Day 1 Arrive Addis Ababa
Arrive in Addis Ababa at any time.
Day 2 Kombolcha (B)
Journey across the Shoan Plateau, past farming communities in the highlands with panoramic views across the Rift Valley. Descend into the valley and stop for a short time at a traditional market in Sanbete to barter with the Oromo and Amhara people.
Day 3 Woldia
Visit Bati market, the second largest market in Ethiopia, where the Afar people from the East come to sell their livestock, and the Oromo and Amhara peoples come in their traditional best. Continue on to the bustling town of Woldia with stops along the way to enjoy the rugged mountain scenery.
Day 4-5 Lalibela (B)
Head to Lalibela through the stunning Lasta Massif, which links the provinces of Wollo and Gonder. In Lalibela, a place of religious pilgrimage and devotion, spend time in guided tours exploring the phenomenal churches carved out of rock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often coined as the "New Jerusalem".
FOR TRIPS IN JANUARY - APRIL ; SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER, SIMIEN MOUNTAIN TREK
Day 6-7 Gonder (B)
Dubbed the 'Camelot' of Africa, Gonder was the capital of Ethiopia for more than 200 years. Visit the sprawling complex of Gonder’s Castles and notable sites such as Debre Berhan Selassie Church.
Day 8-11 Simien Mountains National Park (3B,3L,3D)
Spend four days in the Simien Mountains, considered the most beautiful of Africa's mountain ranges. Excellent for trekking, the Simien Mountains offer spectacular views and a number of endemic wildlife species, including the gelada baboon, walia ibex, and Ethiopian wolf.
FOR TRIPS IN MAY - AUGUST, NORTHERN HISTORICAL CIRCUIT
Day 6 Mekele (B)
The winding road through breathtaking mountain scenery takes us by spectacular views of Sekota Mountain and Lake Ashenge, at 2409 m above sea level. Mekele has been the capital of Tigrai since Emporer Yohanis IV (1871-1889) designated it so, and it has recently grown to now be fifth largest city Ethiopia.
Day 7 Adigrat
Continuing further north we stop in Wurko to explore the famous rock-hewn churches, including the semi monolithic church, Abraha Atsbeha, from the 10th century considered to be one of Tigrai’s finest. We spend our evening in Adigrat, a historical crossroads of cultures, expeditions, and religion.
Day 8-9 Axum
En route to Axum, we stop in Yeha, the area believed to be the site of Ethiopia’s oldest civilization, dating back to between the 5th and 8th century B.C. Spend all of day 9 exploring the Axum historical site, including visits to the main stelae field, Queen of Sheba’s palace and bath, and Church of Tsion Maryam (St. Mary of Zion), which is claimed to house the Ark of the Covenant.
Day 10-11 Gonder
Journey through the scenic Tekaze Valley and past the towering Simien Mountains, en route to Gonder. Dubbed the 'Camelot' of Africa. Gonder was the capital of Ethiopia for more than 200 years. Visit the sprawling complex of Gonder’s Castles and notable sites such as Debre Berhan Selassie Church.
Day 12-13 Bahir Dar
En route to Bahir Dar, we'll make a number of fascinating stops - at Kuskuam, location of Queen Mentewab’s residence; in Gogora to see the Monastery of Debre Sina Maryam; and in Falasha village, to learn about the Ploughshare Women Crafts Training Centre, which teaches skills to disadvantaged women. While is Bahir Dar, explore the monasteries on Lake Tana's many islands and take an optional journey to the Blue Nile Falls.
Day 14 Debre Markos
Take the morning to relax in Bahir Dar, or get out and explore the city, visiting the market, the papyrus boat weavers, or just relax by the lake. We journey in the afternoon across rolling hills en route to Debre Markos for our final evening.
Day 15 Depart Addis Ababa
Depart Debre Markos for Addis Ababa passing the Blue Nile Gorge and on to the modern and cosmopolitan Addis Ababa, perched on the slopes of the Entoto Mountains, where your tour ends upon arrival in the late afternoon.
