Road Trip to Northern Historical Ethiopia – 13 Days
Overview:
Making up the bulk of the Horn of Africa and divided by the Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia delivers one of the most exhilarating and authentic luxury-tour experiences in east Africa. People-watching from a café in the bustling capital of Addis Ababa is an eye-opening pleasure. This city will have you tasting the distinct flavours of Ethiopian cuisine and pairing it with a strong Arabica coffee for the most authentic culinary experience possible. After all, the coffee plant originated in Ethiopia.
North of the capital, the churches of Lalibela and the historical sites of Gondar and Axum will astound you, whether you’re interested in archaeology, ancient history, religion, or all three. Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches dating from the 12th and 13th centuries are Christian pilgrimage sites, revealing subterranean monoliths and frescoes. Nearby, the city of Bahir Dar on Lake Tana is quietly stunning, its little islands the home of medieval monasteries. The Blue Nile winds south of the city here to the cliffs of the Blue Nile Falls. For lovers of nature, the Simien Mountains and Bale Mountains are almost 10,000 feet above sea level, their national parks perfect for hiking. On the opposite end of this scale, the Danakil Depression is the lowest place in Africa, its underground volcanoes like a dreamscape. With rare wildlife like the ibex, Ethiopian fox, Ethiopian wolf and gelada baboons, trekking here is completely different from the classic safari.
Oral tradition traces the birth of Ethiopia to Ethiopic, the great grandson of Noah. That’s some biblical lineage! History and the bible are the common threads you will hear repeated again and again throughout your journey in northern Ethiopia. Religion plays such a strong role in modern Ethiopia, but it also molded its past and the antiquities of Lalibela and Axum are settings for this tour. The Ark of the Covenant is not made up by the ingenious mind of Steven Spielberg, the filmmaker of Raiders of the Lost Ark – it resides in Axum! Learn how it got there. This unique expedition of northern Ethiopia offers 4 unique UNESCO World Heritage Sites, highlighting its 17 centuries of Christianity. View the baths of the Queen of Sheba and experience Ethiopia’s own Jerusalem, Lalibela and its rock-hewn churches. Lalibela was the center of the Zagwe dynasty, as Axum was the center of the earlier and more powerful Axumite Kingdom. The third UNESCO site on this trip, Gondar, was Ethiopia’s capital beginning in the 16th century, marking the beginning of the country’s modern era. This tour also enables you to discover Bahir Dar, where it is believed Syrian monks built the island monasteries on Lake Tana, the source of the Nile. This program offers to visit the sites and villages, while experiencing the culture and hospitality of the Ethiopian people.
Day 1: Arrive Addis Ababa – City Tour
Arrive to Bole international Airport meet and great our Guide in the airport, here we will start our service. Today you have a full day city tour in Addis Ababa. Visit historical sites including the National Archaeological Museum, to view the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeleton was discovered in 1974. Continue to the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University; a great insight into he many different peoples of Ethiopia and their respective cultures. After visiting Holy Trinity Cathedral, we will end the day with a drive to the top of Mount Entoto, which rises to an altitude of 10,500 feet and offers a panoramic view of the metropolis.
Overnight hotel
Day 2: Drive to Bahir Dar
After an early breakfast drive to the city of Bahir Dar. Passing by mt. Entoto through the sululta plain and stop at Jemma Valley for photo. Then proceed to the spectacular scenery of the Blue Nile Gorge, which has a breath taking scenery and better than the Grand Canon according to visitor.
Day 3: Bahir Dar
After breakfast drive to the small town of Tiss Abay to visit the Blue Nile Falls, locally known as Tis Isat or ‘Smoke of Fire’. Even though much of the water has been diverted to power local hydroelectric generators, the falls is still an intriguing sight. The surrounding area is extremely fertile and the Amhara people who live here farm wheat, sorghum and teff, the prime ingredient for making injera, the national bread and increasingly popular, gluten-free super-food you may have heard of back in your country. After lunch we will have a boat trip on Lake Tana. There are 37 islands on Lake Tana and 32 of them have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. We visit the monastery church of Ura Kidane Mihiret, which is the best known of the monasteries and has an important collection of religious icons from the 16th to 18th centuries A.D.
Overnight same hotel
Day 4: Drive to Gondar
Enjoy a scenic drive to the ancient Imperial city, traveling through a fertile landscape of wide open fields; a perfect African tableau punctuated by undulating hillsides and valleys. Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of Fasilidas. In Gonder, there are a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African. In the afternoon, we visit Fasilidas’ Palace, probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area and the oldest one! We continue on to the Church of Debre Berham Selassie (Light of the Trinity). The interior of Debre Berham Selassie is decorated with beautiful frescos, cherubs and paintings. Debre Berham Selassie is rumored to once have been the proposed final resting-place of the Ark of the Covenant.
Overnight hotel
Day 5: Drive to Debark – Siemin Mountain
Drive to the principal mountain massifs of Africa, the Simien Mountains. On arrival at the headquarters of Simien Mountains National Park, meet our trekking scout and guide and transfer to your hotel. This afternoon enjoy a three to four hour relaxing trek to explore the beauty of this mountain range, which includes several plateaus separated by broad river valleys and a number of peaks that rise above 13,000 feet. The sights are impressive and an excellent chance to see herds of Ethiopian Baboons.
Overnight hotel
Day 6: Drive to Axum
Drive through the mountain range offering extraordinary scenery of the Simiens as we descend towards the Tekeze Gorge. This scenic drive takes us from a height of 10,200 feet down to 4,600 feet. Drive through small villages dotted between the mountain massifs, where people somehow eke out an existence in this unforgiving countryside. Drive through the Tekeze valley into Axum.
Overnight hotel
Day 7: Axum – City Tour
This is the heart of ancient Ethiopia, the capital of the Kingdom of Axum which was the most powerful state between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persia. The archaeological and historical attractions in Axum include monolithic steles or obelisks, the tombs of King Kaleb and King Gebre Meskal, the legendary Bath of the Queen of Sheba, and the ruins of her ancient palace. Also visit the new and the old Cathedral of St Mary of Tsion (Zion) and the sanctuary that houses the original Arc of the Covenant. The older of the two cathedrals, built in the 16th century, is believed to be built on the ruins of an earlier 4th century church, and is the holiest site in Ethiopia.
Overnight hotel
Day 8: Drive to Woro
Drive via the historical town of Adwa in which a decisive 1896 battle the Ethiopian army commanded by Emperor Menelik II defeated the Italians, dashing any hope they had to colonize Ethiopia. Continue to Yeha, a small village to view ancient ruins (5th century B.C.) of a large pre-Christian temple, believed to be the oldest standing building in Ethiopia. Also on the temple grounds is the 6th century A.D church of Aba Aftse, dedicated to one of the nine saints who migrated from Syria and introduced Christianity to this area. Continue to Debre Damo, which is the first monastery in Ethiopia and found in 6th C by Abune Aregawi, who was one of the Nine Saints. After lunch drive to Mekele. En route, visit the 4th rock church of Wukro Cherkos.
Overnight hotel
Day 9: Drive to Lalibela
Enjoy a relaxing scenic drive through the Tigray landscape and appreciate the abundant evidence of why Ethiopia is the most mountainous country in Africa. Visit Lake Ashenge a magnificent area to view the indigenous bird life of Ethiopia. Visit the exquisite church of Yemrehane Kristos Arrive into historic Lalibela.
Overnight hotel
Day 10: Lalibela – City Tour
Lalibela’s churches are collectively referred to as ‘The Eighth Wonder of the World’. Legend has it that Emperor Lalibela had been instructed, in a vision from God, to build the new Jerusalem after returning from Jerusalem which was sacked by the Muslims. Visit the 11 majestic, rock churches that are still used as places of worship by Lalibelans. Since its relatively remote location, Lalibela has yet gained the worldwide exposure and has been compared as the “Petra of Africa”.
Overnight hotel.
Day 11: Drive to Kombolcha
Driving to Kombolcha along the paved road that heads towards the town of Kombolcha. The road crosses mountains and valleys at elevations between 2000 and 3000. Through the highlands of Dilb, where you may see the endemic mammal of Gelada baboon. Along the way you will have a chance to take a picture of the beautiful hair style of the Wello people and will have a short stop at Lake Hayk, where you see colorful water birds. And then proceed to Kombolcha.
Overnight hotel
Day 12: Addis Ababa/Departure
After breakfast drive back to Addis Ababa through the tunnel of Tarma Ber, which is 580 meters on the way, you will have a stop at Gemassa plateau, where you see the Great Rift Valley and one of the Oromo village with their people. Late this afternoon enjoy a “farewell dinner” and coffee ceremony with Ethiopia traditional dance from different nation at a famous traditional Ethiopian restaurant. After sampling the various national dishes and enjoy an Ethiopian Folkloric transfer to the airport. Fly back to home.