Gondar, Trekk Semien Mountains, Axum, Lalibela

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

Arrive Addis Ababa, city tour.

2: Gondar

Fly to Gondar and visit the Castles and Churches.

3: Sank Aber

Drive to Sank Aber. O/N camp.

4: Trekk

Start Trekking from Sankaber-Geech.

5: Trekk

Geech, mount Imetgogo & Kedadit O/N Geech.

6: Trekk

From Geech to Chenek.

7: Trekk

From Chenek-Hambiquo.

8: Trekk

Climb Ras Dashen (4620 mts) back to Ambico.

9: Trekk

From Ambico -Arko Azeye.

10: Trekk

From ArkoAzeye-Lamo (Mekarebya).

11: Trekk

From Lamo-Hawaza.

12: Axum

From Hawaza- Arkay meet the vehicles and drive to Axum.

13: Axum

Tour of Axum.

14: Lalibela

Fly to Lalibella

15: Lalibela

Lalibela Rock hewn churches.

16: Departure

Departure.

Gondar, Trekk Semien Mountains and Lalibela

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 at Addis Ababa. PM City tour.

2: Gondar

Fly Gondar, tour for Castles and the Churches.

3: Semien Mountains National Park

Drive to the Semien Mountains National Park. Camping at Sankaber.

4: Trek

Trek from Sankaber to Geech. O/N camp.

5: Trek

From Geech to mount Imetgogo, Kedadit back to Geech.

6: Trek

Trek from Geech to Chenek.

7: Trek

From Chenek to Ambico.

8: Trek

From Ambico climb to the Ras Dashen and return to Ambico.

9: Trek

From Ambico to Arequaziye.

10: Trek

From Arequziye to Abergina.

11: Trek

From Abergina to Michibi.

12: Trek

From Michibi to Debark. End of trekking. Meet the vehicles at Debark and drive back to Gondar. O/N htl.

13: Lalibela

Fly to Lalibela

14: Lalibela

Lalibella Rock hewn churches.

15: Addis Ababa

Fly back to Addis Ababa.

16: Departure

Departure.

Historic Rolute with short Danakil and Tigray Churches

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: Ahmedale, Danakil

Enter into the Danakil depression, admiring the Afar people and villages. ON camp AhmedAle.

11: Dalol

A special date, for spectacular views, colors of nature, unique in the world: at Dalol, where Afar men extract salt. ON Ahmedale camp

12: Micael Imba-Mekele

Drive to Mekele. Visit Micael Imba church. ON htl

13: Yemerehenna Kristos – Lalibela

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

14: Lalibela

Full day for the rock-hewn churches.

15: 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)

16: 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

Bahir Dar, Gondar, Axum, Lalibela, Harar Surface and air

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

Arrive Addis Ababa.

2: Debre Libanos monastery

Drive to Debre Libanos monastery and Blue Nile Gorge. O/N Debre Markos.

3: Bahir Dar

Drive to Bahir Dar and PM city tour.

4: Blue Nile falls

Full day Bahir Dar. AM Blue Nile falls and PM boat trip on Tana Lake to see the 14th C monasteries.

5: Gondar

Drives to Gondar visit the castles and churches.

6: Axum

Drive to Axum, via Semien Mountains.

7: Axum

Full day City tour in Axum.

8: Yeha

Drive to Adigrat en rout visit Yeha temple and Debre Damo monastery.

9: Mekele

Drive to Mekele Visit the Tigray rock-hewn churches (2-3 unique churches) & Negash Mosque.

10: Lalibela

Full day drive to Lalibela O/N htl

11: Lalibela

Full day in Lalibela visiting the 11 rock hewn churches of Lalibela. O/N htl.

12: Kombolcha

Drive to Kombolcha on the way visit Hayk Estefanos monastery or Genete Mariam semi-monolithic churches.

13: Bati village

Drive Bati village (Afar & Oromo market, possibly), Afar region, and Denakil depression – Awash National Park. O/N local htl.

14: Awash Park

Full day excursion in Awash Park to see the wild life and birds O/N in local htl.

15: Harar

Drive Harar. O/N htl.

16: Harar

AM Babile, valley of marvels PM tour Harar. Evening hyena man. O/N Harar.

17: Dire Dawa

Drive to Dire Dawa town – fly Addis Ababa

18: Departure

Departure.

Historic Route and Tigray Rock 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 at Addis Ababa.

2: Kombolcha
Drive to Kombolcha & possibly Sembete market.

3: Woldya
Drive to Woldya & possibly Bati market (or Heyk Estifanos monastery).

4: Lalibela
Drive Lalibela and visit.

5: Lalibela
Lalibela in and out of town churches.

6: Mekele
Drive to Mekele via Sekota or Woldya.

7: Tigray churches
Visit Tigray churches as Abreha we Alsbeha, Dugum Sellasie, Wikro Cherkos. O/N Mekele.

8: Tigray churches
Churches as Michael Imba, Michael Debre Selam and Michael Barka. O/N Mekele.

9: Yeha – Axum
Drive via Debre Damo monastery & Yeha temple to Axum. O/N Axum.

10: Axum
Full day in Axum.

11: Gondar
Drive Gondar crossing the scenic Semien Mountains. O/N Gondar.

12: Gondar
Morning visit of Gondar; afternoon drive Bahirdar. O/N BJR.

13: Tana Lake
Full day boat on Tana Lake for 2-3 hrs as Urakidane Mehret, Mahal zeghie Gyorgis Asua Mariam and Narga Sellasie O/N BJR.

14: Blue Nile falls
Morning Blue Nile falls. Then drive to Debre Markos.

15: ebre Libanos monastery – Addis Ababa
Blue Nile gorge, Debre Libanos monastery – Addis Ababa.

16: Departure
Departure.

Historic North By Air

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 – BahirDar

Arrive Addis Ababa and city tour. Fly to Bahir Dar and Blue Nile falls.

2: Bahir Dar

Boat trip on lake Tana and city Tour.

3: Blue Nile falls

Drive to Blue Nile fall to visit the Portuguese bridge and the fall.

4: Gondar

Drive to Gondar visit castles and churches.

5: Lalibela

Fly to Lalibella and visit rock-hewn churches.

By car 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.
Arrive Addis Ababa.

2: Bahir Dar
Fly to Bahir Dar.

3: Blue Nile Falls
AM drive Blue Nile Falls and PM boat trip to the Island monasteries on Lake Tana.

4: Gondar
Drive to Gondar; visit castles and churches in the PM.

5: Axum
Drive to Axum passing through the Semien Mountains.

6: Axum
Full day at Axum.

7: Yeha
Drive to the Yeha temple; so proceed to the Debre Damo monastery, where men climb with ropes for about 16 mts. Women are not allowed.

8: Mekele
Drive to Mekele by admiring churches as Abreha-we-Atsbeha & Wikro Cherkos.

9: Lalibela
rive to Lalibella, admiring spectacular views via Sekota. O/N Lalibella.

10: Lalibela
Full day Rock-hewn churches of Lalibella.

11: Lalibela – Asheten Mariam
Morning excursion by mules to the Asheten Mariam human Afternoon drive to the Naktule’ab cave church and possibly participate to a coffee ceremony in a traditional house.

12: Addis Ababa
Fly back Addis Ababa. Afternoon free and visit the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Dinner with folklorist dance O/N htl.

13: Departure
Departure

Surface and flight

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
Arrive Addis Ababa transfer to hotel. Afternoon city tour of the capital. Including Entoto Mountains, with very nice view over the capital, and church of St Mary with adjacent museum of imperial objects. Then back to the city, for the National museum, and different historical monuments.

2: Bahir Dar
Fly to Bahir Dar, and transfer hotel for check-in. If time permits, go to visit Bezait palace, with very nice view over Tana Lake and Blue Nile. Afternoon boat trip of about 3-4 hours on lake Tana to admire the beautiful monasteries over the lake’s islands.

3: Blue Nile falls – Gondar
Morning drive to admire the Blue Nile falls. Lunch Bahir Dar. Afternoon drive to Gondar, city of castles and churches.

4: Gondar
Full day 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 Usual monastery and the Empress Mentewab second palace. View of the spectacular Semien Mountains from Kosoye can be added.

5: Axum
Drive to Axum, beginning of civilization in Ethiopia (history of more than 3,000 years), admiring spectacular views over the Semien Mountains.

6: Axum (Palace of Queen of Sheba)
Full day visit steles, different archeological sites, the bath and the palace of Queen of Sheba, tomb of Kings and churches, among which in the church of St. Mary of Zion (where legend says is deposited the Ark of Covenant, brought here from Israel by King Menelik I).

7: Lalibela
Fly to Lalibella, defined as the 8th wonder in the world, and afternoon visit the first group of the rock-hewn churches.

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 Naktule’ab. PM remaining churches in Lalibella.

9: Addis Ababa
Fly to Addis Ababa, by admiring wonderful view. Afternoon visit the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa, and souvenirs shops.

10: Departure
Departure

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