13 DAYS TIMELESS ETHIOPIA: CULTURE, NATURE & HISTORY

Transfer: Airport to Accommodation with Sightseeing

Arriving in Addis Ababa, you will be transferred into your accommodation with sightseeing along the way.

Addis Ababa Discovery 

A must-visit in the capital city would be the National Museum of Ethiopia with the star attraction “Lucy”, the remains of a 3.2 million years’ old hominid. Built in 1945, the Holy Trinity Cathedral is renowned for its stunning stain-glassed windows depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament of the Holy Bible. Proceed to explore Mercato, a sprawling open-air marketplace brimming with vibrant local life, selling an array of products, from livestock to spices to handicrafts and more.

Entoto Hills & National Palace

Embark on a full day exploration of Addis Ababa. Drive to the peak of Entoto Hills at 3,200m where Entoto Maryam Church sits, and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Visit the National Palace, built in the 1950s to mark the Silver Jubilee of Emperor Haile Selassie. You will explore the different rooms and halls adorned with magnificent artworks, furniture and decorations that harkens back to the times of the Ethiopian monarchy, as well as various galleries and museums within the palace.

Transfer: Accommodation to Airport

You will be transferred from your accommodation to the airport.

Flight: Addis Ababa to Axum

Transfer: Airport to Accommodation with Sightseeing

You will be transferred into your accommodation with sightseeing along the way.

Insights into the Axumite Empire

Once the capital of the Axumite Empire, Axum was an important trading centre during the times of antiquity. You will visit the tombs of King Kelab and Gebre Meskel, passing along Mai Shum and King Ezana’s stone along the way. Discover the magnificent stelae (the world’s tallest monoliths), carved from a single piece of rock with the largest measuring over 33 metres high. Step into the oldest church in Africa: St. Mary of Zion Church which was originally built around the 4^th century and believed to contain the sacred Ark of the Covenant.

Great Yeha Temple

Believed to have been the pre-Aksumite capital of Ethiopia, the Yeha Temple is considered as one of the oldest standing buildings in sub-Saharan Africa. Dedicated to the moon god Almougah, the temple reflects the unique religious beliefs of the time. Besides the temple, one can find a church dedicated to Abba Aftse, one of the famous nine saints who came to Ethiopia from the east Roman Empire to teach the Gospel.

Transfer: Accommodation to Airport

You will be transferred from your accommodation to the airport.

Flight: Axum to Bahir Dar via Addis Ababa

Transfer: Airport to Accommodation with Sightseeing

You will be transferred into your accommodation with sightseeing along the way.

Bahir Dar: Hill & Market

Enjoy a lovely view from the hilltop of Bezawit and visit the open-air market of Bahir Dar Agelgil Market, where you can rub shoulders with the locals.

Blue Nile Falls

Visit the alluring Blue Nile Falls, shimmering across the gorge as one of the most dramatic falls in the Nile river system. If weather permits, you can walk for approximately 30 minutes to the base of the falls and meet the locals for a short coffee break, getting to know their cotton-spinning traditions.

Monasteries of Lake Tana

Hop onboard our cruise to witness the monastic masterpieces of Lake Tana. Visit the aesthetically impressive Azuwa Maryam Monastery, the psychedelically painted Ura Kidane Mehret, as well as the monastery houses with vibrant frescoes narrating the stories of Ethiopian folklore and Christianity. There is a small on-site museum called Zege Satekela Museum, where you can learn about the hand-crafted tools and musical instruments from this locale.

Transfer: Bahir Dar to Simien Mountains

You will be driven approximately 5.5 hours from Bahir Dar to Simien Mountains.

Simien Mountains Exploration

Set out to soak in the scenic views of the mountains and Jinbar Falls. Journey further to Chennek at 3,620m, where you may chance upon the endemic Walia Ibex, as well as Klipspringers and Bushbucks.

A View of Simien from Sankaber

Visit Sankaber at around 3,200 metres, where you will have the opportunity to appreciate one of the most spectacular mountain sceneries in Ethiopia. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunity to observe the famous Ghelada Baboons and observe their foraging habits. If you would like, you may take a short walk through an uneven ground to a waterfall.

Transfer: Simien Mountains to Gondar

Following further exploration of the mountain, you will be transferred approximately 2.5 hours to your accommodation in Gondar to rest for the night.

Gondar, the Camelot of Africa

Explore Gondar, the first capital of the Ethiopian empire during 17th century, renowned for its historical castles and churches. Visit the UNESCO-listed Royal Enclosure (Fasil Ghebbi) with the palace of Emperor Fasilidas and Kuskuam to see the castle of Empress Mentewab. Proceed to Debre Birhan Selassie or “Trinity at the mount of Light”, a charming church with remarkable ceiling and wall murals.

Thereafter, if time permits, you may want to visit a museum near Atatami Mikael Church for insights into the illustrated manuscripts. Alternatively, you may immerse in the local culture by visiting traditional markets and craft shops as you interact with the friendly locals or sample traditional Ethiopian cuisine, as well as enjoying live music and dance performances.

Transfer: Accommodation to Airport

You will be transferred from your accommodation to the airport.

Flight: Gondar to Lalibela

Transfer: Airport to Accommodation with Sightseeing

You will be transferred into your accommodation with sightseeing along the way.

Africa's Petra: Lalibela's Rock-Hewn Churches 

Known as Africa’s Petra, Lalibela and its medieval rock-hewn churches are arguably Africa’s top attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site, set amongst the rugged Lasta Mountains at 2,630m. You will visit what have become known as the 8th wonder of the world - the churches of King Lalibela (A.D. 1180 to 1220). According to legend, the 11 monolithic churches, hand cut directly from the stone of the earth required 25,000 people and 24 years to complete. Explore the north-west cluster of the churches including the isolated monolith of Bet Giyorgis (the Church of St George). If time permits, you may also visit some of the other churches in the north-west cluster, such as Bet Medhane Alem (the largest), Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Debre Sina or Bet Golgotha.

Traditional Coffee Ceremony

Enjoy a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, a cultural ritual that has been passed across generations as an integration cultural component of the country. An invite to attend a coffee ceremony is a significant mark of friendship or respect in Ethiopian hospitality.

A Further Look into Lalibela

Visit the ancient cave church of Yemrehanna Kristos, one of Ethiopia's best-preserved late Axumite churches built around 12th century built of stone and wood. You will also visit the second group of the rock churches of King Lalibela to delve into their historical and religious significance. This south-east cluster of churches are more irregular in design than the north-western cluster. Legend has it that Bet Abba Libanos was built overnight by Lalibela's wife, Meskel Kebre, who was assisted by a group of angels. Time-permitting, other south-east cluster churches include Bet Gebriel-Rafael, Bet Lehem, Bet Emanuel or Bet Mercurios. You can also visit the Markets in Lalibela and participate in a cooking class in baking “injera”, an Ethiopian staple bread!

Transfer: Accommodation to Airport

You will be transferred from your accommodation to the airport to connect on your international flight home.