Quick Summary

6-Day Lake Tana, Blue Nile and Lalibela Churches is a 6 days tour in Ethiopia via the Lake Tana, Blue Nile and Lalibela Churches route, starting from USD 1661. Below you'll find the latest itinerary, inclusions & exclusions, and how to book.

Duration
6 days

Route
Lake Tana, Blue Nile and Lalibela Churches

From
USD 1661

Operator
Kitano Tours & Safaris

ABOUT 6-Day Lake Tana, Blue Nile and Lalibela Churches

This tour includes Addis Ababa and two different highlights of Northern Ethiopia: Bahir Dar, with its famous Blue Nile Falls, Lake Tana, and the historical and religious highlight of Lalibela, with its world-famous rock hewn churches. After visiting the green city of Bahir Dar on Lake Tana, you will travel to Lalibela to see the mythical rock-hewn churches. This tour is accompanied by one of our experienced SimienEcoTours guides, who can provide information.

Duration: 6 days
Route: Lake Tana, Blue Nile and Lalibela Churches
Starts at: USD 1661

Overview

Itinerary

include & exclude

Highlights for 6-Day Lake Tana, Blue Nile and Lalibela Churches

Day 1: Discover the capital Addis Ababa
Day 2: Coffee forests & historic monasteries at Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve
Day 3: The impressive waterfalls on the Blue Nile
Day 4: The Awura Amba Community - a moving experience
Day 5: The masterpieces of Lalibela - its eleven rock hewn churches
Day 6: Flight back to Addis Ababa and departure

Itinerary Overview

Day	Title
Day 01	Discover the capital Addis Ababa
Day 02	Coffee forests & historic monasteries at Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve
Day 03	The impressive waterfalls on the Blue Nile
Day 04	The Awura Amba Community - a moving experience
Day 05	The masterpieces of Lalibela - its eleven rock hewn churches
Day 06	Flight back to Addis Ababa and departure

Day 01: Discover the capital Addis Ababa

>> After your arrival & immigration you will meet with your guide at the airport and you will be transferred to your hotel/lodge for some refreshment. Depending on your arrival time your guide will go on a city tour through Ethiopia’s vibrant and lively capital. In the National Museum you can discover the cradle of mankind where the skeleton of “Lucy” is kept. Entoto Mountain with its Eucalyptus forest is a nice short escape out of town to see Mariyam Church and Menelik Palace the place where the Emperors resided. Others might enjoy one of the city’s weekly markets. You can choose your itinerary with your guide.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Sunspot Hotel Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

Day 02: Coffee forests & historic monasteries at Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve

>> A domestic flight will bring you to the lake town of Bahir Dar. Lake Tana is the biggest lake of the country and its tropical setting is the perfect escape to start you boat cruise, do some bird watching to finally reach Zeghe Peninsula, where 700 years old monasteries are hidden in the coffee forest. Discover this nature’s beauty and its cultural heritage before you return back by boat to town to your lodge.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar Mid-range hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

Day 03: The impressive waterfalls on the Blue Nile

>> Today we drive to Tissabay just outside of Bahir Dar where the Blue Nile Falls are situated. Directly at the waterfalls we take a 2-3 hours hike and there we have the opportunity to experience the falls from different perspectives. Then we cross over two bridges (the historical Portuguese bridge) by boat on the Blue Nile and see the sugarcane plantations. In the afternoon we reach a viewpoint where former emperor Haile Selassie built his summer residential palace.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar Mid-range hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

Day 04: The Awura Amba Community - a moving experience

>> This morning we drive to Lalibela with a stopover in the Awura Amba Community Project. About 500 people live here in a community that has renounced their faith in order to be happy together. You will get to know Zumra Nuru the founder of the community, and visit the old people's home, the weaving mill, the library and the school of the village. Awura Amba is a cooperative project with a moving and poor past, which has now worked its way up to a certain level of prosperity. A prosperity that is not always viewed kindly by the neighbouring villages. An exciting stopover that will raise many questions. Along the Ethiopian highlights, you will see local farmers harvesting and working on their fields.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Lalibela Lodge Mid-range lodge located in Lalibela (Town)

Day 05: The masterpieces of Lalibela - its eleven rock hewn churches

>> Today you are entering the heart of the holy city. With your personal tour guide you walk through the labyrinths of trenches and tunnels to discover the eleven rock hewn churches of Lalibela. Bête Medahinealem and Bete Giyorgis (“St. George Church”) are architectural masterpieces counting among the biggest rock churches in Ethiopia. Beta Mariam with its beautiful painted interior and its frescoes is not less impressive as the churches of the southern cluster which used to be an old fortress with narrow confusing pathways. You will have a full day to discover these churches in detail. Before dinner you will have a chance to see the beautiful sunset in the Lasta Mountains.

Time: 8-10Hrs
Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks

Accommodation: Lalibela Lodge Mid-range lodge located in Lalibela (Town)

Day 06: Flight back to Addis Ababa and departure

>> After a relaxed breakfast in the hotel the driver will transfer you to Lalibela airport in the late morning for the flight to Addis Ababa. If there is enough time before your departure, you will visit a market or shops in Addis Ababa to buy souvenirs. Finally, there is a traditional Ethiopian dinner with music and dance performance. End of the trip and departure depending on flight times.