Share this tour
Offered languages
- German
- English
- Italian
- French
- Spanish
Ethiopia's historic north is rich in cultural heritage. Visit the ancient centres of Axum, Gondar, the magnificent complex of Lalibela and the 17th century monasteries of Lake Tana. A visit to the lush panoramas of the Simien Mountains National Park reveals a natural beauty, rich with endemic mammal and birdlife.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
we will pick you up where ever you are
We will collect all our clients there selected locations
Itinerary
-
1Addis Ababa
upon arrival at Bole International Airport you will be met by a Welcome Ethiopian Wanderer Tours representative and be taken to your reserved hotel. Depending on your arrival time, we have various sightseeing options: 5-6 hours city tour Mount Entoto with the best views over the capital. Institute of Ethiopian Studies, where you can see a variety of artefacts from all the different regions reflecting the history and culture of the country National Museum which among other exhibits the 3.5-million-year-old bones of Lucy. George Cathedral, where paintings by the famous Ethiopian artist Afework Tekele and other ecclesiastical wealth and cultural heritage of the past are displayed. Trinity Cathedral: this is the burial place of members of the imperial family and noted patriots; the cathedral is the most magnificent of its kind in the country, ornamented with carvings, mosaics and other artistic works. The Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa
6 hours • Admission ticket free -
2Bahir Dar
This day it will be a long drive from Addis to Bahir Dar. Morning: Boat trip on Lake Tana In the morning, you will fly together with your guide to Bahir Dar, for hours taken to your hotel. We then undertake a boat trip on Lake Tana to explore the nearby monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret on the Zege peninsula, known for its 14th-century, round, grass-roofed churches and their magnificent murals, the Azoa Mariam and Ura Kidane Mihret churches. Its architectural styles with mud-plastered round walls and a conical thatched roof are typical examples of ancient Ethiopian orthodox churches. The monastery is found hidden in the forest of the Zege peninsula. Ura is especially well known for its fine frescoes, manuscripts, and ecclesial objects, such as the crowns of various emperors dating from the 14th century, gold and silver processional crosses, silver drums, and royal vestments. On our walk through the densely-forested area we hope to encounter monkeys and abundant bird life. On the lake,
8 hours • Admission ticket free -
3Gonder
After breakfast, we drive to Gondar, a 17th-century royal city of Ethiopia, affluent in the imperial structure of a Castle Compound and the spectacularly painted Debre Birhan Selassie Church. Afternoon: After lunch, we visit to the royal enclosures of Fassil Ghibe and all the castles of the Gonderian emperors as well as the famous Debre Berhan Selassie Church, which is completely covered in murals, with the angels’ faces on the wooden ceiling that has become a trademark of Ethiopian art and design.
8 hours • Admission ticket free -
4Gonder
Early in the morning, we continue our journey to the Simien Mountains National Park auf. We will reach the Simien Lodge, the highest lodge in Africa, around noon. After lunch, we start exploring the Simien Mountains National Park. Due to its unique landscape and its endemic fauna the park has been declared a UNESCO world nature heritage site in 1996. In the park, you may experience the very close interaction with the friendly Gelada Baboons. We drive up to Sankaber (3’220m) and admire the impressive scenery with its deep gorges and valleys and the highest waterfall in Ethiopia. Here a gentle walk would take us about 2 hours. We hope to encounter further endemic animals, such as the Walia Ibex and the Simien fox. In the late afternoon, we return to Debark, where we will spend the night.
5 hours • Admission ticket free -
5Axum
after breakfast, we continue to Axum (approx. 7hrs.) with once again stunning views. Axum at an altitude of 1637m is considered a holy city in Ethiopia where Ethiopian Christianity is said to have begun, dating back over 2000 years. The Axumite kingdom is also considered the cradle of Ethiopian civilization.
7 hours • Admission ticket free -
6Axum
The city tour of Axum includes Axum stelae or obelisks, the largest single piece of stone erected by human beings anywhere in the world, castles of former monarchs, Mariam Tsion Church which is built on the site of Ethiopia’s first church, the Palace of Queen Sheba, the inscriptions King Ezana and the tombs of the kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel.
7 hours • Admission ticket free -
7Mek'ele
After breakfast, we will visit the temple of Yeha (approx. 50km / 1 hour.). The way passes through Adwa, where in 1896 the famous battle between the Ethiopians and Italians tool place. Yeha was a pre-axumite settlement and is famous for its well-preserved stone temple with 12 m high walls estimated to be 2‘500 years old.
7 hours • Admission ticket free -
8Lalibela
today we continue our drive through ever changing landscapes to Lalibela (approx. 8 hours). We will reach Lalibela in the late afternoon.
8 hours • Admission ticket free -
9Lalibela
ay we will visit the 11-renowned rock hewn churches of Lalibela, also known as the “8th wonder of the world”. The Lalibela rock hewn churches are physically carved from the rock on which they stand. These towering edifices seem to be a superhuman creation in scale, workmanship and concept. Some are sculptured out of a solid volcanic rock, others are connected by long underground tunnel and mazes. Some are quarried enlargements of caves. The first group of six churches lies in rock cradles, one behind the other: Bet Golgotha, Bet Mikeal, Bet Mariam, Bet Maskel, Bet Dangal and Bet Medhanealem. Bet Medhanealem, the largest rock hewn church in the world is built like a Greek temple.
6 hours • Admission ticket free -
10Addis Ababa
This day we will have long drive about 9 hours Evening: In the evening you will be invited to a memorable farewell dinner in one of Addis Ababa’s traditional restaurants with cultural songs, dances and traditional food and drinks. You will then be transferred to Bole International Airport.
9 hours • Admission ticket free
Arrival in Addis Ababa and City Tour
Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar
Bahir Dar – Gondar (170 km) 3 hours drive
Gondar – Simien Mountains National Park (120 km)
Debark – Axum (240 km)
Full day in Axum
Axum – Yeha – Mekelle (250 km)
Mekelle – Lalibela
Full Day in Lalibela
Lalibela – Addis Ababa
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Show more
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Top Searches
Company
Get our app
