Arrival in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa - Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, settle into your accommodation, relax, and enjoy your first Ethiopian meal.

Addis Ababa Sightseeing/ City Tour

Addis Ababa - After breakfast at your accommodation, embark on a day of exploration in Addis Ababa. Visit the National Museum, which showcases antiquities, historical relics, and archaeological and paleontological artifacts from Ethiopia, including the 3.5 million-year-old skeleton of Lucy, one of the earliest known humans.

Later, visit one of the city’s many exquisite Ethiopian Orthodox churches, such as St. George’s Cathedral, which features fascinating modern paintings and mosaics. Also, explore the Mercato, the largest open market of its kind in Africa, and enjoy a panoramic view from the top of Mt. Entoto.

For lunch, choose from a variety of eateries serving traditional Ethiopian cuisine. Try injera, a pancake-like bread, topped with a spiced selection of vegan or meat dishes, accompanied by honey-derived tej.

In the afternoon, depending on your interests and the weather, choose from several activities. Follow the coffee route into the rainforests of Ethiopia’s western highlands, where you’ll find the Mother Coffee Tree, the oldest living plant of its kind. Alternatively, explore the markets and craft stalls of Addis Ababa, shopping for high-quality crosses, handwoven fabrics, and other unique Ethiopian handicrafts.

For dinner, return to your accommodation or discover local entertainment, depending on the day of the week. Don’t miss the breathtaking sunset over the city skyline.

Bahir Dar: Boat Cruise & Blue Nile Falls

Bahir Dar - After breakfast, head to the airport for a short flight to Bahir Dar (or travel overland for a more budget-friendly option, a journey of about three hours).

Ethiopia boasts a wealth of lakes, rivers, and other aquatic habitats. The charming city of Bahir Dar is situated on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. After checking into your hotel, explore Lake Tana and its islands by boat. There are 37 islands on Lake Tana, and 30 of them house churches and monasteries of significant historical and cultural interest.

Visit the monastery churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret and Azwa Mariam. Ura Kidane Mihiret is the most renowned of the monasteries and holds an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries. Azwa Mariam is celebrated for its paintings, and there will be time to visit the small museum there.

The Blue Nile, originating from Lake Tana, is linked to two of Ethiopia’s scenic highlights. The first, along the road between Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, is the 5000-foot (1500-m.) deep Blue Nile Gorge, Africa’s answer to the Grand Canyon. The second is the Blue Nile Falls, a popular day trip from Bahir Dar. Other massive gorges, nearly as impressive as the Blue Nile, have been carved by the Tekaze and Wabe Shebelle Rivers.

Take an afternoon drive to the Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tissisat (smoking water). The water cascades 148 feet (45 m.), creating steam clouds and rainbows. Descend to the base of the falls for a close-up view, then ascend the other side. The round-trip walk takes about one hour. Afterwards, cross the Blue Nile by boat.

Gondar: African Architecture Adventure

Gondar - After breakfast, take a short flight to Gondar (or a three-hour drive).

Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, beginning in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. In Gondar, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over 236 years. The city has a European feel with many Islamic influences.

In the morning, visit Fasilidas’ Palace, the oldest and likely the most impressive of all the castles. Continue to the Bath of Fasiledes and Quskuam Church. In the afternoon, visit the Church of Debre Berham Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior is adorned with beautiful frescoes, cherubs, and paintings. Debre Berham Selassie is rumored to have once been the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Also, explore the vibrant market in Gondar.

Simien Mountains

Simien Mountains National Park - After breakfast, drive for about 1.5 hours to the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO-listed area. Ethiopia’s scenic centerpiece is a mountainous central plateau covering half of its surface area, supporting the majority of its population. It’s the most extensive contiguous block of fertile land on the eastern side of Africa. The elevated plateau stands almost entirely at altitudes above 6500 feet (2000 m.), and includes dozens of peaks above 13,000 feet (4000 m.), including Ras Dashen, the fifth-highest mountain in Africa at 14,905 feet (4543 m.).

The Ethiopian highlands support a remarkable diversity of habitats. There are lush evergreen forests inhabited by monkeys and parrots, tall sculpted sandstone cliffs studded with ancient rock-hewn churches, high moorlands covered in green grass and pastel-shaded heather, and cultivated fields of tef, wheat, and maize.

The road to the mountains crosses areas of wild beauty, drawing close to the Simien Massif (in Amharic, Simien means north). You will almost certainly encounter troops of the endemic gelada baboons. This animal is often referred to as the bleeding heart baboon, or the lion monkey, because its coat is shaggy and resembles a lion.

Axum: Oldest African Empire

Axum - After breakfast, drive to the airport at Gondar (1.5 hours), and take a short flight to Axum, in northern Ethiopia. Alternatively, take a 5.5-hour drive.

The legends narrated in the Kebre Nagast (‘Book of Kings’) recount how Axum, in the 10th century B.C.E., was where the Queen of Sheba resided. It is said that the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Axum, where it remains to this day, preserved in a sanctuary. Famous long before the time of Christ, Axum was the capital of the long Axumite reign, one of the oldest African empires, and served as a crucial connecting point between Africa and Asia for nearly a thousand years.

Visit the steles, granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. In ancient times, there were seven steles. Now, one of them is in Rome, as Mussolini took it there during Italy’s occupation of Ethiopia. Also, visit the church of Santa Maria of Zion, which contains the crowns of Ethiopian kings, and other treasures.

Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela

Farewell Ethiopia

Addis Ababa - Pack your bags and cherished memories and head to Lalibela Airport for a short flight to Addis Ababa International Airport. From there, connect to your flight home. If time permits, a farewell dinner will be organized.

• Professional and Local Guide
• All Entrance Fees
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Breakfast
• Dinner

• Alcoholic Drinks

During this eight-day exploration of Ethiopia, you’ll discover ancient history, endless landscapes, artistic riches, and delicious cuisine. Starting in Addis Ababa, you’ll meet ‘Lucy’, one of the oldest Hominid Fossil found on earth. Traveling further afield, explore the incredible churches at Lalibela and the remains of millennia-old kingdoms at Axum and Gondar. Visit Simien Mountains National Park, with some of the highest peaks in Africa. You’ll soon understand why Ethiopia is nicknamed the ‘Land of Origins’.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.