Begin your journey in Ethiopia's vibrant capital, where a city tour takes you to the Ethnological Museum, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the oldest coffee roaster, Tomoca.
Introducing Ethiopian Odyssey
From Ancient Churches to Majestic Landscapes
Embark on a captivating expedition through Ethiopia's ancient wonders, tailored for the passionate historic enthusiast. This immersive tour unveils the country's rich cultural heritage, from the bustling city of Addis Ababa to the enchanting rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the royal castles of Gonder, and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Axum and Harar.
Along the way, we'll delve into the majestic Simien Mountains National Park, visit isolated churches on Lake Tana, and explore the fascinating Tigray rock churches. From remarkable architecture to mystical landscapes, this journey will transport you back in time and leave you in awe of Ethiopia's enduring historical legacy.
Destination Highlights
Highlighted Destinations
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Africa's largest ranges, with opportunities for scenic walks and encounters with endemic wildlife.
Explore the 'Camelot of Africa' and marvel at the royal castles and Debre Berhan Selassie Church, offering a glimpse into Ethiopia's regal past.
Witness the architectural marvel of the rock-hewn churches, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's most extraordinary religious sites.
Uncover the mysteries of ancient Axum, visiting the stelae, Queen of Sheba's Bath, and the legendary Church of Saint Mary of Zion.
Venture to the Gheralta area and discover the hidden treasures of the Tigray region, where ancient churches carved into cliffs await exploration.
Experience the surreal landscapes of this otherworldly region, including the colorful Dallol area and the salt flats, accompanied by breathtaking sunsets.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day by day Tour Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN ADDIS ABABA & CITY TOUR
- Fly to Addis Ababa; upon arrival at Bole international airport, your hospitality begins. We provide you with a meet-and-greet service at the airport and then transfer you to your hotel. This afternoon, enjoy a tour of Addis Ababa, a pleasant capital city with wide jacaranda-edged avenues, interesting museums, and lively markets. Start our visit with the Ethnological Museum for an overview of Ethiopia's history, culture, and traditions, and its collections from thousand-year-old nomadic tribes.
- Next, see the beautiful baroque-styled Holy Trinity Cathedral which contains the thrones and the tomb of Emperor Haile Selassie (the last king of Ethiopia) and some other members of the royal family. We end up the city tour by inviting you to the oldest and best coffee roaster and coffee shop-Tomoca. Not only do they serve fantastic Ethiopian coffee, they also offer other fine coffees.
- Overnight in Addis Ababa
DAY 2: FLY TO GONDER, & DRIVE TO SIMIEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
- This morning board a short flight to Gonder and upon arrival you drive to the Simien Mountains. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's largest ranges. More than a dozen peaks are higher than 3600 meters, including Ras Dashen, the highest peak in Ethiopia.
- Simien's landscapes vary from plateaus, escarpments, and steep gorges to rolling hills and pinnacles. Enjoy an afternoon walk around the lodge, amid the breathtaking alpine sceneries. This will help you to acclimatise your body to the altitude.
- Overnight in Simiens.
DAY 3: EXPLORE SIMIEN MOUNTAINS
- Your day is spent exploring the Simien Mountains National Park and watching for its endemic residents, including the elusive Walia ibex, the endangered Ethiopian wolf, and the gelada, a primate we'll get to know better alongside field researchers. We'll also look for a variety of birds, such as the powerful, cliff-nesting lammergeyer.
- Overnight in Simiens
DAY 4: DRIVE TO GONDER & SIGHTSEEING IN GONDER
- A scenic drive returns you to Gondar- famous for its medieval castles and churches. Gondar was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasilades as the royal capital of Ethiopia, and is also known as “the Camelot of Africa”. Spend the afternoon exploring the city of Gondar.
- In Gondar, there are a dozen castles, built by various kings and a queen over the course of 236 years. You will visit the Royal Enclosure, among these the Castle of Fasiledes, the oldest and probably the most impressive of all the castles found in the area. We continue on to the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The interior of Debre Berhan Selassie is decorated with beautiful murals, cherubs, and paintings. It is rumored to have once been the proposed final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.
- Overnight in Gonder
DAY 5: FLY TO LALIBELA & VISIT THE ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES
- From Gonder, a short flight takes you to Lalibela, home of the rock-hewn churches and a World Heritage Site. It is located at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level. Lalibela is the 8th wonder of the world; 11 rock-hewn churches have been cut out of a solid red volcanic rock, some completely hidden in deep trenches, while others stand in open quarried caves and a complex series of tunnels and narrow passageways connect the churches.
- Lalibela indeed offers a great opportunity for any traveler. After checking in and having your lunch in your hotel, the afternoon will be devoted to visiting the first group (or the north–western cluster) of churches: Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Mariam, Bet Meskel, and Bet Danaghel.
- Overnight in Lalibela
DAY 6: EXPLORE MORE ROCK CHURCHES
- After breakfast, drive to the cave church of Yemrhan Kristos. The drive will be on a good road passing through the most dramatic landscape of countryside. This exquisite church is a masterpiece of Axumit wood and stone construction style. It is renowned for its interior decoration, its beautiful wooden coffer ceiling inlaid with hexagons, and medallions with both figurative and geometric motifs. Drive back to Lalibela.
- In the afternoon, you will visit the remaining rock-hewn churches of Lalibela which include the churches of Bet Gabriel - Rafael, Bet Emanuel, and Abba Libanos. Then you will continue your visit to the cruciform-shaped Bet Giorgis, the most beautiful church here. Its interior is dominated by depictions of Saint George killing the dragon. It is one of the newest and best-preserved churches.
- Overnight in Lalibela
DAY 7: FLY TO AXUM & EXPLORE THE SIGHTSEEING
- In the morning you will fly to Axum, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. You will proceed to a full-day city tour of Axum –a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the stelae: granite monoliths dating from pre-Christian times and decorated with symbolic engravings. Nearby is the subterranean Tomb of Ramhai, a former king of Axum.
- You also visit the Archaeological Museum, before heading to the Queen of Sheba's Bath. This large reservoir is an excellent place to observe the local women collecting water for washing. Visit also historically important dedicatory stone dating to about 320 AD with an inscription written in three languages - Sabaean, Ge'ez (earliest written Ethiopian language), and Greek.
- After having a lunch break, continue on your visit to the church of Saint Mary of Zion. A chapel in the church is believed by many to contain The Ark of the Covenant. It is guarded by “The Guardian” who is the only person allowed into the chapel and the only person who may set eyes on it. There is also a small museum here which contains the crowns of Ethiopian kings and other treasures. You then continue to the Queen of Sheba's Palace. The palace area has been fully excavated and is definitely worth a look.
- Overnight in Axum
DAY 8: DRIVE TO GHERALTA AREA
- After breakfast, you drive across the dramatic mountainous landscapes to Gheralta. On your way, you visit the Monastery of Abba Gerima which houses an impressive collection of ancient crosses, crowns, other artifacts and the oldest illustrated Christian manuscripts dated to the fifth-sixth century.
- You arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. After settling in, we visit the area's ancient churches, carved into caves and high up on cliff faces. Believed to date back to 600 ce, the origin of these sanctuaries remains a mystery. You return to your lodge in time to enjoy a beautiful Ethiopian sunset.
- Overnight in Gheralta
DAY 9: EXPLORE THE TIGRAY ROCK CHURCHES
- After breakfast, you drive across the dramatic mountainous landscapes to Gheralta. On your way, you visit the Monastery of Abba Gerima which houses an impressive collection of ancient crosses, crowns, other artifacts and the oldest illustrated Christian manuscripts dated to the fifth-sixth century.
- You arrive at the lodge in time for lunch. After settling in, we visit the area's ancient churches, carved into caves and high up on cliff faces. Believed to date back to 600 ce, the origin of these sanctuaries remains a mystery. You return to your lodge in time to enjoy a beautiful Ethiopian sunset.
- Overnight in Gheralta
DAY 10: DRIVE TO THE DANAKIL DEPRESSION
- After breakfast, spend the morning at your leisure which can be arranged for short hiking, bird watching, and visiting the nearby rock-hewn church. After lunch, you drive towards the Danakil region, stopping a number of times en route to take in the spectacular scenery. You arrive in time to enjoy a beautiful Ethiopian sunset over Lake Asale. Overnight camping in the Danakil
DAY 11: EXPLORE THE DALLOL AREA & DRIVE TO MEKELLE
- After an early light breakfast, you start driving to Dallol. It is like nowhere else; a bizarre landscape of colorful mineral deposits, sulfur pools, and geysers, where you will have this early morning to explore this seemingly alien terrain. You then visit the salt canyons, a bizarre landscape where we go for a short walk. On the way back to camp we cross the salt flats where we see the arduous work of salt being extracted by hand and loaded onto the camels. After freshening up and having lunch, we will leave the Danakil and climb the steep mountains to Mekele, climbing from 100 meters below sea level up to 2500m. Mekele is the region's capital.
- Overnight in Mekelle
DAY 12: FLY TO ADDIS & DEPARTURE
- After breakfast, you drive to Mekelle Airport and take the short flight back to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival in Addis, transfer you to your hotel. You have the afternoon free for shopping in Addis Ababa. Depending on your flight schedule, a transfer is arranged to Addis Ababa Bole international airport for the flight back home. Thanks for vacationing with Sawla Tours.
How Can We Help You Create an Extraordinary Ethiopian Adventure?
At Sawla Tours, we are passionate about turning your travel dreams into reality. With years of hands-on experience in crafting unforgettable journeys to Ethiopia, we are your go-to experts in deciding when to travel, where to explore, and what to discover.
Whether you have a detailed itinerary in mind, seek professional advice, or simply don't know where to begin, we're eager to assist. Reach out to us today, and together, we'll create an extraordinary travel experience tailored just for you.
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