Preview
You will not only be traveling in Ethiopia with us, but you will also experience the deep & varied lifestyles of the Ethiopian people with our friendly and well-trained staff. We are also highly rated on TripAdvisor, the World’s most trusted and largest travel site for reviews and recommendations.
Includes/Excludes
What’s not included
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- All Fees and Taxes
- Foods including Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Daily Bottled Water
- Entry/Admission – Blue Nile Falls
- Entry/Admission – Simien Mountains National Park
- Entry/Admission – Dorze Village
What’s not included
- All things not mentioned in the included
Departure and Return
- Bole Airport, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival of Addis Ababa and Sight seeing
Day 2: Fly to Bahir Dar & Excursion in Lake Tana and Blue Nile Falls)
Morning after breakfast transfer to airport to fly to Bahir dar. After check-in and a short break in the hotel make a boat trip on Lake Tana and visit two or three of its beautiful and interesting islands with their medieval period monasteries. Covering over 3500 km, Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake and is famous as the home of the monasteries established on some 20 of its 37 islands. Most churches in the monasteries have interesting paintings and contain a collection of church treasures and beautiful old manuscripts. In the afternoon drive to Tis Isat (smoking of Fire) waterfall, it was one of the most spectacular falls in Africa, 400m wide when in flood and dropping over a sheer chasm more than 45m deep, the thunderous noise could be heard long before arrival and the spray that is thrown up could be felt up to a kilometers away. But since a dam has been built upstream, the waterfall is reduced and has lost some of its former splendor but especially now in the rainy time, it is still impressive. And also the walk to the waterfall is nice and you can enjoy nature and watch the birds. Keep an eye out for parrots, bee-eaters, lovebirds, and Turacos.
Day 3: Drive to Gondar and visit the sightseeing of Gondar
Early in the morning after breakfast drive to Gondar. In Gondar, you will visit the Royal Enclosure which is surrounded by high stone walls containing the ruins of 17th-century palaces of King Fasiladas, King Iyasu and Queen Mentewab, and other buildings. The castles are a mixture of Ethiopian, European, and probably Indian styles. According to descriptions of 17th-century travelers, the interior of the castle of King Fasiladas was extremely luxurious, decorated with gold, ivory, and precious stones. Also, visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church meaning Trinity at the Mount of Light. It has a rectangular structure and ceilings are decorated with beautiful winged angels, and its walls with impressive scenes depicting biblical events, including the life of Christ, Mary, and the saints and martyrs. There is also a painting of the church’s founder, Emperor Iyasu I.
Day 4: Drive – Gondar / Simien Mountains National Park
Today we drive to the jagged panorama of the Simien Mountains National Park, famed for its exclusive landscape, afro-alpine vegetation, and unique wildlife, where you may spot the endemic Wallia Ibex, Gelada Baboon troops, Bushbuck, and Klipspringer. However, as we stay for one night we will enjoy the dramatic scenery and a troop-friendly Gelada Baboon at a very close distance and Birds such as Chestnut-napped Francolin, Mountain Thrush, Thick-billed Raven, Lammergeyer, White-collared Pigeon and Ankober Serin just to name a few. Arrive at the lodge check in, have lunch, after a short rest, for those who are interested in hiking/Trek we will trek for about 2-3 hrs on the edge and beautiful escarpment to view the beautiful and green valley, wondering the long day eating and grooming of Gelada Baboon families and then trace back to the Lodge.
Day 5: Drive Simien Mountains – Axum
In the morning after breakfast drive to Axum via Tekeze Valley.
Day 6: Full-day Sightseeing in Axum
Morning after breakfast explore the city. Visit the interesting museum in Stelae field, the impressive Stelae Fields, and also the grounds of the 16th-century Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion, home of the original Ark of the Covenant, Queen of Sheba ruin palace and Tomb of Kaleb and Gebre Meskel at a certain place will be dropped for souvenir and stretching your legs to the Hotel.
Day 7: Fly to Lalibela and sightseeing
Early in the morning fly to Lalibela Addis. After a short break in the hotel excursion to visit the first group of the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which are carved out of living volcanic tuff with a super architectural skill that the world has never seen, yet elsewhere. UNESCO registers these churches as world heritage. Among churches of this group, Bete Medahine Alem (house of the redeemer) is the largest with 5 aisles, 72 pillars, vaulted dome, and molding decoration. Bete Mariam (house of St. Marry) is the most decorated among the rock-hewn churches.
Day 8: More Excursions in Lalibela
In the morning excursion to Yemerhane Kirstos cave church outside of Lalibela through the beautiful mountainous landscape of the last region. Back to the hotel for lunch and afternoon visit the second group of the rock-hewn churches; Bete Emanuel (house of Emanuel) is architecturally the finest. Bete Giorgis (the house of George) is the finest of all the churches in Lalibela for this reason art historians conclude that this church is carved at the end of the cluster after the masons developed their skill to carve the church in such extraordinary perfection.
Day 9: Fly back to Addis Ababa and transfer to Awassa
In the morning after breakfast transfer to the Airport and fly to Addis Ababa. Meet the vehicles at the airport and have a short break in Addis for lunch and transfer to Awassa, on the way Visit Lake Zeway of the Rift Valley Lakes region.
Day 10: Drive to Arba Minch via Dorze village
In the morning after breakfast visit the daily fish market at Awassa then proceed driving to Arba Minch through the Dorze tribe village on the way. Dorze tribe has a unique culture and among their very interesting cultures are their houses built from the bamboo way of life and cultivation of the false banana (from which they extract their local bread, called Kotcho).
Day 11: Excursion to Mursi village the drive to Turmi
Early morning excursion to Mursi tribes village. In mursi tribes the most famous tradition includes the lip plate worn by the women. The origin of this tradition is not known but the Mursi themselves consider it as something that makes them distinguish from the surrounding tribes.. Then drive to Turmi on the way visit Alduba’s local market. in the afternoon to visit the nearby Hammer tribe village, also possibility to see special occasion ceremonies like weddings and rituals.
Day 12: Excursion to Mursi village and the drive to Turmi
Early morning excursion to Mursi tribes village. In mursi tribes is the most famous tradition includes the lip plate worn by the women. The origin of this tradition is not known but the Mursi themselves consider it as something that makes them distinguish from the surrounding tribes.. Then drive to Turmi on the way visit Alduba’s local market. in the afternoon to visit the nearby Hammer tribe village, also possibility to see special occasion ceremonies like weddings and rituals.
Day 13: Excursion to Omorate then dive back to Arab Minch
Day 14: fly back to Addis & Departure
In the morning relaxation morning at paradise lodge In the afternoon Transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis. Depending on time final shopping at the souvenir shop. Evening have welfare dinner at a traditional restaurant with folkloric dance then transfer to the airport to fly back home
