Duration – 15 Days

Mode of transportation: - Surface and Flight

Arrival Bole International Airport

Our representatives will meet all clients arriving at the airport regardless of arrival time.  For morning flight arrivals you may begin your tour after checking into your hotel.  For afternoon or evening arrivals, you may begin your tour the following day.

Day-01 Addis Ababa

Visit the city of Addis, a great introduction to Ethiopian culture and history. Visit the Mercato, one of Africa's largest outdoor markets, and Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. National museum and Ethnographic museum

Day 02 Addis Abab – Bahar Dar

Fly to Bahar Dar on Ethiopian Airlines. Visit the marketplace in Bahar Dar. Take a boat tour on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, and tour ancient island monasteries.

Day -03 Bahar Dar - Gondar

Drive through the countryside to Gondar. Tour the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring five castles built by a succession of Ethiopian Kings beginning in the early 17th century.  Having survived several wars, including air raids during World War 2, the castles are a testament to the resilience of this once mighty African Empire. Visit the church of Debre Birhan Selassie, famous for its religious art and especially its iconic ceiling depicting angels. Overnight Hotel

Day - 04 Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park

Drive to Sankabar the gateway to the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy some light hiking in the afternoon in the park. Overnight Lodge  

Day - 05 Simien Mountains - Axum

Take a scenic drive to Axum, capital of the ancient Axumite Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Frequent stops at view points along the way, arrive in Axum late afternoon.
 Overnight Hotel

Day - 06 Axum

Tour the ancient stelae fields, standing for 2000 years. Visit the new and impressive Archeological Museum. Visit other tombs and archeological sites as time permits.
Overnight Hotel  

Day-07 Axum-Hawzein

Drive to the Hawzein passing the Adwa battlefield, site of Emperor Menelik II's 1895 victory over the invading Italians. Visit the 2,500 year old ruins of Yeha, an ancient moon temple.  Continue past Adigrat and visit Aba Gerima and Petros Paulos, two of the Tigray regions oldest and finest rock churches.
On this day, we will pass the 6th century monastery of Debre Damos which is perched atop a remote plateau.   The monastery is only accessible using a rope and the monks will help pull visitors up the 20 - 25 meter cliff.  However, we only recommend this for physically fit individuals.  Women are not allowed on the grounds of the monastery, and therefore, it is not part of our regular tour itinerary.  However, we can stop here for those on a custom or private tour. Overnight Lodge

Day-08 Hawzein-Mekele

Visit more of Tigray's remote and ancient rock-hewn churches:  Abraha Atsbeha, dating from the 10th century; the beautiful Wukro Chirkos; and Medhane Alem Kesho.  Drive to Mekele.
Overnight Hotel  

Day-09 Mekele-Ahmedela

Meet support vehicles and drive to Ahmedela via Berhaile. Make camp, and see camel caravans passing against a backdrop of dramatic sunsets. Overnight Camping.

Day -10   Excursions to Lake Asale and Dalol

Visit Lake Asale and watch the salt workers as they cut bricks of salt from the lake bed. The bricks are then sold on the market and loaded on camel caravans for transport to the highlands. Proceed to Dalol and view the dramatic and colorful geological formations caused by the hot springs rich in sulfur, potash, and salt. Overnight Camping  

Day -11   Trek to Erta All

Drive to Dodom. Trek 15 kilometers to the Erta Alle volcano lake, 613 meters above sea level. Arrive at Erta Alle around midnight and walk to see the spectacular volcanic eruption. Set up camp and rest. Overnight Camping  

Day - 12 Returns to Mekele

Return trek to Dodom. Drive to Mekele. Overnight Hotel  

Day - 13   Mekele – Lalibela

Drive on a scenic road to Lalibela. Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the sunset from the terrace. Overnight Hotel  

Day - 14   Lalibela

Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These groups of eleven monolithic and semi-monolithic structures were carved directly into the stone of the mountainside at least 800 years ago. This complex boasts the largest monolithic church in the world, a maze of passageways and tunnels, intricately carved reliefs, and fabulous examples of icon paintings. Overnight Hotel  

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