Overview
The Historic Route is one of the greatest treasures of Ethiopia. Nowhere else in the world can you
see riches of man’s past such as those in the northern part of Ethiopia most of them are registered
by UNESCO as a world heritage site. A history that stretches back to the time of prehistoric man the
5th century B.C pagan temple of Yeha, Debre Damo monastery to more than 3000 years old history
of Axum with the rock Churches of Tigray just prior to their cousin in Lalibela dated back from the
6th-10th, the 12th-century rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the UNESCO heritage walled city of Harar, the medieval castles of Gonder, the famous Blue Nile fall with the 13th-century painting monastery of Lake Tana at Bahir Dar has spectacular scenery, peoples, customs landscape Riches that cover the history of Ethiopia From the 1st early beginnings to the modern day, riches are set among some of the most stunning scenery in Ethiopia and where our people work today, just as their ancestors have done for generations. As scholars say “Lalibela represents the supreme wonder and mystery of Ethiopian civilization, Gonder is its pride, Bahirdar is natural bounty, and Harar its exotic mosaic culture and Axum stands as the fountainhead of all this where civilization was born and fertile.
DAY 1- FLY ADDIS ABABA BAHIR DAR- BOAT TRIP & BLUE
NILE FALLS
Early in the morning around 5:45 AM arrive at the domestic terminal of Addis Ababa Bole Airport
check-in and fly to Bahirdar, arrive and directly transfer to the hotel, after breakfast take a boat
trip on Lake Tana and visit two of the most accessible and representative monasteries with
a very beautiful painting from medieval times still serving its original function, Ura Kidane
Mehret and Azwa Maryam then ride back to Bahirdar on the way see the outlet of the famous Blue
The Nile is the longest river in the world as it departs from the lake. Lunch break and Afternoon a drive to the Blue Nile Falls, (the water amount of the fall depends on the rain), but the drive and walking by
It is a great and enjoyable, Overnight hotel.
Day 2- DRIVE BAHIR DAR- GONDER- PM EXPLORE CAMELOT
OF AFRICA
After breakfast drive to Gonder 180 km to conduct a tour of Gonder known as the “Camelot” of Africa,
nestled in the foothills of the breathtaking Semien Mountains National Park in the northwestern part
of the country was the 17th and 18th-century capital city of Ethiopia, which was founded by
Emperor Fasiladas (1632 – 1667) 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 palaces of emperor Fasiladas, built of roughly hewn brown basalt stone held together with mortar, the
fantastically decorated Debre Brehan Selassie 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, where the Scottish explorer James Bruce used to reside for sometimes, overnight hotel
Day 3- fly GONDER- AXUM- PM EXPLORE ANCIENT HOLY CITY
OF AXUM
Early morning after breakfast transfer to the Airport for a flight further north takes you to the oldest
city in Ethiopia, Axum. Eight Km drive to the Town check-in hotel. Then start exploring Axum, a place
where the cradle of Ethiopian culture 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 stele park, where the magnificent single block of stones erected in the 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 stayed. Continuing
your visit 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 ruined palace and bath of
Queen of Sheba who was the mother of King Menilik I of 950 B.C, overnight hotel
DAY 4- FLY AXUM-LALIBELA PM VISIT TO THE 8TH WONDERS
OF WORLD
The morning after breakfast transfer to the airport to fly to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lalibela –
the Jerusalem of Ethiopia, in a fitting final to your Ethiopian adventure, explore the first group of the
monolithic red-Tuff churches incredibly carved into the rock. You will lead you through the network
of crevices and tunnels linking each of the churches. The churches are still in use today, finally walk
to the separately standing, uncovered, and beautiful Saint Georges Church down to the narrow path to
the church, step inside and you will see a robed priest going about his timeless business Late afternoon
drive back to your hotel, Overnight Hotel.
DAY 5- FLY LALIBELA- ADDIS ABABA- DEPARTURE
Early morning after breakfast a quick visit to the eastern (second) group of rock churches smaller in
size, these are no less impressive, with intricate carvings and many dark tunnels to explore then
transfer to the airport to fly back to Addis Ababa, arrive more free time for Shopping and evening
head to the farewell Evening cultural dinner party in one of the Traditional Ethiopian restaurants with dances from the different ethnic Groups then transfer to airports for your departure.
