10 Days in Ethiopia

Exploring the Historic Route of the North

DAY1: Arrival in Addis Ababa:- arrival in Addis Ababa. Meeting with the Red Jackal representative and transfer to the hotel. After a short break, the visit to Addis Ababa, the third highest capital in the world, begins. The visit includes the Entoto Hills, the place from which King Menelik, founder of Addis Ababa, descended to the plains. In Entoto, from where there is a wonderful panoramic view of the city, there are two churches built by Menelik, who was crowned in one of them. Near this site is the old palace of Menelik, still intact and open to visitors. In its interior it is possible to observe some real clothes, artifacts of war, furniture and old books. The visit to the city also includes the National Museum, one of the most important museums in sub-Saharan Africa. Here is the skeleton of Selam, found in December 2000 in Dikika, Afar region, in northern Ethiopia. Like Lucy, Selam is an Australopithecus Aphaeresis. However, there is an important difference between the two, since Selam lived more than 150,000 years before Lucy! Finally, in the afternoon a visit to the Mercato, the largest open market in East Africa, is scheduled. In it it is possible to find items as diverse as spices and jewelry. There is nothing that can not be found in this vibrant and immense market. Accommodation at the chosen hotel.

DAY 2: Addis Ababa / Bahir Dar (flight):- after breakfast, transfer to the airport to take a flight to Bahir Dar, one of the most attractive cities in Ethiopia. Bahir Dar, with its wide avenues lined by rows of palm trees, is located on the southern shore of Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia. Bahir Dar is also the best base to visit some of the monasteries built on the islands of the interior of Lake Tana, between the 12th and 18th centuries, as well as the sources of the Blue Nile River. After locating in the hotel, departure towards the Tissisat Falls of the Blue Nile, about 30 kilometers from the city. A 20 minute walk takes us to these waterfalls, with a fall of 45 meters high, which shows its most spectacular aspect during and just after the rainy season (from June to January). Here, the Blue Nile, which contributes 85% of the flow of the Nile River, begins its long journey to the Mediterranean. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit to the city of Bahir Dar. The tour includes the town itself, as well as the village of Woito, 2 km to the west, known for its production of Tankwa boats made of reeds. Then we continue with the visit to the old palace of Emperor Haile Selassie in Bezawit, with excellent views of the city, the exact place where the Blue Nile starts from the lake, and some of the local markets. Dinner and accommodation at the chosen hotel.

DAY 3: Bahir Dar / Gorgora / Gondar (8 hours, including picnic and visits):- the day begins with a boat ride on Lake Tana, where the visit to some of the ancient monasteries that were built around Lake Tana and many of the islands inside is scheduled, adding up to 38 in total. The list includes a visit to the Zeghe Peninsula, where the churches of Ura Kidane Mehret and Mariam Azewa will be visited, which were built at the end of the 13th and 14th centuries, respectively, and whose walls are covered with incredible 16th century murals. We also visit the church of Dek Stefanos, with its valuable collection of icons, as well as the remains of several medieval emperors, the church of Kibran Gabriel (closed to women) and, finally, the church of Narga Selassie. Picnic lunch in the boat, then continue on the way to the town of Gorgora, where you can visit the Debreseina Mariam church. In Gorgora the cars are collected and continue for 60 km to the city of Gondar. Dinner and accommodation at the chosen hotel.

DAY 4: Gondar:- full day of visits in Gondar. The Emperor Fasiladas founded Gondar as its imperial seat in 1636 and, until the nineteenth century, the city was the capital and main commercial center of the region. The visit includes the Royal Enclosure, or Fasil Gibbi, and the six castles built by the various emperors who ruled Gondar. 2 km from the city center are the baths of King Fasilidas where, during the Timkat (the Epiphany in Ethiopia), a nearby river is diverted to fill an area the size of a small pool. Faithful and pilgrims immerse themselves in the cold water in a recreation of the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River. Next, visit the church of Debre Berhane Selassie, the only church that was spared the Mahdist invasion of the 1880s. According to legend, a swarm of bees drove away the invaders who intended to plunder the church. The walls and ceiling of this church are completely covered with murals - the faces of the angels in the ceiling have become a common motif in the design of Ethiopia. Lunch at the hotel. Finally, visit the ruined palace of Queen Mentowab, and the church of Qusquam Mariam, located on a hill on the outskirts of the village. Dinner and accommodation at the chosen hotel.

DAY 5: Gondar / P.N. Mountains of Simien (155 km, 3-4 hours):- breakfast and transfer to P.N. Mountains of Simien, which will take between 3 and 4 hours of car, depending on the stops. The Simien Mountains are located on the northern tip of the Ethiopian Highlands, constituting one of the most spectacular mountain landscapes in the world. Picnic type lunch In the afternoon, excursion in the sector of Sankaber to explore the park, which has been added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. With a total area of ​​190 km², the park contains 57 species of trees and varieties of plants herbaceous, 22 large mammals, 13 small mammals and about 180 species of birds. Among all the existing species in the park, the Walia goat, the Ethiopian wolf, and the Gelada baboon are endemic. Dinner and accommodation at Simien Lodge, the highest hotel in Africa, at an altitude of 3260 meters above sea level.

DAY 6: P.N. Mountains of Simien / Axum (285 km, 7- 8 hours):- departure very early in the morning in the direction of Axum, a day in which you can enjoy the best landscapes of the north of the country. Crossing the canyon of the Tekeze River, without ever losing sight of the Simiem Mountains. Picnic during the trip and continuation to Axum. Dinner and accommodation at the chosen hotel.

DAY 7: Axum:- breakfast and visit to the city of Axum. Between 200 BC and 700 AD, Axum was the capital of an empire that stretched, through the Red Sea, to the Arabian Peninsula, traded with India and China, had its own alphabet and built great engineering works, including dams . It has been defined by historians as the fourth largest and most powerful empire of the fourth century. Axum is known for its extraordinary granite monoliths and for the church Santa María de Sión, which is believed to hold the remains of the original Ark of the Covenant. The visit to the city includes the church of Santa Maria, the monoliths of Axum, the tombs of the Kaleb emperors and their son by Gebre-Meskel and the Mai Shum, the name by which the baths of the Queen of Sheba are known. Lunch, dinner and accommodation at the chosen hotel.

DAY 8: Axum / Lalibela (flight):- breakfast and transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Lalibela. Between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century, King Lalibela, of the Zaghwe dynasty, ordered the construction of a series of churches carved into the rock, calling the place "New Jerusalem". Today, Lalibela is deservedly recognized as one of the greatest wonders in the world. In the village, baptized in memory of the emperor, there are 11 churches, while other churches carved in rock are in the vicinity. All are in use today. After the registration in the hotel, the visit to the first group of churches begins; Beth Golgotha, Bet Mikael, Beth Mariam, Bet Meskel, Bet Denagel and Bet Medhane Alem. The latter, the largest, resembles a Greek temple. On one corner there are three empty tombs, symbolically excavated for the biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit to Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant church of all the churches of Lalibela, located on a hillside on a rock terrace on the southwest side of the village, and which can only be accessed by a tunnel. The rest of the day free to explore the city on your own. Dinner and accommodation at the chosen hotel.

DAY 9: Lalibela:- early morning visit to the rock church of Yemrehene Christos, (40 km, 1½ car), built by the king of the same name before the reign of King Lalibela. The church is built inside a cave, with alternating levels of wood and stone. Return to Lalibela and lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the second group of churches in Lalibela, located south of the Jordan River. Which includes the churches of Bete Emanuel, Bete Mercurios, Bete Abba Libanos and Bet Gabriel-Rufa'e. Dinner and accommodation at the chosen hotel.

DAY 10: Lalibela / Addis Ababa (flight) / Return:- after breakfast, I fly back to Addis. Arrival and transfer to the hotel chosen, where you can make use of room day (until 18:00 hours). In the evening, farewell dinner in one of the best traditional restaurants in the city, before the transfer to the airport to catch a flight back home.

T.L.C: Toyota Land Cruiser

Supplement:

• The flight fare for the sector Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar – Surface – Axum – Lalibela – Addis Ababa for clients using ET for their International Flight would be 192 USD per person.

• The flight fare for the sector Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar – Surface – Axum – Lalibela – Addis Ababa for clients NOT using ET for their International Flight would be 405 USD per person.

Please note that the airfare is going to change if Ethiopian airlines going to have a change in the fair)

The itinerary can include the following 

• 1 night in Addis Ababa on a B & B basis

• 1 night in Bahir Dar

• 2 nights in Gondar

• 1 night in Semien

• 2 nights in Axum

• 2 nights in Lalibela

• Day use of room in Addis Ababa (until 6:00 p.m.)

• Accompanying guide in English throughout the program, including flights.

• Full board out of Addis Ababa

• All entries

• Local guides

• Park in Semien

• Private vehicles for 10 days

• Use of a local vehicle in Lalibela

• Boat crossing from Bahir Dar to Gorgora, Lake Tana

• Transfers of entry and exit in Addis Ababa

• Mineral water

• City tour in Addis Ababa

• Farewell dinner

• All applicable taxes

Cannot include the following 

• International flights

• Visa (USD 80 per person, obtainable at the arrival airport)

• Domestic flights (delivered as supplements)

• Meals in Addis Ababa, except farewell dinner

• Alcoholic beverages or drinks outside meals (tea, coffee, soft drinks)

• Payment for the use of video and photographic cameras

• Porters

• Tips

• Any personal expense

• Any item not included in the list of included in the price

Quoted hotels:

City	Superior Hotels*
Addis Abeba	Hotel Sheraton
Bahir Dar	Resort Kuriftu
Gonder	Mayleko Lodge
Simien	Lodge Semien
Axum	Hotel Sabean
Lalibela	Lodge Mezena

* need to check if these are operating at present