13-Day Grand North History, Simien & Danakil

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

Arrival in Addis Ababa

Welcome to Addis Ababa, sitting high at 2,355 meters above sea level. Your guide meets you at the airport and settles you into your hotel. Today is a relaxed day to rest and adjust to the altitude before a thirteen-day journey spanning ancient churches, high mountains, and an active volcano. If you have energy, visit the National Museum to see Lucy, the famous fossil. Your guide will go through the full journey ahead and help you prepare for its many contrasts.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Hotel Lobelia

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

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Lake Tana Monasteries & Blue Nile Falls

Take a short flight to Bahir Dar on the shore of Lake Tana, Ethiopia's largest lake. Take a boat trip to visit two of the lake's beautiful island monasteries, admiring centuries-old wall paintings, then visit the Blue Nile Falls, known locally as Tis Issat, or "smoking water". Overnight in 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:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Transfer to Gondar & Royal Enclosure

Drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar, once the capital of the Ethiopian empire. Visit the Royal Enclosure, a cluster of 17th century stone castles that once housed emperors and their court, and settle into your hotel for two nights, ready to explore more of the city tomorrow. Overnight in Gondar.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Goha Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Debre Berhan Selassie Church & Gondar Old Quarter

Spend a further day in Gondar, visiting the Debre Berhan Selassie Church, famous for its ceiling covered in painted angel faces, said to be one of the most beautiful churches in Ethiopia, and exploring the city's markets and old quarter at a relaxed pace before heading into the mountains tomorrow. Overnight in Gondar.

Main Destination:

Gondar (City)

Accommodation:

Goha Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Gondar (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Trek to Sankaber Campsite

Drive to Debark, entrance town for Simien Mountains National Park, and meet your required park scout and mule team. Begin trekking toward Sankaber campsite at about 3,250 meters, with sweeping first views over the escarpment and gelada monkeys often grazing right beside the trail. Overnight camping at Sankaber.

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:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Escarpment Trek to Geech & Jinbar Waterfall

Trek from Sankaber to Geech, following the dramatic edge of the escarpment with drop-offs of over a thousand meters on one side. Detour to see Jinbar Waterfall, plunging straight off the escarpment edge into the valley far below. Overnight camping at Geech, around 3,600 meters.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Simien Mountains NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Imet Gogo Viewpoint & Flight to Lalibela

Walk toward Chennek, passing close to Imet Gogo viewpoint, widely considered the single best panorama in the park, and watch for the rare Walia ibex on the surrounding cliffs. In the afternoon, descend by vehicle to Debark, drive to Gondar, and fly to Lalibela, Ethiopia's most celebrated pilgrimage site. Overnight in Lalibela.

Main Destination:

Simien Mountains National Park

Accommodation:

Sora Lodge Lalibela

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lalibela Northern & Eastern Church Groups

Spend the day exploring the Northern and Eastern groups of Lalibela's rock-hewn churches, carved directly into volcanic rock nearly 900 years ago, including Bete Medhane Alem, the largest monolithic church in the world, and Bete Maryam, believed to be the very first church carved here. Overnight in Lalibela.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Sora Lodge Lalibela

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Bete Giyorgis & Nakuto La'ab Monastery

Visit Bete Giyorgis, the Church of St. George, carved in the precise shape of a cross, followed by Nakuto La'ab, a quieter cave monastery outside town. With extra time in Lalibela, enjoy a more relaxed pace than most visitors get, with time to revisit favorite churches or simply absorb the atmosphere of this remarkable site. Overnight in Lalibela.

Main Destination:

Lalibela (Town)

Accommodation:

Sora Lodge Lalibela

• Mid-range hotel located in Lalibela (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Fly to Mekele & Dallol Sulfur Springs

Fly to Mekele, gateway to the Danakil Depression, one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth. Drive into the desert toward Hamedela, then visit Dallol, an otherworldly landscape of sulfur springs, salt towers, and small acid pools glowing in yellow, green, and orange. Sleep outdoors under the stars near Hamedela.

Main Destination:

Danakil Depression (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Salt Flats & Erta Ale Night Trek

Visit the vast salt flats of Lake Karum, where local workers still cut salt blocks by hand and camel caravans load up for the long trek to the highlands. In the late afternoon, drive to the base of Erta Ale and walk up the volcano with your guide and local escort, mostly after dark. At the top, look down onto one of the very few permanent lava lakes on the planet. Sleep in a simple shelter near the summit.

Main Destination:

Erta Ale Volcano (Danakil Depression)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Fly to Addis Ababa for Farewell Dinner

In the early morning, take a final look at the lava lake before descending and driving back to Mekele. Fly back to Addis Ababa in the evening. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by Origin Abyssinia at a local restaurant in the capital, a fitting celebration of thirteen days spanning Ethiopia's history, mountains, and volcanic wonders.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

Hotel Lobelia

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

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinks not included

Free Time in Addis Ababa & Departure

Enjoy a free morning in Addis Ababa. Depending on your flight time, you may have time for last-minute shopping or a coffee ceremony. Your guide will take you to Bole International Airport in good time for your departure flight, bringing this grand journey through northern Ethiopia to a close.

Main Destination:

Addis Ababa (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

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