14 days • 13 nights
This itinerary covering the Blue Nile Falls, Lake Tana monasteries, the Simien Mountains, Gondar, Lalibela and Axum.
If you would like to visit an area not covered in one of our itineraries, get in touch with us.
Extensions to Debre Libanos, Tigray, Awash National Park, Harar and Danakil Depression can be arranged.
Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, transfer to hotel
In the afternoon we visit the National Archaeological Museum, where the highlights include the three and half million year old skeleton of ‘Lucy’, pre-Aksumite exhibits and an exotic collection of Royal crowns, robes and thrones. We continue to the Holy Trinity Cathedral to see the massive mausoleums Haile Selassie had constructed for himself and his wife.
Hotel: Jupiter International Hotel Bole
Day 2: An hour’s drive takes us north of the city to Mount Entoto (3,200 m), the site of Menelik II’s original capital established in the 1880s. We enjoy a panoramic view of the capital and surrounding countryside before visiting the Entoto Maryam church museum and Menelik’s old palace. In the afternoon we head for the Ethnographical Museum, housed in Haile Selassie’s former summer palace. In addition to the excellent exhibition relating to many ethnic groups living in Ethiopia and an extensive collection of musical instruments, we view the remains of the royal bedchamber and bathrooms.
Hotel: Jupiter International Hotel Bole
Meals: B
Day 3: We take a morning flight from Addis to Bahir Dar and check into our lodge situated on the shores of Lake Tana. We travel by boat across Lake Tana to the Zeghie peninsula. We visit the 16th century circular church of Ura Kidane Mihret with magnificent wall murals and the grass-roofed Azuwa Maryam.
Hotel: Kuriftu Lodge
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: This morning, we drive a rough dirt road for our walk to the Blue Nile Falls, beginning at a 17th century Portuguese bridge. A hydro-electric plant upstream means that water levels are now much reduced, but, nevertheless, this is a beautiful walk through the expansive African landscape. Our walk ends with a short ferry ride across the Blue Nile, before we drive back to Bahir Dar for a late lunch. We may walk to the extensive open-air market or use the remainder of the afternoon for relaxation.
Hotel: Kuriftu Lodge
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: A full day of driving (300 km, approximately 6 hours of driving, plus stops) takes us from Lake Tana through beautiful rural landscape, where we see people threshing grain or carrying their produce to market. We stop for lunch in Gondar and latter we can take a short walk around Kossoye viewpoint, which provides magnificent views of the Simien Mountain range and the lower ridges and valleys. The Simien Mountains National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) presents some of Africa’s most dramatic topography, with jagged peaks soaring to 4,550 metres, including Ras Dashen, Ethiopia’s highest point, precipitous gorges and a series of alternating plains and escarpments stretching north to Eritrea.
Hotel: Simien Lodge
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: We set off from the lodge on foot, accompanied by a National Park game scout, searching for the endemic Gelada (‘bleeding heart’) monkeys on their cliff-face roosts. Our walk takes us across a zone of Afro-Alpine flora, including the fragrant Abyssinian Rose, hypericum trees, everlastings, dianthus and tree heathers, and we meander across meadows and grasslands surrounded by fantastic crags and pinnacles of eroded basalt. The views are stupendous and we keep a lookout for klipspringers, the endemic thick-billed raven or lammergeyer and augur buzzard cruising overhead. We have a simple picnic in the shade of the heather trees before continuing our journey on foot. A thirty minute drive brings us back to our lodge in time to enjoy some free time before dinner.k and enjoy the wild life and spectacular views of the Simien Mountains.
Hotel: Simien Lodge
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7: This morning begins with a 45 minutes’ drive into the heart of the National Park. For 1.5 hours we walk along an easy path pausing frequently to take in more of the magnificent views and to watch the plentiful Geladas. Our walk ends at the spectacular 500 metre Jinbar waterfall. We then drive 45 mins to Chenek camp (3,600 m), where the mountain escarpments converge and the views extend into infinity. After a picnic lunch on a dramatic outcrop, we can walk further out to the viewpoints to photograph the impressive Giant Lobelias. This is also the best area in the National Park for wildlife – particularly for the chance of spotting Menelik’s bushbuck, golden-backed jackal and the endangered and elusive Walia Ibex.
Hotel: Simien Lodge
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Leaving the high mountains, we drive 3 hours south back to Gondar, the new capital founded by Emperor Fasiladas in 1636. After lunch, we visit the 16th and 17th century castles of the imperial compound, several of which are in good condition. We then visit the mural embellished church of Debre Berhan Selassie, which was reputedly saved from destruction by the Mahdist Dervishes through the intervention of a swarm of bees. The afternoon concludes at Emperor Fasiladas Baths, an important religious site, especially for the Timkat (Epiphany) ceremonies.
Hotel: Goha
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: A mid morning flight takes us to the remote and barren Lasta mountains, which conceal Ethiopia’s ‘New Jerusalem’: the rock hewn churches reputedly built by the devout King Lalibela of the Zagwhe dynasty in the late 12th century. These extraordinary monoliths are cut into deep trenches in the basaltic scoria and were described by the 16th century Portuguese writer, Alvares, as ‘edifices, the like of which – and so many – cannot be found anywhere else in the world’. As a place of pilgrimage and of continuous worship for the best part of a millennium, these churches remain at the spiritual heart of Ethiopia. After checking in to our hotel, we visit the churches of the northwest cluster, close to the town centre. We may be fortunate enough to observe a colourful religious service, accompanied by drumming and chanting.
Hotel: Maribela
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: This morning a ninety minute drive through a patchwork of golden barley fields, thorn trees and wattle and daub huts takes us to the foot of the unusual cave church of Yemrehanna Kristos. Completing the journey on foot, we approach an unprepossessing brick wall which hides the exceptionally carved and decorated church and its enormous cave. We return to Lalibela for lunch at an award winning restaurant and conclude the afternoon by visiting the south east cluster of churches. Carved out of soft red volcanic tufa, these churches are connected by an incredible series of labyrinthine passageways and tunnels.
Hotel: Maribela
Meals: B, L, D
Day 11: A morning flight delivers us to Axum, at first glance merely a small market town, but possessed of a glorious past. From 200 BC to 700 AD it was the seat of an Empire, which traded with Arabia, India and China, had its own alphabet and notational system and constructed great engineering works. We see the famous stelae, the largest single pieces of stone erected anywhere in the world, and the so-called Queen of Sheba’s Baths. We also visit the Mariam Tsion Church, which Ethiopian Orthodox Christians believe contains the Ark of the Covenant. There will also be some free time to discover one or two excellent shops selling traditional and antique silver, unusual baskets and woven natural fabrics, and that most colourful of Ethiopian souvenirs: the ceremonial umbrella.
Hotel: Sabean International
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: We begin with a pleasant 1 hour walk through the countryside with magnificent scenery, our path bordered by gigantic Euphorbia Candelabrum, and visit the 6th century tombs of King Kaleb and his son. As we drive east, we pass through Adua, scene of Ethiopia’s defeat of the Italians in 1896, and continue to Yeha, once a powerful city in the pre-axumite Da’mit civilisation. The 2,900 year old temple is the oldest existing building in Ethiopia and the adjoining monumental building is still being excavated. We return to Axum (1 hr).
Hotel: Sabean International
Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: We fly from Axum to Addis Ababa and transfer to the hotel.
Hotel: Jupiter International Hotel Bole
Meals: B, L
Day 14: Airport transfer
Meals: B
Price:
£4,380 per person based on two people sharing a double room
Please enquiry about prices for individual travellers or small groups.
£720 single room supplement
Price Includes:
accommodation for Days 1 through 14
meals as listed in the daily notation
land transportation in a comfortable private vehicle
entrance and sightseeing fees, except during free periods
services of an English-speaking guide and local guides, as required
boat trip on Lake Tana
scout fee at the Simien Mountains National Park
Additional Costs:
domestic flights Addis Ababa – Bahir Dar, Gondar – Lalibela, Lalibela – Axum, Axum – Addis Ababa:
if booked in conjunction with your international Ethiopian Airways flight £215
otherwise £480
Price does not Include:
international flights to and from Addis Ababa
trip cancellation, medical or other insurance
immunisations, prescriptions or other medical requirements
passport, visa and health documentation
drinks other than soft drinks with meals outside Addis Ababa
meals in Addis Ababa other than breakfasts
any tips for porters, restaurant and hotel staff, drivers, church ‘shoe guards’, and other helpers, scouts and guides
transport and transfer of excess baggage
personal expenses (laundry, free time activities, etc.)
Ethiopian departure tax, if any
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