This 2-week-long fascinating journey offers the comprehensive visit of the Northern highlands of Ethiopia, passing through some of the most amazing landscapes, stopping at genuine and colourful markets and visiting the most interesting monuments of the Historic Route – the perfect opportunity to get in touch with authentic Ethiopia.
The route and the duration of the tour can be adapted to the specific individual interest and needs; of course we can also replace some driving parts with one or two domestic flights.
ITINERARY:
Day 1: arrival in Addis Ababa and city tour.
Day 2: Drive to Dessie and visit of a market.
Day 3: Drive to Weldiya and visit of a market
Day 4: Drive to Lalibela and start of the visit.
Day 5: Visit of one church in the outskirts of Lalibela and completion of the visits in town.
Day 6: Panoramic transfer to Bahr Dar
Day 7: Bahr Dar: full day boat trip with the visit of 3 monasteries
Day 8: Visit of Blue Nile Waterfalls then transfer to Gondar
Day 9: Visit of the castles and Haile Brehan Sellassie Church, then transfer to Debark
Day 10: Full day at the Simien Mountains National Park.
Day 11: Transfer to Aksum, visit of the market and of the archaeological site.
Day 12: Transfer to Tigray and visit of 2 rock-hewn churches
Day 13: Full day in Gheralta – visit by car and on foot of up to 3 churches.
Day 14: Day trip to Dallol in the Danakil Desert: visit of the multi-coloured hill, the salt extraction works; then drive back to Tigray
Day 15: Visit of 1 church and transfer to Mekelle for the flight to Addis Ababa; evening international flight out.
Find a celebration of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church so as to get closer to the charming spirituality of the Ethiopian people.
Spend one night in Gorgora, on the northern shore of Lake Tana, and go cross the whole lake by boat
Add one day to visit the Erta Ale volcano, in the Danakil Desert (adventurous extension, good flexibility necessary)
Add two nights of “community tourism” in Tigray or around Lalibela to feel part of the life of a local community (adventurous extension, good flexibility necessary)
