Day 1 : Addis Ababa
Arrive at any time. Meet and greet you Ethiopia Tropical Tour and Travel representative at exit of luggage claim and transfer to your hotel.
O/N in standard hotel.
Day 2 : Fly Mekele to Gheralta (B-L-D)
Morning fly Mekele. Take a short tour around of Mekele after drive to Hawzien. On the way, visit Abraha Atbeha rock church.
O/N in Lodge.
Day 3 : Gheralta – Yeha – Axum (B-L-D)
Morning visit Abune Yemata rock Hewn churches. Afternoon Drive to Axum on the way visit Yeha temple.
O/N in standard hotel.
Day 4 : Visit around Axum (B-L-D)
Sightseeing in Axum. It was once the capital of the long Axumite reign, one of the oldest African empires, and represented a connecting point between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years. Some of the archaeological sites can give you an idea of the former high standard of civilization. There are certainly lots of hidden treasures beneath Axum, yet to be uncovered, with symbolic engravings granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times, decorated with symbolic engravings.
See the churches of Saint Mary of Zion, which contain the crowns of Ethiopian Kings and other treasures, the tomb of king Kaleb and the Axum Museum, revealing many of the archaeological findings and providing information about the glorious past of the city.
O/N in standard hotel.
Day 5 : Axum – Simien Mountains (B-L-D)
Early morning departure for the country’s highest mountains. Travel by bus through the northern most region of Tigray, the Tekezze Gorge and along the fascinating panoramas of the Simien Mountains. Arrival in the Simien Mountains National Park late afternoon.
O/N in Lodge or in Hotel.
Day 6 : Simien Mountains National Park (B-L-D)
Day in Simien Mountains National Park, enjoying guided hiking excursions around Sankaber campsite, the Jinbar waterfalls, and Chenek campsite.
Return to Lodge or Hotel for the evening
Day 7 : Simien Mountains – Gondar (B-L-D)
Travel back to Gondar with a stop at the Ploughshare Women Crafts Training Centre in a Falasha village. After, visit the palaces of King Fassiladas, the Bath of Emperor, Debre Birhan Selassie Church and visit Kusquam, Queen Mentawab’s historic residence just outside the City.
O/N in Lodge.
Day 8 : Visit around Bahir Dar (B-L-D)
Morning drive 33 km Bahir Dar to Tiss Isat to see the Blue Nile falls. The round trip will take about one hour walking. Cross the Blue Nile by boat. Drive back to Bahir Dar. Lunch.
Afternoon, boat trip on Lake Tana. Visit the Island Monasteries and churches of Ura Kidane Mihiret, Azoa Mariam (Ura Kidane Mihiret hosts important religious icons from the 16th century. Azoa Mariam is known for its paintings and has an interesting museum.
O/N in Lodge.
Day 9 : Bahir Dar – Lalibela (B-L-D)
You will have breakfast & drive to Lalibela (270 km from Bahir Dar). On the way visit the Awramba Community (69 km from Bahir Dar). You will stop for lunch at Nefase Moucha. You will see scenery landscape. You will arrive in Lalibela late in the afternoon. You will check into a hotel and take a break. Dinner will be at the Hotel.
O/N in standard hotel.
Day 10 : Visit around Lalibela (B-L-D)
Early in the morning, after breakfast, Take a guided your visit will be to the eleven rock-hewn monolithic (carved from a single rock) churches of Lalibela (UNESCO World heritage site, with magnificent architecture & paintings inside the churches). In the evening you will get back to the hotel, rest, have dinner and relax.
O/N in standard hotel.
Day 11 : Lalibela – Kombolcha (B-L-D)
Morning drive Lalibela to Kombolcha. On the way visit Genet Mariam rock hewn Church. Afternoon visit Lake Hayek.
O/N in standard hotel.
Day 12 : Kombolcha – Awash National Park (B-L-D)
Morning drive Kombolcha to Awash National park. Late afternoon game drive in the park before returning to lodge for the evening.
Awash National park has over 350 species of bird that have been recorded in this Savannah grassland and you will spot birds like : Ruppell¨s Vulture, Black – billed -Chat, Boran Cisticola, Scarlet-Chested & Shining Sunbird, Tawny Pipit, Yellow- throated Serin (Endemic), Carmine bee-eater, Lilac-Breasted & Abyssinian Roller, Arabian Bustard, and Great Grey Shrikes.
O/N at in Lodge.
Day 13 : Awash National Park – Harar – Dire Dawa (B-L-D)
Drive Awash to Harar. On the way visit of the scenery landscape. We arrive late afternoon. Evening, you will visit hyena show man.
O/N in standard hotel.
Day 14 : Visit around Harar (B-L-D)
Morning drive to Dire Daw to Harar on the way visit the famous of Aweday chat market and city tour around Harar. Late afternoon back to Dire Dawa.
O/N in standard hotel
Day 15 : Dire Dawa – Addis Ababa (B-L-D)
Fly back to Addis Ababa and make sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa that includes visiting the National Archaeological Museum, Mercato (the largest open air market in East Africa).
We will also have free time for shopping. In the evening, you will be guest of Ethiopia Tropical Tours at one of the famous traditional restaurants of Addis where you enjoy watching the folkloric dances of the Ethiopia people, and taste Ethiopian meals.
End of the tour. Departure.
