8-Day Historic Route of Ethiopia

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Addis Ababa City Tour

On arrival at Bole International Airport, you'll meet our representative and transfer to the hotel. After some rest, you will have an Addis Ababa city tour including a drive to Mount Entoto for a panoramic view of the city, the National Museum, which is the resting place of our ancestor LUCY, Trinity Cathedral, Merkato, which is the biggest market, some monuments, etc. Rest free time and relax.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Swiss Inn Nexus Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Lake Tana Monasteries and Blue Nile Falls

You'll have a morning flight to Bahir Dar, then transfer to the hotel. You will start a boat trip over Lake Tana to the Zeghie peninsula to visit the beautifully painted churches that are found hidden in the small forest: Azwa Mariam Monastery. Our second stop will be at the Betre Maryam Monastery located on the Zege Peninsula, not far from Bahir Dar. We chose to stop at Betre Maryam, which means “the House of Mary,” first since it is one of the oldest and most spectacular monasteries on the peninsula and is also a short walk from the boat landing. The monastery is a round wooden structure with mud and straw walls. There is an outer room, a middle circular room, and the central room for priests only. You'll go back to Bahir Dar for lunch. You'll drive 70KM round trip to visit Tississat, named after the waterfalls of the Blue Nile River (the lifeblood for the Sudanese and Egyptians). You'll walk about 30 minutes to arrive near the waterfalls on the Blue Nile, then back to the city.

Main Destination:

Bahir Dar (City)

Accommodation:

Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar

• Mid-range hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Drive to Gondar and Visit the Castles

You'll have a morning drive to Gondar. On the way, you'll visit the Guzara castle, admire the wonderful landscape, and view. You'll transfer to the hotel and have lunch. In the afternoon, you will be taken to visit the castle compound where you can see the medieval castle of King Fasilidas, King Yohannes, King Eyasu, King Dawit, King Bakafa, and Queen Mentewab. You will also visit the churches of Debre Birhan Selassie with awesome wall paintings and the bath of King Fasilidas.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Goha Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Simien Mountain National Park

In the morning, you'll drive to Simien Mountain to visit the marvelous scenery of the Semien Mountain, the endemic animals of Walya Ibex, Chilada Baboon, and birds. Five km from Gondar, you will see the old village of the black Jews. You'll spend the full day you are in the Semien mountain around Sankaber campsite, hiking to Jimbar waterfalls, trekking, and time with the Chilada Baboon. Late afternoon, you'll drive to Semien Lodge. Your overnight stay will be in Simien Lodge.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit September to December (Beautiful scenery)

High Season October to April (Lodges are busy)

Best Weather October to April

Wildlife in Simien Mountains NP

Gelada Monkey Abundant

Walia Ibex Occasional

Ethiopian Wolf Rare

Klipspringer Rare

Bushbuck Rare

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Golden Jackal Rare

Hyena Rare

Accommodation:

Simien Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located inside Simien Mountains NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Simien Mountain and Drive to Gondar

You'll have a morning drive to Chenek and walk around to see the scenic mountains and views in the surrounding area. Chenek lies at an altitude of 3800 m ASL in the valley at the bottom of the second-highest peak, called Buahit, 4000 m ASL. It is the ideal place to see one of the endemic mammals found in the park, the Walia Ibex. They adapt to living at high altitudes. This adaptation comes from habitat loss because in the past, they used to live at around 2500 m ASL. The males are big while the females are smaller. With such a colossal horn curved to the back, the males are easily spotted sleeping on the rock or standing near the giant lobelia. It is very common to see one of the high-altitude plants called giant Lobelia. When it grows fully, it reaches a height of 9 to 12 meters with a flowering part on the top. For this plant, it is quite a struggle to grow at such a high altitude where the weather is harsh. You'll have an afternoon drive back to Gondar.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Goha Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Flight to Lalibela

Today, you'll fly to Lalibela and visit some churches. Then, you will visit the 1st group churches which are included Bieta Medhanialem (Chapel of Holy Savior) which is the biggest and Bieta Mariam (Chapel of Mary): three aisled with mural paintings and a covered pillar containing inscriptions about the end of the world according to the gadl (act)of saintly king. Further, you'll visit Bieta Denagel (Chapel of the Virgins), Bieta Meskel (Chapel of the Cross), and finally, the “double – church” of Debre Sina and Bieta Golghotha (women are not allowed in the latter since it’s where the remains of King Lalibela are and also because it contains the tabernacle of the Holy Trinity). Your overnight stay will be at the hotel.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Panoramic View Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Visit Lalibela

In the morning, you'll visit the second group of churches. In the afternoon, you'll have time to enjoy the local market, meet the local people in the city, and own activities. Or optionally, we will take you to the nearby village and you will see the countryside and the village people's way of life, their daily activities like how they prepare “ Enjera”, bread, homemade drinks, and coffee ceremony in the countryside.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Panoramic View Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Visit the Rest Churches at Lalibela and Flight to Addis Ababa

In the morning, you'll visit the second group of rock-hewn churches that are namely: Bieta Gabriel and Raphael, Bieta Merquorios, Bieta Emmanuel with unprecedented Axumite style, and the Bieta Abaa Libanos (said to have been built by King Lalibela’s consort Meskal Kebra and visit the Bieta Ghiorghis, which is the cruciform chapel of St. George. You'll proceed to Lalibela airport for the flight back to Addis. Upon arrival, you'll visit the Ethnological Museum, which is located in the university. You'll have lunch and souvenir shopping. In the evening, you'll have a farewell dinner at one of the city’s best traditional restaurants to enjoy a variety of Ethiopian cuisines and watch traditional dancing. Then, you'll transfer to Bole International Airport for the night flight back home.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.