This route leads to the historical places of Ethiopia in the north, passing through the scenic Ethiopian highlands. Bahir Dar, Lake Tana, with its thirty isles, keepers of ancient Coptic monasteries, the blue Nile which falls into the spectacular Tiss-isat waterfalls -- the name means water that smokes. Gondar, ancient capital dating from the days of the Emperor Fasil, with its castles and churches, among them the famous church with angel frescoes. Axum, through the magnificent scenery of the Simien Mountains, the oldest city of Ethiopia. It is here that, between myth and reality, the Ark of the Covenant is kept ... but only the old priest in charge of it is permitted to see it. The monasteries and rock churches in the Tigre and, at last, Lalibela, the Jerusalem of Ethiopia with its 11 monolithic, red-colored churches, excavated in the rock and connected by a network of tunnels, today still a vital center of the Coptic church, where the people from the entire country gal her during the colorful festivities.

Program: Bahir Dar
Code: OT 401
Duration: 1night/2days
Transport: Air

Day 01: Monring fly to Bahir Dar and visit Blue Nile Falls. Afternoon depart by boat for the Zeghe Peninsula to visit the 17th century Ura Kidane Mehret Church. Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 02: Fly back to Addis Ababa.

Gondar Gondar:
Referred as the Camelot of Africa, Gondar was founded by Emperor Fasilides in the 17th century and remained the capital of Ethiopia for the next two centuries. The city is celebrated for its castle palaces; Bathing Palace of Emperor Fasilidas; the abbey of the redoubtable 18th century Empress Mentewab at Kusquam; 17th century Debre Birhan Sellasse church with its beautiful mural paintings and Felasha (black Jews) village. Gondar is also the obvious base from which to stage day trips or longer treks into the awe-inspiring Simyen Mountains, many of its peaks rising above 4000m.

Program: Gondar
Code: OT 402
Duration: 1night/2days
Transport: Air

Day 01: Morning fly to Gondar and visit the Castles, Bath of Fasilidas, Debre Berhan Sellassie Church, ruined Palace of Kusquam and Felasha (black Jews) village. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 02: Fly back to Addis ababa

Lalibela:
King Lalibela is credited with the foundation of the 11 rock-hewn churches in the 12th century. One of the world's most incredible man-made art, they are a lasting monument to man's faith in God. Most travel writers describe these churches as the "eighth wonder of the world". These remarkable edifices were carved out of a solid rock, in a region where the ragged landscape still protects the churches from mass tourism. The 11 man-made rock-hewn are found in and around the town of Lalibela. Other churches are reached by a 45-minutes drive by 4x4 vehicles, or a three hour ride on mule-back.
The venue for some of the most famous church festivals in Ethiopia, a visit during the great celebrations of Genna (X-mas) and Timket (Epiphany) is particularly rewarding.

Program: Lalibela
Code: OT 403
Duration: 1night/2days
Transport: Air

Day 01: Morning fly to Lalibela and visit the eleven rock churches in the town. Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 02: Fly back to Addis Ababa. Back to Top

Axum:
The northern Ethiopia ancient city of Axum, around 200BC to 700AD, is the cradle of Ethiopian civilization. It’s the site of the revered church of St. Mary of Zion, which is the repository of the biblical Ark of the Covenant. It’s also the site of quite starting antiquities; the 2000 years old mysterious monolithic stelae; subterranean stone tombs; ruins of the legendary Queen of Sheba’s palace; - and much more besides. There are several places of interest that can be visited as a straightforward day trips from Axum most notably the ruins at Yeha, Debre Damo Monastery and several more.

  Axum Oblique Program: Axum
Code: OT 404
Duration: 1night/2days
Transport: Air

Day 01: Morning fly to Axum and visit the Archeological Museum, Stelae field, St. Mary of Zion church, King Kaleb’s Tomb and ruins of Queen Sheba’s Palace. Overnight stay at Hotel

Day 02: Fly back to Addis Ababa.

N.B. Upon request we can arrange tours combining two or all the four sites within the duration varying form 2-8night stays.

Program-Historic North
Code - OT405
Duration-5 days/ 4 nights
Transportation-Air

DAY 1: ADDIS ABABA - BAHIR DAR After breakfast transfer to the Airport for your flight to Bahir Dar. . After check in, you immediately drive to the Blue Nile falls 32 km far from Bahir Dar town. Back to Bahir Dar for Lunch. In the afternoon Boat trip on lake Tana visit of one of the Iceland with its monastery called “Ura-Kidanemihret”. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

DAY 2: BAHIR DAR - GONDAR After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to Gondar. Lunch and in the afternoon city tour of the 17th century town of Gondar with its castle compound. You will visit also one of the beautiful churches "Debre Birhan Sellassie" very known for its mural paintings as well as drive for a short visit of the village of the former Ethiopian Jews. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

DAY 3. GONDAR - LALIBELA Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lalibela. After lunch you start visiting the 1st and the 2nd part of the rock hewn churches of Lalibela, all carved out (inside and outside) of a solid rock and are architecturally unique ranked among the wonders of the world. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

NOTE: YOU CAN ADD ONE MORE DAY IN LALIBELA TO EXPLORE MORE ROCK HEWN CHURCHES OR EVEN TO VISIT THE 11 ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES AT NO RUSH

DAY 4: LALIBELA - AXUM After breakfast you will check out from your hotel and be transferred to the airport for your flight to Axum. In the Afternoon sight seeing of Axum which includes the steals, believed to have been erected during 1st century. The St. Mary Church of "Maria Tsion" where the Ark of the Convenient of Mosses have been rested, the graves and palaces of the kings of the Axumite king "Ezana" of 4th century etc… are some of the attractions to be seen within Axum. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

DAY 5: AXUM - ADDIS Morning transfer to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa.

Program-Historic North Surface
Code- OT406
Duration-11days/10nights or 14days/13nights
Transportation-Land & Air

DAY 1: ADDIS ABABA - BAHIR DAR Early morning drive to Bahir Dar through the Blue Nile Gorge. It is a spectacular Scenery. Picnic lunch around Dejen and keep on driving through the farm land of Gojam. Arrival at Bahir Dar & over night hotel

DAY 2: BAHIR DAR After an early breakfast drive to the Blue Nile falls “Tiss -Issat “ 32 kms far from Bahir Dar town . After 20 minutes walk you get the water falls. Drive back to Bahir Dar . In the After noon boat trip on Lake Tana to visit one of the islands With its Monastery called " Ura-Kidane Mihret ". Overnight in your hotel.

DAY 3. BAHIR DAR - GONDAR Break fast in the hotel and then Drive to Gonder which was the 17th century Capital of Ethiopia founded by the King Fassiledes. After lunch Visit of the palace compound, the beautiful church of Debre Birahn Sellassie with its wonderful Mural paintings. At last you will have the look of the village of the former Ethiopian Jews “The Falasha”. Over night in the hotel

DAY 4: GONDAR - AXUM Early in the morning drive to north of Gondar through the Chains of the Semen Mountains and the Tekeze river valley to the ancient town of Axum. Picnic Lunch en route. Arrive Axum and Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

NOTE: ON DAY 4 OVERNIGHT CAN ALSO BE AT DEBARK (100KM FAR) SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE SEMIEN MOUNTAINS AND YOU WILL AVOID A VERY LONG DRIVE FROM GONDAR TO AXUM (365 KM) BUT THE HOTEL IN DEBARK IS VERY SIMPLE HOTEL AND THE DURATION OF THE TOUR WILL BE ONE DAY LONGER.

  Lalibela DAY 5: AXUM After break fast, full day sight seeing of Axum, which includes The park of the standing Stale carved out from one single granite stone of the pre-Christianity Era, the palace and tombs of one of the Axumite Empire King Kaleb and Gebre Meskel and the old and new St. Mary of Axum, visit of the ruins of Queen of Sheba, Inscriptions of Ezana, archeological Museums etc. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

DAY 6: AXUM - MEKELE After break fast Leave Axum and drive to Mekele. It is the capital city of Tigray Region . On the way visit the pre-Axumite Temple of Yeha, church of Abune Aftse ,rock hewn church of Abraha Atsebaha. Picnic Lunch en route , arrive in Mekele, Dinner and over night in your hotel.

DAY 7: MEKELE - LALAIBELA After break fast drive to Lalibela through Ambalage Chains of Mountain. Picnic Lunch en route, arrive in Lalibela. Dinner and overnight in your hotel.

DAY 8: LALIBELA Morning start the visiting the first part of the rock hewn churches of Lalibela, dated back to the 12th century. All carved out (inside and outside) of a solid rock and are architecturally unique ranked among the wonders of the world. In the afternoon, you visit the 2nd part of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Overnight in your hotel.

DAY 9: LALIBELA Optional excursion mule trek to the mountain to a monastery of Acheten Mariam, or a less drive to Nakuto-Le’ab Or other churches outside the Town of Lalibela. Over Night hotel

DAY 10: LALIBELA - DESSE After break fast drive to Desse. With picnic lunch en route. Dinner and Over night at Desse in a hotel

NOTE: OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT CAN ALSO BE AT KOMBOLCHA (20KM FAR FROM DESSIE)

DAY 11: DESSE - ADDIS ABABA After Break fast , departure for Addis via Debre Birehan. Lunch en route. In the evening parting meal in Addis Ababa with traditional Music and Dance.

NOTE: IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME YOU CAN EXTEND YOUR TOUR TO HARAR MAKING USE OF TWO OPTIONS. OPTION 1: BY FLIGHT AND THE DURATION WILL BE 13 NIGHTS AND 14 DAYS AS FOLLOWS:

DAY 12: ADDIS ABABA - DIRE DAWA - HARRAR
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Dire Dawa Drive 54 kms to the town of Harar. Harrar remained a center of religious fervor from early days of the Islamic expansion until 1887, when the authority of the central government was restored by Emperor Menelik II. With its 99 Mosques, Harar is considered to be Islam’s fourth most Holy City. There is a visit of the house of the French Poet, Rimbaud as his city of exile from French intolerance. And in the evening a visit to hyena mans who feeds those wild hyenas from his hand. Over night at Harrar.

DAY 13: HARRAR - DIRE DAWA After breakfast you will have more sight seeing tour of Harar and after lunch drive back to Dire Dawa and visit of the colorful market of fruits, vegetables chat and the old rail way station. Dinner and overnight at Dire Dawa

DAY 14: DIRE DAWA - ADDIS. Morning leisure on your own and afternoon flight back to Addis and transfer to your hotel.