Ethiopia’s History, Nature & Culture – 14 Days

Arrive in Addis Ababa. For morning arrivals, enjoy an optional visit to the Ethnographic Museum, an excellent introduction to Ethiopia’s cultures. If time permits, explore Mercato, Africa’s largest open-air market, and visit Trinity Cathedral, the final resting place of Emperor Haile Selassie.
Overnight: Hotel – Addis Ababa

Fly to Bahir Dar via Ethiopian Airlines. Visit the local market, then enjoy a boat trip on Lake Tana, source of the Blue Nile. Explore ancient island monasteries adorned with religious murals and manuscripts.
Overnight: Hotel – Bahir Dar

Drive through the scenic countryside to Gondar. Tour the Royal Enclosure, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring 17th-century castles. Visit Debre Birhan Selassie Church, renowned for its ceiling of painted angels and rich religious artwork.
Overnight: Hotel – Gondar

Fly to Lalibela, home to the world-famous rock-hewn churches carved over 800 years ago. Explore the northern church cluster, including Bete Medhane Alem, the largest monolithic church in the world.
Overnight: Hotel – Lalibela

Choose between:

• A morning hike (or mule ride) to Mount Asheton to visit its 13th-century monastery and enjoy panoramic views.
  OR

• A drive to Yemrehanna Kristos, an exceptional pre-Lalibela cave church built with wood and stone.

In the afternoon, continue visiting Lalibela’s southern church cluster.
Overnight: Hotel – Lalibela

Fly to Axum, Ethiopia’s ancient capital. Visit the stelae fields, dating back over 2,000 years. Tour the new archaeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s palace ruins, and ancient tombs as time permits.
Overnight: Hotel – Axum

Fly to Addis Ababa, then drive to Lake Langano in the Great Rift Valley. Relax at Sabana Lodge on the lake’s shores—one of Ethiopia’s few swimmable lakes.
Overnight: Lodge – Lake Langano

Drive to Arba Minch, visiting:

• Melka Kunture, a Stone Age archaeological site.

• Adadi Mariam, a 12th-century rock-hewn church.

• Tiya, a UNESCO World Heritage site with mysterious engraved stelae.

En route, visit a Dorze village in the Guge Mountains, known for their towering bamboo houses and weaving traditions.
Overnight: Hotel – Arba Minch

Take a boat ride on Lake Chamo to see crocodiles, hippos, and birdlife. Drive to Jinka, passing through areas inhabited by the Gamo and Derashe peoples. If it’s Thursday, visit Key Afar Market to see the Benna, Ari, and other tribes trading goods.
Overnight: Lodge – Jinka

Early morning visit to Mago National Park to meet the Mursi people, famous for the women’s lip plates and body decoration. If time allows, explore the Omo Valley Museum in Jinka.
Overnight: Lodge – Jinka

Drive to Turmi, home of the Hamer people, known for elaborate hairstyles, decorative scars, and the famous bull-jumping ceremony, a rite of passage. Along the way, visit Benna and Ari villages.
Overnight: Lodge – Turmi

Visit Murele and the Karo people, masters of body painting and scarification. Also visit a Dassanech village near the Omo River. Return to Turmi.
Overnight: Lodge – Turmi

Drive to Konso, a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape. The Konso people are renowned for their wagas (wooden grave markers) and terraced agriculture on steep highland terrain.
Overnight: Lodge – Konso

Drive to Arba Minch and fly back to Addis Ababa. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with live music and dance performances.
Transfer to the airport for your international departure (late night flights recommended).