13 DAY BEST OF ETHIOPIA EXPEDITION

After breakfast, depart for a full day city tour of Addis Ababa. Travel To EthiopiaVisit the Saint Trinity Cathedral church and the National Museum, where you will see the famous fossil Lucy, who is 3.2 million years old, the Entoto Saint Mary Museum, Ethnographic Museum and the Merkato market, the largest open-air market in Africa. Return for dinner and overnight stay at hotel

Early breakfast and depart for Bahir Dar passing by Mt. Entoto through the Sululta plain and stop at Jemmal valley for photos. Proceed to the spectacular scenery of the Blue Nile Gorge, which has a breath taking scenery Overnight hotel.

Drive to the Blue Nile Falls.

About the Blue Nile Falls known locally as Tissisat (smoking water) is a fall 100 m (328 ft) wide where the water plunges for 45 m (148 ft), giving rise to steam clouds and rainbows.
After lunch, take a boat trip on Lake Tana with many islands, majority of which have churches and monasteries of considerable historical and cultural interest. Visit the monastery church of Ura Kidane Mihiret. Return for dinner and overnight stay at hotel

After Breakast drive to Gonder.

About Gonder: Gonder was the first capital city of the Ethiopian Empire in 1632. Gonder has a dozen castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. The city seems more European than African.
In the afternoon visit Fasilidas’ Palace, the Church of Debre Berham Selassie . Return for dinner and overnight stay at hotel

After breakfast drive to Semen Mounatin National park.

About Semen Mountain : This is a small market town at an altitude of 2700 meters close to the boundary of the Semien Mountains National park. Corrugated – iron – roofed buildings surround its colorful and busy market area.
With armed escort drive to Sankober en route pretty country of the Semen Mountains. Dinner and overnight stay.

Depart after breakfast and drive to the ancient town of Axum through the chains of the Semen Mountains and the Tekeze river valley. Overnight at hotel

City tour of Axum.

About Axum: A UNESCO World Heritage Site legends have it that the Kebre Nagast (Book of Kings) recount how the city of Axum as early as the 10th century B.C was already the city in which the Queen of Sheba resided. It is recounted that the son of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to Axum and it remains there to this day, preserved in a sanctuary. Famous long before the time of Christ, Axum was the capital of the long Axumite reign, one of the oldest African empires and represented a crucial connecting-point between Africa and Asia for almost a thousand years.
Visit the Granite stone Stele of Axum, The Tombs of King Kaleb and his son King G/Mesekel, The Ezana’s stone inscription, The Queen of Sheba’s palace and Swimming pool, and the Church of Zion, which is the final resting place of the True Arc of The Covenant. Return for dinner and overnight stay

After breakfast drive to Adigrate by the Adwa Mountains. Visit Yeha Temple, which is more than 2500 years old and small museum in the Church compound. Proceed 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 C rock church of Wukro Cherkos. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel

After an early breakfast drive to the town of Lalibela via Sekota(300 kms) to experience the rough nature of road but nice with the beautiful scenery (gigantic, ups and downs landscape) have. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel

Full day city tour in Lalibela.

About Lalibela: The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the 12th century and are carved out of the pink granite rock; they have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After Lunch visit the second group of churches with have four rock churches. Dinner and overnight rest

After breakfast deive to Kombolcha through the highlands of Dilb home of the endemic Gelada baboon. A chance to take pictures of the beautiful hair style of the Wello people and a short stop at Lake Hayk, home of colorful water birds en route to Kombolcha. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel

After breakfast drive back to Addis Ababa through the tunnel of Tarma Ber, stop at Gemassa plateau, to view the Great Rift Valley and the Oromo people. Dinner at a traditional restaurant and thereafter transfer to airport for departure.

• Accommodation on full board while on Expedition
• Services of our English speaking driver/guide while on Expedition
• Entry and park fees while on safari
• Travel insurance

• International flights
• Extras and items of a personal nature
• Tips and Gratuities
• Tours and excursions not mentioned above