10 Day Historic Ethiopia Discovery Safari

  [Breakfast = B / Lunch = L / Dinner = D]

Day 1
Addis Ababa. You will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After meeting up with the rest of the tour group we depart on an afternoon city tour. Visit the National Museum, St George Church and the Entoto Mountains with a great magnificent view of the city.

Day 2
Kombolcha. Today we head for Kombolcha in the Amaha region south of Dessie. There we can admire a stunning view and if sun we visit the Oromo and Afar people market at the Senbete village. Here you can try your haggler skills to buy some jewelry, crafty work, woven materials and baskets. [BLD]

Day 3
Lalibela. We drive to Lalibela. On our way we stop for a visit to the Debre Estifanos Monestary on a cryptic island in Lake Hayk. On the fourth day of our tour we visit the world Heritage site by Unesco, the stone hewn churches are again quite marvelous. You will spend the day stepping back in time and exploring the remarkable churches described as 'the creations of angels' in and around Lalibela. [BLD / BLD]

Day 4
Gondar. Take a morning drive to Gondar, the 17th Century capital of Ethiopia. Gondar has now become one of Ethiopia's largest and most impressive cities, with its walled royal enclosure. This enclosure contains several well-preserved castles and other old buildings. Spend the afternoon exploring castles and churches in Gondar: castle's compound, the Debre Birhan Sellasie church (light of Trinity), the King Fasiladas bath, old Qusquam monastery, Empress Mentewab palace. [BLD]

Day 5
Simien Mountains National Park. We continue on to the Simien Mountains National Park. This fascinating and awe-inspiring wilderness consists of hundreds of canyons and gorges, with mountain peaks that soar to more than 4000 metres. The Simien's dramatic topography is a result of the erosion of basalt lavas, which have been calculated to be nearly 3,000 meters thick. Cracks have developed, opening the way for points of erosion; the cracks in the hard resistant basalt were widened and deepened by floods creating deep trenches. The result is an incredible array of jagged carvings reminiscent of America's Grand Canyon. We will also search for 3 endangered species found nowhere else in the world, namely the Walia Ibex, the Simien Wolf and the Gelada (an extremely rare baboon). There will be a 3 hour guided walk after which we return to Gondar and our hotel. [BLD]

Day 6
Bahir Dar. We leave Gondar und make our way to Bahir Dar. This city is situated on the southern point of Lake Tana, wellspring of Blue Nile. Jesuit settlers founded it in the 16. century from which the historic  buildings date. Today Bahir Dar is the commercial centre of the Amhara province. Nearby you can find the holy Selassie palace and the Blue Nile Falls. [BLD]

Day 7-8
Blue Nile Falls, Lake Tana. Today we drive to admire the Blue Nile falls. These amazing waterfalls are 400 meters wide and more than 45 meters in height. Return for lunch in Bahirdar. Take an afternoon boat trip of about 4-5 hours on lake Tana to admire the beautiful monasteries (Ura Kidane Mehret, Mahal Zeghie Gyorgis and if time permits the Asua Mariam). The lake has an amazing network of 37 islands scattered over the surface of 3000 square km. [BL]

Day 9
Addis Ababa. Return flight to Addis Ababa. In the Omoro Language the city is known as Finfinne or Shaggar. Today Addis Ababa not only a political capital, but also a social and commercial centre. You will see modern buildings beside traditional houses, wide-open places und forest, mostly covered with eucalyptus trees. Because of its altitude Addis Ababa is the third highest capital. [B]

Day 10
Addis Ababa. You have the day free to explore Addis Ababa on your own before your flight back or continuing to your next destination. Tour ends after airport transfer. [B]