Giyorgis(House of St. george).

SIGHTSEEING

> Yimrhane Kirstos Church
> House of St. george

Overnight at Panoramic View Hotel or Similar, Lalibela.

DAY 11: Flight to Addis Ababa and proceed to Awash National Parks

Arrival in addis would be late in the morning. Lunch will be in Addis, then proceed to Awash National Park. At the park admire a very nice flora & fauna (Oryx, lesser kudu, dik-dik, crocodiles, hippos, many birds & more), the Awash river falls + the river gorge & more.

SIGHTSEEING

> Wildlife
> River Gorge and more

Overnight at Awash Falls Lodge, Awash

DAY 12: Voyage to Harar

After breakfast, drive to Harar, the world’s fourth islamic city of Islam. We will be driving through the Hararghe Mountains and we will see plenty of coffee and ‘chat’ fields. The region is well known in growing one of the best qualities of coffee in the country. Finally we will arrive in Harar early in the afternoon.

THINGS TO DO

> Coffee Farms
> Hararghe Mountains

Overnight stay at Heritage plaza Hotel, Harar

DAY 13: Harar City Tour

Stroll through the 16th century walled city of Harar, the fourth most important city in the Islamic World. See the home of Arthur Rimbaud, renowned French poet who worked and lived in Harar as a “gun-runner” during the 19th century. You will visit the house of Ras Mekonnen (father of Haile Selassie); and a traditional Harari home.

THINGS TO DO

> House of Arthur Rimbaud
> House of Ras Mekonnen
> Hyena feeding

Overnight stay at Heritage plaza Hotel, Harar

DAY 14: Flight to Addis Ababa-DEPARTURE

In the morning, you will drive to Dire Dawa for a visit to the oldest Railway of Ethio-Djibouti journey before you head to the airport for check in.

The tour ends with a farewell dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants in Addis Ababa.

SIGHTSEEING

> Ethio-Djibouti Railway
> Dire Dawa market

Tour Ends

Photos

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