Historic Route to Tigray Churches

This voyage leads to the rich historic sites; passes through scenic highlands and spectacular panoramas. The monasteries on lake Tana with the Blue Nile Falls, the 13th Century monolithic Rock-Hewn churches of King Lalibella, the stele & tombs of the Axumite Kings, the rock churches found in Tigray region, other churches dating back to the 4th -15th Centuries and 7th C mosque of Negashi in Tigray, shrines in Harar, Dire Dawa, Sof Omar, Sheik Hussein and others are parts of the package.

1: Addis Ababa
Arrival Addis Ababa. Meet the guide at the airport. Transfer hotel. Rest.
Afternoon tour of Addis. ON htl

2: Bahir Dar – Tississat
Fly to Bahirdar. Morning Blue Nile falls. Afternoon tour of Bahirdar, the
papyrus boats productions, and view over lake Tana & the Nile form Bezait
palace.

3: Lake Tana
Boat on lake Tana to admire monasteries over its islands, as Ura kidane Mehret, Mahal Zegye Gyorgis & Narga Selassie. Reach afternoon Gorgora, on the opposite side of the lake; meet your vehicle/s and drive Gondar, crossing Amhara people villages.

4: Gondar
Tour of Gondar castles and churches: the castle compound, Fasiladas bath, Debre Birhan Selassie (Light of Trinity) with wonderful murals, Mentewab palace, Qusquam church, Falashia village, and more.

5: Semien Mountains
Drive to the Semien mountains, for trekking for spectacular views; and also chance to spot the endemic Semien red fox and Walia Ibex, the Lammergeyer, many birds.

6: Semien Mountains
Again viewing these spectacular mountains, proceed to Axum

7: Axum
Tour of Axum. Visit the steles, churches among which St Mary of Tsion where legend says is deposited the Ark of Covenant, and more

8: Tigray Churches
Visit Yeha pre-Christian temple, DebreDamo monastery and Wikro Cherkos church. ON Gheralta lodge or hotel in Mekele

9: Tigray Churches
Full day for Tigray churches: we suggest Abreha We Atsbeha, Degum Selassie & Wikro Cherkos. ON Gheralta lodge (orAxum htl Mekele)

10: Lalibela
Crossing spectacular views, we proceed to Lalibela. On the way stop to the first church of Lalibela: Yemerehenna Kristos. Very nice.

11: Lalibela
Full day in Lalibela visiting the rock hewn churches of Lalibela

12: Asheten Mariam & Naktuleab
Morning by mules to the Asheten Mariam church. Aftenoon the cave church of Naktuleab.

13: Lake Hayk
Crossing lake Ashandi, we proceed to lake Hayk. Visit Debre Estifanos monastery, over an island of the lake. We proceed then to Kombolcha. ON hotel (Sunny side or Hikma or Tecle)

14: Addis Ababa
Crossing fantastic views, we reach for the afternoon Addis Ababa. If Sunday, on the way visit Afar & Oromo people market at Senbete village. Ones in Addis, short visit of the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Dinner in traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Then transfer airport for departure