Ethiopia Tour Packages (Historic Route)

An ancient land of fertile well-watered mountains that form the main source of the Blue Nile, northern Ethiopia has long stood at the cultural crossroads of Africa, Arabia, and the Mediterranean. These divergent influences have bequeathed the region a unique cultural and historical heritage epitomized by a quartet of unique and magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Aksum, Lalibela, Gondar and the Simien Mountains National Park – as well as a vast array of lesser-known but equally fascinating historical sites.

North Historic Tour

Day 1 of Ethiopia Tour: Addis Ababa

Arrive at Bole international airport and be welcome by an Ethiopian Holidays representative. Depending on your arrival time, you will be taken on an Addis Ababa City Tour, which will also include drinking coffee and experiencing the unique and traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony; from washing, roasting, grinding, smelling, serving and tasting coffee! Additional Addis Ababa sightseeing City Tour stops will include Mount Entoto (first capital situated in hills overlooking Addis Ababa which means “New Flower”) and from where you can enjoy panoramic views.

You will visit the National Museum: famous for containing the famous hominid fossil ‘Lucy’, the colorful Ethnographic Museum (take an engaging visual tour through Ethiopia) located within the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Your drive will also take you through Mercato – the largest open market in East Africa and along the way you will pass various significant historical monuments of Addis Ababa on this City Tour to give you a taste of Addis.

Day 2 of Ethiopia Tour: Addis – Aksum

Early in the morning fly to Axum, A city more than 3000 years of history and once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization, home of the original Ark of the Covenant. The sightseeing of this ancient city includes St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository for ‘Ark of the covenant’, the coronation yard, the Stelae Park, Tombs of Kaleb and his son GebreMeskel, Ezana’s inscriptions and Dungur palace (popularly known as ruins of Queen of Sheba’s palace)

Day 3 of Ethiopia Tour: Aksum – Lalibela

Early in the morning, you will fly from Axum to the UNESCO World Heritage Center and Holy city of Lalibela where you will be met for the drive up into town nestled in the hills above. The morning will be spent marveling at the well-preserved and awe-inspiring 11th-century rock-hewn churches for which Lalibela is most famous; crafted beautifully from one single red volcanic rock during the ultimate period of masonry skills. Some are below ground only reached via narrow tunnels and small steps.

King Lalibela is said to have had the vision to create these churches with designs given to him by an angel. The final church to be hewn and possibly the most beautiful of all is St. Georges, which is carved in the shape of a cross. Late in the afternoon, you can enjoy the surrounding breathtaking scenery and in the evening partake in a traditional Tej ( homemade local honey wine) taste experience for which Lalibela is famous.

Day 4 of Ethiopia Tour: Lalibela – Gondar

Arrive in Gondar after the short flight from Lalibela. Enjoy a city tour of the city; often described as the Camelot of Africa, the city of Gondar was once the capital of Ethiopia from 1636 until the mid19th century and was the hub of art, music, and literature. Your visit will include the Royal enclosure, Fasiledes bath and the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie church which is well known for its intriguing ceiling paintings.

Day 5 of Ethiopia Tour: Drive to Bahir Dar

Drive to Bahir Dar through beautiful countryside and skirting Lake Tana. Upon arrival in this lovely lakeside town in the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the lush green peninsula of Zege and after a pleasant walk you will reach the 14th century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret; the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries, with its beautiful mural paintings, ecclesiastic books, ceremonial processional religious crosses and ancient and sacred artifacts.

Day 6 of Ethiopia Tour: Drive to the Blue Nile Falls and fly to Addis Ababa

North Adventure

Day 1 of Ethiopia Tour: Addis Ababa

Arrive at Bole international airport and meet and assist by ET-holidays representative. Depending on your arrival time, you will have Addis Ababa city tour. Addis Ababa sightseeing will include Mount Entoto for the panoramic view of Addis Ababa, National museum: home for the oldest and famous hominid fossil ‘Lucy’, Trinity cathedral church, Ethnographic museum the then palace of Emperor Hailesillasie known as little Ethiopia and Merkato: the biggest open-air market in East Africa. Along the way, you will visit the significant historical monument of Addis Ababa.

Day 2 of Ethiopia Tour: Addis Ababa Bahirdar

Early in the morning fly to Bahirdar. On your arrival, our representative will take you to your hotel. In the morning you will take a boat cruise on Lake Tana to visit the 14th-century Monastery of Ura Kidane Mihret which is the most famous of the Zege peninsula monasteries ((beautiful mural paintings, religious books, processional crosses, and sacred artifacts). Afternoon drive 35km to the small village of Tis Abay to visit Blue Nile Falls, along the way enjoy the local lifestyle and typical countryside of Ethiopia.

Upon arrival hike through the beautiful scenery and cross over the Portuguese bridge to the waterfall. Enjoy the fall and on the way back you will cross by boat the legendary Blue Nile River which joins the White Nile at Khartoum (Sudan) then form the longest river in the world. (Note that the volume of the water could be minimal depending on the season)

Day 3 of Ethiopia Tour: Bahirdar – Gondar

Early in the morning drive to Gondar. After lunch, you will have a city tour of Gondar. Gondar; once was the Royal Capital of Ethiopia which was founded in 1636 by Emperor Fassiladas. It was a hub of art, music and literature for Ethiopia. Your visit will include the Royal enclosure, Fasiledes bath and the fascinating Debre Birhan Selassie church which is well known for its intriguing ceiling paintings.

Day 4: Excursion to the Simien Mountains National Park

In the morning drive to Debark about 100km from Gondar, where the Simien Mountains National Park Headquarter is located. The Simien Mountains National Park is known for its dramatic landscapes and breathtaking scenery comprising deep canyons, escarpments, dizzying precipices, and jagged spires caused by millions of years of erosion. The park is also home for its indigenous flora and endemic fauna such as Waliya ibex, Ethiopian wolf, and the Gelada baboons. Lammergeyer (Lord of the Plateau) is one of the unique birds found in the Simien mountains national park. Late in the afternoon, you will drive back to Gondar for the night. Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5: Gondar – Axum

Early in the morning fly to Axum, A city more than 3000 years of history and once the center of a great empire and ancient civilization, home of the original Ark of the Covenant. The sightseeing of this ancient city includes St. Mary’s Church, the sanctuary Chapel which is the repository for ‘Ark of the covenant’, the coronation yard, the Stelae Park, Tombs of Kaleb and his son GebreMeskel, Ezana’s inscriptions and Dungur palace (popularly known as ruins of Queen of Sheba’s palace)

Day 6: Axum – Lalibela

Early in the morning fly to the holiest city of Lalibela. Lalibela is known for its well preserved Rock-Hewn churches; each rock churches are carved out and crafted beautifully from a single volcanic rock. Here you head on back to 11th c. mythical rock-hewn churches of Lalibela; it is truly a world wonder. The time of Lalibela is the ultimate period of masonry. Late in the afternoon enjoy the surrounding breathtaking scenery and take part in a traditional Tej or honey wine taste experience related with the local legend of Ethiopia.

Day 7: Excursion to Yimrhane Kristos

After breakfast, we drive to Yimrhane Kristos through the small village of Bilbala. The built-up cave church of Yimrhane Kristos itself predates the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. This is one of the most beautiful and colorful cave churches, built from marble, wood and beautifully decorated from inside and outside with remarkable architectural skill. In the other side of the cave, you will also see many mummified bodies of pilgrims from centuries ago. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 8: Lalibela – Addis Ababa – Departure.

Fly back to Addis. In the afternoon you will have leisure time and shopping. Late in the afternoon have a farewell dinner at one of the best traditional restaurants then drive to the airport for flight back home.

Lalibela Tours

Day 1: Addis Ababa

Arrive at Bole international airport and be welcomed by an Ethiopian Holidays representative. Depending on your arrival time, you will be taken on an Addis Ababa City Tour, which will also include drinking coffee and experiencing the unique and traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony; from washing, roasting, grinding, smelling, serving and tasting coffee! Additional Addis Ababa sightseeing City Tour stops will include Mount Entoto (first capital situated in hills overlooking Addis Ababa which means “New Flower”) and from where you can enjoy panoramic views.

You will visit the National Museum: famous for containing the famous hominid fossil ‘Lucy’, the colorful Ethnographic Museum (take an engaging visual tour through Ethiopia) located within the former palace of Emperor Haile Selassie I. Your drive will also take you through Mercato – the largest open market in East Africa and along the way you will pass various significant historical monuments of Addis Ababa on this City Tour to give you a taste of Addis

Day 2 of Eth: Addis – Lalibela

Early in the morning, you will fly from Addis to the UNESCO World Heritage Center and Holy city of Lalibela where you will be met for the drive up into town nestled in the hills above. The morning will be spent marveling at the well-preserved and awe-inspiring 11th-century rock-hewn churches for which Lalibela is most famous; crafted beautifully from one single red volcanic rock during the ultimate period of masonry skills. Some are below ground only reached via narrow tunnels and small steps.

King Lalibela is said to have had the vision to create these churches with designs given to him by an angel. The final church to be hewn and possibly the most beautiful of all is St. Georges, which is carved in the shape of a cross. Late in the afternoon, you can enjoy the surrounding breathtaking scenery and in the evening partake in a traditional Tej ( homemade local honey wine) taste experience for which Lalibela is famous.

Day 3: Fly back to Addis Ababa:

After breakfast transfer to the airport and fly back to Addis. In the afternoon you will have leisure time and shopping. Late in the evening have a farewell dinner at one of the traditional restaurant then drive to the airport for flight back.

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