Day 1: Arrival to Addis Ababa
In the morning arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. You will be welcomed by your guide from Elegant Ethiopia Tours and transfer to your hotel. Then visit Addis Ababa or ‘the new flower’ in Amharic which is relatively new city, established by the Emperor Menelik II in 1887. 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. Continue your excursion at the National Museum, seeing the authentic, Lucy’’ skeleton, a significant anthropological revelation. Finally visit Merkato the largest open-air market in Africa.
Day 2: Addis Ababa --- Mekele --- Hawzen
In the morning fly to Mekele then drive to Hawzen town to visit the Gheralta cluster of churches which includes Debre Mariam Korkor and Daniel korkor, it lies on a small plateau at altitude of 2480 m, you can reach by car on the foot of the mountain then hike to the church almost an hour and half the footpaths rises steeply through a natural rock passage. The interior is very atmospheric and large, almost 10m wide, 17 m deep and 6m high. Architectural features include 12 cruciform pillars with bracket capitals. If the day is Wednesday there is a colorful market in Hawzien.
Day 3: Hawzen --- Axum
This morning, drive to Axum, a small town whose placid appearance belies its grand past as a seat of an empire extending across the Red Sea to Arabia. Begin unearthing Axum’s storied past at Steal Park, a field of roughly 120 carved outcroppings ranging from small, roughly hewn stones to finely engraved obelisks towering 10 stories high. The site is also home to what are likely the three tallest steal ever erected in ancient times. Continue on to get a glimpse of the advanced technologies that drove this empire at the Axum museum. Next, tour the Cathedral of Maryam Tsion. Once a pagan shrine, the site was home to Ethiopia’s first church and is rumored to have once housed the sacred Ark of the Covenant. Conclude your excursion at Dongar Palace. Local legend holds that the Queen of Sheba once held court in this, the grandest of Axum’s palaces.
Day 4: Axum - Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela, a holy city and Ethiopian centre of pilgrimage. Known as “New Jerusalem,” this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to several monolithic rock-cut churches. Begin your exploration of this hallowed ground with a visit to Lalibela’s northwest cluster of six churches and Bet Giyorgis (also known as the Church of St. George), the largest rock-hewn church in the world. Carved below ground level, the monolithic churches are ringed by trenches, courtyards, graves and hermit cells, connected by a tangled maze of tunnels and passageway.
Day 5: Lalibela
In the morning after breakfast drive out side of Lalibela to Yemrhane Kristos “Christ may lead us the way” rock church. Located 45 kms from the town of Lalibela this is one of several other rock churches situated out of Lalibela. After your arrival at the small village of Yemrhane you will walk up for 20 minutes to reach to this church. After the visit of Yemrhane Kristos you will drive back to Lalibela for lunch. Continue on to explore Lalibela’s southeast cluster of five churches. Older and more timeworn than the churches of the northwest, some of the structures predate the reign of King Lalibela by five centuries. According to legend, the south-eastern church of Bet Abba Libanos was built by just one woman in only one night, along with some heavenly intervention from a group of angels. Cap off your excursion with a time-honouredcoffee ceremony, observing traditional roasting and brewing techniques featuring a customary jebena (clay kettle).
Day 6: Lalibela --- Gondar ---Simien Mountains
This morning, fly to Gondar, pausing for a traditional Ethiopian lunch at a local restaurant upon your arrival.Continue four hours overland to Simien Mountains National Park, a sprawling, bio-diverse wilderness set in the heart of one of Africa’s largest mountain ranges. Marvel as you pass in the shadows of towering peaks, some exceeding 13,000 feet. The range also boasts Ethiopia’s highest mountain, Ras Dashen, a broad-shouldered goliath topping out at a dizzying 14,928 feet. Home to some of Africa’s most striking wildlife, the park is inhabited by the gelada baboon, Walia Ibex and the exceedingly rare Ethiopian wolf. Settle into your lodge, joining in a presentation focused on the advanced social behaviors of the gelada.
Day 7: Simien Mountains
Set out on a scenic morning drive through the mountains, stopping in Chennek, a remote village perched some 11,800 feet above sea level. Continue on through giant lobelias and Afro-Alpine scrub, keeping a lookout for Walia ibex, klipspringers and bushbucks. Pause for a picnic overlooking the vast mountain landscape. Next, pass through some of Ethiopia’s most stunning mountain scenery, stopping to encounter a group of gelada baboons. Continue a short ways on foot, pausing to take in the mists of a secluded waterfall
Day 8: Simen Mountains ---Gondar
Embark on a morning drive to Gondar, a storied town of medieval castles and churches. You will start your city tour with your guide. 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. Continue on to Fasiladas Pool, a cavernous bathing pool once used by the former emperor. Enclosed by towering stone walls and guarded by six turrets, the pool is still filled every January 19th for the local Timkat ceremony.
Day 9: Gondar ----Bahir Dar
This morning, depart overland three hours to Bahir Dar, a former Jesuit outpost known for its wide avenues lined with palms and flowers. After checking in to your resort, embark on a leisurely cruise of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. Discover why, even today, the papyrus tankwa that sail the lake bear a striking resemblance to the boats of ancient Egypt. Disembark on an island to explore two of the lake’s secluded monasteries, Ura Kidane Mihret and Azuwa Maryam — both known for their manuscripts, iconography and other church treasures.
Day 10: Bahir Dar
Set out on an hour-long hike to the majestic Blue Nile Falls. Marvel as the currents of the Blue Nile crash 140 feet to the roiling rapids below, flowing on to its long journey out to the Mediterranean. After you take in the falls, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure.
Day 11: Bahir Dar --- Addis Ababa ---Departure
Today you will fly back to Addis Ababa. Visit St. George Cathedral.You'll also have some time to do some souvenir shoppingand coffee. 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.
