Twenty three Days tour to the most part of Ethiopia. CODE: (SP-DE-23D)
Twenty three Days tour to the most part of Ethiopia. CODE: (SP-DE-23D)
Day 1
Arrival to Ethiopia and transfer to the hotel while Check in a full day city tour of Addis Ababa. Places to visit include Entoto Mountain, Ethnographical Museum, and merkato, Addis Ababa’s main market area. (Lunch at Lucy Gazebo restaurant)
Overnight in Addis Ababa..At Caravan Hotel.
Day 2
Early in the morning, depart north to Bahir Dar via Debre Markos. On the way visit the Portuguese bridge, said to have been the first bridge in Ethiopia. Afterwards, you will pass through the spectacular Blue Nile Gorge. The gorge extends nearly 400km and reaches depths up to 1500m. Overnight in Bahir Dar, Bahirdar Hotel Palm Palace.
Day 3
In the Morning embark on a boat trip on Lake Tana to explore some of the monasteries hidden on the shores and islands of Lake Tana. after lunch In the afternoon, depart out of town to the Blue Nile Falls for an easy hike in the area.
Overnight in Bahirdar at palm palace Hotel.
Day 4
Today will be a 3hours drive to Gonder while arrive check in your hotel after lunch a full day exploring the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings. Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today, DebreBirhanSelassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia a former palace in a partial state of ruin overlooking the city of Gondar.
Overnight in Gondar at Fasil Lodge.
Day 5
Depart early in the morning from Gondar (7am at the latest), driving to Sankaber. We will stop along the way to handle park fees, etc. If you like, we can drop you in or around BuyitRas for a 3-4 hour hike to Sankober, which passes close to the escarpment edge. Nearing Sankober, you will have beautiful views on both sides of the escarpment ridge and where you will likely see the endemic Gelada baboons. In Sankaber, we will meet you with your supplies.
Overnight camping in Sankaber.
Day 6
From Sankober, depart into a valley, through which the Wazla (or Koba) River runs. (This river is often dry). Coming out of the valley you will have views of the Jinbar River waterfalls falling into the Geech Abyss. Continuing along, you will cross the Jinbar River and ascend into the village of Geech. Total trekking time: 4-5 hours.
Overnight in Geech.
Day 7
After an early breakfast, depart from Geech to the peak of ImetGogo at 3926m. Here you’ll have spectacular views over the lowlands – one of the highlights of the trip. Lunchbox will be taken in ImetGogo, then hike back to Geech. Total trekking time: 4 – 5 hours.
Overnight in Geech.
Day 8
From Geech, walk about 2hours then the Car picks you in Ambaras then drive to Axum on the impressive land scape of Limalimo roads arrive in late afternoon
Overnight at Yared Zema Hotel.
Day 9
In the morning where you can explore this former home of the mighty Axumite empire. Sites to visit include the famous obelisks (one that was just erected after being returned from Italy), the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace. You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept. Men only are allowed to enter the old church. Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept.
Overnight in Axum. Yared Zema Hotel.
Day 10
After breakfast, drive to visit the ruins of Yeha, dating from the 8th to 5th centuries BC, and thought to be the capital of Ethiopian civilization before Axum.
Overnight in Hawsein at Gheralta Lodge.
Day 11
Today you will have a chance to explore some of the less-visited rock-hewn churches of Ethiopia – those found in Tigray state. Some of the most popular churches are AbunaYemataGuh, St Marry Korkor, Daniel Korkor and those in the Gheralta cluster.
Afterwards, return to the Lodge overnight there.
Day 12
Hawseien – Wkiro- HAMED ELA
Drive to Hamedela via Berhale. The Danakil Depression can be said to ‘begin’ here. 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. The desert has several points lying more than 100 meters (328 ft) below sea level. You pass through a small town of Berhale where the camel caravans stop before they proceed to the northern highlands. En route you see many long caravans going to the salt mines and others coming out of the Danakil with their salt loaded camels. (3-4 hrs drive) Camp at Hamedela.
Day 13
We start early, shortly after a 06:30 breakfast, and drive to Dodom at the base of Erta Ale. This may be one of the worst road in the world. The 80 km distance may take about 6 hrs passing through changing landscape of solidified lava, rock, sand and the occasional palm lined oasis. You pass several small hamlets scattered here and there in this desert land, before reaching Dodom. You will trek from Dodom to Erta Ale which takes about 3 hrs. Early dinner around 17:00 and trek up to Ert Ale at 20:00. Camels transport all the camping materials and some food, sleeping materials, mattresses and water, to the rim of the volcano, where we spend the night watching the dramatic action of the boiling lava. Erta Ale ranks one of the most alluring and physically challenging natural attractions anywhere in Ethiopia. It is a shield volcano with a base diameter of 30 km and 1km square caldera at its summit. Erta Ale contains the world’s only permanent lava lake and you will spend an unforgettable night on the top of the mountain.
Day 14
Early morning you will rise with the sun with time to walk around pits and craters. The main pit-crater, 200 m deep and 350 m across, is sub-circular and three storied. The smaller southern pit is 65 m wide and about 100 m deep. You will leave around 7:00 to head back to Dodom for breakfast. You will reach latest at 10:30 am at the camp and after some time to relax you will drive on to Hamad Ela, a village with a total population about 500 people. Overnight camping at Hamed Ela.
Day 15
Morning driving tour to Ragad (Asebo), the place where the salts are mined. Observe the breaking of the salt from the ground, cutting into rectangular pieces and loading on camels. You drive ahead to Dallol and visit the difference landscape formed by volcanic activity, Dallol + Lake Assal + camel caravans. Excursion to Dallol (116 meter below sea level, one of the lowest places in the world) colorful salts mining, visit Lake Assal, follow up camel caravans and walk with the Afar people. Drive back to Hamedela and proceed to Mekele
Day 16
From Mekele Drive to Lalibela on this day it is an interesting drive through Sokota roads by visiting one of the villages while arraive in Lalibela in the late afternoon, over night at Lalibela Lodges.
Day 17
Morning Continue visit the most famous of all of the Ethiopian historical sites, begin to explore Rock-hewn churches of the remarkable king Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches – Bet MedhaneAlem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael& Bet Golgotha (entry not permitted for women). You will also have time to briefly visit the lively Saturday market in Lalibela.
Overnight in Lalibela. Lalibela Lodge.
Day 18
In the morning, visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis. After lunch, take an afternoon trip to visit the church of YimrehanneKristos. The most popular of the churches outside of Lalibela, this church is built with layers of wood and granite, set in the entrance to a large cavern. After the visit, return to Lalibela for overnight.
Lalibela Lodge.
Day 19
Early in the morning, drive to Kombolcha via Woldia, on the way visiting the lake in the town of Hayk, where you can visit the local monastery and enjoy the birdlife. Overnight in Kombolcha (Hikma Hotel).
Day 20
Return driving to Addis via Debre Birhan. On the way you pass the Mezezo Escarpment, with a good chance to see the endemic gelada baboons. If today is a Sunday, you can stop in the town of Senbete to visit the lively market including the interesting camel market.
Overnight at Caravan Hotel.
Day 21
Early in the morning drive out from Addis drive to Drediwa on the way visit creater lake of Debrezeit roads, and then to Dreadwa city visit a gain a chat farming while arrive in the late afternoon overnight at Roweida guest house one of the best amir cultural houses.
Day 22
After a morning swim
In the morning, drive out to Babile and the Valley of Marvels. The Valley of Marvels has wonderful landscapes, famous for its balancing rock formations. (Additionally, the town of Babile has a very large market on Saturdays and a camel market on Mondays and Thursdays.) Afterwards, continue back to Harar for exploration of the city and for overnight. At night you can visit the Hyena Men who feed the hyenas every night just outside the walls of the city.
Overnight in Harar.
Day 23
In the morning, visit the last places of interest in Harar. while return to Addis. Overnight in Addis Ababa. Caravan Hotel.Transfer to airport for international departure.
End of Tour.