Tour Code: ATTA 002
Duration: 13 Days and 12 Nights
Means of Traveling: By Surfaces
Tour Program of the Northern Historical Sites, Semien Mountains National Park and the Tigray Rock Hewn Churches (12 Nights & 13 Days) all by surface
DAY ONE: ADDIS ABABA
Full day, you will have Addis city tour that includes; visit museums, churches and shopping such as National Museum, Natural History Museum, St.George Cathedral and St. Trinity Cathedral, Shopping at African Grand Market, called Merkato, Entoto Mountains; to visit the over view of the capital Addis, the memorial museum of Emperor Menelik and Empress Taitu and also St. Mary Church and others if the time will be permitted. O/N Addis Ababa.
DAY TWO: ADDIS—BAHIR DAR
Morning drive to Bahir Dar through the Mountain ranges of Entoto of Addis Ababa and the beautiful countryside. After driving 100 km. you will find a Medieval Monastery of Debre Libanos and the spectacular Jemma Cliff. After your visit, drive to the dramatic Blue Nile Gorge which mostly compared with the Grand Canyon by most observers. Then, drive through the beautiful countryside to Bahir Dar. O/N at Tana hotel or similar.
DAY THREE: BAHIR DAR
In the morning, drive 35 km to the Blue Nile Falls and to the Portuguese Bridge, then start sightseeing of Bahir Dar town and the environs including the local market, and in the afternoon, boat trip over Lake Tana to Zege Peninsula to visit the 15th century Medieval Monasteries of Ura Kidane Mihret and also the out let of the Blue Nile River. O/N at Tana hotel or similar.
DAY FOUR: BAHIR DAR--GONDAR
Morning drive to Gondar through the spectacular Tara Gedam Mountain ranges. En route, you will see the 16th c. Castle of Emperor Sarsa Dengel and drive further to Gondar. After lunch, you will see the church of Debre Birhan Selassie which is painstakingly decorated by a local monk and historical sites such as The Royal Palace of Emperor Fasiledes, The Quesquam Enclosure, and The Bath Palace of Emperor Fasilades. O/N Goha hotel or similar.
DAY FIVE: GONDAR---SIEMEN MOUNTANS--DEBARK
Morning drive to the marvelous Semien Mountains. You will have a short stop at the breath taking scenery of Kossoye before reaching Debark. At Debark (which is 100 km away from Gondar), you will collect the entrance fees, a park guide and park ranger to drive further into the inner part of the park. From Chinkwanit, where the spectacular scenery begins, you will start your first day trekking following the abyss. You will enjoy the views and the herds of unique Gelada Baboons. Then, drive to Chenek to see the endemic Walia Ibex and the breath-taking scenery of Enatye and Imet Gogo. Here, the elevation is 3600 meters above sea level and the flora and the fauna is becoming unique. Continue driving further to Buahit to VIEW the majestic Ras Dashen-the highest pick of Ethiopia (4543 meters above sea-level). Then drive back to Debarek town for overnight. O/N Semien Park hotel or similar.
DAY SIX: DEBARK---AXUM
Drive to Axum through the amazing Tekezze Rift Valley en route making many stops to see the Semien Mountains from the lower valley which is really “ The Roof of Africa”. O/N at Sabean hotel or similar.
DAY SEVEN: AXUM
Sightseeing of historical sites in Axum such as the stele park, tombstones of King Kaleb, King Gebre Meskal and King Bazen and the Churches of Mary Zion, the archaeological museum and the bath and the palace of Queen Sheba. O/N at Sabean hotel or similar.
DAY EIGHT: AXUM—ADIGRAT--HAWZIEN
Drive to Adigrat en route visiting the ancient Temple of Yeha (5th. C.BC) and farther drive to the cluster of the Tigray rock hewn churches of Petros Paulos, Mikael Milay Hazengie, Adikesho Medhanialem, Wukro Kirkos and Abrha we Atsbeha . O/N Gheralta Lodge or similar.
DAY NINE: HAWZIEN ---MEKELLE
Morning drive to Visit the Easter cluster of rock hewn churches of Michael Imba; Debre Selam Michael and Mikael Barka from the Atsbi cluster. O/N Mekelle at Axum hotel or similar.
DAY TEN: MEKELLE—LALIBELA
Drive to Lalibela through the scenic country side through Woldiya town. O/N at Mountain View hotel or similar.
DAY ELEVEN: LALIBELA
Full day Visit of Lalibela brings you to yet more wonder – The 3 group rock-hewn churches (12 rock-hewn churches). O/N Mountain View hotel or similar.
DAY TWELVE: LALIBELA---KOMBOLCHA
Drive to Kombolcha via Woldia and Dessie, en route visiting Genete Mariam Rock Hewn Church. O/N at Sunnyside Hotel or similar.
DAY THIRTEEN: KOMBOLCHA--ADDIS
Drive to Addis Ababa through the eastern Mountain ranges and reach in Addis. O/N Addis.
