Ethiopia’s Historic Route

Highlights:

• Addis Ababa, the third highest capital in the world, and Mount Entoto
• Explore the churches on the islands of Lake Tana
• Blue Nile Falls
• Visit the palaces, residences and baths of Fasilidas - Gondar
• Simien Mountains National Park
• Lalibela - one of the "Wonders of the world"
• City of Axum - build in 10th Century BC
• Yeha, Ethiopia's first city - settlement in the area dates back more than 2800 years

Day 1	Depart Europe/USA/China on Ethiopian Airlines.
Day 2	Arrive, transfer to Sheraton/Hilton. (If arrival is on a flight from UK or China, we will need to book the night before to ensure immediate check in. ) Rest up till lunch time, then city tour, Mount Entoto, museums etc.
Day 3	Early transfer to the airport and fly to Bahir Dar and leave by boat for the Zeghie Peninsula. Visit Blue Nile Falls or have a city tour.
Day 4	Drive to Gondar.
Day 5	Visit Simien Mountains National Park.
Day 6	Return to Gondar.
Day 7	Transfer to the airport and fly to Lalibela.
Day 8	Visit the Church of Ashetun Mariam, the cave Church of Yemrehane Christos.
Day 9	Transfer to the airport and fly to Axum. The visitor can see stelae (the largest single pieces of stone erected anywhere in the world).
Day 10	Drive to Yeha, Ethiopia's first city – settlement in the area dates back more than 2800 years.
Day 11	Transfer to the airport to fly to Addis Ababa, city visits, shopping day room and transfer to airport.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1:

Depart Europe/USA/China on Ethiopian Airlines.

Day 2:

Arrive in Addis Ababa and transfer to the Hilton/Sheraton Hotel (or other hotel of your choice). Rest up until lunch time, after which we will begin the city tour, Mount Entoto, museums etc.

Day 3:

Early transfer to the airport and fly to Bahir Dar and leave by boat for the Zeghie Peninsula. Visit Blue Nile Falls or have a city tour. o/n Kuriftu Lodge

Day 4:

After breakfast we set off to Gondar by road. The road is asphalt and well maintained, and the 160 km journey should take about 3 hours. There is attractive scenery en route, as the road skirts Lake Tana, passing through rural villages. o/n Goha Hotel

Day 5:

After an early breakfast we leave for the Simien Mountains National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since the late 1960s, the Simien Mountains National Park presents perhaps the most dramatic scenery in Africa. o/n Simien Lodge

Day 6:

The energetic can get up early for sunrise in the Simien Mountains, but otherwise we will set off after breakfast for a tour further into the park, and return to Gondar late afternoon. o/n Goha Hotel.

Day 7:

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Lalibela.

We check into the Jerusalem Hotel and can start our tour of the first group of churches before lunch (churches are closed 1200-1400), continuing in the afternoon.

In Lalibela, we can arrange visits to a typical farm. The guide can explain issues relating to farm work and the daily life of people engaged in agriculture. As part of the same initiative, we can also arrange cookery classes in Ethiopian cuisine. o/n Jerusalem Hotel

Day 8:

Visit the Church of Ashetun Mariam, the cave Church of Yemrehane Christos. o/n Jerusalem Hotel

Day 9:

Transfer to the airport and fly to Axum. The visitor can see stelae (the largest single pieces of stone erected anywhere in the world). o/n Yeha Hotel

Day 10:

Drive to Yeha, Ethiopia's first city – settlement in the area dates back more than 2800 years.

We could have a picnic lunch in Yeha, or at one of hotels in Adwa, returning to Axum late afternoon. o/n Yeha Hotel.

Day 11:

Transfer to the airport to fly to Addis Ababa, city visits, shopping day room and transfer to airport.

Download Detailed Itinerary

Days 2: Hilton/Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa
Days 3: Kuriftu Lodge, Bahir Dar
Days 4: Goha Hotel, Gondar
Days 5: Simien Lodge, Simien Mountains National Park
Days 6: Goha Hotel, Gondar
Days 7 - 8: Jerusalem Hotel, Lalibela
Days 9 - 10: Yeha Hotel, Axum