Some time to get settled before you start your city tour. In the afternoon visit the national museum, that hosts Lucy’s skeleton, the fossilized bones of a 3,200,000-year old hominid found in Ethiopia in 1974. Afterwards, visit the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Mausoleum, memorial, museum and gardens that complete an astonishing architecture. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. [D]
Day 2: Addis Ababa, Bahar Dar
After breakfast at your hotel be ready for your 345-mile drive to Bahar Dar. Lunch on the way. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/L/D]
Day 3: Bahar Dar (Dek Island, Blue Nile Falls)
Boat trip on Lake Tana with a stop at Dek Island, where all the inhabitants are priests, to visit Narga Selassi Church and another monastery. Return to Bahar Dar for lunch in town. In the afternoon, take a 1-hour drive (about 16 miles) to Tissisat and visit the Blue Nile falls. Return to Bahar Dar for dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/L/D]
Day 4: Bahar Dar, Gondar
Leave for Gondar to tour the medieval town, a Unesco listed site,and visit the palace of Fasilidas, the Kuskwam complex discover its superb murals and visit the castle and baths of Fasilidas and the Débré Birhan Sélassié Church (the most famous in Ethiopia). Lunch in town and departure to Debark for dinner and overnight at the hotel. This evening, enjoy an “azmari bet” (Ethiopian cabaret). [B/L/D]
Day 5: Gondar, Debark (Simien)
Departure for the Simien to visit the sensational national park. Have lunch on the way during your visit. Like fancy, spectacular landscapes? Simien National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978, is the perfect place. Formed by significant erosion, this plateau in northern Ethiopia is made up of valleys, peaks and precipices that can reach 4,920-foot deep! There is the highest point in the country: The Ras Dashan at 14,900 feet. Keep your eyes wide open and try to spot the animals inhabiting this incredible space. Perhaps you will have the chance to see some particularly rare species such as the gelada baboon, the Simien fox, the Ethiopian wolf or Walia ibex, a kind of goat that is not found anywhere else! Return to Debark for dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/L/D]
Day 6: Debark, Aksum
Departure for Aksum stopping for lunch on the way. Located in the far north of Ethiopia, the city of Aksum was from the 4th century BC to the 10th century AD, the capital of the Axumite kingdom, one of the most important states of the Horn of Africa at this period in history. It is full of real archaeological treasures including the unmissable obelisk over 23 meters long, witness to the greatness of the Axumite kingdom at the time. Today, Aksum is considered the religious capital of Ethiopia. Not to be missed around Aksum are the Monastery of Saint Pantalewon, the palace of Dongar and the tombs of the kings Khaled and Gebremeskel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel [B/LD]
Day 7: Aksum
Visit stelae, museums, tombs and churches of Aksum. Oral tradition makes it the capital of the Queen of Sheba. Discover the park of the stelea and the complex of the Our Lady of Zion Cathedral (access prohibited to women) with "the Ark of the Covenant". Lunch in town. Finally, visit the ruins of the palace of the Queen of Sheba, the most important architectural vestige of the kingdom of Aksum. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/L/D]
Day 8: Aksum, Mekele
Departure for Mekele via Yeha, the 1st capital of Abyssinia, and visit the church dedicated to Abuna Aftse, one of the nine saints who introduced Christianity to the kingdom of Abyssinia. Stop in the village of Sinkata to visit the church of Arbuta Ensessa, hanging on the side of the mountain. Lunch on the way. Then, visit to the Abraha Atséba Church, also called Debra Negast “Monastery of Kings” and the most impressive church in the province of Tigray,.is located in the Gueralta region, 11 miles from the village of Wukro. Access to this semi-monolithic church, one of the largest in the region, is via a wide stone staircase. The interior has a basilica plan and houses sumptuous frescoes depicting scenes from the Gospel. Those who wish may hike and reach the church of Myriam Korkor, from where the panorama on the plain of Gheralta is superb. Dinner and overnight in Mekele. [B/L/D]
Day 9: Mekele, Lalibela
Today we have a long drive (around 7 hours) in the mountains, crossing the Agaw country. We’ll stop on the way to have lunch and reach Lalibela in time for dinner. Overnight at the hotel. B/L/D]
Lalibela is located at an altitude of more than 8,500 feet and, along with Axum, remains one of the two major holy cities for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church because of its amazing churches dug out of rock in the 12th century. The churches were built by King Lalibela, of the Zagoué dynasty, who seized power after the fall of the illustrious Aksumite empire. Churches were dug out of pink granite in forty years, according to legend, with the help of the Angels in order to become a new Jerusalem in Africa. They resisted and survived the vagaries of the turbulent history of Abyssinia. Today they are almost intact. The churches are divided in two and are located on either side of the river called Jordan (or Yordanos in Amharic). Most of the churches are connected to each other by several narrow passages that contribute to the special atmosphere of the site. In these passages, it is not uncommon to spot priests and monks reading the Bible or praying. Each church has its own architectural style and they are very different. Most of them have very beautiful murals and statues.
Day 10: Lalibela
Today will be dedicated to the north section of “Black Jerusalem” as Lalibela is sometimes known. This group, North of the “Jordan” river, includes Bet Medhani Alem (“the house of the Savior of the world”), Bet Mariam (“the house of Mary”), Bet Maskal (“the house of the Cross”). A brief stop to have lunch in town. In the afternoon continue with Bet Denagel (“the house of the virgins ") and Bet Golgotha Mikael (" the house of Golgotha-Mikael "). With the rest of the day free. to relax. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/L/D]
Day 11: Lalibela
After breakfast we head to the South Group that includes Bet Amanuel ("Emmanuel's house"), Bet Qeddus Mercoreos ("the house of Saint Mercorius"), Bet Abba Libanos ("the house of Father Libanos"), Bet Gabriel Rafael (" the house of Gabriel-Raphaël "). Stop for lunch in town. In the aftrenoon visit Bete Lehem (" the house of the holy Pain ") and the eleventh church, Bet Ghiorgis ("the house of Saint George") that is separated from the others although connected by the system of trenches. This is the most majestic. carved into the shape of a Greek Orthodox cross. And, undoubtedly, the most photographed and the best known of all the churches. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. [B/L/D]
Day 12: Lalibela, Dessie
Departure for Dessie with a stop en route for lunch. In Hayk, visit the Estifanos Monastery, located on a serene peninsula that welcomes a community of around thirty monks and as many nuns, in separate spaces. In 1240 the Estifanos Monastery was founded, under the auspices of Saint Iyasus Mo'a, who was to make it one of the most renowned centers for teaching monastic doctrine in the country. He actively participated in the restoration of the Solomon dynasty towards the end of the 13th century. It was from here that Takla Haymanot, one of the most revered saints of the Orthodox liturgy, left to found the monastery of Dabra Libanos, after years of study under the direction of his spiritual father. Not far from the church, a small hut, serving as a museum, shelters precious manuscripts, the sacrificial stone which would have received the pagan offerings, as well as heavy cross-shaped stones carried by the monks as a sign of selflessness during their long prayers. Continue to Dessie for dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/L/D]
Day 13: Dessie (Bati)
After early breakfast at the hotel we drive to Bati to visit the local market that happens every Monday. The event is divided in two parts: one location for animals and another for general products. On the animal side, it is around 8:30 am that the excitement begins! Camels, oxen, sheep, donkeys arrive on both sides on the market located in a large bowl, surrounded by mountains. The other large market is where it busy with the sellers of chickens (mainly), salt, spices, eggs, oranges, tomatoes, incense ... which mix with shoes, plastic basins or wood. Enjoy the dynamic, the colors and the sounds but don’t even look for any touristic object because you’ll find none. But your camera will click all the time as you’ll find Afar men and women hairdos phenomenal and the colors will fill your camera screen without the need to look too far. After lunch a Bati or Kombolcha head back to Dessie. Rest of the day free. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. [B/L/D]
Note: To take advantage of the main market you must schedule your trip to be a Monday I Dessie.
Day 14: Dessie, Addis Ababa
Departure for Addis Ababa stopping for lunch on the way on the way. Some time to freshen-up before a farewell dinner at a traditional restaurant and discover the typical Ethiopian songs and dances. [B/L/D]
Day 15: Addis Ababa, USA
Breakfast at the hotel and free time to continue exploring Addis Ababa on your own depending on your flight schedule. At the appointed time you’ll be picked-up at your hotel and transferred to the airport to board your flight back to the USA. [B]
[B] = Breakfast| [D] = Dinner | [B/L/D] = Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
