North Ethiopia 8 Days Tour Package 8 days

Day 1 Addis Ababa - Bahir Dar - Blue Nile Falls

Early morning after breakfast transfer to the airport to fly Addis to Bahir Dar upon arrival meet with our staff and transfer to your hotel.

After check-in start boat cruise on the beautiful highland lake to see the monastery church of the beautifully decorated Ura Kidanmihret, and Azwa Mariam that allows both genders. Under the thatched roof of the monastery, there are some distinctive colourful frescoes of religious scenes and impressive display of illuminated bibles written in “Geez” the religious language from which Amharic is derived.

If time allows us in the afternoon we'll take a scenic drive of 32 km to the little town of Tiss Abay and walk for about twenty minutes to visit the famous Blue Nile Falls. The falls are locally known as Tiss Isat meaning, “Water that smoke”. Those who may wish to descend to the base of the falls must climb back to the other side and cross the Blue Nile in a boat in-order to get back to the point of departure.

You will cover approximately 70km and 2 hours’ drive.

Accommodation: Jacaranda Hotel or similar

Note: Currently the Blue Nile Falls are widely dried out and are not that impressive to watch. It seems like a small stream due to the hydroelectric dam on the top of it.

Day 2 Bahir Dar - Gonder

After breakfast drive to Gonder 180 km. The town is known as the “Camelot” of Africa, nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Semien Mountains National Park in the northwestern part of the country and was the 17th and 18th-century capital city of Ethiopia. It was founded by the Emperor Fasiladas (1632 - 1667) and was home to a number of emperors & warlords, curtsies and kings who built several castles and palaces around the area. Visit the oldest and the most impressive Gonderine structure, the magnificent castle compound including the two-storied palace of Emperor Fasiladas, built of roughly hewn brown basalt stone held together with mortar, the fantastically decorated Debre-Brehan Silassie Church (Light of Trinity), the bath (now baptismal place during Ethiopian Epiphany, January 19) of King Fasiladas and the ruined palace of Queen Mintiwab at Qusquam, were the Scottish explorer James Bruce used to reside sometimes.

You will cover approximately 210km and 3 hours’ drive.

Accommodation: Florida Hotel or similar

Optional activities in Awra Amba community

It is an Ethiopian community of about 400 people, located 73 kilometres east of Bahir Dar in the Fogera woreda of Debub Gondar Zone. It was founded in 1980 with the goal of solving socio-economic problems through helping one another in an environment of egalitarianism—in marked contrast to the traditional norms of Amhara society. Founded by Zumra Nuru, who currently serves as co-chairman of the community, with 19 other people who shared his vision, as of 2007 Awra Amba has some 400 members, and is lauded as a model to alleviate poverty and promote gender equality in a country where women are generally subservient to men.

Day 3 Gondar - Simien Mountain National Park

Early in the morning, you will take a trip to the Simien Mountains. Drive to Debark, 100Kms from Gonder, the headquarter of the Simien Mountains National Park. Proceed to Sankaber, 37Km farther, which is your first trekking starting spot, 3250 meters above sea level. Spend the day trekking around the campsites. Lunch will be served by lunch boxes on top of the viewpoint; here you will see some endemic Ethiopian Birds like wattle Ibis and some mammals like the Gelada Baboon.

You will cover approximately 160km and 4 hours’ drive.

Accommodation: Semien Park Hotel or similar

Day 4 Simien Mountains National Park - Axum

Early in the morning after breakfast drive through the Simien Mountains National Park escarpments to Axum, via one of the most scenic roads of Ethiopia and the Tekeze River Gorge. The drive today affords some excellent photo opportunities of the jagged Simien Mountains and the Tekeze Valley. The route is dotted with intermittent mountain hamlets and huge baobab trees that add to the splendour of the scenery. There will be scheduled stops to break up the journey, walk around and to get a cool drink. This trip is a trying one, but it is the most rewarding for those who love exceptional scenery.

The drive brings us to the sacred city of Axum in the Tigrayan region, that was the capital of the Ethiopian empire between the 1st and 10th centuries AD. As the birthplace of Christianity within the country, it was also a bustling commercial centre. We hope to arrive in time to enjoy a well-deserved sundowner.

Half-day visit of Axum, the cradle of Ethiopian culture and Christianity and the first capital of Ethiopia until the 9th century A.D. On this day you will visit the small but rich archaeological museum, the famous stelae park, where the magnificent single block of stones stand erected since 3rd century, the Saint Mary of Zion Cathedral, where the original Holy Ark of the Covenant is still sheltered, however except one guardian (priest) no one is allowed to enter into the sanctuary where the ark is located.

You will cover approximately 370km and 7 hours’ drive.

Accommodation: Sabean Hotel or similar

Day 5 Axum - Mekelle

In the morning after breakfast, we continue the sightseeing of Axum which includes the subterranean tomb of king Kalbe and his son king Gebremeskel, 6th Century AD, the trilingual inscription of king Ezana and finally visit the ruin palace and bath of Queen of Sheba who was the mother of king Menilik I in the 950 B.C.

We will drive from Axum to Mekelle and on the way visit the 8-5th century Temple of Yeha. The temple is believed to be the oldest standing building in the country. If time allows we will proceed to the 6th-century famous Monastery of Debre Damo established by Abune Aregawi, one of the nine saints that came to Ethiopia in the 6th century in the reign of King Kaleb to spread Christianity in different parts of the country (the monastery is only for men and accessed by climbing rope). If you are not interested in the monastery since it is only for men, it is possible to visit rock churches of Tigray (Teka Tesfa Cluster) on arrival to Mekelle.

You will cover approximately 270km and 7 hours’ drive.

Accommodation: Axum Hotel or similar

Day 6 Mekelle - Lalibela

In the morning after breakfast, we'll spend the full day driving from Mekele to Lalibela passing through outstanding chains of mountains via Weldia and admiring the landscape and the people. We will be heading south, between the mountains to the west and the stark landscape of the Danakil Depression to the east, via the town of Woldiya, to arrive at the remarkable archaeological site of Lalibela.

You will cover approximately 390km and 7 hours’ drive.

Accommodation: Panoramic View Hotel or similar

Day 7 Lalibela

Full day at Lalibela visiting the wonders of engineering and architecture that are often by many referred to as the “8th wonder of the world”. It is exceptional to find eleven rock-hewn churches of such master craftsmanship in one place. In this morning among the eleven remarkable rock-hewn churches built by king Lalibela in the late 12th and 13th century A.D. You will visit the first cluster of churches that represents the earthly Jerusalem.

After lunch break you will visit the second cluster of churches, which represents the heavenly Jerusalem, finally, visit the most beautiful and fascinating monolithic cruciform church of Saint Gorge. In the late afternoon, you will enjoy Ethiopian traditional coffee ceremony and honey wine.

You will cover approximately 370km and 7 hours’ drive.

Accommodation: Panoramic View Hotel or similar

Day 8 Fly back to Addis Ababa

After breakfast overlooking the mountain of Abune Yosef, the tallest mountain in Lasta, we drive towards one of Ethiopia's best-preserved late Axumite churches. Named after the 12th-century Zagwe priest-king and saint, the church of Yemrehanna Kristos is built of stone and wood inside a cave. We'll make a ten-minute walk uphill through a forest of juniper trees to the entrance. As well as it's wondrous setting, behind the church lies a pile of mummified bodies said to be that of pilgrims and holy men. Legend has it that a door found inside this church was given as a gift by the Caliph Saladin himself during the time of the crusaders.

After lunch transfer to the airport to fly back to Addis Ababa. After arrival you will have free time for shopping. in the evening you will enjoy a cultural dinner party in one of the traditional Ethiopian restaurant with dances from the different ethnic Groups then transfer to the airport for your departure.