8-Day Northern Ethiopia Tour

>> Arrival and Addis Ababa City Tour Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be met by Enat Ethiopia Tours representative and be taken to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options: Mount Entoto with the best views over the capital. Institute of Ethiopian Studies, where you can see a variety of artifacts from all the different regions reflecting the history and culture of the country National Museum which among other exhibits the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy. Trinity Cathedral: this is the burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots; the cathedral is the most magnificent of its kind in the country, ornamented with carvings, mosaics and other artistic works. The Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa, Accommodation: Hotel, Addis Ababa.

• Time: 8-10hrs
• Meals: Meals at own expense Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Triple-E Hotel and Spa Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

>> Addis Ababa – Flight to Bahir Dar And You will be met at the airport in Bahir Dar and taken to your hotel. Afternoon: Boat trip on Lake Tana We will go on a boat trip on lake Tana to explore the nearby monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret on the Zege peninsula, known for its 14th century, round, grass-roofed churches and their magnificent wall murals, the Azoa Mariam and Ura Kidane Mihret churches. Its architectural styles with mud plastered round wall and a conical thatched roof are typical examples of ancient Ethiopian orthodox churches. Ura is especially well known for its fine frescoes, manuscripts, ecclesial objects, such as the crown of various emperors dating from the 14th century, gold and silver processional crosses, silver drums and royal vestments. On our walk through the densely-forested area we hope to encounter monkeys and abundant bird life. On the lake, you will also have a chance to see hippos and more wildlife.

• Time: 8-10hrs
• Meals: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinks not included

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

>> Bahir Dar – Gondar (170 km) Morning: Visit to the Blue Nile Falls After breakfast, we will visit the magnificent Blue Nile Falls. The water plunges here for 45m (148ft). It is about 35km/1hour drive from town. In the later afternoon, we drive back to Bahir Dar and discover the market, where you may purchase handicrafts like jewellery, woven and embroidered garments, ox-horn cups or grass baskets (Agelgil), for which Bahir Dar is well known, or simply watch the indigenous culture of the local community. Afternoon: Drive to Gondar After lunch, we drive to Gondar, a 17th century royal city of Ethiopia, affluent in the imperial structure of a Castle Compound and the spectacularly painted Debre Birhan Selassie Church. Accommodation: Hotel, Gondar.

• Time: 8-10hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Haile Resort Gondar Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

>> Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park (120 km) Morning: Historic Tour of Gondar We will visit all the historic sites of Gondar including to the royal enclosures of Fassil Ghibe, all the castles of the Gonderian emperors and the Fasilades bath as well as the famous Debre Berhan Selassie Church, which is completely covered in murals, with the angels’ faces on the wooden ceiling that have become a trademark of Ethiopian art and design. Afternoon: We continue our journey to the Simien Mountains National Park. In the late afternoon, will reach the highest Lodge of Africa inside the national park. Due to its unique landscape and its endemic fauna the park has been declared a UNESCO world nature heritage site in 1996. In the park, you may experience very close interactions with the friendly Gelada monkeys. Accommodation: camping Simien Mountains National Park.

• Time: 8-10hrs
• Meals: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

•  Accommodation: Budget camping Inside Simien Mountains NP

>> Simien Mountains National Park – Gondar (120 km) We explore and admire the impressive scenery with its deep gorges and valleys and the highest waterfall in Ethiopia. A gentle walk to the waterfall would take us about 2 hours. We hope to encounter further endemic animals and birds. In the late afternoon, we will drive back to Gondar, where we spend the night. Accommodation: Hotel, Gondar.

• Time: 8-10hrs
• Meals: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

•  Accommodation: Haile Resort Gondar Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

>> Gondar– Lalibela/Drive/Flight (350 km) Today we continue our drive through ever changing landscapes to Lalibela (approx. 7-8 hours). On the way we may opt for a stop at Awra Amba and visit the completely self-sufficient community, where men and women are socially equal and where there are no religions. Quite an interesting and unique approach in Ethiopia. Judge it for yourself! We will reach Lalibela in the late afternoon. Accommodation: Hotel, Lalibela.

• Time: 8-10hrs
• Meals: Tabor Hotel Lalibela Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

•  Accommodation: Tabor Hotel Lalibela Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

>> Full Day in Lalibela

Today, we explore the 11 famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, often called the “8th wonder of the world.” Carved directly from the volcanic rock on which they stand, these remarkable structures display extraordinary craftsmanship and spiritual significance.

In the morning, visit the first group of churches: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mikael, Bet Mariam, Bet Maskel, Bet Danagel, and Bet Medhane Alem — the largest rock-hewn church in the world, built in the style of a Greek temple.

After lunch, continue to the second group of churches, located south of the River Jordan, culminating with a visit to Bet Giyorgis, the most iconic and beautifully carved of all. Isolated on a sloping rock, it stands as a masterpiece of Ethiopian architecture.

• Time: 8-10hrs
• Meals: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

•  Accommodation: Tabor Hotel Lalibela Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

>> Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Departure

Morning/Afternoon: Attend mass at one of Lalibela’s iconic rock-hewn churches. Transfer to the airport for Air Transfer to Addis Ababa.

Upon arrival: Enjoy shopping or relax in the city.

Evening: Traditional Ethiopian dinner and cultural dance show at a renowned restaurant. Afterwards, transfer to the airport for your international departure

• Time: 8-10hrs
• Meals: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)