NORTH, DANAKIL AND TIGRAY

Historic Rolute with short Danakil and Tigray Churches
1: Addis Ababa

Arrival Addis Ababa. Meet the guide at the airport. Transfer hotel. Rest. Afternoon tour of Addis. ON htl

2: Bahir Dar – Tississat

Fly to Bahirdar. Morning Blue Nile falls. Afternoon tour of Bahirdar, the papyrus boats productions, and view over lake Tana & the Nile form Bezait palace.

3: Lake Tana

Boat on lake Tana to admire monasteries over its islands, as Ura kidane Mehret, Mahal Zegye Gyorgis & Narga Selassie. Reach afternoon Gorgora, on the opposite side of the lake; meet your vehicle/s and drive Gondar, crossing Amhara people villages.

4: Gondar

Tour of Gondar castles and churches: the castle compound, Fasiladas bath, Debre Birhan Selassie (Light of Trinity) with wonderful murals, Mentewab palace, Qusquam church, Falashia village, and more

5: Semien Mountains

Drive to the Semien mountains, for trekking for spectacular views; and also chance to spot the endemic Semien red fox and Walia Ibex, the Lammergeyer, many birds.

6: Semien Mountains

Again viewing these spectacular mountains, proceed to Axum

7: Axum

Tour of Axum. Visit the steles, churches among which St Mary of Tsion where legend says is deposited the Ark of Covenant, and more.

8: Tigray Churches

Visit Yeha pre-Christian temple, DebreDamo monastery and Wikro Cherkos church. ON Gheralta lodge or hotel in Mekele

9: Tigray Churches

Full day for Tigray churches: we suggest Abreha We Atsbeha, Degum Selassie & Wikro Cherkos. ON Gheralta lodge (orAxum htl Mekele)

10: Ahmedale, Danakil

Enter into the Danakil depression, admiring the Afar people and villages. ON camp AhmedAle.

11: Dalol

A special date, for spectacular views, colors of nature, unique in the world: at Dalol, where Afar men extract salt. ON Ahmedale camp

12: Micael Imba-Mekele

Drive to Mekele. Visit Micael Imba church. ON htl

13: Yemerehenna Kristos – Lalibela

Crossing spectacular views, we proceed to Lalibela. On the way stop to the first church of Lalibela: Yemerehenna Kristos. Very nice.

14: Lalibela

Full day for the rock-hewn churches.

15: Lake Hayk

Crossing lake Ashandi, we proceed to lake Hayk. Visit Debre Estifanos monastery, over an island of the lake. We proceed then to Kombolcha. ON hotel (Sunny side or Hikma or Tecle)

16: Addis Ababa

Crossing fantastic views, we reach for the afternoon Addis Ababa. If Sunday, on the way visit Afar & Oromo people market at Senbete village. Ones in Addis, short visit of the Mercato, biggest open air market in Africa. Dinner in traditional restaurant with folkloristic dances. Then transfer airport for departure