Northern and Eastern Ethiopia (16 days)

Included in the travel price

• 15 nights with breakfast in hotels and lodges as agreed at the time of booking
• Road transfer in Toyota minibus or 4x4 Landcruiser with experienced tour driver and fuel
• Professional tour guide (English, German, French, Italian and Spanish-speaking available)
• All local guides, rangers and scouts as required
• 1 domestic flight with Ethiopian Airlines (reduced tariff if your international flight is with Ethiopian Airlines)
• All entrance fees
• Boat trip on lake Tana
• Traditional dinner on the last evening before departure
• 1 liter of mineral water per day

Day 1: Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be met by a Welcome Ethiopia Tours representative and be taken to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options:

• Mount Entoto with the best views over the capital.
• Institute of Ethiopian Studies, where you can see a variety of artifacts from all the different regions reflecting the history and culture of the country
• National Museum which among other exhibits the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy.
• Trinity Cathedral: this is the burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots; the cathedral is the most magnificent of its kind in the country, ornamented with carvings, mosaics and other artistic works.
• The Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa,

Accommodation: Hotel, Addis Ababa

Day 2: Addis Ababa – Debre Libanos (120 km)

Morning:
After breakfast we cross the Entoto mountain, with the best views over the capital Addis Ababa. We continue towards North crossing the plains of Sululta until reaching Debre Libanos (approx. 3 hrs.). Debre Libanos hosts one of Ethiopia’s most important monasteries with an interesting adjacent museum exhibiting numerous antique treasures of the Ethiopian-orthodox church.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will take a pleasant walk to the so-called “Portuguese Bridge”, with great views over the canyon. Some historians are of the opinion that the bridge is from the 16^th century, when the Portuguese invaded Ethiopia for a short time, others think it was built by emperor Menelik’s uncle in the 19^th century. After crossing the bridge, we will have a view of a 60m high waterfall. Moreover, we should encounter here the endemic Gelada Baboons and a variety of bird species (particularly raptors).

Hotel: Guesthouse Hotel, Debre Libanos

Day 3: Debre Libanos – Bahir Dar (450 km)

Today we have a long drive from Debre Libanos to Bahir Dar (approx. 9 hrs.) through the peaceful farmlands of Fogera and Gojam with many beautiful sceneries. We will also cross the Blue Nile Gorge, an impressive canyon. We will reach Bahir Dar in the late afternoon, just in time to enjoy the sunset over lake Tana from the view point on Bezawit Hill, where a former palace of Haile Selassie may still be seen.

Accommodation: Hotel, Bahir Dar

Day 4: Full Day in Bahir Dar

Morning: Boat trip on Lake Tana
We undertake a boat trip on lake Tana to explore the nearby monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret on the Zege peninsula, known for its 14^th century, round, grass-roofed churches and their magnificent wall murals, the Azoa Mariam and Ura Kidane Mihret churches. Its architectural styles with mud plastered round wall and a conical thatched roof are typical examples of ancient Ethiopian orthodox churches. The monastery is found hidden in the mangroves forest of the Zege peninsula. Ura is especially well known for its fine frescoes, manuscripts, ecclesial objects, such as the crown of various emperors dating from the 14^th century, gold and silver processional crosses, silver drums and royal vestments. On our walk through the densely-forested area we hope to encounter monkeys and abundant bird life. On the lake, you will also have a chance to see hippos and more wildlife.
Afternoon: Visit to the Blue Nile Falls
After lunch we will visit to the magnificent Blue Nile Falls. The water plunges here for 45m (148ft). It is about 35km/1hour drive from town. In the later afternoon, we drive back to Bahir Dar and discover the market, where you may purchase handicrafts like jewellery, woven and embroidered garments, ox-horn cups or grass baskets (Agelgil), for which Bahir Dar is well known, or simply watch the indigenous culture of the local community.

Accommodation: Hotel, Bahir Dar

Day 5: Bahir Dar – Gondar (170 km)

Morning: 
After breakfast we drive to Gondar, a 17th century royal city of Ethiopia, affluent in the imperial structure of a Castle Compound and the spectacularly painted Debre Birhan Selassie Church.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we visit to the royal enclosures of Fassil Ghibe and all the castles of the Gonderian emperors as well as the famous Debre Berhan Selassie Church, which is completely covered in murals, with the angels’ faces on the wooden ceiling that have become a trademark of Ethiopian art and design.

Accommodation: Hotel, Gonder

Day 6: Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park (120 km)

Morning /Afternoon:
Early in the morning, we continue our journey to the Simien Mountains National Park auf. We will reach the Simien lodge, the highest lodge of Africa in the park around noon. After lunch, we start exploring the Simien Mountains National Park. Due to its unique landscape and its endemic fauna the park has been declared a UNESCO world nature heritage site in 1996. In the park, you may experience the very close interaction with the friendly Gelada Baboons. We drive up to Sankaber (3’220m) and admire the impressive scenery with its deep gorges and valleys and the highest waterfall in Ethiopia. Here a gentle walk would take us about 2 hours. We hope to encounter further endemic animals, such as the Walia Ibex and the Simien fox.

Accommodation: Hotel, Debark or Lodge, Simien Mountains National Park

Day 7: Simien Mountains – Gondar (120 km)

We explore and admire the impressive scenery with its deep gorges and valleys and the highest waterfall in Ethiopia. Here a gentle walk would take us about 2 hours. We hope to encounter further endemic animals, such as the Walia Ibex and the Simien fox. In the late afternoon, we drive back to Gondar, where we will spend the night.

Accommodation: Hotel, Gondar

Day 8: Gondar – Lalibela (350 km)

Today we continue our drive through ever changing landscapes to Lalibela (approx. 8 hours). We will reach Lalibela in the late afternoon. On the way we may opt we will make a stop and visit the completely self-sufficient community of Awra Amba, where men and women are socially equal and where there are no religions. Quite an interesting approach and very unique in Ethiopia. Judge it for yourself!

Accommodation: Hotel, Lalibela

Day 9: Full Day in Lalibela

We will visit the 11-renowned rock hewn churches of Lalibela, also known as the “8^th wonder of the world”. The Lalibela rock hewn churches are physically carved from the rock on which they stand. These towering edifices seem to be a superhuman creation in scale, workmanship and concept. Some are sculptured out of a solid volcanic rock; others are connected by long underground tunnel and mazes. Some are quarried enlargements of caves. The first group of six churches lies in rock cradles, one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mikeal, Bet Mariam, Bet Maskel, Bet Dangal and Bet Medhanealem. Bet Medhanealem, the largest rock hewn church in the world is built like a Greek temple.
After lunch, we will visit to the second group of churches located to the south of the river Jordan. The second group comprises Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches. Bet Giyorgis lies somewhat isolated to the southwestern part of the village on a slopping rock terrace and can only be reached through a tunnel. The group of four churches, south of the river Jordan river, comprises Bet Emanuel, Bet Mercurios, Bet Aba Libanos and Bet Gabriel and Rufeal. Bet Emanuel’s elaborated exterior has been much praised by international art historians.
Accommodation: Hotel, Lalibela

Day 10: Fascinating Surroundings of Lalibela

Morning:
If you wish we can spend some more time exploring the rock-hewn churches. Alternatively, we may take an excursion to the Asheton Maryam Monastery, spectacularly located on 3’200 m above sea level with panoramic views over the beautiful surrounding landscape.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will visit the fascinating cave church of Yirmahne Kristos dating from the 11th century. Driving through the local villages and scenic landscape will take us about 2 hours each way. We will back at the hotel before sunset.

Accommodation: Hotel, Lalibela

Day 11: Lalibela – Dessie (289 km)

Early in the morning, we will visit the interesting cave monastery of Ne’akuto Le’ab outside Lalibela, before we continue our journey to Dessie. Shortly before Dessie we may also stop at lake Hayk. Located in lush, green nature, Lake Hayk is not only known for its diverse bird life but also for its monastery on the Western shore (accessible for men only).

Accommodation: Hotel, Dessie

Day 12: Dessie – Bati Market – Doho Lodge (400 km)

Morning:
After breakfast, we will vist Bati, the second largest market in Ethiopia after the Mercato in Addis Ababa (Mondays only). The Bati market is frequented by several ethnic groups, turning it into an extremely colourful place. The market is huge and chaotic and covers an entire hillside. Bati is with no doubt among the most interesting markets in the whole of Africa.
Afternoon:
After Bati we soon leave the highlands as the road winds down towards East into the hot and seemingly endless savanna. The thermometer climbs here quickly above 30 degrees. In the late afternoon, we will reach Doho Lodge close to the Aledeghi National Park. The fantastic natural hot springs at the lodge are perfect to recover from the long drive today.

Hotel: Doho Lodge, Aledeghi National Park

Day 13:  Aledeghi National Park – Awash National Park (67 km)

Morning:
Early in the morning, we drive through the open grassland of the Aledeghi National Park, where we usually can observe a great variety of mammals and birds, amongst them gazelles, gerenuk, oryx, zebras, kudus, warthogs, ostriches. There are also lions, leopards and cheetahs. However, you need to be very lucky to see predators.
Afternoon:
We drive to the Awash National Park to reach the new Kuriftu Lodge spectacularly located next to the Awash Falls for lunch. We have the opportunity to spot a great variety of birds and mammals in the savanna as well as crocodiles living at the Awash River. We usually enjoy an impressive sunset over the Awash River gorge.
Accommodation: Kuriftu Lodge, Awash National Park

Day 14: Awash National Park – Harar (328 km)

After a morning game drive through the Awash national park, we depart for Harar (approx. 8 hrs), stopping on the way at Avadai, Ethiopia’s biggest Khat market, and Dire Dawa. In the evening, you will see the “Hyena Man” feeding the hyenas that gather nightly outside the town. With a little courage, you may of course also feed the hyenas yourself!

Accommodation: Hotel, Harar

Day 15: Full Day in Harar

Today we discover the 16th century walled city of Harar, the fourth most important city in the Islamic World and a UNESCO world heritage site. It feels as if time has stood still here. We will visit the home of Arthur Rimbaud, the renowned French poet who lived in Harar, the National and Harari museums; the house of Ras Mekonnen (the father of Haile Selassie); traditional Harari homes, the market and many more interesting places.

Accommodation: Hotel, Harar

Day 16: Harar – Dire Dawa – Addis Ababa (flight)

We take the flight at noon back to Addis Ababa. In Addis Ababa day room will be provided until 6 pm and will have some time for sightseeing and/or shopping.
In the evening, you are invited to a memorable farewell dinner in one of Addis Ababa’s traditional restaurants with cultural songs, dances and traditional food. After dinner, you will be transferred to Bole International Airport for departure or to your reserved hotel if you continue your stay in Ethiopia

End of Tour