20 Day North Historic Ethiopia and West Culture Tour
Duration: 19 Nights/ 20 Days
Transportation: Surface and flight (ADD-BJR, LLI-ADD)
Itinerary Day 1: Short trip in Addis Ababa.Meet and greet by our representative at bole airport transfer to the hotel.PM- sightseeing of Addis Ababa.Þ You will have a visit to the National Museum, Holy Trinity cathedral church, Ethnographic Museum and up time Mercato, biggest open air market. Hotel Day 2: Fly Bahir dar then tour the city attractions Þ Morning Fly to Bahir dar; pick up from Bahir dar airport and transfer to your hotel. Preparation for city excursion. Þ AM, you will have a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit the Monasteries on the islands of Lake Tana. HotelDay 3: Drive to Gondar is 180km on well constructed asphalt road & takes 2 ½ hrs.Gondar was the former capital city of the Ethiopian Empire, and was founded in 1635 by King Fasilidas. It remained influential for nearly 250 years until the seat of power moved further south. Several castles – seemingly more European than African – were built during this period. Gonder as an old town has other treasures too.Þ After checking in our hotel we will visit Gondar’s most famous site, the Fasil Ghebbi or Royal Enclosure. This royal estate is characterized by its massive stone ramparts and a fascinating, dynastic series of castles, built one after the other by Ethiopian Kings. Our guide will help us understand the history of the Fasil Ghebbi before giving us the chance to wander through the site in our own time.Have lunch in one of the restaurant in the town. After lunch we spend some time walking in the town and visiting the open air market before head to the church of Debre Berhan Selassie (Light of the Trinity), which is located at the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. The interior is decorated with beautiful frescos. HotelDay 4: AM drive to the Simien Mountains National Park – short walkSimien Mountain situated about about 122km from Gonder, on mainly tarmac road.Þ PM You will have 2 – 3 hours hiking on the escarpment with spectacular mountain scenery and the endemic Gelada Baboon in a close up view and photographing. Hotel
Day 5: Short trek in Simein Mountain and Proceed to Axum
Þ Morning hike up to 4000m above sea level to the escapement for beautiful mountain scenery and to see the endemic mammal Walia Ibex. Retrace to the main road drive to Axum for overnight through spectacular mountain scenery, deep gorges and rolling plains, meeting the Amhara and Tigray farmers working on their field. Hotel
Day 6: Full day tour in Axum
Today you will have a full day sightseeing of:
Þ The archeological sites and the famous stele park.
Þ St’ Mary of Tsion (Zion) Church the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.The ruin palace of the Queen of Sheba (9th Century BC). And mid afternoon excursion to Yeha Temple, the oldest surviving building in sub Saharan Africa from 5th century BC. Hotel.
Day 7: Morning drive to Mekele – Visit the tigray rock churches
Þ On arrival at Mekele air port, our representative will meet you and the minivan will be ready for your excursion to rock churches around Mekele.
Þ Have a short time for breakfast then drive for some kilometers to visit the Tigray rock hewn churches.Þ This day you will visit at least 2or 3 rock churches up on time(Abreha We Atsebeha, Weqro Cherkos .To access the rock churches you need to trek some 50 minutes.At the ends drive back to the city and check in to the hotel for a rest. Hotel
Day 8: Morning Drive Mekele to Lalibela 360km through gravel road.
Þ En-route you will admire the Beautiful mountain scenery.
Þ Meet the Amhara people, house and village visit. Hotel
Day 9: Tour to Lalibela Rock Hewn Churches
Þ Lalibela is located at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level. The city contains 11 monolithic churches that were built in the twelfth century and are carved out of the pink granite rock. They have been classified as one of the wonders of the world. Evening you will attend traditional coffee ceremony with Ethiopian hospitality. Hotel
Day 10: Fly back to Addis Ababa
Þ A.M transferred to the airport for your flight back to Addis Ababa and on arrival in Addis get transferred to your hotel.
Þ You will get some rest at the hotel from the fatigue and a free relaxation time. Hotel
Day 11: Morning drive to Ambo for Lake Wenchi then Night in Weliso
Þ Early morning departure Jimma to Lake Wenchi. Here you can do some horseback riding or hiking around this stunning Crater Lake and/or a boat trip on the lake to visit the island monastery of Cherkos and the hot springs.Lodge or hotel.
Day 12: Drive Weliso to Nekemte
Þ After breakfast drive to Nekemte through the western direction of the country visiting the beautiful scenery and the Shewa and Welega Oromo tribe with their village. Overnight local hotel.
Day 13: Drive Nekemte to Gambela
Þ Continue driving to Gambella via Gore. Today also you will be driving through the indigenous natural forest of Western Ethiopia. Again this place is the famous place in Tea farms. En route you will visit the Gumero tea field. Hotel.
Day 14: Full day in and around Gambella
Þ The major two tribes living in Gambella town are the Nuer and Anuak people. Morning visit the Neuer people. In the afternoon visit The Anuak people. Hotel
Day 15: Gambela – Mizan Teferi
Þ Drive from Gambella to Mizan Teferi through Bebeka coffee plantation, the Ethiopia’s largest old coffee plantation. On the way visit the Menit, Yem and the Dizi tribes. Hotel
Day 16: Drive to Kibish
Þ Continue driving further to the west from Mizan Teferi to Kibish through Bebeka coffee plantation, the Ethiopia’s largest old coffee plantation. On the way visit the Menit tribe. After crossing the Akobo River you experience the African Savanna grass land. You will stop at the little town of Dimma for lunch. Continue driving further west to Tulgit and then to Kibish. Tulgit and Kibish are small towns of the Surma people. Much more Surma people live in Kibish town. The rest of the days walk around your campsite to visit the Surma people. Camping
Day 17: Around Kibish
Þ In the morning walk around the old kibish village (14kms round trip) for the visit of more of the Surma villages-to visit and appreciate the very attractive culture of Surma tribe, they are renowned for the strange custom followed by their women who, on reaching maturity, have their lower lips slit and circular or rectangular clay discs inserted. The Surma men are well known for their stick fighting, which is called Donga. Players are usually unmarried men. The winner is carried away on a platform of poles to a group of girls waiting at the side of the arena who decide among themselves which of them will ask for his hand in marriage.
Taking part in a stick fight is considered to be more important than winning it. But foreigners can’t attend this local event due to government regulation and penalty. The men paint their bodies with a mixture of chalk and water before the fight. Camping
Day 18: Drive Kibish to Bebeka
Þ Drive the same way back via Dima town to Bebeka town near the town of Mizan Teferi.
Day 19: Drive Bebeka to the town of Jimma- Coffee Tour
Þ Drive from Mizan Teferi to Jimma (240 kms) through the Ethiopia’s indigenous dense forest. The people living in this area are from Kefecho, Yem and Bench ethnic groups. This place is famous in coffee, tea and spice growing region from all over the country.
Day 20: Drive Jimma to Addis Ababa- Departure
Þ After breakfast drive back to Addis Ababa; En route you will Visit one of the Oromo Villages.
Þ Evening you will be our guest for a fare well dinner in one of the Ethiopian traditional restaurants for cultural dinner and dances.Then transfer to the airport for flight back home
—-end of the North Historic Ethiopia and West Cultural Tour—
