20 Days North, East & South Ethiopia

Days

Time

City              (Departure)

Transportation

Activities

Meal

Boarding

1

05:00

07:00

Addis Abeba

Flight

Early in the morning, depart on early flight for Bahir Dar .  After arrival, take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit a selection of the monasteries hidden on the islands and shores of this sacred lake.  Visit the Zege Penninsula and the monasteries of Azuwa Maryam and Ura Kidane Mehret and the island monastery of Debre Maryam near the outlet of the Blue Nile River.  In the afternoon, drive out to the Blue Nile Falls for a short hike in the area.  Finish the day with the sunset over the lake. 

Overnight in Bahir Dar at

a)    Kuriftu Resort & Spa

b)    Abay Minch Lodge

c)     Summerland Hotel

d)    EthioStar Hotel.

2

08:30

Bahir Dar - Gonder

Drive

After breakfast, continue north to Gondar.  The four-hour drive will take you through rural villages, offering wonderful insight into the Amhara culture.  After briefly settling in your hotel, explore the sites of Gondar, including a visit to the Royal Enclosure, with six castles and several other buildings.  Additionally, visit Fasilidas’s Pool, still used for Timket celebrations today, Ras Gimb Palace Museum and the Debre Birhan Selassie church, with the most famous ceiling in Ethiopia. 

Breakfast

Overnight in Gondar at

a)    Taye Hotel

b)    Fasil Lodge

c)     Queen Taitu Pension.

3

05:45

07:45

Gondar – Simien Mt.

Drive

Today is an early morning departure to Sankober in the Simien Mountains.  From here you will go for an easy hike to the Geech Abyss, where you will see a large waterfall where the Jinbar River plunges into the abyss.  This area is also a great place for viewing the endemic gelada baboon, also known as the ‘bleeding heart baboon’ due to the red patch of skin on its chest. 

Breakfast

Overnight in the Simien Mountains (Simien Lodge)

 or

in Debark (Giant Lobelia Hotel).

4

06:00

08:00

Simien Mountains

Drive

Today you will go further into the mountains for more scenery and wildlife viewing.  In the morning, depart for Chenek, where you will have opportunities to admire the local wildlife, such as the gelada baboons, lammergeyers, and the rare endemic Walia ibex.  After the visit, return to Gondar.  On the way back to town you will visit the Falasha Village, home of the last remaining Ethiopian Jews and the Ploughshare Women’s Training Center. 

Breakfast

Overnight in Gondar at

d)    Taye Hotel

e)    Fasil Lodge

f)     Queen Taitu Pension.

5

05:45

07:45

Gondar

Flight

Check in time for flight to Axum

Early morning flight to Axum (07:45).  Upon arrival to Axum, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.  Today will be a full day visiting the sites of Axum, including the famous obelisks (one that was recently erected after being returned from Italy) and the archeological museum, the Queen of Sheba’s Bath (which supplies water to Axum year-round), Ezana’s enscription, King Kaleb’s tomb, King Bazen’s tomb, and the Queen of Sheba’s Palace.  You can also visit the St. Mary of Zion church, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept.  Men only are allowed to enter the old church.  Unfortunately, no one (except one specially chosen guardian monk) is allowed to enter the chapel where the Ark is kept. 

Breakfast

Overnight in Axum at

a)    Brana Hotel

b)    Remhai Hotel

c)     Africa Hotel.

6

06:00

08:00

Axum

Flight

Check in time for flight to Lalibela

Depart on an early morning flight to Lalibela (08:00), the most famous of all of the Ethiopian historical sites.  After lunch, start your tour of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha (entry not permitted for women).   

Overnight in Lalibela at

a)     Mountain View Hotel

b)    Lal Hotel

c)     Alief Paradise Hotel.

7

Lalibela

Drive

In the morning, take a trip to visit the church of Yimrehanne Kristos.  The most popular of the churches outside of Lalibela, this church is built with layers of wood and granite, set in the entrance to a large cavern.  After the visit, return to Lalibela for lunch and, in the afternoon, visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos.  Finally, you will visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, constructed in honor of the patron saint of Ethiopia – Saint George.  

Overnight in Lalibela at

d)     Mountain View Hotel

e)    Lal Hotel

f)     Alief Paradise Hotel.

8

09:50

Lalibela

Flight

In the morning, proceed to the airport for the return flight back to Addis Ababa (11:50).  Continue on a flight to Dire Dawa (16:00).  In Dire Dawa, you will be met at the airport and will transfer to Harar. 

Overnight in Harar at

a)     Heritage Plaza Hotel

b)    Ras Hotel

c)     Rewda Guesthouse.

9

Harar

Drive

Today will be a day tour out of Harar to Babile and the Valley of Marvels.  The Valley of Marvels has wonderful landscapes, famous for its balancing rock formations.  Additionally, the town of Babile has a very large market on Saturdays and a camel market on Mondays and Thursdays.  Afterwards, continue to the village of Koremi, an old village set on a plateau consisting of stone houses and home to the Argoba people. 

Overnight in Harar at

a)     Heritage Plaza Hotel

b)    Ras Hotel

c)     Rewda Guesthouse.

10

Harar

Drive

Today is a full day discovering the treasures hidden in the narrow alleyways of the walled city of Harar, with its colorful markets, countless mosques and shrines and unique Harari people and homes.  Sites to visit include: the House of Rimbaud, Ras Tafari’s House, Ras Mekonnen’s Palace, the Harari National Cultural Center, and the tomb of Emir Nur, who built the famous Jugol, as the wall is known locally.  At night you will visit the hyena man, who feeds the hyenas every night just outside the walls of the city.  This tradition was started long ago to prevent these wild hyenas from hunting for food in the town.  Guests are welcome, and encouraged, to feed the hyenas themselves. 

Overnight in Harar at

a)     Heritage Plaza Hotel

b)    Ras Hotel

c)     Rewda Guesthouse.

11

Harar

Drive

In the morning, depart from Harar to Awash National Park.  In the afternoon you will take a game drive to visit the wonderful birdlife and wildlife, such as oryx, baboons, greater and lesser kudu, warthogs, gazelles, colubus monkeys.  Additionally, you’d be very lucky to see leopards, lions, and other cats.  The landscapes in the park are beautiful, looking over the Awash Gorge. 

Overnight in Awash National Park at

a)    Awash Falls Lodge

b)    camping.

12

Awash National Park

Drive

Early morning visit the park as it wakes up and wildlife is at its most active.  After breakfast, depart from Awash, proceeding to Lake Langano.  On the way you can stop in Sodere to take a shower in the therapeutic hot springs waters. 

Overnight at Lake Langano at

a)    Bishangari Lodge

b)    Sabana Beach Resort

c)     Wenney Ecolodge

d)    Abule Bassumo Hotel.

13

Langano

Drive

After a morning swim in the lake, proceed driving to Dorze, set in the highlands above Arba Minch.  The Dorze people are known for their tall beehive-like houses and their fine cotton weaving.  You will visit the village and learn about the daily lives of these industrious people.  If today is market day (in Dorze village on Monday and Thursday and in nearby Chencha on Tuesday and Saturday), that will be visited. 

Overnight in Dorze in traditional Dorze hut (shared toilet facilities)

             or

 Arba Minch for overnight at

a)     Paradise Lodge

b)    Tourist Hotel

c)     camping at Wabe Shabelle Hotel.

14

Dorze/Arba Minch

Drive

In the morning, take a boat trip on Lake Chamo to visit the “crocodile market” and the local hippos.  Afterwards, depart from Arba Minch to Turmi.  On the way you will pass through the village of Weyto (market day Saturday), which is home to the Tsemai tribe.  Continue through the Weyto Valley to Erbore, where you will have a brief visit to a local Erbore village (market day is Saturday).  Finally, proceed to Turmi, home of the Hamer tribe.  At night, you can see the traditional night dancing of the Hamer tribe, known as evangadi. 

Overnight in Turmi at

a)    Buska Lodge

b)    Evangadi Lodge

c)     camping at Keske Campsite.

15

Turmi

Drive

In the morning, take a day trip to Omorate to visit the Dassenech tribe.  Here you will cross the Omo River by local boat and enter a Dassenech village.  Afterwards, return to Turmi (Monday is market day) for a visit to a local Hamer village.  If there is Jumping of the Bulls traditional Hamer coming-of-age ceremony, that will be visited. 

Overnight in Turmi at

a)    Buska Lodge

b)    Evangadi Lodge

c)     camping at Keske Campsite.

16

Turmi

Drive

Depart for Jinka, via Dimeka and Key Afar.  Tuesdays and Saturdays are market days in Dimeka, which is one of the most colorful markets in the area and is visited by many tribes, including Hamer, Benna and Karo.  Afterwards, continue to Jinka. 

Overnight in Jinka at

a)     Eco Omo Lodge

b)    Orit Hotel

c)     Goh Hotel

17

In the morning, drive through the Mago National Park to a local village of the Mursi tribe.  The Mursi are known for their lower lip and earlobe plates.  In the afternoon, after returning to Jinka, you can visit the South Omo Museum & Research Center to learn more about the local tribes.  Alternatively, take a hike in the surrounding hills to visit a local Ari village. 

Overnight in Jinka at

a)     Eco Omo Lodge

b)    Orit Hotel

c)     Goh Hotel

18

Jinka

Drive

After breakfast, depart from Jinka to Konso, via Key Afar.  Thursday is market day in Key Afar, where you will see the Benna and Tsemai tribes trading goods.  This is another very popular market in the region.  After the visit, proceed to Konso (market days are Mondays and Thursdays).  The Konso people are known for their wooden statues, known as wakas, which are erected in honor of dead heroes as well as their innovative agricultural terracing.  Today you will have the opportunity to visit a local village and the cultural museum displaying many waka statues.  Time permitting, you can also visit the “natural New York Village”, named after the tall sand formations resembling skyscrapers.  .

Overnight in Konso at

a)     Kanta Lodge (tukul)

b)    Kanta Lodge (standard room)

c)     Strawberry Fields Ecolodge

19

Konso

Drive

After breakfast, depart from Konso to Awassa.  On the way you will visit the Senkele Wildlife Sanctuary, which was established to protect the endemic Swayne’s Hartebeest. 

Overnight in Awassa at

a)     Haile Resort

b)    Tadesse Enjory Hotel

c)     Pinna Hotel.

20

Awassa

Drive

In the morning, visit the fish market on the shores of Lake Awassa.  Afterwards, depart north to Addis Ababa.  On the way, you may visit the Abiatta-Shala National Park.  Lake Shala, with its deep blue waters is the deepest lake in Ethiopia at 236m.  Lake Abiatta is a soda lake at which thousands of flamingos can be seen at various times of the year.   End of Tour.