1: Addis Ababa
eginning of the tour in Addis Ababa. Morning free. Afternoon (1400 hrs from the hotel) tour of the capital: visit Entoto mountains with views over the capital, the National museum, St George church. ON (overnight) chosen hotel.
2: Addis Ababa � Bahir Dar
Fly to Bahirdar, and transfer hotel for check-in. Morning drive to admire the Blue Nile falls. Lunch back to Bahirdar. Afternoon boat trip on lake Tana to admire the beautiful monasteries over the lake’s islands, as Ura Kidane Mehret and Mahal Zeghie Gyorgis. ON best available htl in Bahirdar
3: BahirDar – Gondar
Morning 2 hrs drive to Gondar. Then visit of castles and churches in Gondar: visit the castle’s compound, the Debre Birhan Sellasie church (light of Trinity) with wonderful murals, the King Fasiladas bath, the old Qusquam monastery, Empress Mentewab palace and more. ON best available htl Gondar.
4: Gondar – Semien Mountains
2 hrs drive to visit the Semien mountains. Then make walks, admiring spectacular views, spot some endemic mammals (as the gelada baboons), birds, very nice flora, and visit some Amhara people villages. ON Debark Sankaber 3* htl
5: Semien Mountains – Axum
Drive to Axum through spectacular views. Lunch box. Arrival afternoon Axum, visit the steles and drive to your hotel for rest and ON. ON best available htl Axum.
6: Axum
Tour of Axum: visit St Mary of Tsion church (where legend says is deposited the Ark of Covenant), the bath and the palace of Queen of Sheba, toms of kings, more archeological sites, and more. ON htl
7: Axum � Lalibela
Fly to Lalibela, defined as the 8th wonder in the world, and afternoon visit the first group of the rock-hewn churches. Meals and ON in Lalibela Yemereha htl www.yemerehahotel.com
8: Lalibela
Morning visit one of the churches out of the town. We propose an excursion by mules to the Asheten Mariam church, with spectacular views too. Or by car to the cave church of Naktuleab. Afternoon remaining churches in Lalibela.
9: Lalibela � Addis Ababa
Fly to Addis Ababa. Relax and visit of the Ethnographic museum and the Merkato, biggest open air market in Africa. ON hotel.
10: Addis Ababa – Arbaminch
Drive to Arbaminch, admiring very green views, the Guraghe people and villages; as make some stops for the Wolayta people. Reach late afternoon to Arbaminch, to relax with spectacular sunset at the Swaynes hotel, with very spectacular views over Chamo & Abaya lakes. ON Swaynes hotel. www.swayneshotel.com
11: Arbaminch – Jinka
Drive to Jinka, admiring the Konso, Derase, Tsemay, Ari and Benna people. Make a stop to visit Konso people, which are famous for the terracing agriculture, way of life in the villages, traditions and more. ON Jinka in htl or camp (depend on availability)
12: Jinka – Mago National Park
Enter into the Mago National park, admiring different mammals and birds on the way; and proceed to visit the Mursi people and villages. Here for beauty women use to put round plates into their lips. Lunch box; afternoon back Jinka. Visit the Jinka museum and walk to visit the town. ON in htl or camp
13: Mago National Park – Turmi
Drive to Turmi, admiring Thursday very colorful KeyAfer village market of the Tsemay and Erbore people. Proceed then to visit the Hamer people. If lucky evening see one of their dances, the Evangadi. ON Turmi Evangadi lodge (bungalows or camping- pls pass us your choice asap to check availibility) www.evangadilodge.com
14: Turmi – Karo – Turmi
Drive to visit the Karo people, for their very interesting decoration and scarification all over their body; and very nice views over Omo river from Kortcho village. Back afternoon to the very interesting Hamer people and visit their villages. With luck we’ll try also to participate to their marriage ceremonies, with the bull jumping & more. ON Turmi
15: Arbaminch
Proceed to Arbaminch, admiring on the way the very colorful
Hamer, Karo and Dassanech people market at Dimeka village. Lunch box. Reach late afternoon Arbaminch. ON Swaynes htl.
16: Chencha – Chamo Lake – Arbaminch
Morning drive to Chencha, for the Dorze people, with their unique culture, houses, and traditions. Afternoon boat trip on lake Chamo, for the biggest crocodiles in Africa, lot of hippos, birds, and very nice sunset. ON Swaynes hotel
17: Netch Sar park – Langano
Morning visit the Netch Sar National park, sanctuary of endemic Swaynes Hartbeest, numerous zebras, and wonderful views over Chamo & Abaya lakes. Then proceed to Langano, to reach late afternoon to relax with a very nice sunset at the Wenney eco-lodge, secluded in a natural paradise at shore of lake Langano and near to Munessa forest. Possibility of trekking, bird-watching, horse-riding, boat excursion, cycling, and more. www.wenneyecolodge.com
18: Langano – Addis Ababa
Morning relax and make any of the above mentioned activities, at Langano. Lunch. Afternoon drive back to Addis. Evening traditional dinner with folkloristic dances. Evening or next day departure [we suggest extension to another tour in Ethiopia, or to the parks in Tanzania or the fantastic beaches in Zanzibar or other (see our programs)]
WT-CODE 716