Northern Ethiopia And Danakil

Itinerary

Day 1: Explore Lake Tana

Stop At: Bahir Dar International Airport, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
After arriving in Bahir-Dar, take a boat ride and get free time to explore Lake Tana, largest Lake of Ethiopia. It forms the main reservoir for the Blue Nile (Abbay) River, which drains its southern extremity near Bahir Dar. The islands and peninsulas of Lake Tana are most conveniently approached by boat from Bahir Dar on the southern side of the lake.
On this full-day tour, experience the scenic parts of Lake Tana with an escorted tour guide and learn about the history. You will visit the selected ones, including Ura Kidane Mihirte, Azewa Maryam and the Zegi Peninsula. On this afternoon drive to the Blue Nile falls to visit the longest River and the sources of Nile.


Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Bahir Dar at Jacaranda hotel or Similar

Day 2: sightseeing the amazing Royal compound of Gondar

Stop At: Fasil Ghebbi, Gonder Ethiopia
On this day after breakfast drive from Bahir-Dar to Gondar to visit the amazing Royal compound. Explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. It was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fasiledes, and serve as a third permanent capital of Ethiopia next to Axum & Laliblea. It is otherwise known as the “Camelot of Africa” for housing huge number of castles in one big compound. Spend the afternoon in Gondar visiting, the Fasiledes Castle, Fasiledes Swimming Pool, where one of annual festival called Timket, Epiphany is held on January 19 every year. And visit DebreBirhanSillasie church, amazing art of work on the sailing.


Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Gondar at Florida hotel or Similar

Day 3: Excursion to Simien Mountains National Park

Stop At: Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
On this full-day: Excursion to Simien mountains national park early in the morning, depart for the stunning Simien Mountains National Park. The Cloud piercing peak mountains and spectacular views to these mountains, home to many of the endemic animal species of Ethiopia including the gelada baboon (guaranteed to be seen) as well as the rare Walia ibex and Ethiopian wolf. The afternoon will be available for relaxing picnic lunch in the most dramatic sceneries of the park Ginbar River falls. After lunch walk back to the car and drive back to Gondar for overnight.

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Gondar at Florida hotel or Similar


Day 4: Travel to ancient city of Axum

Stop At: The Ruins of Aksum, Axum Ethiopia
After breakfast, take the first flight from Gondar to Axum: Axum houses the Biblical Ark of the Covenant, on this day, visiting the remaining sites of Axum, most notably, travel the King Kaleb & King GebreMeskal’s grave in the north of the town. At the center of Axum standings an everlasting Axumite kingdom symbol Staleas. See two standing another one fall: continue exploring this mysterious ancient capital with several archaeological museums and the ruins of Queen of Sheba’s palace.


Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Axum at Sabean Hotel or Similar

Day 5: Excursion Gheralta Mountain churches

Stop At: Gheralta Rock, Hawzen, Mek'ele Ethiopia
On this day, drive to Hawzien en routel stop at the ancient temple of Yeha. Then afte, drive to Gheralta Mountains for excursion around Gheralta cliffs: To reach the extraordinary church on a cliff top in Tigray. Among these amazing churches, Escape into Ethiopia tours help to choose based on accessibility, and the group fitness. Churches you will visit include Mariam Korkor, and Abuna Yemata. Each church has a unique painting style that dates back to the 4th century.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Gheralta lodge or similar

Day 6: Drive to Danakil Depression

Stop At: Danakil Depression, 0125 Ethiopia
On this day drive to the most amazing and tough part of the whole trip. Explore the beginning of the Danakil depression and go down to the hottest place on the planet. This is one of the most extreme places of Ethiopia. It is one of the most inhospitable regions of the world, but is nonetheless spectacular, full of eye-catching colors, as in the Sulphur springs. Pass through a small town of Berhale, en route you may see many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels. Once you arrive in the campsite unload the car and take short break, after the short break drive to spend sometimes on the Salt Lake and watch the awe-inspiring sunset. Overnight in HammedAela campsite
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Sleep at camp in Hammede-Ale

Day 7: Excursion on Dalol

Stop At: Dalol, 135 Ethiopia
On this day start early, shortly after breakfast, drive deep into the focal point of the depression: be prepared to feel the heat and breath the different minerals like Potassium, salt and many more: continue driving to see the Salt Mountains and traditional Salt mining and witness how people do one of the hardest jobs on earth.
Continue driving, to the base campsite of Erta Ale, passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, and rock. Sortly after arriving in the base camp take early dinner and start trekking from Dodom to Erta Ale. Arrive at the top of erta Ale around midnight and watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake and you will spend an unforgettable night on the top of the mountain. (Camping)

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Spend an unforgettable night on the top of the Mountain just on the Lava Lake side. (Camping)


Day 8: Erta-Ale

Stop At: Erta Ale, 6611 Ethiopia
On this day, walk down from Erta Ale to the base camp for breakfast. The Danakil is also the hottest place on the planet. ErtaAel is a continually active volcano containing world only permanent Lava Lake. After breakfast; drive to lake Afdera for refreshing on the nice Salt Lake where you can swim and relax after all the long treks in the Danakil depression. After lunch, drive to back to Mekele for overnight at Atse Yohanis hotel or similar


Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Atse Yohanis hotel or similar



Day 9: Drive to Lalibela via Sekota

Stop At: Yemrehanna Kristos, Lalibela Ethiopia

After breakfast, we will drive to Lalibela exploring yet another breathtaking view via the town of Sekota. This is route is less-traveled but amazingly refreshing and shows the typical countryside settlement and landscapes. En route, you will be able to visit Yimerehane Kirstos Church close to Lalibela: this is remarkable marble church curved out of a big cave—an architectural combination of Axumite kingdom and Zagwe Dynasty.


Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Lalibela at Cliff Edge hotel or Similar


Day 10: Explore underground churches of Lalibela

Stop At: Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Lalibela 1260 Ethiopia

underground churches of King Lalibela Lalibela is also called: Jerusalem of Africa” as the amazingly excavated underground churches resemble some churches in
Israel. These amazing churches were excavated from one Solid volcanic rock in the beginning of 12th century. and we will use the day exploring every one of them, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha. After lunch, continue southeastern cluster including Bete Gabriel & Rufael, Bete Merkorios, Bete Emanuel, Bete Libanos and at the last we will go to the elegant church of
Saint George—the big cross-shaped one. At the end of the day, you will Participate in a cultural music and traditional drink called Tej- pure honey wine.

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Lalibela at Cliff Edge hotel or Similar


Day 11: Fly from Lalibela to Addis Ababa

Stop At: Addis Mercato, Kenya St Addis Ketema, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Take the morning flight and arrive in Addis Ababa midday and you will have free time to do some shopping or sightseeing including the Merkato, said to be Africa’s largest market of its kind, and do shopping.
In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner at one of the famous cultural restaurants.
............................... End of tour..........................................

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.