Tour Highlight
Ethiopia has history way back over 3000 years and in all those years each generation has been placing its own fingerprint in most major cities of Ethiopia. Ethiopian historical attraction covers the ancient town of Axum, with its amazing carved obelisks and ancient civilization, including the original Ark of the Covenant; Lalibela known as the real wonder of the world with its remarkable rock-hewn churches; Gondar the Camelot of Africa, with its magnificent castles and palaces. The roof of Africa Simien Mountain National Park is among the sights that will be covered on this route. Simien Mountains National Park is known for its dramatic landscapes and spectacular scenery. Mount Ras Dashen (15,157ft/4,620m) is the highest pick of the National park. Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, is the largest lake with 37 islands. Azwa Mariyam and Ura Kidanemihiret are among the iconic reach monasteries to be visited on the Lake dating back to the 14th century. In this route, the Axum stales, the Lalibela churches, the castles of Gondar, and Simien Mountains National Park are registered by UNESCO.
*Very easy tour for everyone without age limits or gender and not much trekking (does not need special fitness)
Itinerary…
Ethiopian Northern Historic Route
Duration: 7 nights 8 days
Tour Code: NTC 002
Transport: Air
Day 1: ADDIS ABABA
Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel by Nomad Tour and Car Rental representative. Depending on your arrival time City tour of Addis Ababa will be arranged:
Being home to United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Union (AU) Addis Ababa is referred to as the capital of Africa. Addis is also the center of the country’s economy and social and political activity.
City tour of Addis Ababa includes the National museum: home to the oldest and most famous hominid fossil of ‘Lucy’, an Ethnographic museum: treasured with cultural and historical artifacts from all over Ethiopia, Mount Entoto for the scenic view of Addis Ababa, Trinity cathedral church and Merkato: the biggest open-air market in East Africa.
Day 2: FLIGHT TO BAHIRDAR
Early in the Morning fly to Bahirdar. You will be welcomed and assisted to check in to your Hotel by our representative.
Morning Drive some 35KM to the small town of Tis Abay where you will be welcomed by the sound of the waterfall. This is the fall where the famous Blue Nile falls pounded down into the rocks of the Nile gorges about 45 KM.
After lunch, you will take a boat trip to visit the most amazing monasteries of Lake Tana among them Azwa Maryam and Ura kidanemihret are worth to be visited.
Day 3: DRIVE TO GONDAR AND CITY TOUR
Drive about 180 KM to the legendary town of Gondar known for its Magnificent Castles. This drive will give you a highlight of the Landscape, culture, and countryside view of Ethiopia.
After lunch visit the Castles of Gondar known as the Camelot of Africa and the mesmerizing Debrebirihan Silase church exclusively known for its Ethiopian angle painting on the ceilings
Day 4: EXCURSION TO THE SIMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Morning, Drive about 100KM to the Debark the Headquarter for the Simien National Park. Collect your ticket, trekking guide, and scout to enter the Park. Trek /Hike to some viewpoints enjoying the most amazing landscapes that mother earth can give. Drive back to Gondar for overnight
Day 5: FLY TO AXUM AND CITY TOUR
After an early breakfast you will fly to the ancient city of Axum; a city with more than 3000 years of history and origin of world civilization. This can be witnessed by land marks in the center of the city among them; the stale royal tombs: which are considered to be probably the oldest monolithic stands in the world, the church compound of St. Mary of Zion is the seat of the true Moose’s Ark of the covenant, the Queen of Sheba’s palace, King Kaleb’s and Gebremeskel’s palace and Archeological Museum which are situated in the heart of the city.
Day 6: FLY TO LALIBELA
Morning Fly to the Holly city of Lalibela on your arrival a brief check-in to your Hotel and head to visit the mystical rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. The small town of Lalibela in Ethiopia is home to one of the world’s most astounding sacred sites: eleven rock-hewn churches, each carved entirely out of a single block of granite with its roof at ground level.
Day 7: EXCURSION TO YIMRHANE KIRSTOS
After breakfast, we drive to Yimrhane Kirstos through the small village of Bilbala. The built-up cave church of Yimrhane Kirstos itself predates the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. This is one of the most beautiful and colorful cave churches, built from marble, and wood, and beautifully decorated from inside and outside with remarkable architectural skill. On the other side of the cave, you will also see many mummified bodies of pilgrims from centuries ago. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 8: FLY BACK TO ADDIS ABABA AND DEPARTURE
Morning flies to Addis Ababa and Departure home.
Ethiopia has history way back over 3000 years and in all those years each generation has been placing its own fingerprint in most major cities of Ethiopia. Ethiopian historical attraction covers the ancient town of Axum, with its amazing carved obelisks and ancient civilization, including the original Ark of the Covenant; Lalibela known as the real wonder of the world with its remarkable rock-hewn churches; Gondar the Camelot of Africa, with its magnificent castles and palaces.
The roof of Africa Simien Mountain National Park is among the sights that will be covered on this route. Simien Mountains National Park is known for its dramatic landscapes and spectacular scenery. Mount Ras Dashen (15,157ft/4,620m) is the highest pick of the National park.
Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, is the largest lake with 37 islands. Azwa Mariyam and Ura Kidanemihiret are among the iconic reach monasteries to be visited on the Lake dating back to the 14th century.
Al Negash is one of the earliest holy Muslim centers from the Prophet Muhammad Era with the Negash Amedin Mosque.
In this route, the Axum stales, the Lalibela churches, and the castles of Gondar and Simien Mountains National Park are registered by UNESCO.
Ethiopian Northern Historic Route Surface
Duration: 11 nights 12 days
Tour Code: NTC 003
Transport: Surface
Day 1: ADDIS ABABA:
Arrival in Addis Ababa, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel by Nomad Tour and Car Rental representative. Depending on your arrival time City tour of Addis Ababa will be arranged:
Being home to United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Union (AU) Addis Ababa is referred as the capital of Africa. Addis is also the center of the country’s economy and social and political activity.
City tour of Addis Ababa includes the National museum: home to the oldest and most famous hominid fossil of ‘Lucy’, an Ethnographic museum: treasured with cultural and historical artifacts from all over Ethiopia, Mount Entoto for the scenic view of Addis Ababa, Trinity cathedral church and Merkato: the biggest open-air market in East Africa.
DAY 2: DRIVE TO BAHIRDAR
Drive north of Addis to the beautiful Lake city of Bahirdar crossing the Entoto Mountain and the sululta plain. Surrounded by the longest river Blue Nile and Laka Tana on the other side Bahirdar is a beautiful city favorable for relaxation and business conferences. Being seat for the Amhara region Bahirdar is also a center for the Amhara culture.
DAY 3: CITY TOUR OF BAHIRDAR
Morning Drive some 35KM to the small town of Tis Abay where you will be welcomed by the sound of the waterfall. This is the fall where the famous Blue Nile falls pounded down into the rocks of the Nile gorges about 45 KM.
After lunch, you will take a boat trip to visit the most amazing monasteries of Lake Tana among them Azwa Mariam and Ura kidanemihret are worth to be visited.
Day 4: DRIVE TO GONDAR AND CITY TOUR
Drive about 180 KM to the legendary town of Gondar known for its Magnificent Castles. This drive will give you a highlight about the Landscape, culture, and countryside view of Ethiopia.
After lunch, visit the Castles of Gondar known as the Camelot of Africa and the mesmerizing Debrebirihan Silase church exclusively known for its Ethiopian angle painting on its ceilings.
Day 5: DRIVE TO AXUM VIA THE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
After an early breakfast drive north of Gondar through the chains of the Simien Mountains and crossing Tekeze River to the ancient town of Axum.
Day 6: CITY TOUR OF AXUM
A city with more than 3000 years of history Axum was once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization. Axum is exclusively known for being home to the original Ark of the Covenant. The sightseeing of this ancient city includes St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository for ‘Ark of the covenant’, the coronation yard, the Stelae Park, Tombs of Kaleb and his son GebreMeskel, Ezana’s inscriptions and ruins of Queen of Sheba’s palace
Day 7: AXUM-YEHA-MEKELLE
After breakfast drive to Mekele in the route, you will visit the 5th century BC temple of Yeha and Debredamo monastery/optional /, Visit the Al Negash Mosque and proceed to Mekele overnight.
Day 8: DRIVE FROM MEKELLE TO LALIBELA
After having your breakfast leave Mekelle and drive through the Chain Mountains of Ambalage. On the way, you will admire the landscape and the small towns of the Amhara tribes. Proceed to the 12th C legendary and holy city of Lalibela.
Day 9: CITY TOUR OF LALIBELA:
The small town of Lalibela in Ethiopia is home to one of the world’s most astounding sacred sites: eleven rock-hewn churches, each carved entirely out of a single block of granite with its roof at ground level.
On this day you will visit the famous 11 rock-hewn churches including the legendary St. George church, the river of Jordan, and the tomb of Adam.
Day 10: DRIVE TO KOMBOLCHA:
Morning Drive to Kombolcha for overnight
Day 11: DRIVE TO ADDIS ABABA
Depart Kombolcha and drive back to Addis Ababa. On your way you will see Afar shepherds, semi-nomadic people who live mainly in the deserts of the Denakil depression; you will encounter them on the road with their caravans of camels. On Sunday Senbete village has an interesting market where the Afar, Oromo, and Amhara people congregate for marketing.
Day 12: SHOPPING IN ADDIS ABABA AND DEPARTURE HOME
Morning is free time for you and afternoon you will have a chance to have some shopping. In the evening after a fare well dinner at one of the traditional folkloric restaurants you will depart to Airport.