Ethiopia Historic Sites Safari Tour

Day 1: Addis Ababa

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport – Addis Ababa, you will be transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. The city, which lies at the foot of Mount Entoto, boasts a rich culture, having been founded in 1886 by Emperor Menelik II. Addis Ababa is a metropolitan city with some 2.7 million inhabitants of different backgrounds – as many as 80 nationalities speaking 80 languages and religious communities including Christian, Muslim, and Jewish can be found here.

Overnight at Ghion Hotel.

Day 2: Addis Ababa – Axum

Fly North to the town of Axum, named after the ancient Kingdom of Aksum. On this day you will enjoy a sightseeing tour, with overnight accommodation at Remhai Hotel. Once the seat of the kingdom of Aksum, the town is now a tourist town and religious centre that features tall granite obelisks, which stand (or lie broken) in the central square. Some of the obelisks are nearly plain slabs, while others are intricately inscribed with door- and window-like shapes carved into some of the pillars, giving them the appearance of slender buildings. Evidence of the adoption of Christianity by a 4th-century king is found on the most recent of the obelisks.

The Kingdom is believed to have started its decline around the 7th century:reasons for this include contests over trade routes hence the kingdom was cut off from its key markets in Alexandria, Byzantium and Southern Europe and lost its trade share to Arab traders of the era. The fall can halos be attributed to religious quarrels with Islamic groups.

Overnight accommodation at Remhai Hotel.

Day 3: Yeha Temple

Drive to Yeha Temple, to is found in a remote part of the Tigray region. Yeha lies several hours’ drive from the more accessible city of Aksum. The temple is the oldest still-standing construction in Ethiopia, built 2,500 years ago! and is an imposing rectangular edifice. Though it has long since lost its roof and upper storeys, the ruins stand some twelve metres in height. Proceed to Debre Damo – a flat-topped mountain atop which lies a 6th-century monastery. A rope climb up a sheer rock wall will have you admiring the old monastery built of curved wood panels, painted ceilings and walls dedicated to the legend of Saint (Abune) Aregawi. The history of Debre Damo is centred on the “Nine Saints” who came to Ethiopia from Syria to spread Christianity in the Tigray region – one of whom was Saint Aregawi, who settled on the mountain of Debre Damo.

Overnight accommodation at Remhai Hotel.

Day 4: Axum – Lalibela

Fly to Lalibela – one of Ethiopia’s holiest cities, lying North of Ethiopia’s Lasta Mountains. Constructed in the 12th century by King Lalibela, the town attracts pilgrims from all over the world. The 12th-century king envisioned a second Jerusalem so that Ethiopian Christians would not have to brave the Nubian Desert and its Muslim armies, and he oversaw the construction of a dozen churches carved in the rocky soil. The masterpiece, however, is the monolithic King George’s – the most well-known and last built of the churches and has been referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”.

Overnight at Jerusalem Hotel.

Day 5: Lalibela

On this day, enjoy a mule ride to the semi-monolithic Asheton Mariam rock-church, which lies on the top of a mountain. The Church itself is similar in style to other rock churches, but the panoramic view of the surroundings is spectacular from the mountaintop. Return to Lalibela later in the evening

Overnight at Jerusalem Hotel.

Day 6: Lalibela – Gondar

Fly from Lalibela to Gondar, where you will enjoy a sightseeing tour. The town has a rich history, having been founded in 1636 by Ethiopian emperor Fasiladas. With time, it was destroyed by Sudanese invaders and occupied by the armies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from 1936 to 1941. Gondar commands spectacular views over farmlands and the gleaming waters of Lake Tana to the south. Churches, several bridges, and a three-story stone pavilion next to a large rectangular sunken bathing place are just some of the attractions here.

Overnight accommodation at Goha Hotel.

Day 7: Gondar – Bahir Dar

Pick up in the morning and be driven to Bahir Dar. The main attraction here is the selection of Ethiopian Christian monasteries, which are found on many of Lake Tana’s 37 islands and will be visited by boat. The monasteries date back to the 16th and 17th centuries and have changed little since their founding. They are simple huts decorated with colourful scenes from the Bible and the lives of the saints. The monasteries include Ura Kidane Mihret, Dek Stephanos and Kebran Gabriel (closed to women).

Overnight at Tana Hotel.

Day 8: Blue Nile Falls

Enjoy a day trip to the Blue Nile Falls – Bahar Dar’s other star attraction, the Blue Nile Falls or Tis Isat (water that smokes), is about an hour’s ride out of town. Her,e the Blue Nile is 400m wide and plunges 45m down into a much narrower channel before continuing its journey.

Overnight at Papyrus Hotel.

Day 9: Bahir Dar – Addis

Fly back to Addis.

Overnight stay at Ghion Hotel.

Day 10: Departure

On this day, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Addis. In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner party, marking the end of your Ethiopian sojourn. Depart from Ethiopia.

 

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