14 Days/13 Nights Historic Route With Simien Mountains, Tigray Churches And Danakil Depression.
Arrival Bole International Airport Nomad Tours 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 1 : Addis Ababa
Visit Trinity Cathedral, resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie. Tour the Ethnographic Museum, a great introduction to Ethiopian culture and history. Make a short drive to Entoto Hills for a view of the city and visit Maryam Church. En-route, stop at Sheromeda traditional cloth market. Visit the Mercato or the Sholla Market, two of Addis Ababa’s main markets.
Day 2 : Addis Ababa – Bahar Dar
Fly to Bahar Dar on Ethiopian Airlines. Take a boat tour on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, and tour ancient monasteries on the Zege Peninsula. We will visit two of the following monasteries: Ura Kidane Mehiret, Azwa Maryam, Mehal Zege Giorgis, and Bete Maryam. End the day with a sunset visit to Bezawit Hills overlooking the Nile River.
Day 3 : 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.
Day 4 : Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park
Drive to Sankabar the gateway to the Simien Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park has some of the highest peaks in Africa (Ras Dashen – 4,550m – is the fourth highest on the continent). Hike in the park at your own pace accompanied by a National Park guide and scoutn. While taking in the spectacular scenery look for wildlife such as the Gelada, a primate endemic to Ethiopia with bright red markings on the chest.
Day 5 : Simien Mountains- Axum
Take a scenic drive from the Simien Mountains to Axum, capital of the ancient Axumite Empire which included much of present day Ethiopia, Eritrea and Yemen. Axum is where Christianity was first introduced to Ethiopia in the 4th century and proclaimed the official state religion in 330AD. Axum was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Arrive in Axum late afternoon.
Day 6 : Axum
Tour the ancient stelae fields, standing for 2000 years. Note the tallest standing (24 meters) obelisk which is supported by cables. During the invasion by Benito Mussolini this stone was cut into sections and shipped to Rome were it was reassembled in the city center. Italy returned this national treasure to Axum in 2005. Next to the stelae fields, visit the impressive Archeological Museum. See St. Mary Tsion Church, which houses the Ark of the Covenant according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (no one is allowed to see the Ark.) Visit other tombs and archeological sites as time permits.
Day 7 : 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 region’s oldest and finest rock churches.
Day 8 : 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.
Day 9: Mekele – Ahmedela
Meet support vehicles and drive to Ahmedela via Berhaile. Make camp, and see camel caravans passing against a backdrop of dramatic sunsets.
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. Late afternoon, return to Mekele.
Day 11: Mekele – Lalibela
Drive on a scenic road to Lalibela. Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy the sunset from the terrace.
Day 12 : Lalibela
Tour the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This group 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. In the late afternoon, enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony and learn the process for baking injera (a staple food for much of Ethiopia.)
Day 13 : Lalibela
For the morning the group has two choices: Take a morning hike with mules to Mount Asheton, with its 13th century rock-hewn monastery and great views of the town; – OR – Drive to Yemrehanna Kristos, a beautiful church situated in a shallow cave that predates the churches of Lalibela. The drive to Yemrehanna will also give you the opportunity to view the rural countryside and villages of the Ethiopian highlands. Continue with tour of Lalibela’s churches in the afternoon.
Day 14 : Lalibela – Addis Ababa
Fly to Addis Ababa. Visit the National Museum, home of the 3 million year old skeleton “Lucy.” Optional souvenir shopping. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant featuring dancers and musicians representing some of the country’s many ethnic groups. Transfer to airport for late night departure if needed.
15 Days / 14 Nights Historic Route, Bale Mountain and Omo-Valley
Explore the historic features and breath-taking scenes of Bale Mountain and Omo Valley.
DAY 1 : ADDIS ABABA ARRIVAL
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 situated at an elevation of around 2438m which makes 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 by National museum which houses some of the country’s historic treasures. The collection of fossils and bones of early hominids discovered in Ethiopia include the 3.5 million year old remains of ‘Lucy’, the oldest hominid every found. Proceed visiting to 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. Overnight in Addis Ababa.
DAY 2 : FLY TO BAHIR DAR
Today we fly north to Bahir 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 UraKidaneMihret church on 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 Bahir Dar. Due to a nearby hydro electrical power scheme, the waterfalls can no longer be guaranteed to be in full force. Overnight in Bahir Dar
DAY 3 : DRIVE TO GONDAR (UNESCO – WORLD HERITAGE SITE)
In the morning drive to the Simien Mountains National Park via the historic town of Gondar. The road passes over mountainous areas of wild beauty, drawing close to the Simien Massif (in Amharic, Simien means north). In the park, many of the mountain peaks exceed 4,000 m (13123 ft); the highest is RasDejen, at 4,543 m (1905 ft) above sea level. These mountains consist of volcanic masses that have been eroded away by centuries of rain. Today they have amethyst-colored peaks and deep gullies, which have been further deepened by rivers. The crevices play host to the Walya, the ibex. In the afternoon we will have about 4 hours trekking in the first campsite area of Sankaber , where we can see the Gelada Babboons and also, if we are lucky, the Walya ibex. Overnight Simien Park.
DAY 4 :SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
From Sankaber you will begin hiking following the ridge and look out over the foothills 800m down. From the ridge you will descend down into the valley and be able to view the Jinbar River plunging into the Geech Abyss. The area is also a great spot to see the Gelada Baboons. Overnight Simien Park.
DAY 5 :DRIVE BACK TO GONDAR
In the morning drive back to Gondar. Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632. In Gondar, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African and also has Islamic influences. In the morning we visit Fasilidas’ Palace, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one, too! We continue on to the bath of Fasiledes and Quskuam Church. In the afternoon we visit the Church Of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of this church is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. DebreBerhan Selassie is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant. Overnight in Gondar
DAY 6 :FLY TO LALIBELA
After breakfast transfer to the airport for flight to Lalibela. On arrival transfer to your hotel. Lalibela, once the thriving capital of the medieval dynasty is still remarkably and unbelievably beautiful. The villages is hardly visible as the horizon is dominated by various peaks over 3,000m. Legend holds that once the Town was called Roha, a mother saw her baby in a cradle surrounded by a dense of swarm of bees. Ethiopian belief is that the animal world could foretell the advent of important personages, so that she called her son ”Lalibela”. Meaning “the bees recognize his sovereignty”. Learn other local folklores on your visits to remarkable Rock Hewn churches built by this Prince over 800 years ago. Almost super human in their scale, these towering edifices are truly a world wonder. In the afternoon visit the 1st part of Rock Hewn churches which are six in number, namely : Bet MedhaneAlem, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mika’el ( also known as Bet DebreSina-Bet Golgotha) and Bet Giyorgis. Overnight in Lalibela
DAY 7 :LALIBELA
In the morning you will go on an excursion tovisit YemrehaneKirstos. This exquisite church, a masterpiece of Axumit wood and stone construction is renowned for its interior decoration, it’s 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 2nd part of Rock Hewn churches which are five namely : Bet Gabriel, Bet Rufa’el, Bet Merkorios, Bet Aamanuel and Bet Abba Libanos.Overnight in Lalibela.
DAY 8 : FLY BACK TO ADDIS AND PROCEED TO LANGANO
In the morning transfer to the airport for flight to Addis Ababa. Up on arrival in Addis depart towards the South from Addis Ababa via Butajira. On the way you will visit the archeological sites of Tiya (ancient stelae field and UNESCO World Heritage Site), Adadi Maryam (a rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela) and MelkKunture (pre-historic tool-making site).Overnight in Langano.
DAY 9 : DRIVE TO BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
We drive from Langano via Shashamane to the Bale Mountains National Park headquarters in Dinsho. We explore the highest all-weather road of Africa to the largest moorland tract in Africa, the Senetti plateau. With a little luck, we should encounter here the endemic Ethiopian Wolf and its favorite prey, the Giant Mole Rat. In addition to the Senetti Plateau, we will also explore the Harena escarpments and its equatorial rainforests. Highland birding includes the Abyssinian Catbird, Abyssinian Woodpecker, White-backed Black Tit, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Yellow-crowned Canary, Somali Chestnut Winged Starling, Olive Pigeon and Mountain Buzzard. In the late afternoon, we will arrive at the Bale Mountain Lodge where we will spend the night. Overnight in Bale.
DAY 10 : BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
In the morning, you will have breakfast and drive to the Sanetti Plateau (altitude of 4000 meter, with Afro-alpine Moor land, beautiful wild alpine scenery). Upon arrival in Goba, you will check into a hotel and rest. In the evening, you will have dinner and stay the night at the hotel.Overnight in Bale.
DAY 11 : DRIVE TO AWASSA
After breakfast, we drive to Hawassa (approx. 5hrs.), the capital town of the Southern People’s Nations and nicknamed as “The town of endless Love”. In Hawassa, you can recover from the strengths of travelling in the 5-star resort of the famous Ethiopian runner Haile Gebre Selassie. From Sauna, steam bath to beauty treatment nothing should be missing here and the sunset is fantastic Afternoon. We arrive at the luxurious Haile Resort early enough to enjoy the beautiful sunset over the lake. Overnight in Hawassa
DAY 12 : DRIVE TO ARBA MINCH
Morning drive to via Arbaminch Shashemane to visit the Dorze and Chencha villages. Once warriors, the Dorze have now turned to farming and weaving to earn a living. They speak an Omotic tongue and the Dorze name is synonymous with the best-woven cotton cloth. The “elephant huts” of the Dorze are unique and worth seeing. Also, the Dorze beehive-shaped houses are constructed entirely of organic material and has its own small garden surrounded by beds of spices, cabbage and tobacco.Some of Ethiopia’s best woven cottons come from Chencha, which is located 8 km northwest of Dorze Village. Men weave and women spin. Overnight in Arbaminch.
DAY 13 : DRIVE TO TURMI
In the morning, go for a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market”, and the local hippos. Afterwards, proceed to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribe. At night, you can see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer tribe, known as Evangadi. Overnight in Turmi.
DAY 14 : DRIVE TO JINKA
Depart for Jinka, via Dimeka and Key Afar. Tuesdays and Saturdays are marketdays in Dimeka, which is one of the most colorful markets in the area and is visited by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna and Karo. Afterwards, continue to Jinka. Overnight in Jinka.
DAY 15 : VISIT MURSI TRIBE AND FLY TO ADDIS ABABA DEPARTURE
Early in the morning you will go to the Mago National Park to visit a Mursi village. The insertion of wooden and terra cotta discs into the ear lobes and their lower lips is a widespread custom the latter practiced only by Mursi women. Though these lip plates may appear bizarre to outsiders, the Mursi regard them as signs of beauty, generally speaking, the larger the lip plate the more desirable the wearer. These are people who farm the land and breed livestock; they live in almost complete isolation from the rest of the world. Drive back to Jinka for your flight to Addis Ababa.