This 15-day trip makes us discover the many facets of northern Ethiopia. It is offered subject to the situation of the region guaranteeing a safe stay. The bubbling capital Addis Ababa contrasts with the sweetness of life of Lake Tana where we will spend 2 nights to appreciate its monasteries and discover the Blue Nile springs. Our passage through the Simien Mountains with its grandiose landscapes will be an opportunity to know the traditions of its inhabitants and to approach certain endemic species of Ethiopia. Still further north, the visit of the Aksum obelisk and the vertiginous churches of Tigray give us an overview of the history of Ethiopia. This trip will also take us through the incomparable adventure of an expedition to Dallol in the Danakil desert, to discover incredible landscapes and meet the courageous populations who exploit the salt there. Finally we will stop in the unmissable city of Lalibela.
This trip assumes that travelers take an international flight to Addis Ababa and back. At the end of the trip, the domestic flight Lalibela - Addis Ababa is included in the Africorne Travel package.
DAY 1 :
Arrival in Addis Ababa - transfer to hotel
Shopping and activities according to arrival time in Addis
Evening meal in Addis at Jewel of India
Night: Abegaz Hotel Addis Ababa
DAY 2
Morning: Walk on the heights of Entoto- Visit of the museum and the imperial palace- Entoto Mariam Church- Haile Gebre Selassie Sports Complex
Lunch at the Taitu Hotel, the oldest hotel in the capital.
Afternoon: Visit to the National Museum (Lucy's bones) and the Red Terror Martyrs' Museum - Shiro Meda Traditional Clothing Market
Evening meal at Habesha 2000 with Ethiopian dance show
Night: Abegaz Hotel in Addis Ababa
DAY 3
Morning: departure in 4×4 to Debré Markos (300 Km - 6 hours)
On the way: visit of the monastery of Debre-Lebanos (100 km)
Stop at the Blue Nile Gorge (200 km)
Evening meal in Debré Markos at the Gozamen Hotel
Night: Gozamen Hotel
DAY 4
Morning: Departure in 4×4 to Bahir Dar (250 km - 5 hours)
Lunch on the way
Afternoon: walk in Bahir Dar and around the lake
Evening meal at Misrak Special Food
Night: in Bahir Dar at the RahNile Hotel.
DAY 5
Morning: Boat trip on Lake Tana to visit 4 monasteries and the mouth of the Blue Nile.
Monasteries of Ura Kidame Meret, Azuwa Maryam, Kebran Gabriel and Debre Maryam
Lunch: restaurant at Castel Kuriftu Wine House
Afternoon: Visit the Blue Nile Falls
Evening meal at the Desset Resort
Night: RahNile Hotel in Bahir Dar
DAY 6: 1st day at the Neem farm
Morning: Departure to Gorgora (170 km - 3 hours)
visit the village of Awra Amba on the way
Lunch in Gorgora at the "Tim and Kim Village" lodge on the shores of Lake Tana.
Afternoon : ornithological excursion - Canoeing on the lake
Evening meal in Gorgora at the lodge
Night: Tim and Kim Village Lodge
DAY 7
Morning: Departure to Debark (160 km - 3 hours)
Visit the palaces and churches of the Royal Enclosure in Gondar before departure to Debark
Lunch in Gondar at Four Sisters Restaurant
Afternoon end of the journey to Debark
Evening meal in Debark at the Sona Hotel
Night at the Sona Hotel
DAY 8
Morning: Excursion to the Simien Mountains
Visit of the village of Argin: trek, ingera cooking and coffee ceremony
Lunch at Simien Lodge (the highest in Africa)
Afternoon : excursion to mountain villages and Jinbar Falls
Evening meal at the Sona Hotel in Debark
Night: at the Sona Hotel
DAY 9 Maskali Island
Morning: Departure to Aksoum (250 km - 5h30)
lunch on the way
Afternoon : Visit of the old quarter in Aksoum
Late afternoon: relaxation at the RemhaiHotel swimming pool
Aperitif while admiring the sunset on the terrace of the Yeha Hotel
Evening meal at Antika Cultural Restaurant with traditional dance shows
Night at the RemhaiHotel in Aksoum
DAY 10
Morning : Departure for Hawzen (130 km - 3h15)
Visit of the North stelae field in Aksum before leaving for Hawzen
Basket Market
Lunch in Aksoum at the Empire Restaurant & Bar
Afternoon: journey in 4×4
Evening meal in Hawzen at Gheralta Lodge
Night at Gheralta Lodge
DAY 11
Morning: Visit 3 churches in Tigray - access to some of them requires good physical condition and not to be prone to vertigo
OR visit to the village of Cheila for a meeting with the local population
Lunch in Hawzen
AAfternoon: Departure for Mekélé (103 km - 2 hours)
Evening meal in Mekélé at Karibu Restaurant
Night : Yordanos Hotel de Mekélé
Days 12 and 13: Expedition to the Dallol of the Danakil Desert
Departure - the morning of day 12
Return trip in 4×4
Discovering the indescribable colours and landscapes of the Dallol volcano
Night of the 12th bivouac in Hamed Ela
Return to Mekélé at the end of day 13
Evening meal at the Black Rose
Night of the 13th at the Yordanos Hotel in Mekélé
DAY 14
Morning: Departure to Lalibela (317 km - 7 hours)
On the way, lunch
Evening meal in Lalibela at the Seven Olives Hotel
Night in Lalibela, at the Lal Hotel equipped with a swimming pool and a spa/sauna
DAY 15: Visit to the Monolithic Churches of Lalibela
Lunch at the Ben Abeba restaurant and its superb view
Evening meal at Unique Restaurant
Night : at the Lal Hotel de Lalibela
DAY 16 : Transfer to Lalibela airport for the domestic flight to Addis Ababa.
Arrival at Addis airport where you will have the connection for your international flight home.
Note: unpredictable events can lead us to modify the program (ex: flooded wadi on the way).
For all your trips in Ethiopia or Djibouti, Africorne Travel planned everything. We do discover extraordinary places, mostly authentics, with all inclusives tours, pre planned our fully customized.
Come to discover rich and exotic landscapes, atypical culture and a strong piece of history through our tours.