16-Day Timeless Treasures of Northern Ethiopia Journey

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, where you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may take a short city orientation tour, visiting key landmarks such as Meskel Square or Mount Entoto.
Overnight: Addis Ababa.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Best Western Plus Pearl Addis

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Fly to Bahir Dar and City Tour

After breakfast, take a morning fly to Bahir Dar, a charming city located on the southern shore of Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake. Enjoy a relaxing city tour featuring the Bezawit Hill viewpoint, which offers panoramic views of the lake and the Blue Nile River. Visit the local market and stroll along the palm-lined avenues.
Overnight: Bahir Dar.

Main Destination:

Bahir Dar (City)

Accommodation:

Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar

• Mid-range hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Blue Nile Falls and Lake Tana Monasteries

Begin the day with an excursion to Tiss Issat Village to visit the famous Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tis Abay or the Smoke of Fire. Take a short hike to enjoy the majestic cascades and surrounding rural landscapes.
In the afternoon, take a boat trip on Lake Tana to explore its historic island monasteries, including Ura Kidane Mihret and Azwa Maryam, famous for their ancient manuscripts and vibrant frescoes.
Overnight: Bahir Dar.

Main Destination:

Bahir Dar (City)

Accommodation:

Jacaranda Hotel Bahir Dar

• Mid-range hotel located in Bahir Dar (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Drive to Gondar via Awramba Community

Depart Bahir Dar and drive to Gondar, the former imperial capital of Ethiopia. En route, visit the Awramba community, known for its progressive social practices, gender equality, and cooperative lifestyle. Continue through the scenic highlands to Gondar and check into your hotel.
Overnight: Gondar.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

AG Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Explore the Historical Treasures of Gondar

Spend the day discovering the medieval city of Gondar, often called the “Camelot of Africa.” Visit the Royal Enclosure (Fasil Ghebbi), a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring castles and palaces built by Emperor Fasilides and his successors. Continue to Debre Berhan Selassie Church, admired for its exquisite ceiling paintings of angels, and visit Fasilides’ Bath, used during the annual Epiphany celebrations.
Overnight: Gondar.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

AG Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Excursion to Simien Mountains National Park

Take a full-day trip to the Simien Mountains National Park, one of Africa’s most dramatic landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at breathtaking escarpments and high plateaus while spotting endemic wildlife such as the Gelada baboon, Walia ibex, and Ethiopian wolf. Enjoy light trekking and panoramic views before returning to Gondar in the evening.
Overnight: Gondar.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Best Time To Visit September to December (Beautiful scenery)

High Season October to April (Lodges are busy)

Best Weather October to April

Wildlife in Simien Mountains NP

Gelada Monkey Abundant

Walia Ibex Occasional

Ethiopian Wolf Rare

Klipspringer Rare

Bushbuck Rare

Show more

Golden Jackal Rare

Hyena Rare

Accommodation:

Limalimo Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Simien Mountains NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

– Fly to Axum and Discover Ancient Wonders

Fly from Gondar to Axum, the ancient capital of the Axumite Kingdom and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Africa. Visit the Stelae Park, home to towering granite obelisks, and the Church of St. Mary of Zion, believed to house the Ark of the Covenant. Explore the Queen of Sheba’s Palace and other archaeological remains that tell the story of Ethiopia’s early civilization.
Overnight: Axum.

Main Destination:

Axum (City)

Accommodation:

Yared Zema International Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Axum (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Drive to Tigray and Explore Abune Yemata Guh

Depart Axum and travel through the rugged landscapes of Tigray, home to some of Ethiopia’s most extraordinary rock-hewn churches. Hike to Abune Yemata Guh, dramatically carved into a sandstone cliff and renowned for its ancient frescoes and panoramic views. This challenging yet rewarding climb offers a deeply spiritual and unforgettable experience overnight Gerhalta Lodge.

Main Destination:

Tigray

Accommodation:

Gheralta Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Tigray

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Explore Maryam Korkor and Daniel Korkor Churches

Spend the day exploring additional Tigrayan rock-hewn churches, including Maryam Korkor and Daniel Korkor, both known for their spectacular mountain-top locations and sacred art. These churches provide stunning views of the surrounding Gheralta Mountains and insight into the region’s early Christian heritage.
Overnight: Gerhalta Lodge.

Main Destination:

Tigray

Accommodation:

Gheralta Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Tigray

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Visit Debre Damo Monastery and the Battlefields of Adwa; Drive to Mekelle

Drive to the Debre Damo Monastery, one of Ethiopia’s oldest religious centers, accessible only by climbing a rope up a sheer cliff—a truly unique adventure for those who wish to attempt it. Continue to the Battlefields of Adwa, where Ethiopian forces achieved a historic victory over the Italian army in 1896, a symbol of African independence. Arrive in Mekelle for overnight.
Overnight: Mekelle.

Main Destination:

Tigray

Accommodation:

Homeland Hotel Mekelle

• Mid-range hotel located in Mekele (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Drive from Mekelle to Hamed Ela

Travel northeast through stark yet fascinating desert terrain to Hamed Ela, a gateway to the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and most geologically active places on Earth. Pass by Afar villages and experience the beginning of Ethiopia’s extraordinary lowlands.
Overnight: Hamed Ela.

Main Destination:

Hamad Ela (Village)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Explore Dallol and Drive to Erta Ale

After breakfast, visit Dallol, an otherworldly landscape of colorful sulfur springs, salt formations, and steaming geothermal fields — among the lowest points on the African continent. Continue your adventure by driving to Erta Ale Volcano, one of the few continuously active lava lakes in the world. Hike up to the crater at sunset to witness the mesmerizing glow of molten lava.
Overnight: Erta Ale camping.

Main Destination:

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

– Erta Ale to Lake Afdera, Then Drive to Semera and Fly to Addis Ababa

After a sunrise view over Erta Ale, descend and drive to Lake Afdera, where you can relax by the salt lake and enjoy its natural hot springs. Continue to Semera, the capital of the Afar region, and take a fly to back to Addis Ababa.
Overnight: Addis Ababa.

Main Destination:

Semera (Town)

Accommodation:

Best Western Plus Pearl Addis

• Mid-range hotel located in Addis Ababa (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Fly to Lalibela and Visit the First Cluster of Churches

Fly to Lalibela, one of Ethiopia’s greatest spiritual centers and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend the afternoon exploring the first group of rock-hewn churches, including Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Maryam, and Bete Golgotha, masterpieces of medieval engineering and devotion.
Overnight: Lalibela.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Maribela Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Visit Yemrehanna Kristos and the Second Cluster of Churches

Take a morning excursion to Yemrehanna Kristos Church, a beautifully preserved cave church built before the time of King Lalibela. Return to the town to visit the second cluster of churches, including the stunning Bete Giyorgis (St. George’s Church), carved in the shape of a cross and often regarded as Ethiopia’s most iconic monument.
Overnight: Lalibela.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Maribela Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water & spirits/liquor (Other drinks not included)

Fly Back to Addis Ababa and Departure

Fly back to Addis Ababa and enjoy some leisure time for last-minute shopping or relaxation. In the evening, enjoy a farewell cultural dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with music and dance performances before transferring to the airport for your international departure.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.