Accommodation: Standard Hotels and Lodges
Tour Starts: Addis Ababa
Tour Ends: Addis Ababa
Highlights
Visiting the Lake Tanna Monasteries,
Visiting the city of Gondar
Semien mountains exploring,
Discovering the history of Axum,
Visiting the Tigray churches,
Visiting Lalibela- Rock-Hewn Churches
Touching Kombolicha and Awash National park
Touring through the walled city of Harar.
Trip Summary
Take your Historical and Cultural adventurous spirit Holiday to a place where you will have the best combination of what the Northern Historic route and the Eastern part of Ethiopia have to offer. Detail guided tour of each major historic site in the north along with sighting visits of Semien and Awash National Parks are found on this trip to make combine historic sites Nature lovers, and visitors. In addition, the lovely city of Harar known as a World Heritage site with its unique cultural value in the southeastern part of the country is also part of this trip. Of course, you will not miss also some of the Tigray’s fascinating Rock churches in this package
Itineraries
DAY 1: ADDIS ABABA ARRIVAL AND CITY TOUR
On arrival in Addis Ababa, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. Addis was founded in 1886 by Menelik II and is situated at an elevation of around 2438m which makes it the third-highest capital city in the world. Addis Ababa enjoys an excellent climate all year round, with an average temperature of 25°C. we will start our site-seeing at the National Museum which houses some of the country’s historic treasures. The collection of fossils and bones of early hominids discovered in Ethiopia includes the 3.5 million-year-old remains of ‘Lucy’, the oldest hominid ever found. Proceed to visit the two major highlights of the city, the Ethnographic Museum and the church of the Holy Trinity, Ethiopia’s main cathedral and home to the remains of the last emperor, Haile Selassie.
DAY 2: DRIVE TO BAHIR DAR
After breakfast drive to Bahir Dar via Debre Markos a total of 565 km and on the way after a 103 km drive, visit the 13th C monastery of Debre Libanos which was founded by Tekle Haymanot. Further down, you will enjoy the fabulous Blue Nile Gorge, which spans altitudes of around 2,500 to 1,200 m, and is comparable in scale to America’s Grand Canyon. After lunch in Debre Markos, keep driving through the beautiful scenery and Amhara people’s villages. In the late afternoon arrive in the Bahir Dar and check in to the Hotel.
DAY 3: BAHIR DAR – VISITING THE BLUE NILE AND LAKE TANNA
Full-day visit to Bahar Dar, capital of the Amhara region situated on the shores of Lake Tana, the largest lake in the country. Bahir Dar is one of the best well-planned cities in Ethiopia. This morning we take a boat trip on the lake to learn the secrets held by the monasteries and churches on the islands. We will visit Ura Kidane Mihret church on the Zeghie peninsula. Under the thatched roof are some distinctive colorful paintings of religious scenes, and an impressive display of illuminated bibles written in Ge’ez, the religious language from which Amharic is derived. In the afternoon we will visit Tississat Falls, Amharic for ‘water that smokes’ located about 32km south of Bahar Dar. Due to a nearby hydro-electrical power scheme, the waterfalls can no longer be guaranteed to be in full force.
DAY 4: DRIVE TO Gondar (UNESCO – WORLD HERITAGE SITE)
This morning we drive for the 3-31/2 hour (185km) north to Gondar, the former capital of Ethiopia. Gondar has now become one of Ethiopia’s largest and most impressive cities, with its walled Royal Enclosure. Gondar’s most famous monuments are its exceptionally well-preserved 17th-century castles. The largest and best is that of King Fasilidas. It is a stone-built construction with round turrets and wooden balconies. The king also built a remarkable bath a mile or so outside of town known as the ‘Pavilion of Delight’. The Bathhouse of Fasil at which thousands of Ethiopians celebrate the Timkat festival every January. This whole complex of buildings is unique in Ethiopia and unlike anything found elsewhere in Africa. This afternoon we’ll also make a visit to the Debre Birhan Selassie church (Light of Trinity) with its sensational angelic ceiling and mural.
DAY 5: SIMIEN MOUNTAINS (UNESCO – WORLD HERITAGE SITE)
After breakfast, we drive to Debark on the edge of the Simien Mountains. In the late morning, we drive up into the mountains for some spectacular views of this unique ecosystem. We take an optional 1.5hr walk, mostly flat or downhill, and hope to see the endemic Gelada baboons, Klipspringers, Lammergeyer vultures, and bushbuck. The scenery is truly breathtaking and there will be time for a walk around the Sankaber region of the National Park. The maximum altitude we reach is 3250m.
DAY 6: DRIVE TO LALIBELA
We have a full day’s drive through the stunning countryside that takes us due south, between the mountains to the west and the stark landscape of the Danakil Depression to the east to arrive at the remarkable archaeological site of Lalibela.
DAY 7: VISITING LALIBELA (UNESCO – WORLD HERITAGE SITE)
After our breakfast, we will start visiting the first cluster of Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches. Lalibela, the ‘New Jerusalem’, is thought to have been constructed some 800 years ago by King Lalibela. Although churches carved in rock are found in other parts of the world, those found in Ethiopia are particularly interesting. Generally, they were excavated on all sides of a rectangle, leaving a large block of granite isolated in the center. This rock was then shaped and formed both inside and out and the carvings show extremely skillful workmanship they have been classified as one of the wonders of the world. Each church has a unique architectural style and all are superbly carved. There are 11 rock-cut churches of which the most impressive is Bet Giorgis. It is carved in the form of a Greek cross and It is exceptionally well preserved.
DAY 8: EXPLORE LALIBELA
Today we will visit the church of Yimrhane Kristos. This exquisite church, a masterpiece of Axumite wood and stone construction is renowned for its interior decoration, its beautiful wooden coffer ceiling inlaid with hexagons and medallions with both figurative and geometric motifs. Drive back to Lalibela. In the afternoon, we will visit the remaining rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, including Bete Gabriel and Rafael, Merkorous, Emanuel, and Abba Libanos. Bete Emanuel is the best in this group and is exceptionally carved with unique Axumite building features, such as the indentations on the walls, symbols of the multi-story building taken from the stelae of Axum, monkey heads, and false windows.
DAY 9: DRIVE TO KOMBOLICHA
After breakfast drive to Kombolicha and on the way we will have a stop to visit the famous Lake Hayik and the ancient church of Hayik Estifanos and keep driving to Kombolicha.
DAY 10: DRIVE TO AWASH NATIONAL PARK
Today we will drive to the Awash National Park through the small town of Mile. In the afternoon arrive at the park The scenic Awash National Park is located in the dry acacia savanna of the Rift Valley. The skyline of the park is dominated by the jagged edges of Mount Fantelle, a dormant volcano whose crater towers above the surrounding bush. This afternoon we will have an opportunity to visit its splendid waterfall spilling into a 150m gorge. We may also have the opportunity to spot some of the park’s wildlife. The most visible large mammals are the Beisa Oryx, Soemmering’s gazelle, and the Slat’s dik-dik.
DAY 11: DRIVE TO HARAR
Today we drive to Harar on the way we will visit the town of Aweday famous as the site of the country’s largest chat market and farming place (a stimulating plant). Harar is a walled city. The city walls are pierced by 5 gates topped by 25 towers. The 16th-century mosque with its slender minaret and the narrow streets lined with small shops all give the impression of having wandered into a city from the Arabian nights. In the evening, we will go to one of the gates of the Harar wall to see the Hyena Man feeding his hyena friends.
DAY 12: EXPLORING HARAR ON FOOT AND DRIVING TO DIRE DAWA
Harar is the cradle of Islam in Ethiopia and by the Middle Ages, Harar had become known as the fourth most sacred city in the Islamic world. The City Wall, the Gates, and the narrow streets lined with traditional Harari Gegar houses, the colorful Muslim and Christian markets (known for basketry). After lunch visits the Harari museum, and Rimbaud House, a fine traditional house dating from the period when the French poet Rimbaud lived in Harer. Finally, visit the traditional Hararie house within the famous walled city. in the late afternoon drive back to Dire Dawa for an overnight stay.
DAY 13: DRIVE BACK TO ADDIS ABABA
In the morning after our breakfast explore the ancient town of Dire Dawa and then start driving back to Addis Ababa. We may have a last-minute shopping in Addis Ababa. In the evening, we will have a farewell dinner in one of the Ethiopian restaurants for traditional dinner and live stage dances from the different ethnic groups. Then transfer to the airport for your departure home or for your next destination. 17-Days Historic Route North Ethiopia-Awash Park-Harar Tour End!
