© 2023, Zuri Expeditions. All rights reserved
Activity: History and culture
Physical Rating: 2 out 5-Moderate
Group Size: 1-12
Trip Code: RTL
Highlights
Welcome to Ethiopia! Your adventure begins in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our airport representative who will then transfer you to the hotel for check in. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure.
You will also meet your driver guide today for the tour briefing so that he/she can be able to take you through the itinerary. The guide will also be able to answer any of your questions related to your trip.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Golden Royal Hotel or similar
After breakfast, you will join your guide for a sightseeing tour of Addis Ababa. You will visit the most emblematic points such as the National Museum, Meskel Square, The Holy Trinity Church, The Menelik Mausoleum and many more.
The National Museum is where you will find the remains of “Lucy”, an early hominid fossils dating back to 3.5 million years ago, discovered in Ethiopia’s Awash Valley in the Afar triangle in 1974.
After the tour, you will be taken back to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Golden Royal Hotel or similar
After breakfast, we will check out and transfer to the airport for our flight to the city of Bahir Dar. Our hotel for tonight is located close to the shores of Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Niles. Lake Tana has more than 30 islands, home to several monasteries and churches that have long attracted religious men for several centuries and decades.
Upon arrival, we will check in and have lunch then later embark on a boat ride to visit the monasteries of URA Kidane Mehret and Narga Selassie on one of the islands. Some of the monasteries date back to 13th century and features spectacular mural paintings and ecclesiastical art.
URA Kidane Mehret Monastery dates back to 16th century and it is well known for its collection of crosses and incredible painted murals on the wall.
Local historians say that the Ark of Covenant was hidden in one of the monasteries on the islands when the city of Axum was under the threat of Muslim invasion.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Tana Hotel or similar
Today in the morning, we will visit the Blue Nile falls located few kilometers south of Bahir Dar town. The Blue Nile falls locally known as “Tis Isat “(smoking water) measure over 300 meters wide and plunges 48 meters down. We will do a scenic walk to the foot of the Blue Nile falls before hiking further to the view point.
After the walk, we will join our driver and head off to the town of Gondar. Gondar was the capital city of Ethiopia between 17th and 18th century before it was changed to Addis Ababa. The town is well known for its ancient churches and medieval castles hence nicknamed “The Camelot of Africa”
As of today, Gondar town has become an evangelical epicenter for the Ethiopian Christians who celebrate the festival of Timket every January. The festival of Timket is a 3 day festival meant to replicate the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan. Timket literally translates to baptism and takes place between 19th January (or 20th in a leap year)
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Goha Hotel or similar
After breakfast, we will leave the hotel and head out to explore medieval castles and churches within the surrounding areas of Gondar. The notable ones include the Fasiledes Castles, the famous church of Debre Berhan Selassie which has its walls and ceilings covered with the fascinating murals of angels.
Afternoon will be spent at leisure and overnight at the hotel. Alternatively, you can explore the town of Gondar and its environments during your free time.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Goha Hotel or similar
Today in the morning, we will drive to Debark, located within the Simien Mountains. The drive takes approximately 2 hours to the town. We will spend the remainder of the day exploring this spectacular mountain scenery and unique ecosystem. We will walk to the view point hoping to see much of Ethiopia’s wildlife along the way including the Gelada baboons which are only found in Ethiopia. The gelada baboons are distinctive because of its red patch on their chest, hence being referred to as the bleeding heart baboon.
Afternoon spent at the hotel enjoying the spectacular scenery of Simien Mountains. The maximum altitude today will be at 3,260 meters above the sea level.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Simien Lodge or similar
After breakfast, we will check out and drive to the town of Axum (approx 9 hours). The journey will take us through the scenic winding roads across mountains and valleys. We will ascend down the Limallimo road all the way to Tekeze gorge before going up the hilly terrain all the way to the town of Axum.
Axum or Aksum kingdom existed around AD100 to 900AD and was the oldest Africa’s empire trading with merchants across the Red Sea and beyond.
We will arrive late in the afternoon for check in and overnight at the hotel.
Meals Included
Accommodation: Yared Zema Hotel or similar
Today will be spent exploring the incredible historical sites of Axum. Axum is the origin of Christianity in Ethiopia and it is believed to be the resting place of the Ark of Covenant. The old church of St Mary of Zion in the area was the first church to be built in sub-saharan Africa around 330 CE.
We will visit several other historical sites including the ruins of Queen Sheba’s Palace, an archeological museum, several tombs and stele fields. The largest stelae measures 33 meters in height and weighs a total of 517 tones. It is believed to have been carved from a single piece of granite before being transported by elephants from a nearby quarry. The stelae were decorated to resemble a multi-story building complete with floors, windows and locks.
The nearby surroundings also contain tombs such as The tomb of King Kaleb, The tomb of false door and the stone inscriptions of ancient Axumite kings.
The St Mary of Zion Church holds the crowns of various former Ethiopia emperors and even said to house the Ark of Covenant.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Yared Zema Hotel or similar
After breakfast, we will depart for Wukro with several stops along the way to visit some rock hewn-churches in the area. We will pass by the spectacular mountains of Adwa, where the Ethiopians defeated the Italians in 1986 during the battle of Adwa.
We will visit Pre-Christian temple of Yeha that was built in 500 BCE before proceeding to the town of Adigrat for lunch. We will later visit the rock-hewn church of Medhane-Alem Adi Kesho in Tsaeda Imba.
We will arrive at the hotel late in the afternoon.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Fiseha Hotel or similar
We will have breakfast before driving northwest of Wukro to visit the rock-hewn churches in the area including the church of Wukro-Cherkos and Abreha Wo Atsebeha before proceeding to the city of Mekelle. You will have a free afternoon at leisure and overnight at the hotel.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Planet Hotel or similar
Today will be a long journey to the town of Lalibela. The road to Lalibela is scenic with spectacular views of the mountains ranges and gorges along the way. We will briefly stop at Woldia town before proceeding up the scenic winding road up to Delante plateau(approximately 3500 meters ),before arriving in Lalibela .
Lalibela is situated at 2630 meters above the sea level and it is home to Ethiopia’s most famous rock-hewn churches and religious sites. This holiest city is the most significant centre of pilgrimage for Ethiopian Christians hence nicknamed “The Jerusalem of Africa”.
Meals Included
Accommodation: Roha Hotel or similar
Today, we will visit and explore the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which were cut from solid rocks centuries ago. The most famous church is the Bete giorgis (St George) that was carved in the form or shape of a Greek cross.
The churches are dark inside with less artificial light and they have a resident priest inside all the time who can be seen in religious gown.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Roha Hotel or similar
This morning, you will have the option of trekking to the rock church of Asheten Mariam (St Mary) that was built on the ridge, offering excellent views Lalibela below. The church is situated at 3150 meters above the sea level and takes approximately 3 hours or less to the summit.
It is advisable to start the walk early to avoid excessive heat during the mid-morning hours. Later, we will walk down the hill back to the lodge for lunch and the rest of the afternoon spent at leisure. Please note that this walk is tough and physically demanding, however it is optional.
There will be a special goodbye diner at Ben Abeba restaurant today at night.
Included Activities
Meals Included
Accommodation: Roha Hotel or similar
The trip comes to an end today after breakfast and no activities are planned. Please feel free to depart any time based on your flight timings.
Kindly notify the driver guide about your departure times so that he/she can be able to organize for your transfer in advance.
Included Activities
Meals Included
SPECIAL INFORMATION:
If you would like to extend your trip to southern Ethiopia for another leg of Omo Valley cultural tour (charged separately), then feel free to contact us and we would be glad to arrange for you this post-trip extension.
INCLUSIONS:
(There will be a discounted rate on domestic flights within Ethiopia if you fly Ethiopian airlines for your international flights.)
EXCLUSIONS
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© 2023, Zuri Expeditions. All rights reserved