Day 1:AddisAbaba –Bahir Dar
From Addis, you’ll take a one hour flight north to Bahir Dar. You will be welcomed by your guide from Elegant Ethiopia Tours. Your guide will accompany you on a boat trip on Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake. Visit some of the peaceful monasteries nestled on the islands and peninsulas around the lake and, if you are lucky, wander through coffee plantations, enjoy some of the local brew and meet local farmers. As the monasteries were used for religious retreats, the lake and its islands serve as an unofficial nature reserve. Look out for white pelicans and ‘air breathing’ catfish. Your boat tour will end at Zege peninsula. There is a short path walk towards UraKidrane Mehret, arguably the most beautiful of all the churches at Lake Tana, with hundred-year-old. Blue Nile Falls. These 42 meter falls create such large amounts of spray that they are known in Amharic (Ethiopia’s official language) as ‘Tis Abay’ meaning ‘Smoking Water’, which can soak you from a kilometer away. A short distance down the Blue Nile lies a stone bridge built in 1626: potentially one of the famed seven stone bridges built by the emperor Fasilides. This river and another, the White Nile, are the two main tributaries to the Nile, the world’s longest river.
Day 2: Bahir Dar --- Gondar
An early morning drivetakes you to Gondar, the old capital of the country. Your first stop will be Debre Berhan Selassie Church, whose heavy and unassuming stone facade hides the colorful frescoes inside.After this you will head to the well-preserved Fasil Gebbi in Gondar, described by some as the ‘Camelot of Africa’ for a guided tour. Now known as the Royal Enclosure, this was initially founded in 1636 and built by Emperor Fasilides as his home, but successive emperors and rulers added to his blueprint. Now, the buildings span over 70,000 square metres of land and include palaces, libraries, two lion houses, royal baths, and a women’s vocational school built by Mentewab, the Empress of Ethiopia. Within the enclosure there are multiple architectural styles and influences jostling for position. The influences include Indian, Portuguese, Moorish and Aksumite.
Day 3: Gondar --- Axum
Catch a morning flight from Gondar to Axum. Spend the day exploring Axum, Ethiopia’s most religious city which is home to an impressive display of Obelisks. The city is purported to have been the home of the Queen of Sheba. It is believed that that the lost Arc of the Covenant is in the Church of St Mary of Zion. A short walk through the cobbled streets brings you to the stelae fields. Some of the 4th century AD granite structures rise to over 33 meters.
Day 4: Axum --- Lalibela
After breakfast the flight from Axum to Lalibela. Spend the afternoon exploring the various clusters of rock-hewn churches. You'll begin with the north-western cluster: Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, and Bet Danaghel. Our fantastic local guides will help you understand the churches historic significance of this World Heritage Site. If you're lucky enough to visit during one of the religious festivals, you'll be a part of something few people ever experience.
Day 5: Lalibela
Your day starts with an early morning service before visiting the south-eastern cluster of churches: Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis. If you've done any research into Lalibela, you'll have seen pictures of Bet Giyorgis. It's the best preserved of all the churches and is a sure highlight of any visit of Lalibela. In the afternoon, you can hike for around 4-7 hours to Yemrhane Kristos, an under-appreciated gem of Lalibela. In stark contrast to the famous rock-hewn churches, Yemrhane Kristos is built rather than excavated, and is likely to pre-date the rock-hewn churches by nearly a century. The elaborate decoration of the interior is juxtaposed by the mummified bodies that inhabit the caves behind the church. Alternatively, a 5 hour hike leads you to Asheton Maryam church, situation 4000 metres up in the hills of Lalibela. Any trip to Lalibela is incomplete without an evening dinner at the phenomenal Ben Abeba restaurant.
Day 6: Lalibela --- AddisAbaba --- Departure
In the morning flight back to Addis You will be welcomed by your guide and transfer to your hotel. Then visit Addis Ababa. Begin your exploration of Addis Ababa at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, a monument to the country’s liberation from Italian occupation during World War II and final resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Next drive deeper into Ethiopia’s rich cultural diversity at the Ethnographical Museum. Conclude your excursion at the National Museum, seeing the authentic, Lucy’’ skeleton, a significant anthropological revelation. Have a farewell dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants of Addis where you can taste the variety of Ethiopian meals, and see the folkloric dance of the Ethiopians. Finally transfer to airport for departure.
