This is a tour to the northern part of Ethiopia
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12 Days
Daily Tour
10 people
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This is a tour to the northern part of Ethiopia
Up on arrival at Bole International airport you will be meet Destegna Ethiopia Tours representatives and be taken to your reserved hotel. Depending up on time make sightseeing in Addis Ababa. The sightseeing includes the national museum (where you can see the Lucy fossil skeleton found), Trinity cathedral church and Entoto hills
Catch morning flight to fly to Bahir Dar. After short break leave out the hotel for boat trip on Lake Tana and visit two or three of its beautiful and interesting islands with their medieval period monasteries. Covering over 3500sq km, Lake Tana is Ethiopia’s largest lake and is famous as the home of the monasteries established on some 20 of its 37 islands. Most churches in the monasteries have interesting paintings and contain a collection of church treasures and beautiful old manuscripts.
In afternoon drive to Tis Isat (smoking of Fire) waterfall, Previous it was one of the most spectacular falls in Africa, 400m wide when in flood and dropping over a sheer chasm more than 45m deep, the thunderous noise could be heard long before arrival and the spray that is thrown up could be felt up to a kilo meters away. But since a dam has been built upstream, the waterfall is reduced and has lost some of its former splendor but especially in the rain time, it is still impressive. And also the walk to the waterfall is nice and you can enjoy nature and watch birds. Keep an eye out for parrots, bee-eaters, lovebirds and Turacos.
Heading to the legendary city of Gondar. In Gondar visit the Royal Enclosure that is surrounded by high stone walls containing the ruins of 17th century palaces of king Fasiladas, king Iyasu and queen Mentewab and different other buildings. The castles are a mixture of Ethiopian, European and probably also Indian styles. According to descriptions of 17th century travelers, the interior of the castle of king Fasiladas was extremely luxurious, decorated with gold, ivory and precious stones. Also, visit Debre Berhan Selassie Church meaning Trinity at the Mount of Light. It has rectangular structure and ceilings are decorated with beautiful winged angels, and its walls with impressive scenes depicting biblical events, including the life of Christ, Mary, and the saints and martyrs. There is also a painting of the church’s founder, Emperor Iyasu I.
Today drive to the jagged panorama of the Simien Mountains National Park, famed for its exclusive landscape, afro-alpine vegetation and unique wildlife, where you may spot the endemic Wallia Ibex, Gelada Baboon troops, Bushbuck, Klipspringer. However, as we stay for one night we will enjoy the dramatic scenery and a troop friendly Gelada Baboon at very close distance and Birds such as Chestnut-napped Francolin, Mountain Thrush, Thick-billed Raven, Lammergeyer, White-collared Pigeon and Ankober Serin just to name a few. For those who interest in hike/Trek we will trek for about 2-3 hrs on the edge and beautiful escarpment to view the beautiful and green valley, wondering the long day eating and grooming of Gelada Baboon families.
More time in an amazing the Simien Mountains National Park: the incredible mountain scenery is breathtaking. Hike along mountain trails enjoying the endless unique flora and fauna of this elevated region (Giant Lobelia). Drive to continue Axum via Tekeze Valley.
Exploring the old city of Ethiopia, Axum. Visit the interesting museum in Stelae field, the impressive Stelae Fields and also the grounds of the 16th-century Cathedral of St. Mary of Zion, home of the original Ark of the Covenant, Queen of Sheba ruin palace and Tomb of Kaleb and Gebre Meskel at certain place will be dropped for souvenir and stretching your legs to the hotel.
Leaving Axum to drive Hawzen. In the afternoon drive and Trek to Abune Yemata Guh. Abune Yemata is 4 kms drive from Megab and a further 30 minutes' walk will bring you to the foot of the perpendicular rock mountains of Guh. The scenery is breathtaking and the mountains resemble pillars reaching to the sky. The challenging and the only way to the church is footholds and handgrips in the rock face. Just before the entrance to the church there is a narrow ledge carved in the cliff from which one can view a sheer drop of approximately 250m to 300m.
Today Drive and trek to Mariam Korkor. Mariam Korker is a rock church situated on one of the high mountains of Gheralta just overlooking the village of Megab, 8 kms south of Hawzien. An hour's trek from the village brings you to the Mariam Korkor and the nearby smaller church of Daniel Korkor. A picnic lunch after a steep climb up. Time to enjoy the wonderful view across the Gherelta Plains. In the afternoon Drive to Mekelle visiting the rock churches of Abraha we Atsbeha, or the beautiful Wukro Chirkos.
For the whole day your journey will be drive Mekele to Lalibela. on the visit some local market.
Start your day by excursion. Visit the first group of the magnificent rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which are carved out of living volcanic tuff with super architectural skill that the world has never seen, yet elsewhere. UNESCO registers these churches as world heritage. Among churches of this group Bete Medahine Alem (house of the redeemer) is the largest with 5 aisles, 72 pillars, vaulted dome and molding decoration. Bete Mariam (house of St. Marry) is the most decorated among the rock hewn churches.
More Lalibela excursion to Yemerhane Kirstos cave church outside of Lalibela through beautiful mountainous land scape of last region. Back to the hotel for lunch. After noon visit the second group of the rock-hewn churches; Bete Emanuel (house of Emanuel) is architecturally the finest. Bete Giorgis (the house of George) is the finest of all the churches in Lalibela for which reason art historians conclude that this church is carved at the end of the cluster, after the masons have developed their skill to carve the church in such extra ordinary perfection.
For the last day catch morning flight to fly back to Addis Ababa, shopping at souvenir shops. Evening fare well dinner at traditional restaurant and transfer to airport for fly back home.