Historic Ethiopia Tour
Tour Code: B-1012 Tour Program to Northern Ethiopia
Attractions: History, Religion, & Scenery
Duration: 7 Days & 6 Nights
Transportation: Surface drive, Flights & Boat ride
Day 1: Arrival in Addis Ababa and City Tour
Meet and greet you Addis Ethiopia Tours representative at the parking lot of the Airport and transfer you to the hotel.
After 2 hour we will meet again for a city tour. Start the day looking down on Addis Ababa from Entoto Mountain, here you will visit the Entoto Maryam church and museum. After lunch continue with a visit to the National Museum, where Ethiopia’s oldest resident, Lucy, is housed. Close to the National Museum is the Selassie (Trinity) church, one of the most important churches of Addis Ababa Finish the day with visiting Merkato, the local marketplace which is said to be Africa’s largest open-air market, overnight Jupiter International Hotel.
Day 2: Fly to Bahir dar and Visit Lake Tana Island Monasteries & Blue Nile Falls
Early in the morning transfer to Bole Airport to board a one hour flight to Bahir dar. Upon arrival, you will be met by our tour guides, drive to a hotel where you will check and rest for few minutes. Your first visit will be to Lake Tana on a boat ride where you will visit to the medieval period island monasteries (beautiful mural paintings, religious books & sacred). Visit the Zegien peninsula, Ura Kidan Mehiret, and Azuwa Mariam.
After lunch, you will drive (some 30 Km) and visit to the Blue Nile Falls. Finish the day with the sunset over the lake, overnight in Bahir Dar hotel or Lodge.
Day 3: Drive to Gondar and Visit the Fassiladas Castles
You will be driven to Gondar (185 Km) right after breakfast. The four-hour drive will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture. Then you will check into a hotel and after a brief break, you will have lunch.
Then, you will visit to the Royal Enclosure with six castles and several other buildings & the Bath of Emperor Fasiledes (the bath is filled with water for the important Timkat (epiphany) ceremony once a year. You will continue your visit to Debre Birhan Selassie Church (Trinity at the Mount of Light).
Overnight in Gondar Taye Belay hotel.
Day 4: Flight to Axum & City Tour in Axum
Early morning, a short flight will take you to Axum where you will check into a hotel. After a short break, you will visit to the Steale of Axum, the archeological museum, the Inscription of Ezana, King Kaleb’s tomb, Queen Sheba’s Palace, , , Ruins of Ancient Palaces (built until 4th Century A.D.), finally visit the Famous St. Mary of Zion Church where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept, all day with lunch break in between.
overnight in Axum Yared Zema hotel.
Day 5: Flight to Lalibela and Visit The Rock Hewn Churches
After a 30 minute flight arrive in Lalibela (Defined as the eighth wonder of the world). Upon arrival, you will be met by our tour guides, drive to a hotel where you will check and rest for few minutes. Your first visit will be to the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha (entry not permitted for women)
overnight at Hotel Mountain view or Panoramic View Hotel.
Day 6: One more day to explore the Lalibela Rock-hewn Churches
Right after breakfast, an early morning drive will take you to historical churche of Yimrehanne Kristos. IT is tThe most popular of the churches outside of Lalibela, after the visit, return to Lalibela for lunch and, in the afternoon, visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, Overnight at Hotel Mountain view or Panoramic View Hotel.
Day 7: Flight back to Addis Ababa and departure
After enjoying a hearty breakfast your driver fetched you to airport for your return flight to Addis Ababa. You will arrive in Addis Ababa midday/early afternoon where you will do some shopping for souvenirs. Finally you will be taken to a farewell dinner to the traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances of different regions of Ethiopia, then transfers out to the Airport for your international departure.