Overnight Flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Serving as the capital and largest city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa is the cultural and historic center of the country. The city's National Museum exhibits numerous prehistoric fossils, including replicas of the famous early hominid, "Lucy." Aside from its fascinating history, visitors will also appreciate Addis Ababa's rich food scene as well as Ethiopia's famed export, Arabica coffee.

Upon arrival to Addis Ababa, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Begin your city tour of Addis with a drive to Mount Entoto. This is a historical place where Emperor Menelik II resided and built his palace when he came from Ankober and founded Addis Ababa. It is considered a sacred mountain and has many monasteries. It is situated at an altitude between 2,600 and 3,100 meters. You will have a magnificent view of the city. Then, drive to the National Museum that houses the nation's artistic treasures as well as many of the most precious archaeological finds. This includes the fossilized remains of early hominids, the most famous of which is "Lucy," the partial skeleton of a specimen of Australopithecus afarensis. The well-known Lucy is said to be 3.2 million years old. After visiting the museum, you will drive to Trinity Cathedral Church. This church is the highest-ranking Orthodox cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was built to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation and is the second most important place of worship in Ethiopia, after the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum.

This afternoon, you will visit the Ethnological museum set within Haile Selassie's former palace, surrounded by the beautiful gardens and fountains of Addis Ababa University's main campus. Even if you're not normally a museum fan, this one is worth a bit of your time - it's easily one of the finest museums in Africa. Later, you drive to Mercato and visit the largest open market in Africa, where you will drive through the market. Mercato is located covering several square miles and employing an estimated 13,000 people in 7,100 business entities.
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At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Axum where the early history of Ethiopia (Abyssinia) begins.

Upon arrival to Axum, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel before your Axum City Sightseeing Tour.

Dating from the second century B.C., Axum City reached its height of power between the fourth and seventh centuries A.D., when it controlled most of present-day Ethiopia and, at times, both sides of the Red Sea. Axum was once the center of a great empire and the seat of learning for the ancient Ge'ez language and literature. Take a city tour that includes Stelae Park. These famed granite obelisks are relics of this time and have gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The tallest, the Great Stele, has fallen and broken into six massive pieces, but when standing, it was 33 meters (108 feet) tall and weighed about five hundred tons. The tallest obelisk still standing at Axum today is about 23 meters (75 feet) tall, still an impressive sight!

We continue the city tour, visiting St. Mary's Church and the Sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the Ark of the Covenant; the Coronation Yard; King Ezana's Park; and the "Queen of Sheba" ruins, once a massive palace with finely mortared stone walls, deep foundations, and its own impressive drainage system, believed to be the oldest building in AxumWe continue the city tour, visiting St. Mary's Church and the Sanctuary Chapel which is the repository of the Ark of the Covenant; the Coronation Yard; King Ezana's Park; and the "Queen of Sheba" ruins, once a massive palace with finely mortared stone walls, deep foundations, and its own impressive drainage system, believed to be the oldest building in Axum. ...read less

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Lalibela.

Upon arrival to Lalibela, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel before your Lalibela Sightseeing Tour.

Lalibela, also known as "Africa's Petra", is Ethiopia's crown jewel. It is home to the most famous churches and the scene of many major religious ceremonies.

We will visit the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, which are called the "Eighth Wonder of the World". These churches were hewn out of solid rock between 800 - 1200 AD and are still active houses of worship. The churches are carved below ground level, ringed by trenches and courtyards and are arguably Ethiopia's top attraction. They are connected to each other by a tangled maze of tunnels and passages.

You will visit the first group of six churches that lie in rock cradles, one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mikael, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel and Bet Medhane Alem. Bet Medhane Alem, the largest one is built like a Greek Temple.
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Today, you will visit the second group of churches. Bet Giyorgis, possibly the most elegant of all the Lalibela churches, lies somewhat isolated in the southwest part of the village on a sloping rock terrace. It can only be reached through a tunnel. The group of four, south of the Jordan River, comprise of Bet Emanuel, Bet Mercuiros, Bet Abba Libanos and Bet Gabriel - Rufa'el. Bet Emanuel's elaborate exterior is much praised by art historians. In the afternoon, take an excursion to Yemrehana Kristos, located in a mountain ridge, in the peak of Abuna Yosef. This exquisite church, a masterpiece of Axumit wood and stone construction and renewed for its interior decoration. The walls are subdivided vertically with recessions and projections. ...read less

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Gondar.

Upon arrival to Gondar, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Simien (140 km / 87 miles, approx. 5 hours). En route, you will visit the Fallasha Village. Observe the magnificent scenery with unique flora, the first segment of the Simien Mountains National Park - "Roof of Africa". Up on arrival you will check-in to Semein lodge and you will proceed to drive to Sanqaber, you will be able to encounter birds like Lammergeyer and endemic Gelada Baboon.
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Today, you will drive to Chenek. You will have beautiful views on both sides of the escarpment ridge. This is a great place to spot the Walia ibex and if you are lucky the Ethiopian Wolf. Tucked away behind a hillock on a mini plateau is a romantic spot with a bench, looking back to Imet Gogo and Inatye.

This morning, you will drive to Gondar, a town founded in 1636 by the great Emperor Fassiladas, the Royal Capital of Ethiopia. Visit the impressive castles and churches built by Emperor Fassiladas and his descendants. Later, proceed to the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie Church, with its walls and ceilings decorated with scenes of Biblical lore and medieval history.

Today, you will drive to Bahirdar (196 km / 122 miles, approx. 4 hours), then you will proceed to the village of Tis Isat to see the Blue Nile Falls.


(please be informed that due to the newly constructed electric dam in the vicinity the water level of the falls could be very minimal.

This morning, you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret, which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries with a very beautiful painted maqdas and priceless collection of crosses and crowns. After the visit, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa.

Upon arrival to Addis Ababa, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your Domestic Flight to Mekele.

Upon arrival to Mekele, you will be met at the airport and transferred to Ahmed Ela via Berhale (180 km/ 112 miles, approx. 5 hours). The Danakil Depression can be said to 'begin' here. The site is spectacular, full of eye-catching colors, as in the sculpture springs. The desert has several points lying more than 100 meters (328 ft.) below sea level. You pass through a small town of Berhale where the camel caravans stop before they proceed to the northern highlands. En route, you see many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels. Overnight camping at Ahmed Ela.
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Today, you will drive to Dallol area (75 km / 47 miles, approx. 3 hours), to learn about local salt mining and camel caravans. After an early breakfast, drive to the Lake Assale, salty Lake and visit the salt workers and the merchant.

Here, you will observe salt cutting, shaping and then loading to the endless Camel Caravans. Then, proceed to Dallol and enjoy the spectacular view of the small hills, colorful hot spring in several places. The spectacular colors created by sulfurs potash and various mineral compounds. Overnight camping at Ahmed Ela.
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Today, you will depart to explore Erta Ale (125km / 78 miles, approx. 9 hours). The Erta Ale Volcanic hills are 613 meters above sea level and are home to the most active volcano in Ethiopia. Walking up the volcano will commence after sunset so we can enjoy cooler temperatures. As the erection of a new paved route leading to Erta Ale has recently been completed, it will only take an average 30 minutes of hiking after getting off your vehicles to reach the crater (The old route used to take 3 to 4 hours of hiking on a rugged terrain).

Nighttime is best for viewing the bubbling lava lake and photographic opportunities are incredible. After watching the eruption, you will camp nearby on the crater rim. Overnight camping at Erta Ale.
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At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to Mekele airport for your flight to Addis Ababa.

Upon arrival to Addis Ababa, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Serving as the capital and largest city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa is the cultural and historic center of the country. The city's National Museum exhibits numerous prehistoric fossils, including replicas of the famous early hominid, "Lucy." Aside from its fascinating history, visitors will also appreciate Addis Ababa's rich food scene as well as Ethiopia's famed export, Arabica coffee. ...read less

At the appropriate time, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight home.