Overview
This 6-day tour explores Historic Route, Gondar, Lake Tana Monasteries, Blue Nile Falls, Gondar Castles and Addis Ababa. It is designed for travelers interested in historical, cultural, religious, hiking experiences, combining important attractions with well-paced sightseeing and local discovery. The itinerary includes church visit, historical site visit, cultural experience and boat ride. Wildlife sightings may include Gelada Baboons and Menelik’s Bushbuck.
Tour Highlights
- Visit Historic Route, an important stop for local culture, scenery, history, and photography
- Visit Gondar, Ethiopia’s former imperial capital, famous for castles, churches, and royal history
- Explore Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake, island monasteries, papyrus boats, and lakeside scenery
- Explore Blue Nile Falls, Tis Issat, the scenic waterfall where the Blue Nile begins its dramatic journey
- Visit Royal Enclosure, tour medieval castles and palaces inside Gondar’s UNESCO-listed imperial compound
- Visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital through museums, markets, religious sites, and lively city culture
- Visit Entoto Hills, enjoy panoramic views over Addis Ababa and learn about the city’s early royal history
- Visit Entoto Maryam Church, one of Addis Ababa’s historic Orthodox churches connected with Emperor Menelik II
- Visit National Museum of Ethiopia, Lucy and important archaeological collections that trace Ethiopia’s ancient human history
- Visit Ethnological Museum, Ethiopia’s cultural diversity inside the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie
- Visit Merkato, one of Africa’s largest open-air markets, known for spices, textiles, coffee, and daily city life
- Visit Debre Berhan, a historic Shewa highland town associated with Emperor Zara Yaqob and religious heritage
- Enjoy a boat ride for lake scenery, photography, and wildlife viewing where conditions allow
- Experience colorful Ethiopian festivals with processions, music, dance, and religious ceremonies
- Follow scenic hiking routes through mountains, forests, crater rims, or historic landscapes
Day 1: Arrival & Addis Ababa City Tour
You will be met our staff upon arrival from international flight and begin sightseeing of Addis with our first stop to Entoto Maryam Church; it’s one of the oldest Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Churches on the Entoto Hills. It was built in 1877 by Emperor Menelik II characterized by octagonal domes. Several royal artifacts of the emperor and empress also found in this church including some traditional costumes of the crowns, their royal bed, jewels owned by the royal family, and a mirror presented by Queen Victoria to Empress Taytu. Our second stop Entoto Hills for a panoramic view of Addis with an altitude of 2900 MASL. Our third stop drive to Ethnological Museum houses anthropological, musicological and cultural objects. The Ethnological Museum is the first university museum in Ethiopia. The Museum is located in the main Campus of Addis Ababa University which houses the Institute of Ethiopian Studies and it was the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie. Our Fourth stop Descend down and drive to National museum, it contains many precious local archaeological finds such as the fossilized remains of early hominids, the most famous of which is “Lucy,” the partial skeleton of a specimen of Australopithecus Afarensis. Recently added to the basement gallery is a display on Selam, found between 2000 and 2004. This archaic fossil is estimated to date to 3.3 million years ago. Our fifth stop drive to Merkato, established by the Italian around 1937 it’s a large open-air marketplace in Africa, Covering several square miles and employing an estimated 13,000 people in 7,100 business entities. Overnight in Addis Ababa.
Day 2: Fly Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar (Lakeside Town)
After breakfast, you will transfer to airport your flight to Bahir Dar. You will meet upon arrival and drive to Tis Issat Village to visit the Blue Nile Falls, make a small trekking loop along the river side to view the water fall in every angle then drive back to Bahir Dar. (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal because of the construction of the new dam.) After Lunch have a Boat trip on Lake Tana to visit two monasteries on Zege peninsula, Ura Kidane Mihret and Azewa Mariam which are a 14thc monastery and famous for their mural paintings depicting the Old and New Testament. While walking to the monasteries visit the wild coffee plantation in the peninsula. Overnight in Bahir Dar.
Day 3: Drive Bahir Dar to Gondar (The Camelot of Africa)
After breakfast, you will drive to Gondar passing through the adventurous road. After the lunch you will begin visit Gondar the Royal Capital of Ethiopia. Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasilides. In the afternoon you will visit the city of Gondar with the drive to the Castles and Churches built by Emperor Fasilides and his descendants. Proceed to the fascinating Debre Berhan Selassie (The Enlightening of Trinity) with Wonderful murals art and the swimming pool of Emperor Fasiladas. Overnight in Gondar.
Day 4: Gondar Excursion to Simien Mountain National Park
After breakfast the trip starts from Gondar to the famous and beautiful Simen Mountains National Park. The park is known as the roof of Africa and contains several high mountains and the only place in Ethiopia registered by the UNESCO as a natural beauty. After two hours’ drive from Gondar you will start hiking on the Beautiful landscapes and mountains and admire the nature. There will be a chance to see some wild animals especially the endemic Gelada Baboons. Later, you will be drive back to Gondar. Overnight in Gondar.
Day 5: Fly Gondar to Lalibela
After breakfast, you will take to airport your flight to Lalibela. You will meet upon arrival and take to your Hotel. After lunch you will Visit the first group of seven churches lie in rock cradles one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mika’el, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danagl and Bet Medhane Alem. Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one, is built like a Greek Temple and its stone floor is so polished by the countless numbers of visitors that it reflects shafts of light from apertures in the walls high above. In a corner are three empty graves symbolically dug for biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Later, you will visit of the other groups of Rock churches of Lalibela Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches which lies somewhat isolated in the southwest part of the village on a sloping rock terrace. Overnight in Lalibela.
Day 6: Fly Lalibela to Addis Ababa
In the morning After breakfast, you will visit the remaining churches of Lalibela like Bete Gabriel, Bete Marqorios, Bete Emmanuel, and Bete Aba Libanos. Later drive to airport your flight to Addis Ababa.
