Ethiopia, an old country beyond all imaginations, has culture and traditions dating back over 3000 years. With over 80 different Ethnic groups with their own language, culture and traditions. The strong religious setting, celebrations and festivals play an important part in every ones daily life.
The natural beauty of Ethiopia amazes the first-time visitor. Ethiopia is a land of rugged mountains(25 of which are 12,000 feet high) broad savannah, lakes and rivers. The most famous volcano has been in a state of continuous eruption since 1967. Its small southerly crater is the only permanent lave lake on the planet.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Union church, an autonomous Christian Church headed by a patriarch and closely related to the Coptic Church of Egypt, was the state church of Ethiopia until 1974. About 40 percent of the people of Ethiopia are Christians, and Christianity is predominant in the north.
Ethiopia, an old country beyond all imaginations, has culture and traditions dating back over 3000 years. With over 80 different Ethnic groups with their own language, culture and traditions. The strong religious setting, celebrations and festivals play an important part in every ones daily life.
18 DAYS / 17 NIGHTS FOR ADVENCHER + HISTORICAL SITES - CULTURE
MODE OF TRANSPORTAION : SURFACE
TOUR TYPE : ADVENTURE + HISTORICAL + Ethic Tribes
TOUR CODE : AT - 026
DAY 1 : City tour of Addis
Morning visit the Grand market, Archaeological and Ethnological Museums. Afternoon drive up to Mt. Entoto to have a panoramic view over the city and drive down to visit Trinity Cathedral and Beata church.
DAY 2 : Bahir Dar
An early, flight to Bahirdar. It takes 1hour and 30min. Then transfer to your hotel. After briefly settling in your hotel direct drive 32kms South East of Bahirdar and walk up some distance and then proceed to visit the thundering “Tiss-Issat” fall which means Smoking Water in Amharic. Drive back to your hotel for lunch. Afternoon, a four hour boat excursion on Lake Tana to visit
Ura Kidane Mihret on Zega Peninsual: the most beautiful church in the Tana region, set within bleak stone walls. The monastery was founded in the 14th century by a saint called Betre Maryam.
Kibran Gabriel: it is founded in the 13th century by a hermit called Abuna Yohannis. Dinner at your hotel. After dinner go to Cultural Night Club (Maskinko Bet) and overnight in Bahirdar.
Dinner at your hotel. After dinner going to Cultural Night Club (Maskinko Bet) and overnight in Bahirdar.
DAY 3 : Bahir Dar - Gonder
After breakfast, drive to Gondar. The four-hour drive will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture. After briefly settling in your hotel, explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with its most famous ceiling painting in Ethiopia. Overnight in Gonder.
DAY 4 : Gonder - Simen Mountains(sky of Africa) - Gonder
Depart early in the morning from Gondar for a drive to Debark. We will stop along the way to handle park fees, etc. Nearing Sankober, you will have beautiful views on both sides of the escarpment ridge and where you will likely see the endemic Gelada baboons. After 2hrs trekking back to Gonder. Overnight in Gonder.
DAY 5 : Gonder - Lalibela (flight)
The same morning, start your tour of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha. After lunch, continue with the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – St.George. Overnight in your hotel.
DAY 6 : Lalibela - Axum (flight)
Today will be a full day visit of the sites of Axum, including the famous obelisks (one that was recently erected after being returned from Italy), the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. Overnight in your hotel.
DAY 7 : Axum - Mekele
After breakfast drive some 20 kms. to visit the ruins of Yeha, dating from the 8th to 5th centuries BC, and thought to be the capital of Ethiopian civilization before Axum. Afterwards, Visit the Debre Damo monastery. Must climb up a 15-mt on a rope to enter. Overnight in Mekele hotel.
DAY 8 : Mekele - Hamed Ila
Drive from Mekele to Hamed Ila via Berehale, where you will pick up police scouts, road guides and permits for the Afar region. From Berehale, proceed driving to Hamed Ila. We will see the camel caravans along the way, carrying salt from the salt lake to Mekele for sale. Overnight camping in Hamed Ila.
DAY 9 : Hamed Ila - Erta Ale
From Hamed Ila, continue to Erta Ale via Kusawad. The Erta Ale volcano has been in a constant state of eruption for over 40 years. You will camp in the village of El Dom, where it will be an early-to-bed night.
DAY 10 : Erta Ale - Hamed Ila
After breakfast, drive to Hamed Ila and take a day trip to Dallol which at 116m below sea level is the lowest point on earth. Here the landscape is beautiful, due to the many shades of red and yellow from the hot water, acids and minerals spurting up from the ground. You will also visit Lake Asale, which is the salt lake where the Afar nomads extract salt. You will witness (and even try) their laborious task of removing salt from the ground as hundreds of camels relax before the long trek back to Mekele. At the end of the day we return to Hamed Ila for overnight camping.
DAY 11 : Afdera - Mekele - Addis (flight)
Direct drive to Mekele Then back to Addis by plane. Dinner will be in restaurant with a night view of Addis.
DAY 12 : Addis - Harar ( via Dere Dawa) - flight
Morning flight from Addis to Dere Dawa then transportation car waits you in Dere Dawa Air Port. Drive to Harar half day dedicated to exploring the walled city of Harar. With its colorful markets, countless mosques and shrines, and unique Harari people and houses. At night you will visit the Hyena Men who feed the hyenas every night just outside the walls of the city. You can even have a try at feeding the hyenas – with your mouth! Overnight in Harar at Hotel.
DAY 13 : Harar - Addis ( flight)
Morning drive to Dere Dawa Air Port then flight back to Addis. Half day city tour in Addis (Modern Addis Ababa city tour includes visit of the Trinity Cathedral(built 1941), Addis Ababa University Campus and Ethnological Museum in the same compound. Dinner will be in famous Ethiopia Cultural restaurant with cultural live music. Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 14 : Addis - Arbaminch
Flight to Arbaminch - and it is your free day
DAY 15 : Arbaminch - Jinka
In the morning, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market” and the hippos. Afterwards, drive to Jinka via Key Afer. Lunch in en route. Dinner and overnight in Jinka.
DAY 16 : Jinka- Mursi - Turmi
In the morning, drive to Mago national park to visit the Mursi tribe. The Mursis are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates. In the afternoon, after returning to Jinka, you can visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center to learn more about the local tribes. After lunch drive to Turmi via Dimeka and Key Afar. At night you can see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer tribe, known as evangadi. Overnight in Turmi.
DAY 17 : Turmi - Arbaminch
After breakfast, proceed driving to Arba Minch. On the way, stop in Erbore in the Weyto Valley, to visit the Erbore tribe (market day is Friday). Overnight in Hotel.
DAY 18: Arbaminch - Addis
Early in the morning, drive from Arbaminch to Addis via Hosaena. On the way you may have time to visit one of the following archeological sites of interest:
Tiya ancient stellae field a UNESCO World Heritage site
Adadi Maryam – rock-hewn church similar to those in Lalibela
Melka Kunture – pre-historic tool-making site
After the visit, continue back to Addis. Dinner will be in traditional restaurant with cultural live music. Overnight in hotel or depart to your country
