9 Days North Ethiopia

Morning: Flight to Bahir Dar After breakfast, you'll make your way to the airport for your flight to Bahir Dar. Once you arrive at Bahir Dar airport, a driver will take you to your hotel. Afternoon: Boat Trip on Lake Tana We will embark on a boat ride on Lake Tana to visit the Ura Kidane Mihret monastery, situated on the Zege Peninsula. This monastery is famous for its stunning wall murals and unique round, grass-roofed structures dating back to the 14th century, known as Azoa Mariam and Ura Kidane Mihret. Characterized by mud-plastered round walls and conical thatched roofs, these buildings are typical of ancient Ethiopian Orthodox churches and are nestled within the mangroves of the Zege Peninsula. Ura is particularly renowned for its exceptional manuscripts, frescoes, and religious artifacts, including silver drums, gold and silver processional crosses, royal garments, and crowns belonging to several 14th-century emperors. While exploring this lush area, we hope to spot a variety of birds and monkeys, and you might even catch a glimpse of hippos along the lake. Accommodation: Hotel in Bahir Dar

Morning: Visit to the Blue Nile Falls (Smoke of Water) After breakfast, we'll head to the breath-taking Blue Nile Falls, with its impressive 45-meter (148-foot) drop. The drive from Bahir Dar is approximately 35 km and takes about 1 hour. Later, we’ll return to Bahir Dar to explore the local market, where you can purchase items such as handcrafted jewelry, woven and embroidered clothing, ox-horn mugs, or the famous Agelgil grass baskets. You can also take this opportunity to observe the traditional lifestyle of the locals. Afternoon: Following lunch, we will travel to Gondar, a stylish 17th-century Ethiopian royal city renowned for its beautifully painted Debre Birhan Selassie Church and the impressive imperial Castle Courtyard. Accommodation: Hotel, Gondar

Morning: Historic Tour of Gondar We will explore Gondar's historic sites, including the royal enclosures of Fassil Ghibe, the castles of the Gonderian emperors, the Fasilades Bath, and the famous Debre Berhan Selassie Church, which boasts stunning murals and a wooden ceiling adorned with angelic faces, a hallmark of Ethiopian art and design. Afternoon: Journey to Ethiopia’s Natural Wonder We will continue our journey toward Simien Mountains National Park. In the late afternoon, we will arrive at Africa's highest lodge within the park. Recognized as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 1996, the park is known for its unique landscapes and native wildlife. You may even encounter the friendly Gelada monkeys during your visit. Accommodation: Lodge, Simien Mountains National Park

With its impressive valleys and gorges, along with Ethiopia's highest waterfall, the stunning landscape is a marvel to explore. We’ll take a leisurely two-hour walk to reach the waterfall, where we hope to spot more endemic bird species and wildlife. In the late afternoon, we’ll return to Gondar by car and spend the night there. Accommodation: Hotel, Gondar

Today, we'll be heading to Lalibela, a journey that will take approximately seven to eight hours through a variety of landscapes. Along the way, we have the opportunity to stop in Awra Amba, an intriguing and unique community that operates independently without religion, promoting social equality between men and women. Form your own opinion of this distinctive approach in Ethiopia. We expect to arrive in Lalibela by late afternoon. Accommodation: Hotel, Lalibela.

We will visit the eleven renowned rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, often called the "eighth wonder of the world." These remarkable churches are intricately carved directly from the rock upon which they stand. In terms of size, craftsmanship, and design, they reflect an extraordinary level of creativity. Some churches are linked by extensive underground tunnels and labyrinths, while others are hewn from solid volcanic rock or transformed from caves through excavation. The first group includes six churches—Bet Golgotha, Bet Mikeal, Bet Mariam, Bet Maskel, Bet Dangal, and Bet Medhanealem—situated in a sequence of rock cradles. Bet Medhanealem, the largest rock-hewn church in the world, is designed in the style of a Greek temple. After lunch, we will continue our tour to the second set of churches located south of the Jordan River. This group includes Bet Gabriel Rafael, Bet Mercurios Emanuel, and Bet Aba Libanos. Bet Emanuel (House of Emanuel) is positioned just south of the symbolic Jordan River and has received praise from international art historians for its intricate façade. Lastly, we will see the postcard-worthy church of St. George. Bet Giyorgis, which can be accessed via a tunnel, is perched on a sloping rock terrace southwest of the village and is somewhat isolated. Accommodation: Hotel, Lalibela.

Morning: If you're interested, we can spend some more time exploring the hewn rock churches. Alternatively, we can embark on an excursion to the stunning Asheton Maryam Monastery, located at 3,200 meters above sea level, where you'll enjoy breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Afternoon: After lunch, we will visit Yirmahne Kristos, an intriguing 11th-century cave church. The drive will take us two hours (42 km) each way through beautiful scenery and nearby villages. Accommodation: Hotel in Lalibela

Morning: If time permits, we can visit the intriguing Ne'akuto Le'ab Monastery to the south of Lalibela before your flight. Afterward, you'll fly to Addis Ababa, where a day room will be reserved for you at your hotel until 6 PM. Evening: You are warmly invited to a popular restaurant in Addis Ababa for a traditional Ethiopian dinner and a dance performance. After the meal, you will be taken to the airport for your international flight. Alternatively, if you choose to stay overnight in Addis Ababa and continue on a different route, you will be transported to your hotel after dinner.

Departure or individual extension options are available.