This is a tour to the Northern part of Ethiopia
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15 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 Head Mekele en route visit Yeha temple and Debre Damo monastery.
Late Morning drive to Hamedela and Picnic lunch at Berhale where we arrange the permits and police escort. You will be around late afternoon at Hamdela campsite then, drive to Dodom. Here we will arrange camels to transport your luggage and water, and then you will start hiking to the Erta Ale Volcanic hills (613 meters above sea level) which is 15km one way, and walk to see the volcanic eruption. The eruption is so colorful and spectacular. At night, we will camp nearby the eruption, on the crater rim above the active lava lake.
Climbing again early in the morning to the rim to see the sun set. Then drive to Hamedela. Late afternoon visit camel caravan
After early breakfast drive to the Lake Asale, salty Lake and visit the salt workers and the merchant, then head to Dalol/Danakil Depression, which straddles the Eritrean border to the east of the Tigrian Highlands and is officially listed as the hottest and active place on the earth surface with an average temperature of 40 - 50 degrees Celsius. Most of this vast and unpopulated region lies below sea level at 116 Meters. Then drive back to Mekele.
This day your Journey will be for the whole day drive to Lalibela on the way visit some local Market.
Make Lalibela excursion to 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.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 extraordinary perfection.
Take morning flight to fly back Addis and connect your flight to Dire Dawa. Then drive to Harar. Evening Hyena man show
Start visiting from the walled city of Harar covers an area of a little over 1sq km. There are over 87 mosques in the old town alone, and these are said to form the largest concentration of mosques in any city in the world. Harar is known as the 4th Moslem sacred city of the world next to Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. The town is also regarded as the walled city because of the wall that was built in 15th c by Harari (Adare people) to protect themselves from the repeated invasion of surrounding tribes. A day visit of Harar sightseeing includes, the Harari museum, Artier Rambo house, surrounding of the old wall and old village and market inside the wall.
For the last day have some time in Harer. Then drive to Dire Dawa and transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis Ababa, depending up on International flight time shopping at souvenir shops. Evening fair well dinner at traditional restaurant and transfer to airport to fly back home