Ethiopia Northern Highlights

Join Addis Ababa (altitude 2355m)

On arrival in Addis Ababa you will be met at the airport by a representative of Adventure Associates and transferred to the group hotel. You will spend the day in Addis Ababa exploring the many sites of capital, and experience an authentic Ethiopian cooking class and coffee ceremony.

– Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s sprawling capital in the highlands bordering the Great Rift Valley is the country’s commercial and cultural hub. Its National Museum exhibits Ethiopian art, traditional crafts and prehistoric fossils, including replicas of the famous early hominid, “Lucy.” We will also visit the burial place of the 20th-century emperor Haile Selassie, and the copper-domed Holy Trinity Cathedral, a neo-baroque architectural landmark.

Overnights: Zeist Lodge  B,L,D

Addis Ababa – Mekele – Wukro – Gheralta

After breakfast we take a morning flight to Mekele and then drive to Gheralta. On the way we visit the Wukro Chirkos church, a semi-monolith that juts out from a low cliff and is one of the most accessible rock-hewn churches in Tigray. Time permitting we also plan to visit the Wukro Archaeological Museum, famous for its incredibly well-preserved 2,800-year-old Adi Akaweh sacrificial altar, which was discovered as recently as 2007 and ranked amongst the ten most significant ancient artefacts from Ethiopia.

Overnight: Korkor Lodge  B,L,D

Gheralta – Tigray region

The scenery of Gheralta and the Tigray region is stunning. The Tigray is the homeland of the Tigrayans, Irob and Kunama people. We take time to explore the Tigray rock-hewn churches that are unique and predate those of Lalibela. Many Tigraian churches were carved into the existing caves and crevices of impregnable looking cliff faces. We hope to explore the Abune Yemata at Guh, Abuna Adraham Debre Tsion and the Teka Tesfai cluster of churches. We will also take some time to just relax around the lodge and admire the breathtaking view.

Overnights: Korkor Lodge  B,L,D

Gheralta – Aksum (altitude 2131m)

After breakfast we drive to Aksum via Adigrat, and on the way stop to explore the Temple of Yeha -site of the Temple of the Moon, Ethiopia’s oldest standing structure. It is also famed for its amazing rectangular stone temple, the oldest known sacred site in Ethiopia, dated from around 500 BC. In the afternoon we reach the historic city of Aksum and will visit the obelisks, the largest single pieces of standing stones anywhere in the world and a UNESCO listed site. Time permitting we also plan to visit the Aksum Museum and Mariam Sion Church – built on the site of Ethiopia’s first church AD. The Palace of Sheba; Tombs of Kings Kaleb and Gebre Meskel.

Overnight: Yared Zema Hotel  B,L,D

Aksum – Limalimo (altitude 2950m)

There is much to see in Aksum, so if we missed some of the sites on the previous day, we will have a little time this morning before driving to Limalimo Lodge. This drive is especially scenic, travelling through the lowlands of the Tekezze Valley and then climbing up into the Simien Mountains National Park.

Overnight: Limalimo Lodge  B,L,D

Simien Mountains (highest peak 4550m)

During these two days we spend our time exploring and viewing the endemic fauna and flora of the Simien Mountains National Park at over 3200 metres. The Simien Mountains National Park is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site with exceptional mountainous scenery. It is here that the Gelada Baboon (bleeding heart Baboon) is found.

Overnights: Limalimo Lodge  B,L,D

Limalimo – Gondar (altitude 2133m)

Following breakfast we drive through the beautiful countryside to Gondar. On arrival we will have lunch and then the rest of the afternoon will be spent visiting the castle compound of Fasil Ghebbi UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Debre Birhan Sellassie church (Light of the Trinity) with its 16th century paintings and frescoes. Gondar was the first capital city of the Ethiopian empire, which began in 1632 with the reign of King Fasilledes. In Gondar there are dozens of castles built by various emperors over the course of 236 years. Our time in Gondar includes visits to the palaces, residences and open-air baths of King Fusillades.

Overnight: Myleko Lodge  B,L,D

Gondar – Lalibela

In the morning we will take a flight to Lalibela. After lunch we visit the Southern cluster of the rock-hewn churches – Lalibela was the 3rd capital of Ethiopia from 11th to 13th century and it was during this period that King Lalibela excavated the magnificent rock-hewn churches an official 8th Wonder of the World.

Overnight: Mezena Lodge  B,L,D

Lalibela – Yemrehanne Kirstos Monastery

Lalibela is one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities, and a centre of pilgrimage. The population of Lalibela is almost completely Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. Ethiopia was one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity in the first half of the fourth century, and its historical roots date to the time of the Apostles. The churches themselves date from the seventh to thirteenth centuries, and are traditionally dated to the reign of the Zagwe dynasty King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela. Following breakfast we visit the northern cluster of rock churches, here we find the famous church of Saint George. After lunch, we drive through the picturesque Lasta Mountains to the monastery of Yemrehanne Kirstos. This ‘cave church’ predates the rockhewn churches of Lalibela, and is one of the most beautiful and colourful of its kind. Built from marble and wood, it is beautifully decorated both inside and out with remarkable architectural skill. The cave also contains many mummified bodies of pilgrims from centuries past.

Overnight: Mezena Lodge  B,L,D

Lalibela – Gondar – Bahir Dar

We fly back to Gondar and continue driving to Bahir Dar. Along the way we will stop at the Bezawit Palace area for vast views of the Blue Nile River and Lake Tana.

Overnight: Kuriftu Resort B,L,D

Bahir Dar – Blue Nile Falls 

In the morning we visit the Blue Nile Falls a 32 km drive southwest of Bahir Dar, to the small town of Tiss Abay and then walk for about 30 minutes to a viewpoint of the falls – estimated to be between 37m and 45m high, consisting of four streams that originally vary from a trickle in the dry season to over 400m wide in the rainy season.

Overnight: Kuriftu Resort B,L,D

Bahar Dar – Lake Tana – Addis Ababa

Today we will take a boat excursion in Ethiopia’s largest water body, Lake Tana (3,600 sq. km) to visit the monasteries of Ura Kidane Mihret and Azwa Mariam, which are found on the largest peninsula of the lake. These monasteries are known for the colourful frescoes of religious scenes, various ancient crosses, paintings, murals and an impressive display of illuminated Bibles written in Ge’ez, Ethiopia’s oldest language. In the afternoon we fly back to Addis Ababa and enjoy a final group dinner.

Overnight: Zeist Lodge  B,L,D

Depart Addis Ababa

The final morning in Addis Ababa before transferring to the airport for your onward flight home. B